Matrix Games Forums

Hi All,

How does one edit an existing map?

Regards,

John

Very carefully.

What exactly do you want to edit on a pre-existing map?

Good Hunting.

MR

I would like to cut out a piece of an existing map to make a smaller one and then save it.

So you're just wanting to use a part of the terrain map from an existing map to create a new one?

Is the map one of mine?

Good Hunting.

MR

All of my map names start with HSG.

Good Hunting.

MR

ORIGINAL: z1812

I would like to cut out a piece of an existing map to make a smaller one and then save it.

It really depends on which map you are referring to. Some of the maps can be edited using Map Maker. If there is a mapmaker.xml file in the Media\Map file, then you can use it within MM. But, I'm not sure that will work very well with what you want to do.

If there is no mapmaker.xml file in the Media\Map file, then you can still use MapSceneEdit to make some edits, but again, it wasn't designed to allow you create a 'submap'.

Let me think about that a bit. If you can share anymore details, of if you want to pm me, feel free.

Thanks
rick

What I thought he wanted to do was use the terrain map. Cut that down, resize it and then make a new height map for it and add structures himself.

If that's the case that shouldn't be much of a problem. But I'd still ask the original designer.

If it's one of my maps I'd be fine with that.

Good Hunting.

MR

Hi z1812,

Some maps were made with the Map Maker, others predate it. Those that are older than the Map Maker are mainly open for tweaking with the Scene Editor and that's about it, unless you are good with third party 3D software. For those made with Map Maker, you can absolutely use parts of them to build a new smaller map, but you have to do some of that manually as there's no way to "slice" a piece out in Map Maker. The way Map Maker is designed, you set the size and work from there.

It's actually easier to make a new map at first to learn the Map Maker than it is to try to cut a piece out of an existing one. If you just want to modify an existing map that was made with Map Maker, that's easy, as long as you don't need to change the map size.

Regards,

- Erik

To Rick MR and Eric,

Thank you for your replies.

@MR I had no particular map in mind. Just the thought that I would like to try to make a small scenario. I poked around in the editor and map maker but could not find a way to crop the map or make a sub map. Hence my question.

@Rick My intention was to make a small goal based scenario based upon a tactical problem.

@Eric Thanks for the information. However the map maker looks time consuming and unfortunately like many I will find it difficult making the time to use it.

Regards,

John

ORIGINAL: z1812

To Rick and MR,

Thank you both for your replies.

@MR I had no particular map in mind. Just the thought that I would like to try to make a small scenario. I poked around in the editor and map maker but could not find a way to crop the map or make a sub map. Hence my question.

@Rick My intention was to make a small goal based scenario based upon a tactical problem.

Regards,

John

I think it might be easier to draw your map using a Paint program. If you look in the Map Maker Guide in the manuals Folder there is an appendix on using map templates I think. you might look at the first part of that Appendix. If I recall it went through some of the basic map drawing steps.

I'm happy to answer any questions, as I'm sure MR is as well.

thakns
rick

Okay. I misunderstood.

There is no way to take an existing map and change sizes with it in MM. You are asked when you open MM what size map you will be working on. Once you determine that the size map is then set. This keeps you from going back and forth between map sizes.

You could use either the terrain or height map and cut them down outside of MM and then use them for a new map instead of creating them from scratch.

Have you seen my Pictorial Map Making Tutorial thread? It's a simple step by step pictorial to making a map. You can have a map created in 5 minutes or less to begin to play around with it.


FIVE MINUTES TO A MAP! That's not all that time consuming. Try it one time. Follow the steps I give you in the pictorial guide. I'm writing that guide with you guys in mind. Something simple and easy to follow. Something you can have open and look at while you create your map.

See for yourself. If my 12 year old Granddaughter can do it anyone of you can too.

tm.asp?m=2801622

Good Hunting.

MR

John, we went to great lengths, GREAT LENGTHS, so that MM wouldn't be too complicated, or hard to use for making at least basic maps for you guys. I can't stress enough the time spent, and they were long hard hours, working on the Map Maker program. One time Stridor arrived at my computer in Texas all the way from Australia to see what was happening.

We went down every road we could go down, with Map Maker, to make it as simple to use as possible.

That's what Stridor did for you.  [&o]

My part of the equation is to give you the documentation and support to the best of my ability. To show you how to use MM. I'm trying to do that. With Rick's video's and my pictorial tutorial I think we have multiple ways for you guys to get into map making quick and easy.

I would just tell you to try it one time. Follow the guides step by step and see how easy it really is.


Good Hunting.

MR