1 (edited by Safe-Keeper 2009-03-25 11:32:16)

Topic: "Exporting" a map from BF2 editor to FS

OK, since herb asked for it, this is how to 'export' your map from the BF2 Editor to FS. Like just about everything with concerning itself with making levels for FS, it looks incredibly complicated at first, but it takes less than a minute once you know it.

0. Before doing any of this, make sure to package your map. In the editor, choose the Mod Manager (I think) drop-down menu and choose Package Mod and then Pacakage Map.

1. Copy the map folder from your editor to the /levels sub-folder of your FS folder.

2. Go into another level folder, copy init.con from the server zip file.

3. Paste the init.con file copy somewhere so you can edit it, and change every instance of the old map name (for example endor_clearing) to your new map name (remember to replace spaces with lowercase dashes, for example "ISD Judicator" would become "ISD_Judicator".

4. Before closing init.con, have another look at its contents. Note that this is where you set up what classes the map will have, and what skins each class will use. Look through the various other maps' init.con files, and the FS sub-folders, for the names of the different skins and classes. Init.con also allows you to change or remove Out_of_bounds settings.

5 (optional, but STRONGLY recommended). Save init.con and make it read-only. Put it both in server.zip file of both your levels, both the one you're editing and the copy in your FS folder system. Having a read-only version of this file in the level you're editing means BF2 editor can't mess it up (which it otherwise WILL), saving you from doing steps 2-5 every single time you export a new version of your map.

6. Go into your level's folder. You should see two sub-folders, Editor and gamemodes. Go into Editor, copy gameplayobjects.con, and then go into the gamemodes folder with it. If sub-folders other than gpm_cq exist (and they will), delete them. Go into gpm_cq, and paste your freshly copied .con file into one or all of the sub-folders (16, 32 and 64).

7. Go into the server.zip file delete the gamemodes subfolder therein.

8. Copy the gamemodes sub-folder outside server.zip into server.zip.

9. Go into another level's folder, go to the Info sub-folder, and copy everything in it (should be some familiar images and a .desc file with that level's name, such as Tatooine_Mosespa.desc).

10. Paste the files into your level's Info sub-folder. Delete the existing .desc file.

11. Change the names of all the files, and the contents of the .desc file, so they match your map's name (again, this'd be, for example, "endor_clearing" to "awesum_top_secret_mirrors_edge_port_test").

At this point, you should be ready to launch the map with FS on a local server. The next steps are for fluff like a minimap. I'll post those tomorrow, now I need sleep.

"One of the bitches actually gave birth while she was attacking, and her puppies joined in on the carnage."
--the awesomeness that is Boatmurdered.

Re: "Exporting" a map from BF2 editor to FS

OK, the next step will be to give you a minimap, if you have made BF2 editor create one or whatever. This is not a required step, but if you don't do it, the game will draw a placeholder minimap which will be completely grey, so if you have a map that's tricky to get around in, or want to see the minimap for another reason, you need to do this.

1 (BF2-generated minimap). Go into your level's folder again and pay the Editor sub-folder another visit. It should house an image file called minimap. Copy it.

2. Go to the sub-folder called 'Hud', then 'Minimap'. Paste your image file there. There'll be three files there, ingamemap, commandermap and commandermicromap. Delete these files and make two copies of the minimap file you just pasted in. Give your three incarnations of the minimap files the above listed names.

3. Go into client.zip in your level folder and delete the Hud/Minimap folder.

4. Replace the deleted folder with the one containing your newly distributed minimap images.

5. Copy the folder again, and put it in the sub-folder in the BF2 hierarchy containing your level. This'll keep you from having to do steps 1-4 every time you export your level.

"One of the bitches actually gave birth while she was attacking, and her puppies joined in on the carnage."
--the awesomeness that is Boatmurdered.

Re: "Exporting" a map from BF2 editor to FS

Safe-Keeper wrote:

6. Go into your level's folder. You should see two sub-folders, Editor and gamemodes. Go into Editor, copy gameplayobjects.con, and then go into the gamemodes folder with it. If sub-folders other than gpm_cq exist (and they will), delete them. Go into gpm_cq, and paste your freshly copied .con file into one or all of the sub-folders (16, 32 and 64).

I guess the level folder is the folder in bf2142/mods/firststrike/levels/mylevel. This folder contains more folders than 2 at my pc but no gamemodes folder. What could be the fault?

Re: "Exporting" a map from BF2 editor to FS

Not read safes guide..but your 'map' folder should contain two zip files, just look in the zip file called server. Gamemodes is in there.

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Re: "Exporting" a map from BF2 editor to FS

Ok thanks

6 (edited by Benu_Kenobi 2010-01-14 17:09:22)

Re: "Exporting" a map from BF2 editor to FS

Twigs wrote:

Not read safes guide..but your 'map' folder should contain two zip files, just look in the zip file called server. Gamemodes is in there.

That's if you're editing an existing map.

If you're creating a new map, you'll have to create a new folder and name it GameModes, inside it you'll have to create an another folder and name it gpm_cq, under that you'll want to create 3 folders, titled 16, 32 and 64. You'll need to copy the respective GamePlayObjects.con files for 16, 32 and 64 player modes inside these (just use the same file for all three when testing). Take a look at the server.zip file of an existing FS map and you'll get the general idea.

Also, Bf2editor includes the GamePlayObjects.con when packing the map (at least for me) so no need to put it inside the .zip manually. Just remember to get the latest version of GamePlayObjects.con from your editor folder before packing. wink

~The Farce is strong with this one

Re: "Exporting" a map from BF2 editor to FS

ok I´ll try next days thanks smile