"KaM Editor" WIP thread

[Merchator]

Htis Thread seems to be death. Hopr it isnt 8)
Anyway, Krom said to The Knight, that he should ask the user of KaM.de for ideas. So i think Krom is going to Update his editor in the next time.
It is still hard (tough my Decoder-Tool) to make missiones myself and it could last more than a few days if the mission should be good. A mission-Editor would be optional^^

I dont know if TK already send the list to krom, but here are some ideas that where made.
- Delete the bottom line. Hills look terrible, if u set them at the bottom of the map.
- Delete the (dont know the word.) in the editor stands X 5,4 so, delete the ",4", noone needs it^^

I dont know more atm, there arent much.
But it weould be gerade if u could make a "Random Map"

[Krom]

Hello everyone,
I wish you a merry X-Mas and happy NewYear!

Here's a tiny present from me - KaM Editor 0.3e.

Nothing big inside, but still few nice touches I did:
- Added loading of height maps from bmp image
- Fixed terrain painting randomization
- Minor fix in NewMap dialog
- Added close query

Download link:
http://krom.rscsites.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=98&Itemid=28

I'd be glad to read your response, critics and suggestions

[Merchator]

Wow, nice to see you here again
I tought you've gone forever ...
I'll test your new version the next days, gotta sleep now -.-

Ahh

Merry Christmas everyone!

[Lewin]

Thanks so much for this release. I don't know how to thank you. I thought this project was completely abandoned!
What does "loading of height maps from bmp image" mean? I don't understand what this does, or how it is useful.
Critics:
- The button to load the bitmap does not have a name, just button 1
- There are two buttons up the top of the editor that don't seem to do anything. (button 2 and button 4)

Suggestions:
- If you place tiles manually and then use auto edging terrain it stuffs it up, the tiles place manually are still treated as what they were before. (grass) Couldn't you make it update the record of what the terrain is when ever you use manual tiling? This is a bit better in the new version, as it only changes tiles you click on.
- For some reason when ever I make maps in your editor if I have terrain like gold hills or something touching the top of the map my soldiers can walk along the top of the map over the hill. This is kind of annoying. If you don't know what I mean then I will send you a map example.
- As Merchantor (roTahCreM) said, there is some problem with bottom row and elevation, it makes it look funny and it show up through unexplored areas
- Also as Merchantor said but didn't know how to write, the coordinates you give in the status bar say something like 32.5, 65.2 The fraction is not needed. Just 32, 65 would be much better, it is less confusing when getting coordinates for missions, and I can't see a use for the fraction.

I think it is more improtant to get the map editor finnished first before you start on the mission editing part. (anyways I'm kind of doing that)
Keep up the great work, if you continue the project it will be my favorite Christmas present.
Thanks again,
Lewin.

[Krom]

@Lewin: First of all thanks for your posting Very good to read constructive critics and suggestions.

Seems I released previous bild with debug entries left LOL Didn't noticed I packed old exe into archive, stupid me I will reupload normal version asap.

- I did changed tiling approach and now custom placed tiles should not make any problem when using terrain brushes.
- I changed few lines in map edge generation, but did not checked in KaM. Can you see if these 2 bugs remained?
- Fraction part of a coordinates removed

EDIT: fixed version reuploaded under same filename.

[Lewin]

Thanks for fixing that. Will you be doing much more on the editor? On ICQ you said you had "found other thing to do than KaM". It is great you changed your mind.
I did not check the map edge for this version, so it is probably ok, I will check later.
The tiling is not completely fixed, here is how to reproduce the "bug":
1. Make a new map say 96X96
2. Go to tiles and select a sand one.
3. Place a large area of sand by dragging the tile over the map (the sides of this won't be auto edged but this is not what I mean)
4. Go to terrain and select grass
5. Paint grass in the middle of the sand
It will not do auto edging on the sand to grass, it will be "square"
You still didn't explain what the elevation from bitmap is for.
I am going on holidays for about a week so worry if I don't reply.
Oh and one of the best things to fix would be to make saving of original maps possible. Why can't you do this? If you can load, display and let you change them why not save?
I'm not trying to criticize you, I know how hard programming can be.
Lewin.

[Krom]

In fact I'm more into RacingSim tool making (games by Synetic - WorlRacing, maybe anyone heard of them here). Current update is just a small X-Mas present for KaM community Don't know if I will have interest in adding new features..

I understand example you gave, but it won't be fixed. Custom tiling meant for placing special tiles and objects (e.g. bridges). Whenever anyone needs to make sand/grass he should use terrain brushes instead. It's just the way I think coupled with difficulties in writing "fix"

Elevation from bitmap is a good tool when you want to make something special in terrain, e.g. text or shape or anything you can easier to paint in Photoshop using layers and effects. Just try out different bmps and you see what this tool can make.

Original maps save was cancelled by TheKnight request. He said it's wrong to use/edit stock maps. In fact I for myself would not like to get tonns of "user-made mods" for original maps with some minor tweaks. I got plenty of those with WorldRacing tools (e.g. stock car with +1000hp). Let make mapmakers see how original maps are made, and make own maps from scratch. I believe it's best.

Lewin, I don't take your critice wrong for it's constructive in a very good way (usually thats rare to find) and I like it Keep on criticizing and this may help me make a better Editor

P.S. Do you have ICQ turned "on" sometime? I would like to discuss with you something about scripts.

[harold]

Original maps save was cancelled by TheKnight request.

What if you make a map in Quage's editor and want to edit it?
What if you want to fix map bugs that are too hard to fix in Quage's editor?
What if you just need a couple of mountains and you're going to erase the rest anyway?

No offense, but this is kinda typical of TK..

[The Dark Lord]

I fully agree with Harold.

What if you lost the project of your map?
You have to start all over again. That's quite annoying.

However, it's great to hear something about you, and it's even more great you have updated the editor!
I hope there will be more in the future.

[Krom]

What if you make a map in Quage's editor and want to edit it?
What if you want to fix map bugs that are too hard to fix in Quage's editor?
What if you just need a couple of mountains and you're going to erase the rest anyway?

What does if someone else made a map and you want to edit and "steal" it?
What if you want to add few cheats into map that are too hard to add in Qages editor?
What if you just need to place 20 trees in your town shaped as "XXX" and release it as "Super-Mega-XXX MapPack for KaM!!!"?

What if you lost the project of your map?

Project file has additional tiling data in it used for terrain brushes. Losing it is a abd idea anyway

There are reasons for and against.. Just take "no save" as given

[The Dark Lord]

What does if someone else made a map and you want to edit and "steal" it?
What if you want to add few cheats into map that are too hard to add in Qages editor?
What if you just need to place 20 trees in your town shaped as "XXX" and release it as "Super-Mega-XXX MapPack for KaM!!!"?

Why would someone do one of these things? Everybody will notice it is fake/stolen. By the way, if we want to steal maps and change them a bit, we could easily use an old version of your editor.
So far nobody has stolen maps (excluding ''berta'' of the German forum, who stole my whole mission 11 :roll: ).

[harold]

Besides, so what if they do? If people like that, well, who are we to care about it?
And why does TK meddle with it, going as far as to request a limitation?

On an other note, it would appear that a .map file is directly convertible into a .pro file, now I'm not sure about the details but I could look into and then what? An tool needed to use an editor to it's full extend?

How about some freedom, right?

edit: to prove my point, I wrote the converter..

[Krom]

If someones needs to steal others map I won't assist that. That is my statement. If you are to help thiefes - make your map>pro converter, I can't stop you Harold, you have all the freedom you want...

[harold]

Done. Those 'thieves' are just editing maps that have been sitting around in their K&M data folder for years, if they wanted to they could have used a hexeditor or an older version of your editor or Quage's editor - this is no new freedom, but old freedom that was taken given back.

[The Dark Lord]

But what was your statement before you inserted .map/.pro? All other versions didn't have that, so why should this one?

Stealing maps is impossible! It doesn't excist! Of course I can take the map of mission 20 TSK, change one tile and say it is my map. And then? The whole community will shout and laugh at me. The developers of KaM do not care either! KaM is (nearly?) abandonware.
If we would think in the same way as The Knight, the whole editor should be forbidden. The Knight is exaggerating slightly in my opinion (no offense).

I understand your statement, but it is just not needed.