Autmatically generating GIFs from mapfiles?

[fargris]

I was exploring CrossfireEditor and noticed that one can generate images from map files - is there a tool that can do this automatically from the commandline?

[Leaf]

Yes, within the server code is a utility called Mapper.

Found in the server directory, under /utils/mapper.c

Here's what the output of mapper creates:

http://crossfire.homelinux.net/world/index.html

[Ryo]

Random map illustration: http://crossfire.homelinux.net/world/po ... .small.png and map information page http://crossfire.homelinux.net/world/po ... ortia.html


Note that generated files are PNG, not GIF.


Also, this tool currently only works under Linux, as far as I know.

[fargris]

Leaf - thanks a lot; I was wondering about creating some maps myself, but is there any documentation for the map-language? I can sort of guess some of it, but I'd like to feel I understand it correctly.

Ryo - png and linux are fine; I haven't touched Windows for over 10 years.

[Ryo]

I was wondering about creating some maps myself, but is there any documentation for the map-language? I can sort of guess some of it, but I'd like to feel I understand it correctly.

I would really suggest using Gridarta, the official Crossfire map editor.

A built-in version is available at http://invidious.meflin.net/crossfire/C ... Editor.jar (it is a Java program), or its home is http://gridarta.sourceforge.net/

Note that you probably need to have the maps and archetypes, from either SVN (I'd suggest trunk, or a release version).

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svn co https://crossfire.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/crossfire/maps/trunk maps

and

Code: Select all

svn co https://crossfire.svn.sourceforge.net/svnroot/crossfire/arch/trunk arch

to get said trunk respectively.


Feel free to hop to the #crossfire channel on Freenode (note: the channel is slow sometimes, depending on the time of the day and your timezone, please give time to people to reply before leaving ), and or join the mailing list, see http://crossfire.real-time.com/mailinglists/index.html (at least the discussion list) for more help.

[fargris]

Thanks, Ryo. Are there any docs for gridarta?

[Leaf]

Do you mean docs as in instructions or tutorial on creating maps or something else?

[Ryo]

Thanks, Ryo. Are there any docs for gridarta?

The editor has built-in help explaining various mapmaking operations.


Now for map tutorials about map design, what monsters to use, things like that, it's a more complicated situation

Looking at existing maps is a good way to get a feel.


Also, don't hesitate to ask for feedback on map ideas and such.

[Ragnor]

The tool is CrosfireEditor:

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# java -jar CrossfireEditor.jar --help
usage: java -jar CrossfireEditor.jar [option...] [map-file...]

 -h, --help           print this help
 -b, --batchpng       create PNG files for all given maps in their directories
 -c, --collectarches  collect archetypes
 -n, --normal         start editor with GUI (default)
 -s, --singlepng      create a PNG file from the specified map
 --config=config-file use given config file; uses ~/.gridarta/crossfire.conf is not given
 --noexit             do not call System.exit()
 --script=name [arg=value...]
                    run a plugin script with the given arguments

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# java -jar CrossfireEditor.jar ~/crossfire/maps/scorn/misc/cityhall cityhall.png
[lots of output]
INFO (main) net.sf.gridarta.gui.map.renderer.ImageCreator  - Created image "cityhall.png" of map "Scorn City Hall".

[fargris]

Thanks a lot for your replies, everybody! I'm off to China today, but I'll see what I can come up with when I come back.

Leaf: what I was thinking of was more something in the way of a prgrammer's manual - one that explains the language, keywords, commands and parameters; and perhaps something about what parts are needed to make up a complete map. Like, I think I have guessed that 'slaying' defines what happens when you issue an 'apply' - but I am not sure. I can probably work it out from looking at the existing maps, though.