Help with BMP to WBS converter

[frenett]

Help !?!?!?
This is the first post I've ever made. Be gentle it's my first time.
I've been playing Civ4 since it first came out - with occasional breaks for food and sleep.
I really like the game a lot.
I would like to create a custom map. I downloaded the BMPtoWBS Converter and the tutorial from CivFanatics and tried my best to follow the instructions to the letter. I created the 5 bitmap maps and the py file and ran them thru the BMPtoWBS converter and made the sub-directories in \MODS and put the WBS file in the folder suggested by the tutorial. Apparently, my best isn't good enough.

The BMPtoWBS program works fine on my py file and seems to generate a map file that looks just like some of the other map files that came with the game. But when I try to run it in Civ4, it goes thru the process, lets me choose the map, reloads, lists the name of my new map when installing, and list the players included in the new map - but when it launches I get a black screen for 2 seconds and a message to send the error report to Microsoft. The error references a file called cvgamecoredll.dll.

I've tried all three methods of "loading a mod" suggested by the tutorial - they all crash.

Am I using the py and WBS files incorrectly? What is the correct sequence for running a mod in the game? The included scenarios like Africa and South America work fine. My map file looks the same.
What am I missing?!?!?!?!

Lost in space,

Bob

 

[Rhye]

If you're just making a map, put it in \PublicMaps, don't create a mods subfolder

 

[frenett]

Thanks for the clarification.
Could you explain the difference between a "scenario" and just a map. I used the BMPtoWBS to convert 5 bitmaps to a playable map. Do I "Load a Mod"
or "Create a Scenario". Sometime around midnite last nite I tried entering
"Begin player ... End Player" for 18 players and now the map can be played in Civ4.

Unfortunately, all my rivers are really funny looking. I tried editing them with the WorldBuilder and they look fine. But I assume the changes will have to be made again in the source file. Is there any way to edit the original maps with the WorldBuilder?

Thanks, modding is really fun. Stayed up until 2 AM playing my map with the funny rivers.

frenett

 

[Rhye]

the difference is between a map/scenario or a mod.
A mod involves other files customization, while a scenario, as a map, is just a WBS.
If you follow the tutorial instructions you will be able to place correct rivers entirely from the bitmaps, without using the world builder

 

[frenett]

Thanks Rhye,
Your tutorial is really helpful. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without it and I really enjoy modding this great game. Last night I tried to re-do my rivers bitmap and running it thru the BMP-WBS converter. Unfortunately, my py file won't load into the converter. I tried your suggestion of importing it into Python and it says the py file has an indentation error. I loded the file into Vedit, which shows all the characters including tabs and c/r's, and I can't see any difference between that py file and the one that worked a few days ago.

Is there any way to see these indentations and correct for them?!?!?

Lost again,

Bob

 

[Rhye]

well, if you know the line of the error, detecting it should be easy.
I use IDLE btw. Sometimes it says there are indentation errors though there isn't any. In that case I just replace the tabs and usually it works

 

[frenett]

Hi Rhye,
Thanks again for your help. I deleted the tabs and copied some blocks of text from a working map and now it goes thru the BMPtoWBS converter. Unfortunately, the game crashes right after LAUNCH.

Anyway, I'm able to modify some of the WBSsave files and they seem to work. I just downloaded a 30 day free trial of XMLSPY and I'm trying to figure out which files do what. The Excel spreadsheet on this thread seems helpful but I can't find where to assign the free unit for each civ at the beginning of the game. I have been able to create a Civ which is Philosophical and Industrious just like my wife wants but now she also wants to start the game with a SCOUT. I searched for SCOUT in the Firaxis folder and looked into all the xml files that contained the word SCOUT. I couldn't see anything to assign an initial unit to a civ. Maybe XMLSPY will help.

Can you help me?

Bob and Linda

 

[Rhye]

if you assign hunting as one of the starting techs, that civ should begin with a scout

 

[frenett]

Hi Rhye,
We also thought HUNTING would do it. Alas it doesn't. We managed to assign HUNTING to a civ and when we play the game the civ does get HUNTING as one of its first free techs but it still starts with a warrior.

This game is unbelievably complex - that's one of the things I like about it.

if frustrating & solved:
fun

We still haven't gotten to the second condition but it's been fun anyway.

Thanks for all your help,
Bob and Linda

 

[Rhye]

try to use the py of the tutorial as example.

Scouts are automatically placed for civs with hunting if there is no unit data, just the starting plots.
Otherwise you can place units statically, adding inside WriteCitiesUnits() things like this:

if iPlotX == 9 and iPlotY == 18:
bmpc.OutputFile.write("\tBeginUnit \
\n\t\tUnitType=UNIT_SETTLER, UnitOwner=2 \
\n\t\tLevel=4, Experience=0 \
\n\tEndUnit\n")

(this is taken directly from DefaultScenario.py)

 

[frenett]

Hi Rhye,
Thanks again. I'll be implementing your suggestions this weekend. But yesterday I took a break from making maps and attempted to analyze the maps I already made. After playing my new scenario, I was disappointed that there were so few BONUS items, no HILLS nearby to mine, no FORESTS nearby to chop down. So I wrote a program in Visual Basic to count how many of each BONUS and TERRAIN type there was on the map so it could be compared with other maps made by the pros.

The Mapview program, available elsewhere on this forum, was very helpful in looking at the big picture but it's statistics were incomplete. It has no category for PEAKs and HILLs and doesn't separate GRASS that is covered with PEAKs, HILLs, FORESTs, HILLs or TUNDRA. In order to get a "balanced" map, as suggested elsewhere on this forum, it would seem necessary to know how much FOREST, JUNGLE and TUNDRA you have. And I certainly want to count the PEAKs and HILLs. This program does all that.

If you're interested in testing it first, I would be happy to send both the source code and the executable to you - if you tell me how you want it sent.
If you think the program is worthwhile, I would be happy to post it on this forum.

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Rhye]

I think you should open a thread and post the executable there. Any program that does something new is worth sharing!

Please post the link to that thread here so that I can reach it more easiliy

 

[frenett]

Hi Rhye,
I hope Im not a pest. I'd love to post the link but I don't know how.
I posted it in the Utilities Programs section of Creation & Customization forum one level up from here. Let me know if you have any suggetions.
Back to map making. I'm trying to make a map of pre-colonial USA. The map I am currently modifying doesn't have the right balance of BONUS items and not enough forests and plains.
Thanks for all your help making this map and showing me how to improve it.
Your friend,
Bob

 

[Rhye]

don't worry i've found it

 

[frenett]

Hi Rhye,
Thanks again for the umpteenth time!!!!
Things are going well. I finally feel like I can re-write the py file and then play the resulting game. Before now it was mostly a matter of chance. Re-reading your tutorial helped.

Now I would like to add some fresh water lakes to my map of the USA - sort of like the GREAT LAKES!?!?!. I found another map that came with Civ4 called Lakes and I brought it up with the World Builder. The lake tiles seemedto be just COAST terrain?!?. Unfortunately, there must be mor to it because it, alone, doesn't work.

Can shed any light?

Bob

 

[Rhye]

lakes are just coast. Below a certain size it is considered fresh water

 

[jawz92]

where can i find the bmp to wbs converter?

thx

 

[frenett]

Hi jawz92,
On this site. Just go to the Utility Programs section of this forum.
Good luck.
I'm having a great time modding with this great program. At first I wasn't reading Rhye's tutorial carefully enough but he answered all my questions and now the BMPtoWBS converter generates a playable game every time. It's fun.

Bob