A new map editor is born

Mercator · April 7, 2000, 14:10

I'm finishing up a map editor, which should be able to create blank maps and perform some arithmetic such as resizing maps.
I'm looking for people who dare to test the application...

Stefan Härtel · April 7, 2000, 14:29

trés cool- Send it in!

April 7, 2000, 16:02

Great! I've been looking a long time for this kind of map editor!

Sure I'll try and test it.

jgv@fiera.com

The ANZAC · April 7, 2000, 17:01

Sure, that sounds good. I'll test it. my e-mail address is in my profile

shamrock · April 7, 2000, 17:48

Sign me up too, please!

Alinestra Covelia · April 7, 2000, 18:41

Oh boy! A new map editor thingy! Send it on to me! (Email address in profile.)

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"In all creation, there can be no task more onerous or tedious than that of playing God." - Stephen Fry, 'The Liar'.

Captain Nemo · April 7, 2000, 20:43

I need it! I am about to embark on a perfectionistic redraw of the Red Front map... Does it handle oversized maps?

Gothmog · April 8, 2000, 10:02

I'll do it.

techumseh · April 8, 2000, 13:28

Yes,please!

Mercator · April 9, 2000, 09:13

Wow! It's good to know there's actually demand for it.
Yes it does handle oversized maps, that the whole point of creating it in the first place.

I'll be done with it in a couple of days, so I'll send it to all of you.
Beware though, I asked you to test it (not to grab this goody from me, and never show up again, but use it plentifully

), which mainly means trying to find errors. It may still contain bugs, so my first concern is finding those.
I haven't really tested in many different environments either, so I also need to know what files I need to package with the executable.
I would of course appreciate any suggestions, although these may not end up in version 1 yet.

And last of all, I don't have a help file done yet, so you're on your own. Although you can "always" contact me.

Allard HS · April 9, 2000, 11:27

Wow, mag ik ook testen? klinkt supermooi. 't Is wel een goed punt trouwens, ik heb er nooit zo over nagedacht, denkend dat de standaard editor goed genoeg was, maar een nieuwe verbeterde mapeditor is eigenlijk een erg belangrijke utility die nog niet bestaat.

Als je de smaak van editors maken te pakken hebt, email me dan even. ik heb een hele lijst met ongeveer alle nuttige waarden in een saved game file die heel keurig kunnen worden gebruikt in een editor. Alleen kan ik niet programmeren, anders had ik 't zelf al gedaan.

KhanMan · April 9, 2000, 14:31

Mercator-At Last! A map-editor for us hex-ily-challenged creators...

Sign me up as a playtester: email is:
khanmaned@hotmail.com

I have a few ideas on trying to break this...

Allard-Sigh! It's been too long since I've heard a long spiel of Dutch!

Dankje Well!

-KhanMan (who can never spell, regardless of the language...

Mercator · April 10, 2000, 03:33

I'm at university now, but I think it's done so far, so I'll send it over (most likely) somewhere this evening (CET that is).

Please, don't think too much of it! It's definitely NOT a superb graphical wonder, you don't even get to see the map itself. Just expect yet another useless crap application, then you'll think you're in heaven when you see it

.

I just added another option saturday. It's now capable of reading (and writing) 256 color bitmaps as well. So anything my application can't do, your image editor can.

Oh, en Allard, ik weet niet of ik echt een programma voor die saved game informatie zal gaan schrijven, maar stuur die informatie gerust op. Ikzelf heb ook al aardig wat informatie over savegames bij elkaar gesprokkeld, dus wie weet.

And one final note... Please, no more testers! I think I have enough now, just wait until version 1 hits the virtual shelves (no, don't worry, it's freeware) and spam me as much as you want.

Stefan Härtel · April 10, 2000, 10:57

Wow- it's amazing how much Dutch a German can understand...

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We who grew up tall and proud
In the shadow of the mushroom cloud
Convinced our voices can't be heard
We just want to scream it louder and louder:
"What the hell are we fighting for?"
"Just surrender and it won't hurt at all"
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Visit my Homepage at: http://members.xoom.com/SHaertel/Index.html

Eru Ilúvatar · April 11, 2000, 14:14

Stefan, dat is inderdaad waar. Nederlands en Duits lijken in sommige opzichten erg sterk op elkaar. Vooral als je de uitspraak van de Nederlandse woorden wat veranderdt. (Alhoewel, Kartofel en aardappel lijken niet zoveel op elkaar

)
Did you understand this? Verstond je dit?
PS, zend de editor ook maar op. Ik zal proberen hem grondig te testen

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Captain Nemo · April 14, 2000, 19:19

How is the map editor work going? The last version crashed and burned instantly. I am still very eager to get my hands on an operational version.

Mercator · April 15, 2000, 10:50

A working version is coming your way, Captain!
Eru, are you sure you want to receive 1.7 MB, or do you rather receive it in several turns? Please mail me (in Dutch or English)!

WarVoid · April 15, 2000, 21:19

I'm really interested in this new editor.
I've already got about one gig of space taken up on my server with maps. A few more won't hurt me (I hope).

warvoid@aol.com

Eru Ilúvatar · April 16, 2000, 07:54

I've sent you a mail

Paul Hanson · April 16, 2000, 08:56

Why are all the Dutch people talking about potatoes?

Hendrik the Great · April 16, 2000, 11:01

Because they taste so good??? I wouldn't know...

I'd really like to see that editor once it's finished!

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http://members.xoom.com/thalys/index.html

Captain Nemo · April 16, 2000, 17:25

The editor is working! Good work Mercator...
I just edited a new "oversized" scenario map with it.
Here are some suggestions for extra features:
1. Ability to extract and edit the map portion of a .sav file, then replace it in the file.
2. A tool to analyze and convert .bmp maps if they do not match the format needed. The message I got wasn't descriptive enough (Basically: "This format doesn't match"). How about "oversized dimensions" (Option to trim map?), "X wrong colors detected" (Option to replace?), "incorrect Palette"(Option to substitute palette?)...
This is a great utility and it is very usable as is... The above is not a criticism just a wishlist.

Mercator · April 17, 2000, 03:25

The problem with savegames is that there is a lot more map information stored in them than what can be found in a map file. In savegames and scenarios you also need to take units, cities etc. etc. into account. There are also multiple areas maps are stored in. Since I only recently found that out, I'll have to look into that a little better.
I could indeed add a little bmp analyzing options. I'll look into that as well.

Thanks for the comments and compliments!

Eru Ilúvatar · April 17, 2000, 04:37

When can I receive it? I sent you a mail yesterday, but I didn't receive it. But Nemo had it. Maybe is there something wrong with my e-mailadress. Working mail: webmaster@TolkienQuiz.cjb.net

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May Eru Ilúvatar and the Valar be with you!

Mercator · April 18, 2000, 03:47

*double post*
[This message has been edited by Mercator (edited April 18, 2000).]

Mercator · April 18, 2000, 03:48

Sorry, I did receive your mail Eru (Nemo was a little earlier). I just haven't been able to send a reply yet. I'll probably send the necessary things over this evening (CET). Tecumseh, Allard, Eru and WarVoid can expect it within the next 36 hours

.

Sieve Too · April 18, 2000, 15:53

There's just something so right and fitting about a guy named Mercator working on maps...

WarVoid · April 18, 2000, 19:01

Mercator:
I have just received the new editor.
Many thanks...
I'm in the process of testing it as I post this.
I'll either post my results or send you an e-mail.
Thanks again.

Eru Ilúvatar · April 19, 2000, 03:26

Thanks! I have already send you some errors I encoutered when I installed it. I'll test it today.

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May Eru Ilúvatar and the Valar be with you!

Mercator · April 19, 2000, 05:14

Well, Sieve Too, why did you think I chose this handle?

I'll have a look at all the error reports shortly.