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How hard would it be to program this? My original idea, I mean, not all the other bullcrap in this thread.

Starcraft Icon Editor Topic

Why would you want an editor that can only be used for only icon editing?

i can say just like this :
u could make that if u got understanding of the .grp format perpectly
and when u can control the .grp format with programing languge

then that u could make that

and u would know around of programing reference such as image control, file data control
and numbers of other Advanced information to make capability as well.

that's all about it~!

It seems pretty useless to make a program for editing only the icons file when it is the same as the other .grp files. Just decomple the icons grp and get a good image editor

Well, it's not as hard as it seems, I have to say it. A basic BMP editor is a 5 or 15 minutes of coding (in BC++B6), and GRP reading is already done in ShadowFlare's GRPLib. The only problem is the GRP-[b]writing[/n], which AFAIK hasn ot been done yet, and SF is probably the only person who can do it currently.

Don't listen to those people telling you this program would be useless. The buttons and wireframes have their own 'palette' of colours, which change in-game to the colours you see on the GUI. I think it would be *very* useful if your editor could display what your icon displays as in game, as well as limit you to only the colours you're allowed for the wireframes or buttons.

I myself find it a pain to get the right palette indexes for the buttons and wireframes especially to work properly, so I may find a program that specializes in these things useful.

I've also had my share of bad experiences with RetroGRP... I swear, if I see 'Errrrrror!' one more time...

i didn't say that about unusefull things....

so i'm not use RetroGRP i just use GRP editor included in StarDraft SE
that's more capability if will build a ton of frames into grp
strings of INI files structed very smart available mask layer, represent BMP file name,frame count,image size, set invisible color

if u guys Advanced in Grahpics then u guys probably pick that GRP editor
even though that navigation and file save funtion is very inconveniented

That can't be very difficult. It's not a complicated format. Doesn't take many minutes to figure out which values are what in a hexeditor. If I wasn't such a horrible programmer I'd write a GRP-editor myself... I would, but SF suggested that she might, so I kind of let that idea go.

The GRP format is not, but the BMP format do is complicated for someone of little experience. Remeber that GRPs contain bitmaps, and you'd have to output the changes to the BMP format bit-by-bit.

Since when is BMP format hard..?

i think that is not so diffcult item

well i'm not Advanced programer my main force is just CG Art Creation
i build just utility with use VB6 when i need my tools
but i'm not good in programing languge and i dont indifferent to programings

so i wish u guys would not say like this
"if use VB6 then u made that, dont' you? "

Anyway...
According to my e-buddy's saying who's 3d engine programer work at NCsoft

he said like that

"file control,input output,convert format things not difficult matters
most important and difficult matter is progress to hackish feature
to build like that, have to know around of programing reference and numbers of other Advanced information to make capability as well.

but if u want renference sources , there are so many public source codes in around world web
to build so most improtant is make smart planning "

i believe that would be not difficult
effort and resourceful is key to goal


i have some oppinions about feature For writer to different Next GRP-editor
first off ,
Don't write that unless ur plan distinctive features
there are many GRP programs what available extract / import /convert/ view

would be nice to build hackish features such as arrangement units/ buildngs grp into project window like image editor
(it's would be usefull for design blend with others)
and Animations preview with use Script (it's not iscript.bin just any scripts is fine)

Try progress to smart navigation and search engine if u want new customer loves your tools

Don't try add to image editing feature, cuzz already there are so many image editors
and very ninepence Freewares too
so just need to link to image editor options in configuration

consider a matter in designer's workflow if u really want to customer use that continue again

that notices are key to success of next GRP-editor

ADDITION:
To raise up understanding, here my prototype is

supplement
I have many experience in custom graphic of other games
(Half life1/2, Quake,Unreal,Doom3,Warcraft3,Age of Empire and Age of kings...etc...)

But in my experience, Starcraft mod tools most suck
among other games and include 2d games

i understand that reason why that's suck
first off, StarCraft realeased long times ago and Bizzard don't support positively to mod
and recently many other game company are support positively to mod
and they do open out their games SDK and mod commuity is very active
besides, other games are abundance of third patry programers

even that so,but Starcraft mod tool make slow progress although 2d graphics
especally StarCraft mod cumunity is not unitive activities
but i understand that many pplz like own style and probably they hope own credit

Anyway...return to main subject
if there are some programer who's have plan to build GRP-Editor of SC
then try refer to my prototype of GRP-tool

that protype is referenced from Aok mod studio

Actually, most Starcraft modding tools are fantastic and I love them to bits. But, on the graphics editing side of things, I agree with you. I have sworn a vendetta against RetroGRP, and I also dislike StarDraft's GRP Editor. I very much think it's due time someone came up with better GRP editing software for Starcraft.

Just my two cents.

EDIT: Whoa, nirvanajung, are those screenshots for real? I want a GRP editor like that!!

Yeah, what the hell was that program?

right~! i understand that , recently many good SC utility came out
except for Graphical and unificative tools
basically most tools works fine but my mean is not about ordinary matters

i mentioned above what I have experience in custom graphic of other games
so my point was relative feature so i mentioned to "among other games"
but i understand that why as I was saying before


right~! that's all desingers dream tool what pplz really want
that images are just my protypes aresn't really yet
but i had design with use VB6 before for offer to my e-buddy
who's 3d engine programer work at NCsoft

but he was very busy till currently and professional engineer
recently NC-soft in progress to huge game business
Also he makes a lot of money for build 3d game engine.
so i didn't ask to give make that cuzz i dont' want bugging him

Anyway that prototype is already exist similar tools
but that's not StarCraft tools
those images edited from Age of Empire and Aok mod studio
that's really fantastic tools
u could make all ur wanted work by just that one
i'd like to say that's smart brain of programer

if StarCraft not top of the pops in Korea, i never work my Threekingdoms mod for SC
it would be rather work for other game such as WarCraft3,Aok,other many 3d RTS games
they supported better Advanced and smart
in my total experienced of modding and custom graphics

if someone has many experienced of 3d and custom graphics
then he would agree with me, It is my firm belief ~!

RetroGRP really needs to be updated

reasons?
1. it needs to be able to import/export with differant file types and settings
2. the pictures in it are annoying as can be, I simply wish I could hex edit it in order to make them solid black
3. it crashes/freezes WAY too easy, even though I've found ways to get around it, it's still pretty annoying
4. it's annoying as can be, but I'm forced to use it since I hate stardraft and there's no other options!

one of simple way to no annoying is here

"just someone build GRP<-->GIF(animated)or FLC Converters"

then all annoying would be slove

1.covert grp to animated gif
2.open gif with GIMP,Imageready of PS,PS or other supported gif tools
then designers could edit wholly frames to own images without any extract to bmp files
3.edit and save as animated gif or flc format
4.return convert to GRP

although that might be allow to only unit grp

That would work for other grp's as well, not just unit's grp's

right~! i did missed some word
-------------------------------------
then all annoying would be slove

blah...blah...blah....

although if that might allow to only unit grp
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyway anyones could get over a annoyance without like that converter

just use Macro then u guys would don't have to do
extracting and exporting directly by self
u guys just read cartoons till ur PC work complete by that self with use macro

i use that when handling hundreds of materials
It´s easy if u guys just get down a few basic ideas

but u guys have to write macro as well, especally time value is very sensitive

Yeah a good grp tool would definitely be a boon to any modder...and the idea about a macro, or perhaps a script (like mpq2k) to make it decompile and recompile on a large scale would be awesome too.