Map2dif
by Adam Wilson · in Artist Corner · 07/10/2006 (2:19 pm) · 11 replies
I am posting here because I am assuming that there will be a new map2dif for Constructor is this correct?
If yes will it make it into 1.0?
Is there a way for me to get a map2dif.exe for both TGE and TSE that does not cut the brushes up when it converts it. If there isn't one out there can some one explain to me how to do it so I can have the programmers do it for me. I am getting hounded to get this project done but I can't because of the missing faces or what ever map2dif does to the module.(every map file I make has this probluem) temp fix
I would not hound you all on this but this is becoming a big problem for me.
Thanks..
If yes will it make it into 1.0?
Is there a way for me to get a map2dif.exe for both TGE and TSE that does not cut the brushes up when it converts it. If there isn't one out there can some one explain to me how to do it so I can have the programmers do it for me. I am getting hounded to get this project done but I can't because of the missing faces or what ever map2dif does to the module.(every map file I make has this probluem) temp fix
I would not hound you all on this but this is becoming a big problem for me.
Thanks..
About the author
#2
Yes I have tried that had to do it by hand and go into a text editor and make the brushes that needed to be detail. It started to fix the problem but would not fix them all. I even opened the map file Quack just to make shore that I had the detail brushes right.
In doing so I had found out that some times I was not allowed to open the map file into other editors so I would go brush by brush to see witch ones were not allowing me to open the map file and get read to them or redo them until I was able to open it. Could not put my finger on why the hand full of brushes were not allowing me to open the file.
07/17/2006 (6:38 am)
Thanks for the reply.Yes I have tried that had to do it by hand and go into a text editor and make the brushes that needed to be detail. It started to fix the problem but would not fix them all. I even opened the map file Quack just to make shore that I had the detail brushes right.
In doing so I had found out that some times I was not allowed to open the map file into other editors so I would go brush by brush to see witch ones were not allowing me to open the map file and get read to them or redo them until I was able to open it. Could not put my finger on why the hand full of brushes were not allowing me to open the file.
#3
Will the map file load into Constructor (the map file not the csx)? If not it could be a bug in the map export code.
07/17/2006 (11:56 am)
Adam, can you send over the map file along with info on the brushes that are causing the problem? I'll take a look at it.Will the map file load into Constructor (the map file not the csx)? If not it could be a bug in the map export code.
#4
07/17/2006 (2:14 pm)
Sorry I know longer have the bad file that would not open up in Quark. I did some cleaning of crap files. I have sent you the Chruch2.zip file thanks for taking a look at it.
#5
07/31/2006 (12:32 pm)
I have a vertical loop (made in QuArk) that map2dif refuses to render a couple of the brushes properly. If Matt or John wish, I'll be happy to send the .QRK or .MAP to either of you. 
#6
Feel free to send me the .MAP.
07/31/2006 (1:08 pm)
Do you mean map2dif or Constructor (map2dif doesn't render anything)?Feel free to send me the .MAP.
#7
I'll email a link to the .MAP shortly.
07/31/2006 (1:42 pm)
Map2dif_plus -- it renders most polygons correctly, but has a few that just won't.I'll email a link to the .MAP shortly.
#8
08/02/2006 (2:58 pm)
Constructor will stop relying on map2dif_plus in the next several weeks altogether and this problem should go away. In the meantime, I would recommend trying to run the problem areas through an older version of map2dif and see if that fixes the odd results.
#9
08/03/2006 (6:02 am)
That is great news.....
#10
09/18/2006 (11:46 am)
Not to beat a dead horse.. What is up with the dif format for TGE and TSE.. I still getting missing faces..
#11
Could some one please give me some hope for a what you see is what you get......
10/13/2006 (1:14 pm)
I still looking for a better way to make dif's no matter what I do this is the hardest part. I read things that contradict things that I have read i do as some people suggest and it makes more problems for me.. I am at a los of words.. I would love to seat and bitch about how I think things are broken and vent my frustration in this post but that will not get the problems I am having fixed.. Could some one please give me some hope for a what you see is what you get......
Associate Matt Fairfax
PopCap
What we are doing with Constructor is adding built-in .DIF saving. You will be able to export the scene you are seeing in Consrtuctor directly out into a .DIF. There will be an option to send the .MAP through map2dif for those people who need something custom (which is really rare) but most people will use this Direct-to-Dif method instead. This is the equivalent to having a whole new map2dif but it will only be accessible if you export straight from Constructor.
Yes. If you convert them to detail brushes it won't "cut the brushes up". This was covered in Desmond Fletcher's excellent tutorials (under Optimizing Framerate). These are the docs that we linked you to from the Torque for Artists page. You should note, however, that there is not currently a way to create or edit detail brushes in Constructor yet (it is coming soon).