Map Editors

Jonny C · Post by **Jonny C** » 27 Dec 2005, 23:16

Hey there! long time no chat. :p

I'm planning to get back into map development after not being involved in spring for the last 4 or 5 months.

I gather a lot has changed since the last time i played/developed so i want to know what current map editors are available (buggi ? :)
So yeh, What are they called, where do i get them, and what do they all do / what versions are they?

(And which is the most recent?)

Also, Does Buggi want a hand with his map makers? I might be able to help out if he wants a hand...

FizWizz · Post by **FizWizz** » 27 Dec 2005, 23:18

there are no real map editors at the moment, that could be a place to start.

aGorm · Post by **aGorm** » 27 Dec 2005, 23:21

Well, Sharp Map is still not up, so you need Mothers Map Covn Program. Its all very similar to how it used to be but:

Geos are on a new feature map, not teh metal map
Feature map can place other features, and trees and grass.

Theres a page in teh wiki with relevent info I think... (Or should i say several, but cause no-ones finshed anything, you'll have to hunt around...)

Feel free to ask, someones bound to know what you wanna know...

aGorm

Jonny C · Post by **Jonny C** » 28 Dec 2005, 00:45

Thanks :)
So where do i get this "Mother Map Covn" program from? :) I can never work out which versions are which on TA File Universe, There are so many old and new...

Btw, if somone could explain the file-format for TA levels (or if they would offer to reveal the source for the 'converter / editor') then i would be happy to put together a professional looking editor (like the original TA editor). But I'd need some guidence...

Thanks again :)

Quick question: What are all the features that are available? Is there 'rocks' etc. and can the map file store which type of tree / rock is there ? (like the TA editor) or is it just 'this is a tree' and the game engine picks a tree to put there at random.. ?

Maelstrom · Post by **Maelstrom** » 28 Dec 2005, 03:39

With mothers MapConv, you can pick which tree you want (there are 16 of them). There are no rocks inbuilt into the engine, but these can be placed in the feature map, and loaded by the engine later. Documentation on how to do this is sparse, but its quite easy. Any features you use should be placed in the map .sd7. A feature can be custom made, or be a wrekage of a dead unit.

There is a thread somewhere in the Development forum about the map format. About compiling, see the Maps:Compiling tutorial in the wiki.

mother · Post by **mother** » 28 Dec 2005, 04:20

http://taspring.clan-sy.com/wiki/Map_File_Format

Jonny, I'm sure everyone would appreciate any contribution you could make. But... Damnit we don't feed the wiki so it can just be fat and lazy

Most of what you've asked is actually documented, to some extent.

Im positive there is a link to the FU page to d/l mapconv in the wiki (don't have it handy), and the mapconv source is part of the spring source. The 2 modified source files for 'my' mapconv are included with it (at least in the 8/31 version).

I'm pseudo around for the next few weeks, happy to help when I can. I think that a 'map editor' is a bit of a reach- But a feature editor might be long overdue....

Maelstrom · Post by **Maelstrom** » 28 Dec 2005, 05:18

there is links to compilers in the wiki link i posted.

Jonny C · Post by **Jonny C** » 28 Dec 2005, 15:13

Mom,

You're compiler isn't working for me. My windows XP can't seem to run it. It doesn't even show up in Dos when i do 'Dir'.

I get the feeling it's been compiled for Linux/Unix. Is this the case or is there somthing wrong at my end?

aGorm · Post by **aGorm** » 28 Dec 2005, 15:49

Ahhhm, you may very well need his cut down version (that dosnt use extra CPU extensions ect...) However finding a copy of that is hard so u'll have to go to the man himslef i think...

aGorm

mother · Post by **mother** » 28 Dec 2005, 16:05

Jonny C wrote:Mom,

You're compiler isn't working for me. My windows XP can't seem to run it. It doesn't even show up in Dos when i do 'Dir'.

Erm, then you don't have it. Thats a bit different from it not working.

I get the feeling it's been compiled for Linux/Unix. Is this the case or is there somthing wrong at my end?

I wish it were... The thing uses the CBitmap class heavily, so I assure you it's not a unix/linux version.

The problem sounds like you haven't actually downloaded and unzipped the thing to the directory which you are expecting

BTW following that wiki link Maelstrom posted, one of the first things you see is a link to The non-optimized version of mapconv that is more widely compatible. However Jonny doesn't sound to be far enough along to say this is the answer.

Jonny C · Post by **Jonny C** » 28 Dec 2005, 17:09

Hi,
I am not stupid :p I extracted the files using 7-Zip into d:\TA_MAP_FILES (My 600Gig RAID 5 volume :p ) and then went into command promt, naviagted to d:\TA_Map_Files and upon doing dir it didn't list the .exe even though it is actually in the directory as i can see it in Explorer.

I checked this because when i ran the batch file it kept crashing each time it tried to axcess MapConv.exe

Hmmm, i aint quite sure whats happening here

Jonny C · Post by **Jonny C** » 28 Dec 2005, 17:14

ok, i've moved the files to a diffrent directory and messed abuot and it now lists the .exe along with all the other files. But it still crashes when ever i try to run it.

(Note: it crashes regardless of what perameters i pass it, i.e. "MapConv -help" doesn't work either)

Forboding Angel · Post by **Forboding Angel** » 28 Dec 2005, 17:28

dude you need the non optimized version

that will stop the crashes.

mother · Post by **mother** » 28 Dec 2005, 17:30

Yep, just grap the one I linked above and replace the .exe file...

edit rinky /edit

AF · Post by AF » 28 Dec 2005, 18:38

Ahk, someone who has firefox installed but doesnt use it.........
Oh the shame, the shame...

Jonny C · Post by **Jonny C** » 28 Dec 2005, 19:37

a bit off topic but...
HEY! I DO use Firefox!!! it's just that i also have MSN and when i get E-Mails such as the one from Clan-Sy about the Messageboard responces i clicked the 'open email' and it used IE. I fully agree, IE is awefull but I never bothered working out how to tell Microsoft's MSN Messenger to NOT use it's native Browser when going to Hotmail.com to check my emails :p

Any more flame throwing ?
ha ha

Jonny C · Post by **Jonny C** » 28 Dec 2005, 19:41

Yep, that worked.
So whats the diffrence with the Optimised / None-Optimised? is it your source-code or just the way you had it complied?

AF · Post by AF » 28 Dec 2005, 20:22

lol

http://www.mess.be go get the messer patch for v7.5, it'll do thigns liek remove advert banners and MSN Passport branding etc among other things such as change the browser.

mother · Post by **mother** » 28 Dec 2005, 21:07

/*-

Jonny C wrote:Yep, that worked. -+
So whats the diffrence with the Optimised / None-Optimised? is it your source-code or just the way you had it complied?

It's just how it was compiled...

Jonny C · Post by **Jonny C** » 29 Dec 2005, 16:00

Ah, ok. Fair Point.

Spring RTS Engine

Map Editors

Map Editors