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ok I'm curious on what programs i should use to make maps, currently i use X-tra Editor(latest version out) and SCMDraft and sometime i use Star Forge, what other/any programs should i use? and can some one help me with text messages, i can only get them to show up, but ive seen ppl make it look like its being type or like in the probet the probe movies how he does that is beyond me.... HELP!

Xtra and SCMD2 are a fine combination. although that combo can mess up strings pretty badly - so try to stay solo SCMD2 if you can, or at least don't open/modify any strings in SCMD2.

if you insist on using Starforge - DO NOT combine it with ANY other editor. SF is tempermental and will likely corrupt your map.

actually, im not sure what strings are yet i usally just make the map in SCMDraft and do trigs in X-tra Editor

What are strings?

strings are lines of text

things like unit names, display text message and comments use them. there is a limit on them(65535 characters) across as many strings as you want(i think). custom strings count towards the limit, while built-in strings do not.

eg 'Terran Marine' is a string(albeit a built-in one which doesn't affect the string limit)

these are just some very basic details and are just to get a general grasp of what strings are. if you need more clarification, someone else'll have to help you.

lol, i don't even need to combine SF with another editor to screw something up. i feel antsy with a map editor that is so unstable, but if you can use it fine, more power to you.

i really dunno why some people(mainly you ) say SF terrain is crappy, i think custom brushes pwn. copy/paste isn't too bad but nothing compares with being able to select individual tiles. personally, thats all i think SF is strong at.

For clarification on string limits:

On Starforge and Xtra, there is a limit of 1024 strings. Exceeding this can cause random screw ups in Xtra, and I think Starforge just doesnt open the map, or it crashes.

SCMDraft2 can handle any amount of strings.

Now, each string will take up a minimum of 4 bytes: 2 for the offset, 1 for the null terminator, and however many characters you want in your string (>0).

Now, since the number of strings is recorded in an unsigned integer, it cannot exceed 65535.

So if every string was one character long, you could have 16383 strings in your map (only in SCMDraft2). To be more realistic, your average string length is probably around 15 characters long, so you could have 3640 strings. Which is 2616 more strings then you normally could have in SF or Xtra.

Hope that helped to clarify on string limits.

you do know you can type triggers in SCMDraft2 to right?

That is done simply by doing multiple text messages in a row. So you want it to type out "My Map" the you would put these as text messages with wait times in between:

M
My
My M
My Ma
My Map

The strings won't look quite the same as
M
My
My M
My Ma
My Map

It's more like
M
[lots of blank lines]My
etc.

You need lots of blank lines at the begining of the string to clear all other strings off the page.

forgot to mention that... ya you need that unless you want your text looking fugly

I dunno, I still prefer classic click based trigger editor SCMDraft2 has. I believe I can produce large amounts of triggers faster than with a text based editor.

You seem pretty set on programs. Get trigger duplicator if you ever need it, that program is absolutely amazing.

I personally use SCMDraft2 for everything except for the mission briefing.

well, i guess if you're not experienced with using the terrain palettes, but i just manually create the cliffs and other edges with the custom brushes.  it really doesn't bother me that much

i use a combo of SCMDraft and xtra, but hey thats just me....

well based off experience i suggest you use the editors in order for each of their specific special thing. Create the map in xtra(unless its an odd size) and start it off their. use the terrain things too start off get a base layout. name units and what, basic needed triggers for maps = hypers, ally, vision, intro msg. then on with the triggers. now this depends on how you like doing the triggers. click or type im getting used to the typing but still perfer click. xtra is not capable of selecting other players beyond pl8 so other editors are useful because the trigger editors can use them then just get back into xtra. well once main triggers r done go in the editor you prefer and add the preplaced units and stack whatever you need, add little unit hp effects and such. sf has the snap to grid and not if you want to place how you like. Sound is defenetly last if you intend to jump between editors frequently

addition i know i forgot some little tips but thats alot of typing for me..
(i know you can import pl9-12 triggers into xtra)
(making it in xtra doesnt make every tile start as a square it will be isom untill square replaces it)

Worries about mixing editors shouldn't stop you from doing terrain in any editor you prefer. SF and SCMD2 both allow you to copy/paste terrain, so you can even have one map dedicated to terrain, and another map with the triggers. And later you can just transfer the whole terrain from one map to another. For example you can do terrain in SF and triggering in SCMD2, or even use the same editor, but separate map files.