Can someone explain the map file format to me? My brother wants me to make a map editor. If it's not too hard I might do it but I dunno where to get started :s

Download the map maker source and check it out for yourself.

I've got the source, but I don't know Delphi. I have the EditPro source and I know VB but it's not helping much either.

Well, you know the format. So what's your real question?

I want Anna to make EditPro work with the new .pms file format, because EditPro was the best editor ever :9
She "knows" Visual basic and that's the language EditPro is made in so I don't think it would be too hard for her to do that... Although since she doesn't know Delphi, so she's having trouble understanding the .pms format.

new .pms format?

quote:Originally posted by MichalI want Anna to make EditPro work with the new .pms file format, because EditPro was the best editor ever :9
She "knows" Visual basic and that's the language EditPro is made in so I don't think it would be too hard for her to do that... Although since she doesn't know Delphi, so she's having trouble understanding the .pms format.
[IMAGE]

quote:Originally posted by MichalI want Anna to make EditPro work with the new .pms file format, because EditPro was the best editor ever :9
She "knows" Visual basic and that's the language EditPro is made in so I don't think it would be too hard for her to do that... Although since she doesn't know Delphi, so she's having trouble understanding the .pms format.


"I don't think it would be too hard for her" ??? well if he understand finnish 100% then it wont be too hard coz you know those comments & great part of source is in finnish :PPPPPP

Const SceneKorjausX As Single = 0.5 'Korjaa sceneryjen paikkaa
=
Const SceneryfixX As Single = 0.5 'Fixes scenery places

or something like that.. :)

ok herc, task fo U:
translate all comments and variable names in metzi's source code to english, hehehehehe ^^

Just learn the basics of Delphi / Object Pascal. There's lots of tutorials on the internet. All you need to know is how a record structure looks like and rewrite it in VB if you know it.

Check the last post by Meitzi : http://archive.forums.soldat.pl/topic.php?topic_id=17886

I've been reading about records in Delphi and looking at the file reading/writing code in EditPro and the PolyMap.pas file in the map maker source. It's confusing but I think I'm starting to understand it :P

I think instead of making a full editor I might make a program that just lets you edit the polygons and compile. A full map editor would take waaaay too long. I'd just implement things like vertices that snap together perfectly and a grid (features that my brother wants). Then scenery, spawn points, etc. would be added with a different editor. But I still have to see if it's not too hard for me.

quote:Originally posted by coozok herc, task fo U:
translate all comments and variable names in metzi's source code to english, hehehehehe ^^


i would rather hang myself then translate it :P

your language, your choice ;) :P

[code]
// The Polygon Map Structure
TPolyMap = object
VertexBuffer : IDirect3DVertexBuffer8;
Polys : array[1..MaxPolys2] of TPolygon;
Perp : array[1..MaxPolys2,1..3] of TD3DXVector3;
PolyCount : integer;
PosX, PosY :integer;
Texture : IDIRECT3DTEXTURE8;
Sectors : array[NMIN_SECTOR..NMAX_SECTOR,NMIN_SECTOR..NMAX_SECTOR] of TSector;
SectorsDivision : integer;
BackgroundColor, BackgroundColor2 : longint;
BackgroundVertexBuffer : IDirect3DVertexBuffer8;
BackPoly : array[1..2] of TPolygon;
Path : TNewWayPoints;
PolyType : array[1..MaxPolys2] of byte;
[/code]
Is there a vertex buffer in the file? I don't know what to do with VertexBuffer : IDirect3DVertexBuffer8;
:s
edit: I'm looking at the saving/loading code in Unit1.pas and it's clarifying some things. I'm getting used to Delphi :D

when you got it, please make a small tutorial, ok?

The first three values I get when I try loading from "inf_POW Camp.PMS":

11
%Prisoner of War Camp - Made by Michal
rodzynka.bmp2?Ôw0ú

Everything after that is screwed up too... what am I doing wrong?
EDIT: Nevermind, the good people at Gamedev.net helped me out with this ^_^

Is it normal to get negative x coordinates for a polygon?

TPolyMap is a map structure that I use for map display. It is based on DirectX, that's why there is a vertex buffer - IDirect3DVertexBuffer8.
You can make your own map structure. The more important structures are the ones used for file save/loading and those are the structures beginning with "TMapFile_" ex. TMapFile_Header, TMapFile_Options.
The saving/loading is done in functions:
procedure TForm1.SaveToFile2(filename : string);
and
procedure TForm1.LoadFromFile2(filename : string);.
If you know the basics it's not complicated.

quote:Originally posted by Michal MarcinkowskiTPolyMap is a map structure that I use for map display. It is based on DirectX, that's why there is a vertex buffer - IDirect3DVertexBuffer8.
You can make your own map structure. The more improtant structures are the ones used for file save/loading and those are the structures beginning with "TMapFile_" ex. TMapFile_Header, TMapFile_Options.
The saving/loading is done in functions:
procedure TForm1.SaveToFile2(filename : string);
and
procedure TForm1.LoadFromFile2(filename : string);.
If you know the basics it's not complicated.

Thanks :) Yeah, I understand that now. I got the polys to load and I'm working on displaying them.

Edit: progress!
[IMAGE]
next is textures...

looks good

It's nice to see the progress.
I hope you don't mind posting some more screenshots as you get further.

good job

tutorial?

quote:Originally posted by Inquisitortutorial?

On how to use it or how to make an editor?

[IMAGE]
This is how I want the editor to look, as well as some of the features that I want. Anna probably won't be able to make it look like that, but hopefully she will do the features that I want :P .

Update: the polys are now textured, I got the wireframe to work, and you can move the map around.
I spent two days trying to get it to work with a vertex buffer so I could do matrix tranformations on the polys, but that didn't work (wrong vertex format). So I'm just manipulating the poly array. I'm learning Direct3D as I go along so progress is a little slow -_-
Now I'm experimenting with point sprites...

Sounds like you know what you're doing, and your progress is excellent, good luck with it :)

PS: Nice design Michal, I'd love to see a map maker like that too.

Update:
[IMAGE]
Moving around a group of vertices doesn't work properly yet though.

School starts again tomorrow so I'm not going to have as much time to work on it :(

wow, it look awesome! this presise position of verticles... mmm, continue great work Anna!

nice job!!!
i have a question for u all thou, is it possible to create a compiler that can change the .PMP files into .PMS files?
i guess not, but just making sure

You can open .pmp files and compile them and save tham as .pms with the original mapmaker, but there might be problems with scenery etc. So if you want to convert a pmp map in this way you should make it only polys.

ok, so we can still use EditPro and use MapMakerPlus for shading, scenery and compiling
but what if i would want to open a .PMS map with the EditPro?

It wouldn't work because editpro does not recognize the .pms format.

Wow, great job Anna! It looks great so far!

thanks guys ^_^

Michal - i know, what i meant is how could i make the .PMS file into a .PMP file? thats the question

When saving a map you can choose the format, PMS or PMP. But if you want to open it in editpro there might be a problem if the map has scenery that isn't from the original ones that editpro has. So if there is a problem you'll have to delete the new scenery before saving as a pmp. I only tried it once so I don't know of any other errors except that EditPro has a limit of 400 polygons, it may crash if you try to open a map with more.

ahha... well ok, the huge problem with this thou is the poly displacement during all this compilements and saving... :\ but it maybe worth while...

Is there any progress with your editor Anna? :)

Sorry about my slowness... I have a lot of tests/assignments lately and exams are coming up so I've been pretty busy with school. I'll release the alpha version as soon as I've implemented the grid and snapping, so you guys can test the interface. Don't know when that will be though. After that I still have to do saving and scenery and all that stuff. Fortunately there's only three weeks of classes left and my exams will be over by the end of April, so I'll have lots of time to work on it then :)

I don't know if you need help or not, but you would have my assistance if you ever wanted it. I mean, two people are better than one. We might even get Enesce to do some fiddling around :P

I can handle it ;) thanks anyway.

I guess this means war... :D

[00:15] <chrisgbk> hey, heh, elephant hunter made a comment in anna's thread (on the mapmaker) saying maybe you could do somefiddling around lol
[00:16] <EnEsCe> im stil trying to find the thread >_>
[00:16] <EnEsCe> oh found it
[00:16] <EnEsCe> speak of the devil
[00:16] <chrisgbk> page 2 =D
[00:17] <EnEsCe> aww lol
[00:17] <EnEsCe> "i can handle it"
[00:17] <chrisgbk> yeah :(
[00:17] <EnEsCe> NO YOU CANT *****!
[00:17] * EnEsCe slaps anna
[00:17] <chrisgbk> XD


All in good fun, of course. But still amazingly funny XD

update:
[IMAGE]
^o^

I must say, that looks very sexy!

quote:Originally posted by DenackeI must say, that looks very sexy!



!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cor blimer guv'nor.
I smell map remakes.

Even I might start making maps now :O

Hmm.. what about scenery?

I haven't done scenery yet :P

<3

Now listen, and this is very important, don't forget to add the ability to change scenery around after you've placed it. If there's anything that really needs improvement, that's it.

By the way, nice job on the texture previewer...I've always thought that would come in handy.

Wow, Im getting this when its released for sure. It'll make my job waaaayyy easier. Yeah, please add a scenery re-placer option after you've already placed a scenery. That's one of the main problems with all of the mapmakers nowadays :/ thanks.

quote:By the way, nice job on the texture previewer...I've always thought that would come in handy.
That was my idea ;]



Modifying scenery after placement will be in the editor. The main focus of this editor is to be user friendly and efficient. The biggest problem with the default mapmaker is that it takes too much time to make a decent map, with Meitzi's Editpro you can see how quick and easy mapping can be, this editor will even improve on Editpro.

wow.. like it..
hmm maybe give a overview whats coming up, whats done.. hmm maybe then it woldnt come useless posts about what should be implanted, but have disussed before.

hmm maybe their should be a options for plugins... just get this idia because of ur box system...
so every box is a plugin (new idia new feature, download it... ready to go), so u have a easy way to update aswell (just replace the needed file).
(or u use it only for u, so nobody need o know ur code, but i think it makes u flexible...

so go on with this nice project...

Purdy!
Nice soldat-ish environment too, me likes :) Does it also have a "pick up color" function? This might make a handy feature for shading since it speeds things up a lot.

quote:Does it also have a "pick up color" function?
Yes.

hmm as i suggested it ( http://www.soldatforums.com/topic.asp?topic_id=22436 )
it wasn't liked... stupid.. but great that it is in there... *hehe*

Great job, release some preview version please :)

Michal, does the color picker pick (pickled peppers) the colors on the polygon while it's textured, or does it pick the applied colors as if there wasn't any texture?

If it uses the Windows API, it gets the color with the texture applied. And seeing as that is about the only way to do it, it's pretty much guaranteed.

The colour picker gets only the actual vertex colour, texture does not affect it.

Oh My Godness, this progie from last update looks awesome! and those tools - superb!
give us some preview build!

I'm going to release something soon, just be patient :)

im no patient.

but u understand english?



as more u make them to hurry, as unsatisfactory the new map maker would be...




one question if u select a poly would it be able to move them with the arrows? i think that would be great..

So this Mapmaker will have the polygon drag'n'drop function that's in editpro? If so, this is the bestestestest goddamn MapMaker ever!

The screenshot looks great, when is some beta version going to be out?

quote:Originally posted by AnnaI'm going to release something soon, just be patient :)


how can we be pacient when we saw something like:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/Anna_Z/pw_screen_2.png
:S

quote:Originally posted by silentpark
but u understand english?

as more u make them to hurry, as unsatisfactory the new map maker would be...


and did u ever heard about preview versions of stuff? ;p

@Boxo, u can move poly's in all versions :/
Shift+Move poly by holding mouse button ( normal by michal... and mark.jp)
and in elephant hunters i think its clear how to move.. ;)

so..

silentpark: try editpro and you'll se what i mean. You can select vertices in groups or separately with a draggable box, and move them around, like you do to shortcuts at windows desktop :p

I love you Anna <3

any were near releasing anything anna?

omg this mapmaker going to rock!!!

I wonder what Anna would say if she saw what you guys were saying on IRC >>_>>

quote:Originally posted by EnEsCeI wonder what Anna would say if she saw what you guys were saying on IRC >>_>>


I'm pretty sure it was only MilkmanDan. And possibly n00bface.

*wow*

and that font is bankgothic, isnt it?

Hey, I can get all map info, but after Polygon_Start r polygons and I don't know how can I edit X and Y position of verticles. Anyone can help me with it or something ? I just want to edit XY, without texture effects etc.