Matrix Games Forums

I just discovered this feature, it seems cool


Instructions in readme are that :
For example take a map of North Africa that is 1000 pixels wide and scaled at 40km per 25 pixels at the original source.
if you are making a scenario with a 20km scale you have to reduce the image horizontally so the distance of 20km matches 9 pixels.
#1 Calculate the pixel length on the original map image for 20km (40km / 2 = 20km) which means (25 pixels / 2 = 12.5 pixels) thus every 12.5 pixels is 20km
#2 Reduce the map from the scale of 12.5 pixels per 20km to 9 pixels per 20km (9 / 12.5 = .72 or 72%) which means (1000 pixels X 72% = 720 pixels)
#3 Select all the water areas of the map. Color them in with (0000FF) blue color.
#4 Save the adjusted image as a PNG and move it to the ...\SC3MapScanner_Data\Resources\ folder
#5 Run the software
#6 Select the PNG you wish to scan and click "Create Map Indexs from Image"
#7 Open the ...\SC3MapScanner_Data\Resources\mapIndexes.txt and get the width and height of the map which are the 1st two numbers in the text file.
#8 Start the SC3 Editor and create a new map with the width and height
#9 Click File -> Import Map Indexes and find the ...\SC3MapScanner_Data\Resources\mapIndexes.txt to import.

Ok, I will just consider that step 1 to 4 are ok; because I will just do a test with the Europe map that is already in the folder "resources"", and by definition, this "vanilla" map is ok

I run the software, I select the PNG Europe I wish and I click "Create Map Indexs from Image"
and... nothing
Beacuse when I open the...\SC3MapScanner_Data\Resources\, I find no any mapIndexes.txt file in this folder

Where is this file ? Mystery...

Edit : One essential instruction is missing in the readme : The software has to be lunch in "administrator mode", if not it does not work
Instruction #5 Run the software
should be that :

#5 Run the software (take care : run it in "administrator mode")

In addition, seems that something is curious : maps in SC editor may only have even size parameters (50,52,54 etc but never 51,53,55 etc)

OK.
But the program generate regulary index that are odd
Example : I used a map 800 x 400 pixels and I obtained as map index 117 x 51

In the editor, I can not create this kind of map, I may only do 116x50, 118x52, 116x52 or 118x50, but not 117,51

What is the good way ? 116 x 50 or 118 x 52 ?

The coasts that are generated are in addition very oft false.

Howewer, this software has a great practical utility : when you create a new map, all hex are sea hex and you spend your time to place ground hex : very bad, I hate to work to build maps at start .

With this program, you have just to create a 100% blank map file (no any coast and no any sea) and in 2 seconds you have in the editor a 100% ground map without to do any work

where can i find this tool ?

Just follow this way in folders :

Main directory of game/Extras/Map scanner

Application'name is Strategic Command III Map Reader
It has to be lunch in "administrator" mode (if not, it does not work and nothing occurs)