Report, edit, etc...Posted by Daedalus on 2006-08-21 at 15:17:53
Greetings everyone,
I've got a problem with the latest version of my map. I've been working on it for quite a while with Starforge. Once in a while I close Starforge and use X-tra Editor to re-arrange the triggers (which can't be done in SF). I only recently heard that is (or might be) a bad combination.
Anyway, the problem: I can't open the map anymore. SF always makes a backup once in a while but I can't open that one either. I've tried earlier versions but they do can be opened. Sadly enough this last version was the biggest and most important breakthrough and was an huge update to my life work. We're talking about doubling the origninal amount of triggers, the new triggers are 60% 'unique'/completely new triggers and the rest are 'duplicates' (ie: almost the same triggers except for small changes in conditions/effects).
I'm rather desperate, I've tried pretty much every editor, viewer and unprotecter I could find but none worked. It is also impossible to play the map. Here's my error log:
-------------------------------
Trigger Viewer, Uberation and Osmap:
"Run-time error '9':
Subscript out of range"
Starforge:
Windows says there was an error, exits to windows.
SCMDraft:
"Error Opening Map"
Staredit, X-tra Editor"
"Campaign Editor was unable to open the file
'F:\Games\Starcraft\Maps\Own\Game\Corrupted.scx'.
Please make sure taht the file is a valid Starcraft data file."
Some of the above might be interesting and it might not be. I'm rather sure the following is quite interesting, it's the error which Starcraft itself gives when you try to open it:
Starcraft:
Invalid Scenario
This ccenario is intented for use with a StarCraft Expansion Set."
It doesn't show players, map size or anything else then this. Note then when I use the non-expension CD it doesn't show non-expension maps at all.
-------------------------------
So far the errors, on to the answer(s) and solution(s). I've read another topic like this one (which was the only one I could find btw) and while it looked the same some things are different then I've ever seen or heard of. I think it might be a MPQ corruption but it also might be something different.
On a side note, the errors started all out of the sudden. I had been bussy a lot one evening and decided I could use some sleep. The following morning I simply couldn't open it anymore. Since SF makes a backup when you save the file and the backup can also not be opened something might have gone wrong during the saving process, though I have no knowledge about this kind of stuff at all.
I could really need some help with this. I zipped the file and the backup and attached it to this post.
I've got a problem with the latest version of my map. I've been working on it for quite a while with Starforge. Once in a while I close Starforge and use X-tra Editor to re-arrange the triggers (which can't be done in SF). I only recently heard that is (or might be) a bad combination.
Anyway, the problem: I can't open the map anymore. SF always makes a backup once in a while but I can't open that one either. I've tried earlier versions but they do can be opened. Sadly enough this last version was the biggest and most important breakthrough and was an huge update to my life work. We're talking about doubling the origninal amount of triggers, the new triggers are 60% 'unique'/completely new triggers and the rest are 'duplicates' (ie: almost the same triggers except for small changes in conditions/effects).
I'm rather desperate, I've tried pretty much every editor, viewer and unprotecter I could find but none worked. It is also impossible to play the map. Here's my error log:
-------------------------------
Trigger Viewer, Uberation and Osmap:
"Run-time error '9':
Subscript out of range"
Starforge:
Windows says there was an error, exits to windows.
SCMDraft:
"Error Opening Map"
Staredit, X-tra Editor"
"Campaign Editor was unable to open the file
'F:\Games\Starcraft\Maps\Own\Game\Corrupted.scx'.
Please make sure taht the file is a valid Starcraft data file."
Some of the above might be interesting and it might not be. I'm rather sure the following is quite interesting, it's the error which Starcraft itself gives when you try to open it:
Starcraft:
Invalid Scenario
This ccenario is intented for use with a StarCraft Expansion Set."
It doesn't show players, map size or anything else then this. Note then when I use the non-expension CD it doesn't show non-expension maps at all.
-------------------------------
So far the errors, on to the answer(s) and solution(s). I've read another topic like this one (which was the only one I could find btw) and while it looked the same some things are different then I've ever seen or heard of. I think it might be a MPQ corruption but it also might be something different.
On a side note, the errors started all out of the sudden. I had been bussy a lot one evening and decided I could use some sleep. The following morning I simply couldn't open it anymore. Since SF makes a backup when you save the file and the backup can also not be opened something might have gone wrong during the saving process, though I have no knowledge about this kind of stuff at all.
I could really need some help with this. I zipped the file and the backup and attached it to this post.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by LegacyWeapon on 2006-08-21 at 16:00:19
I don't currently have SC but I think I fixed it via Hex Workshop and OSMAP.
Edit: Well using ube3 I see that all the strings are messed up but you can try and save the rest of the map using a section importer/exporter.
Edit: Well using ube3 I see that all the strings are messed up but you can try and save the rest of the map using a section importer/exporter.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Daedalus on 2006-08-21 at 18:32:54
I didn't expect that it would be something which could be fixed, and I really didn't expect it to be fixed within an hour. Thanks a lot Legacy, you have my enternal gratitudes!
While all the strings are indeed all messed up, I was able to open it normally and play it as well - as far as I can see it is working perfectly.
The string thing does bother me though, it's kind of strange that all the strings (everything; unit names, switches, map title, etc) have been cut in pieces and thrown around. Pretty much every string I've seen is cut in smaller sections, while none of the strings have been mixed or put together. There also must have been deleted a huge lot of strings since there are only 218 left, and I'm pretty sure I was hitting 700.
The map is quite focused on using displayed text and I had some texts which were basically just a bunch of random numbers and signs. I found some of those back and I recognized them immidiatly (they weren't that random after all
) but there were also a lot of other parts which had a lot of strange symbols which I've never used before.
Now I've been messing around with strange symbols and the effects of them on Starcraft text before, and some of these symbols have 'special powers', like the ones used to add colours. Now some of are really neat; turns part of a string invisable, don't show up in-game but not in the editor, only show in the editor but not in-game, align text at specific place of the screen, etc.
Couple of questions:
- I was wondering if there has been done any more research to symbols like that except for the ones already in the editors and the ones which align.
- Also, do you know why my map got 'corrupted' (or what actually did happen to it in the first place?) and how can I prevent it from happening again?
- I've tried to find a "section importer/exporter" which you were talking about but I didn't find anything nor do I have the slightest idea what you are talking about. Could you explain what it is, how it works, where I can get it and why I would actually want to use it if it doesn't fix the strings but only is to "save the rest of the map"?
Hm I think I'm talking to much rubbish now. Anyway, thanks a lot for your help!
While all the strings are indeed all messed up, I was able to open it normally and play it as well - as far as I can see it is working perfectly.
The string thing does bother me though, it's kind of strange that all the strings (everything; unit names, switches, map title, etc) have been cut in pieces and thrown around. Pretty much every string I've seen is cut in smaller sections, while none of the strings have been mixed or put together. There also must have been deleted a huge lot of strings since there are only 218 left, and I'm pretty sure I was hitting 700.
The map is quite focused on using displayed text and I had some texts which were basically just a bunch of random numbers and signs. I found some of those back and I recognized them immidiatly (they weren't that random after all
) but there were also a lot of other parts which had a lot of strange symbols which I've never used before.Now I've been messing around with strange symbols and the effects of them on Starcraft text before, and some of these symbols have 'special powers', like the ones used to add colours. Now some of are really neat; turns part of a string invisable, don't show up in-game but not in the editor, only show in the editor but not in-game, align text at specific place of the screen, etc.
Couple of questions:
- I was wondering if there has been done any more research to symbols like that except for the ones already in the editors and the ones which align.
- Also, do you know why my map got 'corrupted' (or what actually did happen to it in the first place?) and how can I prevent it from happening again?
- I've tried to find a "section importer/exporter" which you were talking about but I didn't find anything nor do I have the slightest idea what you are talking about. Could you explain what it is, how it works, where I can get it and why I would actually want to use it if it doesn't fix the strings but only is to "save the rest of the map"?
Hm I think I'm talking to much rubbish now
. Anyway, thanks a lot for your help!Report, edit, etc...Posted by LegacyWeapon on 2006-08-21 at 19:07:21
QUOTE(Daedalus @ Aug 21 2006, 06:32 PM)
I didn't expect that it would be something which could be fixed, and I really didn't expect it to be fixed within an hour. Thanks a lot Legacy, you have my enternal gratitudes!
While all the strings are indeed all messed up, I was able to open it normally and play it as well - as far as I can see it is working perfectly.
The string thing does bother me though, it's kind of strange that all the strings (everything; unit names, switches, map title, etc) have been cut in pieces and thrown around. Pretty much every string I've seen is cut in smaller sections, while none of the strings have been mixed or put together. There also must have been deleted a huge lot of strings since there are only 218 left, and I'm pretty sure I was hitting 700.
The map is quite focused on using displayed text and I had some texts which were basically just a bunch of random numbers and signs. I found some of those back and I recognized them immidiatly (they weren't that random after all) but there were also a lot of other parts which had a lot of strange symbols which I've never used before.
Now I've been messing around with strange symbols and the effects of them on Starcraft text before, and some of these symbols have 'special powers', like the ones used to add colours. Now some of are really neat; turns part of a string invisable, don't show up in-game but not in the editor, only show in the editor but not in-game, align text at specific place of the screen, etc.
Couple of questions:
- I was wondering if there has been done any more research to symbols like that except for the ones already in the editors and the ones which align.
- Also, do you know why my map got 'corrupted' (or what actually did happen to it in the first place?) and how can I prevent it from happening again?
- I've tried to find a "section importer/exporter" which you were talking about but I didn't find anything nor do I have the slightest idea what you are talking about. Could you explain what it is, how it works, where I can get it and why I would actually want to use it if it doesn't fix the strings but only is to "save the rest of the map"?
Hm I think I'm talking to much rubbish now. Anyway, thanks a lot for your help!
[right][snapback]548399[/snapback][/right]
The symbols are most likely the just strings that are showing parts of the chk. If you would like more information look up the chk format:While all the strings are indeed all messed up, I was able to open it normally and play it as well - as far as I can see it is working perfectly.
The string thing does bother me though, it's kind of strange that all the strings (everything; unit names, switches, map title, etc) have been cut in pieces and thrown around. Pretty much every string I've seen is cut in smaller sections, while none of the strings have been mixed or put together. There also must have been deleted a huge lot of strings since there are only 218 left, and I'm pretty sure I was hitting 700.
The map is quite focused on using displayed text and I had some texts which were basically just a bunch of random numbers and signs. I found some of those back and I recognized them immidiatly (they weren't that random after all
) but there were also a lot of other parts which had a lot of strange symbols which I've never used before.Now I've been messing around with strange symbols and the effects of them on Starcraft text before, and some of these symbols have 'special powers', like the ones used to add colours. Now some of are really neat; turns part of a string invisable, don't show up in-game but not in the editor, only show in the editor but not in-game, align text at specific place of the screen, etc.
Couple of questions:
- I was wondering if there has been done any more research to symbols like that except for the ones already in the editors and the ones which align.
- Also, do you know why my map got 'corrupted' (or what actually did happen to it in the first place?) and how can I prevent it from happening again?
- I've tried to find a "section importer/exporter" which you were talking about but I didn't find anything nor do I have the slightest idea what you are talking about. Could you explain what it is, how it works, where I can get it and why I would actually want to use it if it doesn't fix the strings but only is to "save the rest of the map"?
Hm I think I'm talking to much rubbish now
. Anyway, thanks a lot for your help![right][snapback]548399[/snapback][/right]
http://www.blizzforums.com/showthread.php?t=583
In my opinion, StarForge should be avoided. But then again another dangerous combination is SCMDraft2 with SCXE. So it's best to stick with one editor unless you know the full effects and make sure to make backups besides the ones your editor makes (SCMDraft2 has a very nice backup editor that I trust).
Section importer/exporter is something like the IEP files of uBe2 or the section files of SCMIE:
http://www.staredit.net/index.php?download=2596
http://www.staredit.net/index.php?download=363
They can be used to import units or terrain (parts of the old map) onto a new map so you can work on remaking (reorganizing) all the strings.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Daedalus on 2006-08-21 at 20:23:34
I've been using SF for ages, but if you say it should be avoided then I'll take your advice. I've just downloaded/updated SCMDraft with the Trigger plugin and I kind of like the that it shows all the triggers in one long page, can be very useful.
Besides the conflicts which might occur when you also use X-tra, SCMDraft is considered safe? I do not really want this, or anything like it, to happen again.
Besides the conflicts which might occur when you also use X-tra, SCMDraft is considered safe? I do not really want this, or anything like it, to happen again.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Falkoner on 2006-08-21 at 20:43:09
SCMDraft isn't safe with X-tra, but much safer. You should backup your maps on this site, much better way to go about it, in case your harddrive breaks down or something
Report, edit, etc...Posted by LegacyWeapon on 2006-08-21 at 21:12:41
SCMDraft2 has an extensive backup database rather than just 1 map backup like StarForge. If you do wish to use SCXE after using SCMDraft2 (which I have no clue why you would do), it is best if you:
1) Use uBe3 and unrecycle all the strings. This is a pretty big thing to do and may mess up your map.
2) Do not EDIT any strings. Only create new ones (creating a mission briefing should not mess anything up).
1) Use uBe3 and unrecycle all the strings. This is a pretty big thing to do and may mess up your map.
2) Do not EDIT any strings. Only create new ones (creating a mission briefing should not mess anything up).
Report, edit, etc...Posted by PCFredZ on 2006-08-21 at 22:13:57
QUOTE(Daedalus @ Aug 21 2006, 03:17 PM)
We're talking about doubling the origninal amount of triggers, the new triggers are 60% 'unique'/completely new triggers and the rest are 'duplicates' (ie: almost the same triggers except for small changes in conditions/effects).
[right][snapback]548321[/snapback][/right]
[right][snapback]548321[/snapback][/right]
Maybe you could have just used this in lieu of duplicating the other triggers.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Daedalus on 2006-08-22 at 06:13:33
Dang, I have no idea why I stopped to ghost around here so I would actually know that kind of programs exist 
. Anyway, thanks a lot that might really come in useful. Though I'm not sure it is able to also have variables in the display text command, which seems to be the only problem atm with the map.
@Falkoner: Once in a while I copy all my maps to another computer just in case of an hard disc crash. I'm not going to backup it here though, it's a life-time work meaning that it will not be finished at any time but always stay a work-in-progress map. When I've reached the data limit for 1 map I already have a system in mind to be able to transfer data (your Hero with all his stats, items and other info) from one map to another map in-game.
Anyway, I'm still interested in those symbols with 'powers'; which do funny things like colours, aligning, moving text on the vertical axes, etc. Has there ever been done a full research to identify all the symbols and their effect(s)? With the few symbols I've tested I think I already have more then enough to ensure that nobody will ever find the auther's name so you'll have a reduced chance of a succesful stealing atempt.
EDIT:
Hm, I just read this sticky and it has some of the effects I stumbled upon, those who are not included there are all still under research though.
EDIT2:
Just a random comment, but the only strings in my map which are not messed up are those of three locations: location 46-48. Apparently because I didn't edit those strings myself it wasn't targeted for mass destruction because they were not in some kind of 'new string list' but only the basic string list?
EDIT3:
I don't know why you call SCMDraft stable and secure, it has already crashed 3 times after I try to edit a location by double clicking on it
.
. Anyway, thanks a lot that might really come in useful. Though I'm not sure it is able to also have variables in the display text command, which seems to be the only problem atm with the map.@Falkoner: Once in a while I copy all my maps to another computer just in case of an hard disc crash. I'm not going to backup it here though, it's a life-time work meaning that it will not be finished at any time but always stay a work-in-progress map. When I've reached the data limit for 1 map I already have a system in mind to be able to transfer data (your Hero with all his stats, items and other info) from one map to another map in-game
.Anyway, I'm still interested in those symbols with 'powers'; which do funny things like colours, aligning, moving text on the vertical axes, etc. Has there ever been done a full research to identify all the symbols and their effect(s)? With the few symbols I've tested I think I already have more then enough to ensure that nobody will ever find the auther's name so you'll have a reduced chance of a succesful stealing atempt.
EDIT:
Hm, I just read this sticky and it has some of the effects I stumbled upon, those who are not included there are all still under research though.
EDIT2:
Just a random comment, but the only strings in my map which are not messed up are those of three locations: location 46-48. Apparently because I didn't edit those strings myself it wasn't targeted for mass destruction because they were not in some kind of 'new string list' but only the basic string list?
EDIT3:
I don't know why you call SCMDraft stable and secure, it has already crashed 3 times after I try to edit a location by double clicking on it
.Report, edit, etc...Posted by LegacyWeapon on 2006-08-22 at 10:24:59
QUOTE(Daedalus @ Aug 22 2006, 06:13 AM)
I don't know why you call SCMDraft stable and secure, it has already crashed 3 times after I try to edit a location by double clicking on it .
[right][snapback]548559[/snapback][/right]
I have rarely ever crashed SCMDraft2. If you have a repeatable problem, please post it in the SCMDraft2 forum..[right][snapback]548559[/snapback][/right]
Report, edit, etc...Posted by fritfrat(U) on 2006-08-22 at 11:27:44
I use SCMDraft for 98% of all mapmaking stuff I do, and I have only had it crash when double clicking on a location 1 time. And that was during a 30 minute mapmaking contest, so it really didn't matter. Make sure you are using the latest version of scmdraft. All other crashes I've had I was able to save before the program shut down.
Of course, you could perhaps theororize that if it was on a map that mattered and I went back to edit it later, the same location would have frozen me. Who knows. Xtra/Emerald being the only editors used on a map would be considered the most stable, but if you want an editor with capabilities, scmdraft is the most stable. That location crash is extremely rare.
Of course, you could perhaps theororize that if it was on a map that mattered and I went back to edit it later, the same location would have frozen me. Who knows. Xtra/Emerald being the only editors used on a map would be considered the most stable, but if you want an editor with capabilities, scmdraft is the most stable. That location crash is extremely rare.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Gigins on 2006-08-22 at 12:04:45
Before you start working on the map make an estimated briefing template in X-tra. Like add the portraits, and random text string for objective and briefing. And needed waits. Then test does it works/looks as you wanted.
Later you can change the briefing strings via string editor in Draft. And do everything else in Draft.
Thats how I make maps.
Later you can change the briefing strings via string editor in Draft. And do everything else in Draft.
Thats how I make maps.