MapCreator_v5.0

[gametec]

This is a pre-release of the new MapCreatorUI and some of its newer features:

≡ MapCreator v5.0

● Configure Color Tables.......done.
users can load and view the Terrain color table and the Altitude color table
users can make changes to the colors used AND their association with the game tileID numbers using the built-in XML Editor

● Create Map Templates.........done.
users can create 2 bitmap files: Terrain.bmp and Altitude.bmp
both files are in an 8bit indexed color format - this cannot be deviated from or the compiler won't be able to read them when it comes time to create your game files
the Terrain.bmp is what the user will draw their map on
the Altitude.bmp will stay blank until the map has been completed

● Draw A Custom Facet..........incomplete.
users can edit and manipulate their Terrain.bmp and Altitude.bmp (after its passed through the Encode Altitude Bitmap plugin)
this plugin is a work in progress
so far users can load their Terrain.bmp and Terrain color table and paint on the map; they can even save their work preserving the encoded 8-bit index of the bitmap
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todo: add a brush editor so users can create their own brushes
todo: add a fill bucket so users can fill land masses without coloring in the whole shape they use manually
todo: add selection tools so users can select parts of their map
todo: add a copy and paste feature so users can copy and paste what they draw onto different parts of the map or paste their map to discord

● Encode Altitude Bitmap.......done.
users can sync their Terrain.bmp to their Altitude.bmp
this creates a carbon copy of the map in different colors from a different 8bit indexed color table
users can open their Altitude.bmp in the Draw A Custom Facet plugin, or using the Altitude color table RGB values: Adobe Photoshop/ GIMP/ Paint.NET to modify the elevations

● Compile Your New Map.........done.
users can now compile their bitmaps into game files, as long as the Altitude.bmp was colored and drawn correctly
2x2 is the smallest pixel size that can be compiled

I'm looking for someone with a server to test the output of the compiler and let me know if the map is able to load in game. Testing is something I am a bit OCD on and I don't have a server as of late to test on. The only things quite not done are the User Submitted Plugin section and the bitmap editor.

The bitmap editor is experimental and may change a bit depending on whether I want to keep the pictureBox or use a Panel in the future for the drawing canvas. You can test it out if you like. It is very basic and still has some annoying hiccups like when you select a color from the swatch it dings with a message box telling you the color ID you picked and an okay box. However it is a cool feature, I think, and feedback would be cool.

Thanks guys.

Download MapCreator Here

 

[golfin]

I would like to test your conversion of UO Landscaper to this new program. But, I didn't understand how to operate this program. Your previous version was simpler and clearer. Here I don't know what to press and where and the control buttons are missing. Furthermore, with FacetDesigner, I can drag the entire gray area wherever I want with the right mouse button. You don't have it anchored in the program design. I apologize if I'm being honest. But on the contrary, I would like to help you because I like UO Landscaper and I enjoy working with it. And your improvements will only help people. Could you join this discord about map making? Join the The Mapmaker's Guild Discord Server!
I created a section there specifically for UO Landscaper and your program would be a very good successor to the old UOL.

 

[gametec]

There are a few points I want to clarify, MapCreator is not UOLandscaper. I do know the developer of UOL and he actually helped with MapCreator when I first coded it 10 years ago.

Now this new version of MapCreator has a very clear UI with labels. It’s been tested thoroughly as far as making a map template go, converting that templates altitude map and the compiler process which has been revamped.

The new version also includes an xml editor and a paint program built in. Albeit the paint program is more experimental than anything it does serve as a good start to a feature that might replace the need for photoshop in the near future.

I don’t know why you find it hard to navigate, all the main buttons are on the left in panel 1 and they open up on the right in panel 2. The controls for each control are on panel 2. The buttons are on the menu strip in panel 2 on each control.

This version is also coded in .NET 8.0 so it’s been updated quite a bit.

Anyway glad to see you still around. Sorry you are having a difficult time with it but that wasn’t why I posted. The feedback is great but in reality I only want to see if the compiler is working correctly or I need to tweak it.

I will be honest with you though, the UI isn’t going to change. I am happy with it. I may tweak it a bit but not too much.

 

[golfin]

I will continue to search and learn from your program. because even though you say it is not a successor to UOL, it is actually the same and I edit xml files in the same way. Maybe I didn't understand it at first glance, maybe I don't see something. I will continue to test. Are you on discord so I can give you feedback? If you want, you can find me under the nickname helwasurinen
Because I don't come to this website very often anymore.

 

[gametec]

For the record MapCreator was created by me. Dknight developed UOLandscaper. UOL was never open source and DKnight refused to open source it after my many attempts at asking him.

MapCreator was made after I got his permission to reverse engineer the UOLandscaper software which Praxiiz helped me with. It never really evolved that much after that until now. MapCreator will always be a work in progress. It’s open source for a reason, if people have issues with the UI or they want some changes made they can do it themselves. I volunteer my time to make these programs for the community. It’s not a job.

The functionality works. That is what is important. If you don’t like it now lol you should have seen it this morning when the compiler took a dive. Everything has been fixed now but still… lol so before you get too critical remember I said it’s a prerelease lol