Map Modifying Discussion - History (Read Only) - Printable Version

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+---- Thread: Map Modifying Discussion - History (Read Only) (/showthread.php?tid=51019)

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- Vpmedia - 14.03.2008

For the map c tga table stuff you need a tool
(The link is inoperative)

The ed_m_01, ed_m_02 and ed_m_03 files are used in the FMB and ingame navigation maps - creating thes should be the last step in your map building process imho.
Iirc map_F.tga is used in excellent mode to show the distant landscape
you need the ColorMap/map_c.tga and the TypeMap/map_T.tga for these.

If you check a map where files arent encoded, for example the Malta map by Maraz you will see exactly how they used.

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- GerritJ9 - 15.03.2008

Thanks for the reply,VPMedia. I already have the tools, but this still doesn't explain how to MAKE the map_c.tga_table, and this is required to use the tools.

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- Vpmedia - 15.03.2008

in CMapv3.zip:

Quote:2) DISECTING TGA FILE
Place MWmap_c.tga into a folder where
CMap.jar is.
Run:
disect.bat
This will create newMWmap_c.tga and MWmap_c.tga_table files
which are in format which IL2 can understand. MWmap_c.tga can
be any image you modified or created from scratch. MWmap_c.tga
must have dimensions which are multiple of 32x32 (for example
1536x1312) and have color depth of 1 byte (i.e. grayscale image).

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- GerritJ9 - 15.03.2008

The instructions with the tools I have read:
"1) Composing TGA file:
Place map_c.tga and map_c.tga_table into a folder where CMap.jar is".......... ergo, one needs map_c.tga_table before being able to run CMap.jar according to these instructions, dated Jan 10th 2008.
Step 2 is as you describe.

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- spud - 15.03.2008

If you are starting with an existing, working map (from the game), then you need the table.

Quote:1) COMPOSING TGA FILE
Place map_c.tga and map_c.tga_table into a folder where
CMap.jar is.
Run:
compose.bat
This will create a MWmap_c.tga file which is a full ColorMap
file obtained by 'decrypting' map_c.tga and map_c.tga_table.

This will create MWmap_c.tga

If you make your own coast map (say from radar data), then you need to:

1. Put it in the folder with CMap.jar.

2. rename it MWmap_c.tga.

3. Run disect.bat or run transfor.bat, then disect.bat

Hope that clarifies.

Really, the bat names are confusing to me. To me, "compose" suggests turning it into the game ready file, and "disect" infers taking the game file, and making it a regular TGA.

tater

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- fly_zo - 15.03.2008

GerritJ9 Wrote:The instructions with the tools I have read:
"Composing TGA file:
Place map_c.tga and map_c.tga_table into a folder where CMap.jar is".......... ergo, one needs map_c.tga_table before being able to run CMap.jar according to these instructions, dated Jan 10th 2008.

map_c.tga_table is just a formula game uses to read dissected map_c.tga ..... so use one from default maps and you'll be fine ....

Z

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- Vpmedia - 15.03.2008

spud Wrote:Really, the bat names are confusing to me. To me, "compose" suggests turning it into the game ready file, and "disect" infers taking the game file, and making it a regular TGA.

in my understanding the map_c tga when extracted with sfs tool is in random slices, you need to compose those slices together to get a file which can modified in Photoshop

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- GerritJ9 - 15.03.2008

Thanks for the clarification, I'll try again- hopefully something useful will emerge.

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- GerritJ9 - 15.03.2008

Hmmmm.......... MWmap_c.tga_table is now generated, but MWmap_c.tga remains as it was. Progress of a sort I suppose- wonder if the map_c.tga might be too big to be converted at 409 MB.

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Sea Plane spawns @ Ford Island & Kaneohe Bay - -)-MAILMAN- - 26.04.2008

Can the Hawaiian Map be edited so that Sea Plane spawns can be installed?

Locations:
Pearl Harbor water area adjacent to Ford Island because there was a sea plane ramp there.

Kaneohe Bay adjacent to the airfield there since this was primarily a sea plane base.

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New Guinea Map - -)-MAILMAN- - 26.04.2008

I find the ability of map making intriguing and have all kinds of questions.

I was wondering if it is possible to edit the existing New Guinea Map, save it under new name i.e. New Guinea Early 1942 or New Guinea Fall 1942, etc., to reflect the airfields in existence during a particular time period and Aircraft as they entered the campaign. A couple of examples would be:

1. Removal of the Dobodura airfield complex (since there is no Lae or Salamau) to reflect when BUNA Airfield was operational for the JNAF.

2. Removal of airfields around Port Moresby to reflect a specific period of time, such as when only the RAAF was in New Guinea, or when the P-38 made its debut or when the P-47 made its debut.

3. Adding a small airfield at Kokoda.

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Re: New Guinea Map - fly_zo - 26.04.2008

-)-MAILMAN- Wrote:I find the ability of map making intriguing and have all kinds of questions.

I was wondering if it is possible to edit the existing New Guinea Map, save it under new name i.e. New Guinea Early 1942 or New Guinea Fall 1942, etc., to reflect the airfields in existence during a particular time period and Aircraft as they entered the campaign. A couple of examples would be:

1. Removal of the Dobodura airfield complex (since there is no Lae or Salamau) to reflect when BUNA Airfield was operational for the JNAF.

2. Removal of airfields around Port Moresby to reflect a specific period of time, such as when only the RAAF was in New Guinea, or when the P-38 made its debut or when the P-47 made its debut.

3. Adding a small airfield at Kokoda.

yup , its possible ..... everything is possible here m8

file you need to edit is actors.static ..... ( map tools) and you can have same map with different sets of objects as new maps .... without problem

cheers
Z

cheers
Z

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- dunkelgrun - 10.06.2008

Right.... err, Ok... ummmm, well... here goes!

I've now read through all 49 pages of this thread hock: which makes me wish I'd joined earlier!
I now have an idea of where to start (many thanks all :) ) so it's time to get my hands dirty.

I've always been a huge critic of the Singapore map so I'd like to have a bash at improving that.

1) Is anybody doing it already?
2) Is there still a maximum map size limit?
3) Am I going to run into problems because I want to increase the size of the map (see above?) I'd like to add the islands to the south of Singapore and extend it a few kms further north to take in Kuantan.
4) Anybody got any links to '30s. '40s or '50s topographic maps of the Malayan Peninsular? I've found odd pieces but I'd really like something covering the whole area at, say, 1:125 000 or similar? I think that the British Library may have some but I'm not sure how much that'll cost.


Here's something that I haven't seen mentioned here:

To prevent detail recurring into infinity off the edge of the map, you need to put a 3-km border at zero height all the way around map_h (and remember to allow for it on map_c etc). All you will get zooming off to infinity then is the basic map texture tiles. It does create abrupt cliffs at the map edge if you have a hilly map (check out Burma, Norway and Italy Online), but imho it looks a lot better than millions of reccuring lakes etc.

This 3-km edge needs to be included in your total map dimensions - not added to it, which means that you have a border that you can't use, but nothing's perfect I suppose.

Cheers.

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- fly_zo - 10.06.2008

dunkelgrun Wrote:Right.... err, Ok... ummmm, well... here goes!

I've now read through all 49 pages of this thread hock: which makes me wish I'd joined earlier!
I now have an idea of where to start (many thanks all :) ) so it's time to get my hands dirty.

I've always been a huge critic of the Singapore map so I'd like to have a bash at improving that.

1) Is anybody doing it already?
2) Is there still a maximum map size limit?
3) Am I going to run into problems because I want to increase the size of the map (see above?) I'd like to add the islands to the south of Singapore and extend it a few kms further north to take in Kuantan.
4) Anybody got any links to '30s. '40s or '50s topographic maps of the Malayan Peninsular? I've found odd pieces but I'd really like something covering the whole area at, say, 1:125 000 or similar? I think that the British Library may have some but I'm not sure how much that'll cost.


Here's something that I haven't seen mentioned here:

To prevent detail recurring into infinity off the edge of the map, you need to put a 3-km border at zero height all the way around map_h (and remember to allow for it on map_c etc). All you will get zooming off to infinity then is the basic map texture tiles. It does create abrupt cliffs at the map edge if you have a hilly map (check out Burma, Norway and Italy Online), but imho it looks a lot better than millions of reccuring lakes etc.

This 3-km edge needs to be included in your total map dimensions - not added to it, which means that you have a border that you can't use, but nothing's perfect I suppose.

Cheers.

Hi there ...

first i would suggest starting new thread (WIP) so you get answers more promptly ... this is really just " historical" thread ( map modding evolution ...)

now to your questions ....

IMHO, enlarging present maps are much more complicated than making new one from scratch

we have excellent tutorial for converting SRTM (satellite images) files to game compatible ones

available here:

(The link is inoperative)

maximum map size :

don't believe we've found it yet .... fabianfred's thailand is the biggest so far

what we do know is that map size ( pix) must be dividable by 32 or there will be texture tearing effect . Same thing is with map borders ... game repeats last 32pix

regards
Z

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- GerritJ9 - 11.06.2008

Re maximum map size, delvpier stated in his Philippines map thread that his map_c at 14400 x 14400 pixels is the maximum he was able to use- anything larger and the map won't load. This would mean map_h and map_T are 3600 x 3600 pixels, or 720 x 720 km at 1:1 scale. The Slot's map_h is 4128 x 3008 pixels or 825.6 x 601.6 km, which is not much smaller in total area; I have a pre-alpha version of big_yamato's West Java map with map_h at 2944 x 4096 pixels or 588,8 x 819,2 km. These sizes definitely work so for now I'd say that they are close to the maximum, until somebody discovers a way to circumvent the limit (probably some coding in the IL2 engine).

As for using SRTM data, a general word of caution but especially regarding Singapore. The SRTM files use CURRENT data, whereas we need 1940s data. Singapore's coastline has changed a lot in the past two decades thanks to land reclaiming projects- and I mean A LOT!!! The shape of Singapore Island as depicted in PF actually isn't all that bad and is certainly much more period accurate than current SRTM data would provide. This is something to bear in mind when making new maps for other areas too!
So, the choice re Singapore would be:
(a) make a totally new map using current SRTM data, which would require a considerable amount of correction work to the Singapore Island shoreline and other details, or
(b) enlarging the current Singapore map(s) and adding the missing islands such as Pulau Bukom, Pulau Blakang Mati- now Sentosa-, the Riouw Archipelago, and more of Malaya at the northern end.
I'm not sure which option would be more work..............

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