How to tile a theater now in 2015?
-
Hi everyone,
I’m “playing around” again, trying to learn the latest “tricks” and tools available in the Falcon BMS theater development area. But the step of “tiling” a theater has me stymied. I know about CATE and how it works. That is not my concern; I’m working to learn a hand tiling technique for BMS that will work. Doing searches here in the forum I’ve seen several references to hand/manual tiling using TerrainViewLG (TVLG) (from BaldEagle aka Fred B.). However, one point about this has me stopped cold. When I try to use TVLG it asks for a texture.zip file containing PCX format tiles, but BMS uses DDS format files. What am I missing here? How have others gotten around this limitation? Or am I totally missing something else?Thanks for your help in advance.
-
For hand tiling use TerrainEditor by Sakis
Fully-compatible with BMS, and lot of useful features. All corrections after Cate…. easier to do in TE.
TVLG is outdated.Cheers,
Eghi -
For hand tiling use TerrainEditor by Sakis
Fully-compatible with BMS, and lot of useful features. All corrections after Cate…. easier to do in TE.
TVLG is outdated.Cheers,
EghiThanks for answering Eghi.
So are you saying I MUST start with CATE? Or did I infer something that wasn’t meant by you? In my situation I am starting from scratch for my “learning” theater. I have a good L2/O2 and I “borrowed” a set of tiles and a .bin file from another 64 segment theater since I am just doing this for learning purposes. What are the first few steps to using TerrainEditor by Sakis when starting from scratch? Can you help with these steps?
-
I should learn from you mate :)…
Dem2Terrain and CATE is an invaluable tool for the new map …ATM.You know how to use Cate. So if you know your BIN file you know how to write script for… roads, rivers, coasts, cities, transitions, etc …
As you probably know, Cate is not perfect, so you need to make correction in another tool. I would recommend TerrainEditor. This tool is not used to build the terrain from scratch, but to modify / correction.
so:- Dem2terrain
- Cate
- Terrain Editor for correction
I use such a procedure.
-
I should learn from you mate :)…
Dem2Terrain and CATE is an invaluable tool for the new map …ATM.You know how to use Cate. So if you know your BIN file you know how to write script for… roads, rivers, coasts, cities, transitions, etc …
As you probably know, Cate is not perfect, so you need to make correction in another tool. I would recommend TerrainEditor. This tool is not used to build the terrain from scratch, but to modify / correction.
so:- Dem2terrain
- Cate
- Terrain Editor for correction
I use such a procedure.
Ok, so in summary, today…June 11, 2015, CATE is still the way to start tiling a new, from scratch theater. Wow. It’s been about 6-7 years since I left theater work/creation and CATE was the thing back then. Hopefully, some day we will have an easier way to tile! Now back to brushing up on my CATE scripts!
-
Yes, Cate is still invaluable.
-
Hi everyone,
I’m “playing around” again, trying to learn the latest “tricks” and tools available in the Falcon BMS theater development area. But the step of “tiling” a theater has me stymied. I know about CATE and how it works. That is not my concern; I’m working to learn a hand tiling technique for BMS that will work. Doing searches here in the forum I’ve seen several references to hand/manual tiling using TerrainViewLG (TVLG) (from BaldEagle aka Fred B.). However, one point about this has me stopped cold. When I try to use TVLG it asks for a texture.zip file containing PCX format tiles, but BMS uses DDS format files. What am I missing here? How have others gotten around this limitation? Or am I totally missing something else?Thanks for your help in advance.
I retain a recorded video while performing remedial work with TE. Maybe I do not show the right way to do things; It was just my way of making correction. Upload it to Youtube.
-
yes Sherlock CATE is still 1st tiling util.
Unfortunally old TV is still the fastest way howto “daily” tile. But PCX is needed. U can convert your set from dds to pcx(it is easy), but the problem is palette. If u do not plan to use your PCX set in game(no AF) its ok….make all PCX files in the same 256 colour palette. There will be much dithering, but its just for tiling purposes.TE is great and has many, many features. It is possible to use it together with TV.
I use these 3 utils.
-
Unfortunally old TV is still the fastest way howto “daily” tile. But PCX is needed.
FF Terrain Utilities ===================== Unzip the files into a folder. Read the respective "Readme" files and Manuals for instruction on how to use the utility. These versions use DDS texture tiles and not PCX format tiles. The Texture.bin file still uses the *.pcx tile name. The "T" tiles are not necessary. The "H" tiles are used in place of the "T" tiles. You can keep the full set of "H" tiles in a zip called DDS-Texture.zip. If you have problems or questions, please email me. Fred "BaldEagle" Balding [email protected] ```[http://www.mediafire.com/download/e9g89t22qw9su26/FF-Terrain-Utilities-201.rar](http://www.mediafire.com/download/e9g89t22qw9su26/FF-Terrain-Utilities-201.rar) **@Sherlock**, IIRC good old "Demer" is using Dem2Terrain and TV (with stock old Falcon 1.06 textures/.bin and DB) for first tiling and not CATE, then he goes further with Monster's TE. The biggest problem on autotiling are still roads and rivers, whereat I think TV autotiles those features better than CATE. Ohh, and while you're just "playing around" you might give this thread your attention: [https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?18169-All-Dem2Terrain-created-features-are-1-2-tiles-OFF-position](https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?18169-All-Dem2Terrain-created-features-are-1-2-tiles-OFF-position) **@BMS** I'm so in hope that "Bluey's" Terrain creating tool will see the light of the day, … in 3-4 weeks. Cheers,![](http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f82/lazystone/Smileys/hat_3.gif) LS
-
Are you sure ? http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f82/lazystone/Smileys/umbrella.gif
FF Terrain Utilities ===================== Unzip the files into a folder. Read the respective "Readme" files and Manuals for instruction on how to use the utility. These versions use DDS texture tiles and not PCX format tiles. The Texture.bin file still uses the *.pcx tile name. The "T" tiles are not necessary. The "H" tiles are used in place of the "T" tiles. You can keep the full set of "H" tiles in a zip called DDS-Texture.zip. If you have problems or questions, please email me. Fred "BaldEagle" Balding [email protected] ```[http://www.mediafire.com/download/e9g89t22qw9su26/FF-Terrain-Utilities-201.rar](http://www.mediafire.com/download/e9g89t22qw9su26/FF-Terrain-Utilities-201.rar) **@Sherlock**, IIRC good old "Demer" is using Dem2Terrain and TV (with stock old Falcon 1.06 textures/.bin and DB) for first tiling and not CATE, then he goes further with Monster's TE. The biggest problem on autotiling are still roads and rivers, whereat I think TV autotiles those features better than CATE. Ohh, and while you're just "playing around" you might give this thread your attention: [https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?18169-All-Dem2Terrain-created-features-are-1-2-tiles-OFF-position](https://www.benchmarksims.org/forum/showthread.php?18169-All-Dem2Terrain-created-features-are-1-2-tiles-OFF-position) Cheers, LS
@ LS: Thanks for the valuable information on TerrainView and the d/l link. Demer had alluded to it being able to do .dds tiles but that was all I had. Now I just have to figure out how to make things work. I read through the thread link you gave. Interesting read but I’m pretty sure I don’t understand (yet) all the ramifications of using the Falcon dB / .dat files nor have I figured out how to line them up yet for Dem2Terrain; I already generated my L2/O2 and objectives files and I would hate to have to go back and do them over again (incremental progress anyone?). Oh well, it’s the journey, not the destination, right? :rolleyes: Thanks again.
@ Thanks everyone else for your answers and observations.
-
Sorry, spanish language… But specially visual.
-
Thanks very much Joe.
That video gives me a very good idea on how Sakis Terrain tool works. Now I have to just get up to speed again on CATE! -
BTW … Can you tell us, what theater you cook?
-
BTW … Can you tell us, what theater you cook?
Same one I’ve been “working” on since 2007. I put it aside for a long, long time and just recently “picked” it up again to experiment and learn Terrain Editor (Sakis) tool and to refresh myself on the theater creation process. Since I am no good with Photoshop I can’t do tiles, hence why I “borrowed” some from another theater. So my theater won’t “see the light” of release unless certain well know graphics artists & theater developers give their permission to release their work again in a different theater.
-
If it helps, rules cate visual
Thanks very much Joe.
That video gives me a very good idea on how Sakis Terrain tool works. Now I have to just get up to speed again on CATE!RULES-Airbases orientation.doc 1.0 MB
https://mega.co.nz/#!ZgxljRiR!V0WQzMxvgM5WQTMjpgqazS8qL_rvuFjO23kEvu4ekTYRULES tiled river-road.doc 38 KB
https://mega.co.nz/#!0tJQDTgC!CuR_3uIbGrXkLCj4O4tFxVheeq3-VP43iSEnfF1urgARULES transitions tiles.doc 205 KB
https://mega.co.nz/#!0sZX2TwQ!dzPUkShI73-bZB6GNqoQBcGM9E3rwx3ZqI44DL45xh0 -
WOW Joe Labrada very heavy work done there… I admire your courage and effort… well done.
-
@ LS: Thanks for the valuable information on TerrainView and the d/l link. Demer had alluded to it being able to do .dds tiles but that was all I had. Now I just have to figure out how to make things work. I read through the thread link you gave. Interesting read but I’m pretty sure I don’t understand (yet) all the ramifications of using the Falcon dB / .dat files nor have I figured out how to line them up yet for Dem2Terrain; I already generated my L2/O2 and objectives files and I would hate to have to go back and do them over again (incremental progress anyone?). Oh well, it’s the journey, not the destination, right? :rolleyes: Thanks again.
@ Thanks everyone else for your answers and observations.
“IIRC good old “Demer” is using Dem2Terrain and TV (with stock old Falcon 1.06 textures/.bin and DB)
for first tiling and not CATE, then he goes further with Monster’s TE.”Well “good old demer” does use the tools mentioned to Start a map. BUT he uses Freds newer version of TV to “Daily” tile it.
Initially from D2T I import the “OLD” Falcon pcx.zip due to this:As we can see, I want the initial tiling to conform to some properties that I have established. Once the MAP is built I can go in with (Freds) TV, reset where it is reading from, analyse the map, then auto-tile with the preferred .dds tiles. Now we are on are way to CATE’ing it and spiffying it up with Monster’s tool……WooHooo!!!
Then the REAL work begins…sigh!demer
P.S. @ Rod, As we have spoke about B4, It is easier for me to spend an hour in TS\TeamViewer with you to show you how. Than it is to write out the whole Dam thing…LOL!
Read the Avatar…;) -
You don’t need to use the old stock / bin… If you have completed your new BIN file. Just change the tile numbers in Dem2Terrain (if you know your base/tiles for types of terrain):
As LS said, TV autotiles is not bad, but ignores terrain types and transitions. Cate will do exactly the same if you have script written correctly. Both of them are not perfect and after… terrain require correction anyway.
IMHOCheers,
EGHI -
@Joe:
If it helps, rules cate visual
RULES-Airbases orientation.doc 1.0 MB
https://mega.co.nz/#!ZgxljRiR!V0WQzMxvgM5WQTMjpgqazS8qL_rvuFjO23kEvu4ekTYRULES tiled river-road.doc 38 KB
https://mega.co.nz/#!0tJQDTgC!CuR_3uIbGrXkLCj4O4tFxVheeq3-VP43iSEnfF1urgARULES transitions tiles.doc 205 KB
https://mega.co.nz/#!0sZX2TwQ!dzPUkShI73-bZB6GNqoQBcGM9E3rwx3ZqI44DL45xh0Thank you Joe. I’ll probably have some questions for you later on one or two of those….!
WOW Joe Labrada very heavy work done there… I admire your courage and effort… well done.
+1
P.S. @ Rod, As we have spoke about B4, It is easier for me to spend an hour in TS\TeamViewer with you to show you how. Than it is to write out the whole Dam thing……LOL!
Read the Avatar…;)Dave,
Thank you too. I appreciate your input.
By the way, check your PMs….I PM’ed you over a week ago about that… and “other” things… LOL! -
Ummmm……it appears my Inbox is Full again…will correct.
LOL,
Dave