Forged Alliance Forever

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-08-16T15:50:26+02:00

Duck_42 wrote:
That picture is from the outer map "border". When you zoom out in-game, you see that Faction-dependent background. It isn't actually a background, the map the "screen" embedded in this tablet-like environment. The height of the this tablet is higher than the usual heights the map itself ranges in. That's why you see a black strip, it's essentially a wall.

Yes, it is. Adding fog helps some with hiding the black border, but it doesn't obscure it completely. Even on the stock FA maps, it's there. One just has to look closer to see it.

From my research so far, I think they added some sky cube/atmosphere/space background changes and tweaks in v60. I could write a tool that would copy the relevant portions from a v60 map file into a v56 (essentially, it would upgrade the map to v60). Since I don't understand the structure of the new v60 data, we'd be limited to just copying what already exists in the stock maps. Converting to v60 also means you wouldn't be able to open the map in the editor anymore (AFAIK, none of the maps editors can read v60). To address that, I'd probably need to write a tool to regress the map back to v56 for editing purposes.

All that being said, I really don't care that much about the aesthetics of the sky box since I rarely use the free camera mode. If I get bored one day, I might throw something together, but it's not high on my to-do list.

FYI, the SCMAP Reader/Writer library (adapted from Hazardx' SCMAP loader) is part of my random map generator project. If someone wants to explore making a "Sky Cube Fix Tool", the code is available.

I've literally just posted about this in an old thread:

"Changing Skybox" - Mapping forum, can't post URLs because forum thinks I'm a newb.

Also I'm the creator of Coastal Bridge, so the fact that this editor can't read it irks me.

If you could fix the SkyCube thing however, I will love you forever.

Omni.

Statistics: Posted by Omnipotent — 16 Aug 2014, 15:50

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-07-05T16:56:59+02:00

There was a bug in the SCMAP load/save library.

When I converted HazardX's map SCMAP library from VB to C#, I used one of those online conversion tools. It did a pretty good job with most stuff, but it also introduced a few bugs (this being one of them). I don't use decals in my random map generator, so I haven't noticed the problem until now.

Anyway, I've uploaded the fixed version and replaced the link in the first post. If you run into more problems with it, please let me know.

Statistics: Posted by Duck_42 — 05 Jul 2014, 16:56

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-07-03T03:58:41+02:00

I tried to run the tool (v1.1) against two maps and in both cases it crashed, corrupting the files.
firelight.v0001
Coastal Bridge v2

Unhandled Exception: System.IndexOutOfRangeException: Index was outside the bounds of the array.
at Decal.Save(BinaryWriter Stream, Int32 Index)
at Map.Save(String Filename, Int32 MapFileVersion)
at Minimap_Fix_Tool.Program.Main(String[] args)

any ideas?

Statistics: Posted by nine2 — 03 Jul 2014, 03:58

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-06-17T01:36:17+02:00

That picture is from the outer map "border". When you zoom out in-game, you see that Faction-dependent background. It isn't actually a background, the map the "screen" embedded in this tablet-like environment. The height of the this tablet is higher than the usual heights the map itself ranges in. That's why you see a black strip, it's essentially a wall.

Yes, it is. Adding fog helps some with hiding the black border, but it doesn't obscure it completely. Even on the stock FA maps, it's there. One just has to look closer to see it.

From my research so far, I think they added some sky cube/atmosphere/space background changes and tweaks in v60. I could write a tool that would copy the relevant portions from a v60 map file into a v56 (essentially, it would upgrade the map to v60). Since I don't understand the structure of the new v60 data, we'd be limited to just copying what already exists in the stock maps. Converting to v60 also means you wouldn't be able to open the map in the editor anymore (AFAIK, none of the maps editors can read v60). To address that, I'd probably need to write a tool to regress the map back to v56 for editing purposes.

All that being said, I really don't care that much about the aesthetics of the sky box since I rarely use the free camera mode. If I get bored one day, I might throw something together, but it's not high on my to-do list.

FYI, the SCMAP Reader/Writer library (adapted from Hazardx' SCMAP loader) is part of my random map generator project. If someone wants to explore making a "Sky Cube Fix Tool", the code is available.

https://bitbucket.org/Duck_42/supreme-commander-random-map-generator/src/0fc3e810dee21a69843dd2651538b2eff258def2/Source%20Code/SCMAP%20Reader%20Writer/?at=default

Statistics: Posted by Duck_42 — 17 Jun 2014, 01:36

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-06-16T20:31:23+02:00

Can't figure it out guys.. The skyboxes are packed inside textures.scd btw if you want to try yourself.

Statistics: Posted by D4E_Omit — 16 Jun 2014, 20:31

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-06-16T20:23:53+02:00

You can display the skybox in the editor by opening the console and running the command ren_skycube

Statistics: Posted by Lionhardt — 16 Jun 2014, 20:23

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-06-16T20:11:44+02:00

The skybox thing didnt work, weird I'll look a bit.\

EDIT: It just reverted my settings to no skybox... This map editor man, am I getting crazy?

Statistics: Posted by D4E_Omit — 16 Jun 2014, 20:11

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-06-16T20:02:13+02:00

I will test gimme 15 min

Statistics: Posted by D4E_Omit — 16 Jun 2014, 20:02

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-06-16T20:01:05+02:00

Plasma_Wolf wrote:
It's that black strip? I had no idea what you were on about until I saw that image. That picture is from the outer map "border". When you zoom out in-game, you see that Faction-dependent background. It isn't actually a background, the map the "screen" embedded in this tablet-like environment. The height of the this tablet is higher than the usual heights the map itself ranges in. That's why you see a black strip, it's essentially a wall.

No, it's not that. It is there even when you disable world borders.

Statistics: Posted by Lionhardt — 16 Jun 2014, 20:01

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-06-16T19:47:28+02:00

I'm not sure I understand all what you said but I have a question nonetheless : Why do you see it only in the editor made maps and not in the official ones ?

Also is it fixable ?

Also remains the question of being able to change skyboxes in the editor... .

(edit beaten by D4E )

Statistics: Posted by Krapougnak — 16 Jun 2014, 19:47

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-06-16T19:44:22+02:00

You can't see it on official maps is what he means And it's most likely because official setons uses an evergreen skybox.

Statistics: Posted by D4E_Omit — 16 Jun 2014, 19:44

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-06-16T19:38:31+02:00

It's that black strip? I had no idea what you were on about until I saw that image. That picture is from the outer map "border". When you zoom out in-game, you see that Faction-dependent background. It isn't actually a background, the map the "screen" embedded in this tablet-like environment. The height of the this tablet is higher than the usual heights the map itself ranges in. That's why you see a black strip, it's essentially a wall.

Statistics: Posted by Plasma_Wolf — 16 Jun 2014, 19:38

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-06-16T19:11:16+02:00

Yes but maybe it is time to try to fix that by someone who seems to know something about the technical side of mapping thus my question to Duck. I think that the difference between Vanilla and SCFA in map format maybe one lead to explore as if I refer to GPG forums in 2007 the issue of skyboxes seemed to have been fixed for Vanilla.

Two screenies showing what I'm talking about the firts is of official Seton's map the second of a modified SEton's via the editor taken from the same point of view.

Statistics: Posted by Krapougnak — 16 Jun 2014, 19:11

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-06-16T17:43:12+02:00

But changing the skybox in the editor has no effect in the game... we already asserted that, I thought?

Statistics: Posted by Lionhardt — 16 Jun 2014, 17:43

Re: Mini Map Fix for v56 SCMAP files

2014-06-16T17:39:08+02:00

Yep but if memory serves it is not present in the official maps, and the problem was already there in old times.
Check this : http://forums.gaspowered.com/viewtopic.php?t=13525

It seems to have been partially solved for Vanilla but never for SCFA.

It is really ugly and would be a good riddance. It may be related to the default skybox or not, allowing to change skyboxes may solve that or not. Some tests are needed.

Statistics: Posted by Krapougnak — 16 Jun 2014, 17:39