Download Map Maker Here ...

[Stridor]

Ok I am uploading a new MM distro 0.9f

This new build supports smoke particles and allows you to custom define your minimap colour scheme (more on that later).

Total size ~ 120MB in 2 parts.

In an almost certainly vain effort to stimulate interest again in PCK, I have decided to provide open links this time. Hopefully the bandwidth will hold up ...

I have tested this build on a clean Vista SP1 and XP SP3 install and it works fine.

To install MM please do the following

1. In the PCK root install directory (nominally c:\matrix games\panzer command kharkov) delete the entire "Editor" directory (note this may not be strictly necessary, but I suspect it may be affecting some people’s ability to install the MM).
2. In the PCK root directory delete the entire "Map Maker" directory if you have had a previous version of MM installed. For those who have never installed MM you can skip this step.
3. Delete the PCK/Media/Mods directory (again probably not strictly necessary).
4. Right click on each of the downloaded zip files and select properties->unblock. THIS IS ESSENTIAL

Unzip "MM 9f part 1 of 2.zip" into the root PCK directory
Unzip "MM 9f part 2 of 2.zip" into the root PCK directory

Please allow the zip process to overwrite all the old files on your machine.

To run the map maker navigate into the PCK root directory and double click on the PzMAm.hta file.

*IMPORTANT NOTES*

Later service packs of XP (SP2+) and Vista (all) will "block" a downloaded zip file for security reasons. To ensure this doesn't happen please right click on each downloaded zip file select properties->General->Unblock PLEASE DO THIS IT IS ESSENTIAL

People have had problems in the past due to not being able to register the activeX components. This is due to either user or antivirus programmed altered security internet settings. Please see the Map maker beta thread for ways to fix these issues http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1832837

If you are still getting activeX resigstration/not installed errors please download the file MMREG.BAT (link below) into the main PCK directory and double click on the file. This batch file will manually register the needed components for you.

When the official MM is released either as a patch to PCK or as part of the next PC release obviously you won't need to jump through so many hoops, but that is the way of the beta tester I am afraid [;)]

I have also included my tutorial map see http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1893360 so you can load that up and play around with it. Type "tutmap" into the map name box and then press the Load button.

If I get a chance later on I may be able to supply map templates (which are essentially pre made maps which have all the complex work done for you, all you need do is paint your map using the template colours and then use the sculpt tools to change contours).

One final note. This is beta software. Remember YMMV.

A simple map making tutorial which will get almost anyone started can be found here http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1978515&mpage=1&key=&#1982464

Regards

S.

LINKS

MM 9f 1 of 2.zip http://www.4shared.com/file/75107648/31b67e53/MM_9f_1_of_2.html
MM 9f 2 of 2.zip http://www.4shared.com/file/75109216/4caf78fe/MM_9f_2_of_2.html
MMREG.BAT http://www.4shared.com/file/75762689/84c3e746/mmreg.html

[madorosh]

Thanks, Stridor. Stand by for bombardment of snarly questions from anti-tech dunderheads who don't realize you're doing them a favour with this in an unpaid capacity.

I'll be first in line, of course, to bite your head off.

[Stridor]

ORIGINAL: Michael Dorosh

Thanks, Stridor. Stand by for bombardment of snarly questions from anti-tech dunderheads who don't realize you're doing them a favour with this in an unpaid capacity.

I'll be first in line, of course, to bite your head off.

Yeah, thanks for that [;)]

Questions are fine. All I ask is that you have read the map maker tutorial thread http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1893360 before posting.

~ 10 minutes to go on the upload.

[Stridor]

Ok links posted in top post.

Have to go to work now, so hopefully there will be no last minute problems. If there are I will look at them when I get back home.

Regards (and enjoy)

S.

[Erik Rutins]

Stridor,

I can post this in our Members Club for registered PCK owners if you'd prefer to give your bandwidth a rest. Thanks as always for everything you've done and are doing for the Panzer Command series.

Regards,

- Erik

[Stridor]

Thanks Erik.

Just a heads up to let you know that I have updated the MM tutorial on how to use the new features of 0.9f

S.

[KEYSTONE07950]

Stridor,
Thanks for making the Map Maker available.  I'll try downloading and working with it tonight.
 

[Stridor]

Could I ask everyone who has downloaded the MM to please post a brief comment about your experience in installing / using it in this thread. If you have any tangible suggestions about improving the MM I would like to hear about them as well.

A comment like "Could there be an option to sort autogen structures by color code" is tangible & useful.
"Make it easy to use" is neither tangible nor useful.

If you didn't already know Rick has been quick off the mark and produced the first "Winter" Template which you can download here http://www.matrixgames.com/forums/tm.asp?m=1974156

To use his template unzip the file into the main PCK directory. Then with your paint editor open the file named

PCK (install dir)/Media/WinterTemplateRR1/terrainmap.bmp

and then draw your own map with the color guide provided in the file itself and save.

Next run the MM

PCK (install dir)/PzCMAm.hta

In the Name: box type "WinterTemplateRR1" and then press load. In a few moments you should see your map load up. Change the name of the map to something else so that you don't overwrite the template eg "MyFirstMap"

Press the build button and your new map will be built and you can view it in Scenedit.

This will allow you make CMesque type maps without the blockiness in short order. I think this template system is a way forward for beginners to make basic maps without needing to delve too deeply into the more powerful options of map making.

Regards

S.

[madorosh]

All I get is the DirectX error and I'm leery of hunting around in my programs to disable my virus protection software. [:o]

I did get the sample map file to load up the mini sky bitmap successfully. [:)] But that's as far as it went.

Sorry. [:(]

It is kind of alarming to see the "red x" load up in the software as a normal matter of course, though. It makes one think that the software isn't running correctly. I imagine this will be changed later rather than sooner, but that's about all I can offer at this time. Hope others have more luck with it.

[Stridor]

MD,

Can you tell me *exactly* what the error says and when it occurs (on MM startup, during map load, etc).

What security software are you running and what have you run in the past?

I need to collect this info to help id where the issue is.

There is a way to register activeX components without disabling virus protection.

In fact most people running MM successfully actually have full antimalware support running (myself included).

As you can imagine I would like to get to the bottom of this issue.

Regards

S.

[madorosh]

Here is the error message on start up:



And when I type "tutmap" in the Name box and hit Load. The shield looks like it is associated with one of Windows applications though, no?



I am running McAfee.

[Stridor]

It is kind of alarming to see the "red x" load up in the software as a normal matter of course, though. It makes one think that the software isn't running correctly. I imagine this will be changed later rather than sooner, but that's about all I can offer at this time. Hope others have more luck with it.

Originally I didn't have those red X's but during development inadvertantly deleted the background bitmap, I got so used to them (the Red Xs) that I decided to just leave them in.

[Stridor]

MD,

Can you stay online for just one moment, I think I may have something.

[Stridor]

Ok, could I please get you to check the following.

Are you using IE6 or IE7?

I have instructions for IE7 but I guess it would be similar for IE6

See the SS below.

in IE could I please get you to select

1. Tools->Internet Options->Programs
2. Click Manage add-ons
3. Select from the show box Downloaded ActiveX Controls (32bit)
4. Make sure those highlighted in the SS are set to enabled.

Click ok and then try MM again and see what happens?

Thanks

S.

[madorosh]

ORIGINAL: Stridor

Ok, could I please get you to check the following.

Are you using IE6 or IE7?

Neither.

Firefox 3.0.4.

I do have I.E. 7 installed, though.

[Stridor]

But you will still have at least IE6 if not IE7 on your machine.

It is complex but the MM (like some other programs) uses the IE render engine.

You still can make changes through IE. I will put IE6 instructions up as well.

[madorosh]

I went into IE 7 and none of the controls you list actually appear in my list.

[Stridor]

Hmm,

Mcaffe must be blocking them from installing/activating in the first place.

There is one last suggestion I have that benpark used to make it work (and he had exactly the same 024 error you do). I think he had Mcaffe as well.

What he found was that he could manually register the required controls (you only have to do this once) by using a shareware program called activeX manager the free 30 day trial can be found here

http://www.4developers.com/xmgr/index.htm

The 3 controls which need to be registered are found in the PCK (root)/Editor subdir and are:

com.ocx
cp.ocx
ms.ocx

Once they are registered it should work as it did for benpark. You can then uninstall the active X manager program as you don't need it again and MM should work.

I know this is a pain. Not all antivirus software blocks activeX registration.

In the future I will see if I can't work out the command lines needed to manually register the required files and then upload a little batch file which can do all the work for you (with downloading a seperate program), but for now the method above should work even if it is a little painful.

Sorry

Regards

S.

[Stridor]

Ok MD if you haven't gone down the activeX manager route yet try this. I would be very interested to see if this works as it may solve this problem once and for all.

Could you please try this

Bring up a command prompt (I think you know how to do this)

cd c:\matrix games\panzer command kharkov\editor

dir *.ocx

you should see 3 files

cp.ocx
com.ocx
ms.ocx

ok next type at the command prompt

regsvr32 cp.ocx <enter>
regsvr32 com.ocx <enter>
regsvr32 ms.ocx <enter>

that should force register the necessary components.

If that works for you I will upload a batch file which will make those changes automatically in the future.

Regards

S.

[Stridor]

I have just discovered that you *may* need to supply a full path to register the active X control

that is:

C:\>regsvr32 "c:\Matrix Games\Panzer Command Kharkov\Editor\cp.ocx"

MD I wish I had machine that had this issue so I could just give you the correct answer in the first place, but as I don't it would be very helpful if you could try these tips and see if any of them make the MM go, as they will certainly be helpful for others in the future.

Regards

S.