Map Maker Beta ...

[benpark]

Stridor, could you kindly re-explain how to keep the existing models in a map that I have done in scene edit if I need to reload into the map editor? Do I need to add a folder somewhere, or is it a change to an .xml? Thanks.

[benpark]

I'm having an issue with a map I'm nearly done with, and can't really go back and redo at this point (agony I can't relive). It's related to the scene editor but I'm hoping that reloading it into the map editor (or some other fix) might help.

At some point in a few different points in the scene editor, the ground level mysteriously resets itself. I loaded up a test in game, and this is what I got-good for a flight sim or a sci-fi game, but not good for what I'm aiming for...

I can upload the .xml file if that may help.

[Stridor]

ORIGINAL: benpark

Stridor, could you kindly re-explain how to keep the existing models in a map that I have done in scene edit if I need to reload into the map editor? Do I need to add a folder somewhere, or is it a change to an .xml? Thanks.

In scenedit if you look at the tree hierarchy you will see that it is grouped into the headings.

Provided you put your stuff under MAPNAME_structures then it will be preserved if you need to go back into the MM.

You can also edit the map scene xml in a test editor and cut and paste your old xml with the new. The best way to do it is to keep your stuff organised and put in in the MAPNAME_structures hierarchy however.

[Stridor]

ORIGINAL: benpark

I'm having an issue with a map I'm nearly done with, and can't really go back and redo at this point (agony I can't relive). It's related to the scene editor but I'm hoping that reloading it into the map editor (or some other fix) might help.

At some point in a few different points in the scene editor, the ground level mysteriously resets itself. I loaded up a test in game, and this is what I got-good for a flight sim or a sci-fi game, but not good for what I'm aiming for...

I can upload the .xml file if that may help.

That is weird, zip up your map and I will take a look

[Mad Russian]

ORIGINAL: benpark

I'm having an issue with a map I'm nearly done with, and can't really go back and redo at this point (agony I can't relive). It's related to the scene editor but I'm hoping that reloading it into the map editor (or some other fix) might help.

At some point in a few different points in the scene editor, the ground level mysteriously resets itself. I loaded up a test in game, and this is what I got-good for a flight sim or a sci-fi game, but not good for what I'm aiming for...

I can upload the .xml file if that may help.

That's not just some thing that happens during map making. I have
screenshots of units floating during the end of game display as well.

Good Hunting.

MR

[benpark]

Thanks for the tips. I copied and pasted everything into the sub folder and reloaded it in the map editor, and now everything seems copacetic.

Thanks for that addition, I would have had to lose 8 hours of work!

If there's any way to have the program draw the building footprints for the AI plan in the future, I'd be able to avoid some serious carpal tunnel action. This one nearly done kilt me. I've been doing the other coding outside of the scene editor, but the buildings necessitate it in program. That's an unpleasant task indeed.

[Stridor]

ORIGINAL: benpark

If there's any way to have the program draw the building footprints for the AI plan in the future, I'd be able to avoid some serious carpal tunnel action. This one nearly done kilt me. I've been doing the other coding outside of the scene editor, but the buildings necessitate it in program. That's an unpleasant task indeed.

At the moment no, sorry.

What I do is draw a rough outline in scenedit then load the AI map into photoshop and then floodfill that outline. Obvisouly if you have 1000 buildings on your map it is going to mean work what ever you do.

Looking forward to this one Ben if you have put that much work into it.

S.

[benpark]

I just ran across this:

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=607176

It's a tool to extract heightmaps from Google Earth, with a tutorial for UT, but maybe it could work for us.

[RyanCrierie]

Took a look, and it's basically my method.

[dlpayer]

I have searched and looked. I find the update, but can't find the base map editor file. Where can I find it please?

[Erik Rutins]

You need to PM Stridor if you'd like to try the Map Maker Beta, he'll send it to you.

[Redleg]

Do I need Nem's Terrain Generator (or similar) to create a heightmap compatible with Mapmaker?
 
If yes, is Nem's recommended.  What is best for the cheapskate hobbiest?
 
How come only Kharkov L1 seems to have a "valid heightmap"?  Are there others to be had?
 
Thanks for your patience.
 
BTW, I just generated +/- 6500 trees in about 35 seconds. [&o]
 

[benpark]

I've used both Nem's terrain generator and I've also simply hand drawn a height map in greyscale while using a book for reference. With the new Map Maker function that allows the map to be smoothed out, it's very easy to tweak to your preference.

[RyanCrierie]

Found a skybox generator -- don't know how well it works with Panzer Command's setup:

Link to thread on it

Link to download of it

[rickier65]

ORIGINAL: Redleg

Do I need Nem's Terrain Generator (or similar) to create a heightmap compatible with Mapmaker?

If yes, is Nem's recommended.  What is best for the cheapskate hobbiest?

How come only Kharkov L1 seems to have a "valid heightmap"?  Are there others to be had?

Thanks for your patience.

BTW, I just generated +/- 6500 trees in about 35 seconds. [&o]

I've used NEM's (following Stridors tutorial and then for my own map project). I've also used Blender height map feature. (there was an online tutorial on it).

I'm not really happy with my results with either of them - but maybe I just need to practice a bit more.

Once the Wireframe get finished for use in SceneEdit - there really isn't a need for Height map, so they probably weren't considered necessary to include - Matrix might not even have gotten them from the map developers.

If you find some other tools to create HM's please post.

Thanks,
Rick

[Redleg]

Thanks, guys.

Being the NKOB with Mapmaker, I am fumbling along.  So far, I have been playing with map-maker, Nems and a freeware paint program.  I seem to be progressing but this I am only one day into it.  Hopefully, I can learn enough to forumulate decent questions![:'(]

I seem to have a knack for making wierdness occur..... such as a message that informed me that my grayscale had unknown or illegal gray color being used. I am also getting messages from mapmaker about 8bit vs 24 bit graphics. I hadn't read about this happening so am wondering if my grayscale painting program is messing things up somehow. But I think after I re-read the various instructions and comments, I will make more progress.

[rickier65]

ORIGINAL: Redleg

Thanks, guys.

Being the NKOB with Mapmaker, I am fumbling along.  So far, I have been playing with map-maker, Nems and a freeware paint program.  I seem to be progressing but this I am only one day into it.  Hopefully, I can learn enough to forumulate decent questions![:'(]

I seem to have a knack for making wierdness occur..... such as a message that informed me that my grayscale had unknown or illegal gray color being used. I am also getting messages from mapmaker about 8bit vs 24 bit graphics. I hadn't read about this happening so am wondering if my grayscale painting program is messing things up somehow. But I think after I re-read the various instructions and comments, I will make more progress.

What are you using for your paint program. I'm using gimp, sometimes paint.net. When I went to import my AI map, I started getting all sorts of invalid colr messages. I started fixing them individually and after about a dozen ( I cant figure out how they got there to start with), I went back to GIMP and starting doing color flattening( I think thats what its called), and color swapping.

I worked at it until GIMP should have had only the basic vaild colors. I tried loading it again and still got error messages.

I finally just proceeded.

RIck

[Redleg]

The one I have now is Paint.net.  It seems to work well except for the confusion about colors.  I couldn't even begin to locate the "illegal" color.... So I coated the entire map with various legit colors and still got weird messages.... I was hoping to get something working that was less complicated than Gimp.  Simple and effective, that is my goal.  Unreachable?

[Stridor]

To anyone who is getting illegal color messages for either the heightmaps or AI maps or both, could you please post your bitmaps along with the error message and I will take a look.

As a tip ensure that the MM window is not clipped by the screen edge or task bar (or any other always on top tool bars, windows, etc), before you load your maps. If it is you will get a color error.

Regards

S.

[Redleg]

Edit: I found the explanation of this, no need to respond.
Stridor:
I get this message each time I load a terrain from Nem's Terrain Generator into Mapmaker. The default is 64, it changes it to 65, I think. If I manually change to 65, it will change to 66. IOW, Nem's seems to add 1 to the settings.