Perun
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Post by Perun on Jul 9, 2004 23:12:21 GMT
Yes, new version is finally out.
And if you wonder why such a big jump between versions, the reason is simple: location descriptions are at last implemented.
You can edit them one or more at a time, and load/save within projects. Of course, "Save to SQL" now exports all attributes needed by M/MU format. "Save to HTML" exports descriptions as ALT parameters.
Terrain statistics form is also added, to inform you of how terrain is distributed on your map.
I hope you'll find this newest version useful. And I hope it's not too slow, especially when loading/saving projects.
As always, any comment, good or bad, as well as a bug report or feature request is highly appreciated.
Cheers!
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Matija
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Post by Matija on Jul 10, 2004 5:33:50 GMT
Damn. And just after that I, for the lack of that feature in Unimapgen, wrote a simple tool that does exactly that. Did you by any chance also implement domains? And changed the SQL to accomodate both domains and scenario ID, according to the statement JY gave when he was asking for help in making a map?
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Perun
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Issa (Vis) [1:76:24]
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Post by Perun on Jul 10, 2004 7:34:21 GMT
d**n. And just after that I, for the lack of that feature in Unimapgen, wrote a simple tool that does exactly that. Yeah, well, you know... ;D I've started making a map for JY and immediately got stuck with editing SQL script manually. So I simply had to do it. I guess you had that similar experience? I've been thinking about domains, but because of lack of info about them (are they square portions of the map, or are defined per-location), I didn't implement domain editing. It should be very easy, though. Help, JY! SQL export, however, has a "static" parameter for domain IDs. Scenario IDs were implemented since v2.0, I think. All SQL elements (table and field names) can now have user-defined names, and M/MU ones are default. But, why don't you download the new version and give it a try? I would appreciate some feedback. And why don't you post your tool? I might steal some functionality, since I'm not 100% happy with mine in unimapgen. ;D
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Matija
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Post by Matija on Jul 10, 2004 8:25:21 GMT
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Perun
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Issa (Vis) [1:76:24]
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Post by Perun on Jul 10, 2004 9:22:52 GMT
Yes, I've seen it, that's why I decided to upgrade unimapgen to allow editing location descriptions.
But I don't see any link there. Am I missing something?
Btw, your and mine map arrived into JY's emailbox at the virtually same time. Talking about speed, eh? ;D I'm really looking forward to see some new maps... Slurp!
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Natmus
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Post by Natmus on Jul 10, 2004 11:53:07 GMT
I downloaded it and have tried making a few maps, just to check out the functionality of it, and I have a few comments and suggestions. First off, I like it very much, and can easily imagine myself spending way too much time with it simply designing new maps for the pure pleasure of doing it. as the mapmaking itself is so easy and well designed. But I have a few suggestions that would make things easier (or maybe they are already available, and I have somehow overlooked them. If so, I apologise): 1) Size of map. I find it a bit annoying that I have to add two to each side of the mapsize I want to make to make up for frozen wastes. Wouldn't it be trivial for the program to automatically add frozen wastes, so when an user defined the size as 20*20 squares, he would get 20*20 usable squares instead of 18*18? 2) As I would like to make my very own maps, I would like the option of starting with a blank map, just with plains. Now I can take either algorithm and when the random map appears I just fill it with plains (easily done) and then start painting features. A "Start with all plains" would be appreciated by me. 3) Currenetly the descriptions do not always follow the terrain I paint. Before it really can used, this must be fixed. As an example of how it look to me, here's a partial screenshot. Notice that the features sometimes do match the description, so it is partially working: 4) In further development I think the domains mentioned earlier in the thread could be a good thing. I could imagine that the user could define a large number of names and then paint the map with domains like extra features. Any given cell or square would then have a feature (for example 'downs') and a domain (for example Gondor), making the cell's description something of somewhere ('The Downs of Gondor'). Extra neat features regarding domains would be an ability to toggle off and on indicators of whether cells have been marked by a domain or not, and perhaps even different colours for domains. Furthermore, perhaps domain lists could be saved and loaded seperatly to be used on other maps as well. 4.5) Even if the program by default uses the feature and domain to make up the description, this of course should be able to be manually overwritten by the user to make individual names for special places. 5) finally, for making acces to the features palette easier when painting a map, is it possible to make the features toolbar floating, so it can be placed anywhere the user likes on the screen?
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Perun
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Issa (Vis) [1:76:24]
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Post by Perun on Jul 10, 2004 16:30:21 GMT
1) Size of map. I find it a bit annoying that I have to add two to each side of the mapsize I want to make to make up for frozen wastes. Wouldn't it be trivial for the program to automatically add frozen wastes, so when an user defined the size as 20*20 squares, he would get 20*20 usable squares instead of 18*18? Good point. I'll see what I can do. Btw, if you're exporting to M/MU SQL, you can slice FWs off with an option. Something like "Create the blank map filled with terrain T and of size X by Y". OK, that's easy to implement. That was a bug I overlooked (I've swapped width and height and forgot to add tree refresh on grid click) . This should be fixed in the latest release (v2.6). Domains are added in v2.6, although not the way you suggested. They are cell-based and numeric for now (for M/MU compatibility). Domain statistics give both domain list and smaller map with domains painted in different colours. Both domains and domain colours can be saved in UMG project file. A little toggleable indicator if a cell owns a description would be a nice touch. Added to to-do list. Hmmm, good thinking, but I have to (quickly and easy) implement generic name generation... There are numbered domains for now, though. I hope you've noticed that decription tree items are multiselectable/editable? You mean like tool window? I was thinking of making all terrain types fully visible on such a window. OK. Thanks for giving it a go, Mads! This is how it's done, guys! See the new version too!
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Natmus
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Post by Natmus on Jul 11, 2004 9:32:18 GMT
Domains are added in v2.6, although not the way you suggested. They are cell-based and numeric for now (for M/MU compatibility). Domain statistics give both domain list and smaller map with domains painted in different colours. Both domains and domain colours can be saved in UMG project file. A little toggleable indicator if a cell owns a description would be a nice touch. Added to to-do list. Of course M/MU compability is a priority, and with 256 possible domains a few slots should be available for special names You are most welcome. I have been wishing making my own maps for M/MU, but before J-Y said that M/MU is adapted for this, I held back trying. I hope you and J-Y have discussed this, so your exports and M/MU are fully compatible. In time I suppose this tool can be developed into a full editor, including lords, armies and specials. Perhaps, if the AI aspects of TME is considered, it can be used to make maps for TME as well. As for the new version, I'll comment in that thread.
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Matija
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Post by Matija on Jul 11, 2004 9:41:21 GMT
Hear, hear.
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