Give us back minimap creation from builder!!!! (Update: fixed, link to "proper" xml file available)

BeigeAlert · January 2014

Why was this even taken out??? It's a huge pain in the ass to run overview.exe manually every time. I've tried changing my builder_setup.xml (or whatever the name of it is...) so that it generates the images again, but I keep getting error messages.

UPDATE: Okay, for anybody else who would prefer for builder to make overlays automatically, at the cost of being plagued by crash reports if you leave builder running, here's the .xml with all that working. Just extract the xml and drop it into your "Natural Selection 2" directory (NOT "ns2", the one above it).

You should make a backup copy of your builder_setup.xml just in case you don't like the change. Steam takes a very long time to validate/re-download files.

https://us.v-cdn.net/5019629/uploads/FileUpload/e5/20faaf511d63a3924ed472676b3746.zip

Quandrastorm · January 2014

yeh its annoying, those 1 click launch tools give errors

bp2008 · January 2014

Hmm. Personally I don't like the builder (complex tools without any documentation are for the birds). I don't use it except when I need to create a material to use as a texture in a map. Instead I modded the heck out of my 1-click launch batch files so they handle the overview, file copying from source to output, and launching the game.

If you can be more specific about the errors, we may be able to help.

BeigeAlert · January 2014

bp2008 wrote: »

Hmm. Personally I don't like the builder (complex tools without any documentation are for the birds). I don't use it except when I need to create a material to use as a texture in a map. Instead I modded the heck out of my 1-click launch batch files so they handle the overview, file copying from source to output, and launching the game.

If you can be more specific about the errors, we may be able to help.

I love the builder, except for that one exact thing you point out: no documentation

It's tricky to know sometimes what file formats are expected, and where. (ie PSDs go in, DDSs come out... but are there any other acceptable inputs? Hell if I know... hell if I care) Also, for the longest time, I couldn't figure out why it was rejecting my PSDs, saying the file format was not supported. FINALLY figured out it was because the layer wasn't flattened (single layer, but needed to be flattened... yea).

If you do a little bit of digging through that "builder_setup.xml" file (or something along those lines), you can figure out most of builder's functionality.

To me, that's all of NS2 mapping/modding's biggest problems right there: a lack of up-to-date, or otherwise nonexistent documentation. I think I've pretty much got it all figured out by now, but it's taken me about 5 months to get here! (Started back in August '13)

bp2008 · January 2014

I started in about January '13 before we even had source and output folders. Stopped in August '13 and started again just a couple days ago so I guess I just haven't adapted yet

SamusDroid · January 2014

I removed it because every time you modify a file overview will crash.
Just put this at the top of builder_setup where there is something similar to this...

<rule> <!-- level map files -->
			<match>${src_dir}\mapsrc{{\*}?\*}.level</match>
			<output_file>${dst_dir}\maps%1.level</output_file>
			<output_file>${dst_dir}\maps\overviews%1.tga</output_file>
			<output_file>${dst_dir}\maps\overviews%1.hmp</output_file>
			<command>copy "${src_dir}\mapsrc%1.level" "${dst_dir}\maps%1.level"</command>
			<command>
				<execute>"${builder_dir}\overview" "${src_dir}\mapsrc%1.level" "${dst_dir}"</execute>
				<working_dir>${game_dir}</working_dir>
			</command>
		</rule>

and beige, I already told you this

BeigeAlert · January 2014

SamusDroid wrote: »

I removed it because every time you modify a file overview will crash.
Just put this at the top of builder_setup where there is something similar to this...

That's why you don't leave builder on when you're working. Geeze... next time, just change it on your machine instead of sending it out to ever player of the game.

SamusDroid · January 2014

BeigeAlert wrote: »

SamusDroid wrote: »

I removed it because every time you modify a file overview will crash.
Just put this at the top of builder_setup where there is something similar to this...

That's why you don't leave builder on when you're working. Geeze... next time, just change it on your machine instead of sending it out to ever player of the game.

And leave it crashing every time you run builder? That doesn't sound like it's a good idea. I'd rather remove it so it doesn't crash. It was supposed to send both with it and without it in the patch but it didn't, that's not my problem that's the build machine's problem.

BeigeAlert · January 2014

Yes, because it actually did the job! Yea it was crashing, but AFTER it finished the job. That's one button to press. Now, it's like 20 to get the damn overview thing to work... (counting keystrokes as buttons here.

)

[=Alex=] · January 2014

I build the minimap, this way:

I copy my map file "ns2_map.level" to the folder ns2/maps

And I have a notpad with:

cd E:\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\common\natural selection 2

Overview.exe "E:\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\common\natural selection 2\ns2\maps\ns2_map.level" ns2

Just open cmd.exe, copy the first line that leaves me in natural selection 2 folder

Then the second line that builds the minimap.

Then go to "natural selection 2\ns2\maps\overviews" and I copy the two files generates "ns2_map.hmp" and "ns2_map.tga" to where I want them.

BeigeAlert · January 2014

[=Alex=] wrote: »
I build the minimap, this way:

I copy my map file "ns2_map.level" to the folder ns2/maps

And I have a notpad with:
cd E:\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\common\natural selection 2

Overview.exe "E:\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\common\natural selection 2\ns2\maps\ns2_map.level" ns2
Just open cmd.exe, copy the first line that leaves me in natural selection 2 folder

Then the second line that builds the minimap.

Then go to "natural selection 2\ns2\maps\overviews" and I copy the two files generates "ns2_map.hmp" and "ns2_map.tga" to where I want them.

Builder did all of this automatically. This way is such a hassle...

SamusDroid · January 2014

You know.... all the documentation is in builder_setup...you just have to look a little more.

UncleCrunch · January 2014

Work around:

http://forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/comment/2129660#Comment_2129660

BeigeAlert · January 2014

UncleCrunch wrote: »

Work around:

http://forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/comment/2129660#Comment_2129660

My point isn't "I don't know how to make minimaps anymore", my point is what they've done is a horrible "fix" for this "problem". That's like "fixing" an unsightly tattoo -- a minor nuisance -- by lopping off the entire arm. Yea... that'd do it, but now you've got BIGGER problems... problems like not having an arm...

SamusDroid wrote: »

You know.... all the documentation is in builder_setup...you just have to look a little more.

Oh great, thanks! Now I get to waste time fixing something I didn't even break. I sure am glad I get to run builder now without having to click ONE extra button.

UncleCrunch · January 2014

Just saying...

I agree that software suites should work better. I mean this stuff already looks cranky, and we have many more problems like steam workshop that just don t work properly (code 16).

I truly wonder why UWE chose this kind of solution while they want to promote modding. It's not bad but it is definitly blocking the way.

BeigeAlert · January 2014

UncleCrunch wrote: »

Just saying...

I agree that software suites should work better. I mean this stuff already looks cranky, and we have many more problems like steam workshop that just don t work properly (code 16).

I truly wonder why UWE chose this kind of solution while they want to promote modding. It's not bad but it is definitly blocking the way.

Honestly, I don't mind steam workshop much at all. It's down occasionally (usually when it's least convenient... but for the most part it makes everything a whole lot easier. Rather than having to copy files to very specific directories, (not to mention doing this for all of your computer-illiterate friends) you just click one button and you're "subscribed" to the mod. Not that there isn't room for improvement, just saying they could have done a LOT worse.

BeigeAlert · February 2014

SamusDroid wrote: »

I removed it because every time you modify a file overview will crash.
Just put this at the top of builder_setup where there is something similar to this...

<rule> <!-- level map files -->
			<match>${src_dir}\mapsrc{{\*}?\*}.level</match>
			<output_file>${dst_dir}\maps%1.level</output_file>
			<output_file>${dst_dir}\maps\overviews%1.tga</output_file>
			<output_file>${dst_dir}\maps\overviews%1.hmp</output_file>
			<command>copy "${src_dir}\mapsrc%1.level" "${dst_dir}\maps%1.level"</command>
			<command>
				<execute>"${builder_dir}\overview" "${src_dir}\mapsrc%1.level" "${dst_dir}"</execute>
				<working_dir>${game_dir}</working_dir>
			</command>
		</rule>

and beige, I already told you this

And I already told you it doesn't work! I keep getting this error message:

1> 'C:\Program' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
1> operable program or batch file.

I pasted it in there exactly how you said, even deleted the file, validated through steam, and tried it again.

EDIT: Okay it seems if I comment-out/delete the line: "<working_dir>${game_dir}</working_dir>" it works just fine.

BeigeAlert · February 2014

Okay, for anybody else who would prefer for builder to make overlays automatically, at the cost of being plagued by crash reports if you leave builder running, here's the .xml with all that working. Just extract the xml and drop it into your "Natural Selection 2" directory (NOT "ns2", the one above it).

You should make a backup copy of your builder_setup.xml just in case you don't like the change. Steam takes a very long time to validate/re-download files.

Soul_Rider · February 2014

@BeigeAlert - The error C:\Program is not recognised means you didn't put " " around the string. The strings related to NS2 must always use quotes, because they blow up at spaces. Sorry it's a late reply...

Edit, also the 1-click tool is much better than messing around with this system for overviews

BeigeAlert · February 2014

Soul_Rider wrote: »

@BeigeAlert - The error C:\Program is not recognised means you didn't put " " around the string. The strings related to NS2 must always use quotes, because they blow up at spaces. Sorry it's a late reply...

Edit, also the 1-click tool is much better than messing around with this system for overviews

I didn't do jack-s**t, this is what Samus gave to me, and it didn't work. So does that line I omitted just need quotes around it?

Now about the one click, THAT I could never get to work... I think it's because of some kind of admin rights BS that I just don't feel like ever messing with. Builder is one click as well. (assuming you don't count clicking the crash report

)

Soul_Rider · February 2014

HAHA, I didn't mean the 1-click sorry, but bp2008's replacement for it. At least, I found it works well...

http://forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/133972/ns2-mapping-helper-application-replaces-1-click-map-testing-batch-files#latest

BeigeAlert · February 2014

Soul_Rider wrote: »

HAHA, I didn't mean the 1-click sorry, but bp2008's replacement for it. At least, I found it works well...

http://forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/133972/ns2-mapping-helper-application-replaces-1-click-map-testing-batch-files#latest

That one also doesn't work for me. Not sure if I'm setting it up wrong, but it just doesn't generate any overview files... generates the FOLDER just fine... but no files

.

Doesn't really matter to me now, I've got builder working just how I like it.

Give us back minimap creation from builder!!!! (Update: fixed, link to "proper" xml file available)

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