Report, edit, etc...Posted by Tactics_Editor on 2004-08-27 at 04:56:33
What is it and how can it help you.
You have a big SCM/SCX file, (The next is important -->) with very small sounds, or, without any sounds at all.
When you ZIP it, it gots even bigger, or not that smaller
No one wants to download your BIG file
I offer a way to get that ZIP up to a half smaller than that.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The idea
I edited the post to explain that better than I explained it some time ago.
NOTE: I assume all archives mentioned below compressed at maximum ratio availiable.
WinRAR provides better compression than WinZIP.
When you compress a ZIP into RAR, the RAR will be about the size of the ZIP
However, if you unpack the files from ZIP and pack them into RAR, you will get the smaller RAR file, because RAR compresses better. (That is what "convert archives" command is for)
Now, SCM/SCX are actually MPQs, and MPQs are actually archives.
Those archives (MPQs) have their compression ratio worse than even that of ZIPs.
(That's because of high MPQ extraction speed required for the game to run fast enough)
Also the MPQs allow to store files without compression.
So, if we uncompress the MPQs (SCMs) to make that^^ type of them (uncompressed MPQs) and then compress them to ZIPs, the ZIPs will be much smaller that the original SCMs!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What about sounds?
TAKE NOTE: My compression method usually cannot help you, if there are sounds in it!
All the things above work only if you don't have sounds in your map, or have small ones.
If you want to make sounds smaller, look in the staredit.net tutorial section about converting them to "8-bit mono" or whatever.
If you can't afford to lose quality, uncompress them like other files in SCM/SCX and make ZIP try to compress them better.
If not (most common), do NOT store them uncompressed in MPQs/SCMs/SCXs, else you'll make both MPQ/SCM/SCX AND ZIP larger, unlike other files.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So how do I compress my maps?
If you're lazy, use my program (download CSCM from planetaiur.narod.ru NOW!)
(that one is kinda buggy, and I can't correct most of those bugs.)
OR (Doing that manually is better than using my prog)
Manual instructions (the easiest way I think):
( You will need to download WinMPQ first. (download it from this site) )
1. Backup-Copy your SCM/SCX somewhere.
2. Open both original and the copy in WinMPQ, and make both windows visible at the same time.
3. In the WinMPQ with the original SCM/SCX, use menu command Mpq->Compression->None
4. Select all files but sounds and "(listfile)" from the backup copy (usually only 1 file: "Staredit\Scenario.CHK"), then drag them all to the one with the original SCM/SCX
5. If asked of the target path, just press Ok.
6. If your sounds are not compressed at the maximum ratio, set the compression to Wav->Maximum, then drag them all in the same way, as described above.
(Do that^^ only if you don't care about losing quality, if not, it might be better to NOT exclude them in the previous step)
7. In the original SCM's window, click "Compact" and confirm that you want to compact the MPQ.
8. Now ensure the original SCM/SCX is bigger than the backup copy.
9. Compress the original SCM/SCX into a ZIP or RAR or whatever archive.
You're done! The ZIP or RAR is smaller than the original MPQ.
You have a big SCM/SCX file, (The next is important -->) with very small sounds, or, without any sounds at all.
When you ZIP it, it gots even bigger, or not that smaller
No one wants to download your BIG file
I offer a way to get that ZIP up to a half smaller than that.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The idea
I edited the post to explain that better than I explained it some time ago.
NOTE: I assume all archives mentioned below compressed at maximum ratio availiable.
WinRAR provides better compression than WinZIP.
When you compress a ZIP into RAR, the RAR will be about the size of the ZIP
However, if you unpack the files from ZIP and pack them into RAR, you will get the smaller RAR file, because RAR compresses better. (That is what "convert archives" command is for)
Now, SCM/SCX are actually MPQs, and MPQs are actually archives.
Those archives (MPQs) have their compression ratio worse than even that of ZIPs.
(That's because of high MPQ extraction speed required for the game to run fast enough)
Also the MPQs allow to store files without compression.
So, if we uncompress the MPQs (SCMs) to make that^^ type of them (uncompressed MPQs) and then compress them to ZIPs, the ZIPs will be much smaller that the original SCMs!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What about sounds?
TAKE NOTE: My compression method usually cannot help you, if there are sounds in it!
All the things above work only if you don't have sounds in your map, or have small ones.
If you want to make sounds smaller, look in the staredit.net tutorial section about converting them to "8-bit mono" or whatever.
If you can't afford to lose quality, uncompress them like other files in SCM/SCX and make ZIP try to compress them better.
If not (most common), do NOT store them uncompressed in MPQs/SCMs/SCXs, else you'll make both MPQ/SCM/SCX AND ZIP larger, unlike other files.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So how do I compress my maps?
If you're lazy, use my program (download CSCM from planetaiur.narod.ru NOW!)
(that one is kinda buggy, and I can't correct most of those bugs.)
OR (Doing that manually is better than using my prog)
Manual instructions (the easiest way I think):
( You will need to download WinMPQ first. (download it from this site) )
1. Backup-Copy your SCM/SCX somewhere.
2. Open both original and the copy in WinMPQ, and make both windows visible at the same time.
3. In the WinMPQ with the original SCM/SCX, use menu command Mpq->Compression->None
4. Select all files but sounds and "(listfile)" from the backup copy (usually only 1 file: "Staredit\Scenario.CHK"), then drag them all to the one with the original SCM/SCX
5. If asked of the target path, just press Ok.
6. If your sounds are not compressed at the maximum ratio, set the compression to Wav->Maximum, then drag them all in the same way, as described above.
(Do that^^ only if you don't care about losing quality, if not, it might be better to NOT exclude them in the previous step)
7. In the original SCM's window, click "Compact" and confirm that you want to compact the MPQ.
8. Now ensure the original SCM/SCX is bigger than the backup copy.
9. Compress the original SCM/SCX into a ZIP or RAR or whatever archive.
You're done! The ZIP or RAR is smaller than the original MPQ.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Stereo on 2004-08-28 at 19:21:27
Just trying to figure out what the point of this is.. it wouldn't help with distribution on B.net and if you use it to send a map to someone else they can only play with you cause everybody else has the mpq compressed version.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Basan on 2004-09-01 at 08:12:35
QUOTE(Stereo @ Aug 29 2004, 12:21 AM)
Just trying to figure out what the point of this is.. it wouldn't help with distribution on B.net and if you use it to send a map to someone else they can only play with you cause everybody else has the mpq compressed version.
[right][snapback]60783[/snapback][/right]
[right][snapback]60783[/snapback][/right]
I know that the latest ProEdit (v1.4) has a compress feature in it but I'm not sure how it may fit ur needs, tough...
If u don't wanna send a protected map in2 B.net, I'm not sure how 2 do it then.
Edit reason: Typos.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Yoshi da Sniper on 2004-09-01 at 09:30:40
Interesting, I'm not sure if it works, or if its the same as flushing an mpq - which proedit automaticly does that btw.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Basan on 2004-09-02 at 07:56:03
QUOTE(Yoshi da Sniper @ Sep 1 2004, 02:30 PM)
Interesting, I'm not sure if it works, or if its the same as flushing an mpq - which proedit automaticly does that btw.
[right][snapback]62907[/snapback][/right]
[right][snapback]62907[/snapback][/right]
I already knew that...
2 tell u the truth, I don't submit many maps over the net (normally 2 other fan site, not B.net) n' when I do it, I usually protect'em all. After that step is taken, I usually compact with WinRAR. So the problem that Stereo spoke of isn't really applied 2 me.
Edit reason: Typos again. *Darn quick posting at the office*
Report, edit, etc...Posted by LordVodka on 2004-09-03 at 22:56:49
personally, compression of files is a complete mystery to me lol
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Staredit.Net Essence on 2004-09-04 at 11:56:48
dunno if it works but,it mite
Report, edit, etc...Posted by LegacyWeapon on 2004-09-04 at 13:40:03
Why dont you just WinACE it...
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Tactics_Editor on 2004-09-05 at 05:17:48
I SAID, making --->ZIPs<--- smaller, so why are you talking about B.Net?!?
... And I could never use ProEdit because I have MPQcontrol version incompatibility problems with it. So I don't even know what 'compact' is.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOTE AGAIN: This will NOT EVER help you when You distribute the map through BATTLE.NET (in-game downloading), unless they ALL are connected via protocols with compression. (I'm not...)
In fact, it SLOWS DOWN downloading through BATTLE.NET a lot!!!!
(If you are playing only through LAN(local area network), not through the WorldWideWeb, you'll never notice that slowdown...)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But do you want, for example, your campaigns be distributed that way? I don't....
The same goes to, for example, patches made via MPQdraft.... etc....
There are TONS of maps on THIS server, and those maps take much time to be downloaded, especially via a 'thin' connection.
----The rest of the post is only about my thoughts, you might want to skip them----
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(My StarEdit MOD, "ultimedit"("ULTMED_xxx.EXE") contains 3 different MPQs,
200k each, using that tech, I was able to compress them to not 600k, but 170k!
(The full version that's on my site is 380k only because it contains SCXE-like staredit replacements, that can work w/o staredit of a proper version))
(..... Damn 5-Meg size of SCXE ... Even SCMdraft+SCForge aren't that big ... It could be much smaller if they used that tech, and didn't add THAT many logo images .....)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
... And I could never use ProEdit because I have MPQcontrol version incompatibility problems with it. So I don't even know what 'compact' is.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOTE AGAIN: This will NOT EVER help you when You distribute the map through BATTLE.NET (in-game downloading), unless they ALL are connected via protocols with compression. (I'm not...)
In fact, it SLOWS DOWN downloading through BATTLE.NET a lot!!!!
(If you are playing only through LAN(local area network), not through the WorldWideWeb, you'll never notice that slowdown...)
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But do you want, for example, your campaigns be distributed that way? I don't....
The same goes to, for example, patches made via MPQdraft.... etc....
There are TONS of maps on THIS server, and those maps take much time to be downloaded, especially via a 'thin' connection.
----The rest of the post is only about my thoughts, you might want to skip them----
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(My StarEdit MOD, "ultimedit"("ULTMED_xxx.EXE") contains 3 different MPQs,
200k each, using that tech, I was able to compress them to not 600k, but 170k!
(The full version that's on my site is 380k only because it contains SCXE-like staredit replacements, that can work w/o staredit of a proper version))
(..... Damn 5-Meg size of SCXE ... Even SCMdraft+SCForge aren't that big ... It could be much smaller if they used that tech, and didn't add THAT many logo images .....)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Staredit.Net Essence on 2004-09-05 at 06:52:21
yeah