HTML Mapping Tool

[StoneAge]

This tool is desgined to give CMBN map makers the ability to take full advantage of Google Earth, other arial photography, maps or anything that can be turned into an image. The tool allows you to place your image on a background layer and then build up the ground, roads and trees on layers. Each layer can be turned on and off independantly allowing you to still see the background image. Once completed the map is exported to a file to later be turned into a "click map", this click map is then processed by the "auto clicker" to build the map in the CMBN Editor.

This is the first test release of this tool. (so it does not have all features completed yet i.e bridges, Modular buildings above 5 levels or flavor objects).

HTML Mapping Tool runs locally in a browser (I use Firefox, have had it working in IE, have not tested Chrome or Safari) the other processing tools CMBN Click Map Maker and Auto Clicker are (PC only sorry mac guys)

All you need to do is download the zip file

http://www.dnnspecialists.com.au/CMBN/HTMLMappingTool.zip

and then extract it to your computer. When this is done you can view the help.htm in the help folder. This should tell you almost everything you will need to know and the current process I use.

Thanks to Japanzer for looking at this way back and to Broadsword56 for help over the last few weeks.

[Broadsword56]

As someone who has tested this tool and seen its results, I can say it's truly revolutionary. We now have the capability to make photo-accurate, historically authentic maps AND topography -- with an automated process that saves time and removes much of the drudgery.

The tool has many uses -- some of which are yet to be discovered and fully explored. For example, you can take existing BFC maps, expand the boundaries, and then use this tool to place new terrain all around them in perfect alignment. You can make a 4km x 4km "master map" and use the tool to map out a battle area, then place battle damage on it and "move" it to another spot while you add more detailed terrain along with the progress of the campaign.

You still have to click all those tiles, one by one, to make your terrain. But now you'll know that every tile is an exact representation of the Google Earth or aerial photo or source map you're using -- and that the tool will place all of it to the proper scale and orientation without the guesswork or number-crunching that was necessary in the past.

The tool's help file is lavishly documented with graphics and examples, and the interface is decently intuitive. The tool seemed quite stable and reliable, and forgiving of rookie mistakes.

So, combat cartographers, give it a try! I hope we can look forward to a new wave of historically accurate and visually stunning CMBN maps, now that this tool is in the hands of so many creative minds out there.

[Arnoldio]

Many, many thanks to the authors.

I will try to recreate my hometown in ww2 style as it was occupied both by italians and germans.We also had a very hidden partisan hospital that germans wer unable to find for the whole staying. (the wounded were lead there blindfolded so they wouldnt give out the position.)

[RockinHarry]

I´ll give it a try later on, looks just what I was waiting for...from BFC. :eek:

[McAuliffe]

This is amazing and just in time, as I was pondering to go and buy some 2nd hand overhead projector. Was reading through the help file and it looks a bit daunting at first instance, but I will try it out tonite. Anyway, a great job and one of the best contributions so far.

We just need now a talented script writer that can write a proggie that repeats waypoints for several units from same starting point in game and I will be set to start actually playing this game.

[Japanzer]

Congratulations, StoneAge

I've downloaded it. It has evolved from the one I received.

I've not read your manual yet, so I did not run it fully.

I guess it is hard work to complete it.

Now, I want to finish my tools. I'll start to read the manual later.

I'm interested in the speed of Auto clicker.

Japanzer

[kipanderson]

Hi,

Goodness.. I am amazed such a thing is possible.

Will for sure give it a go this weekend. I agree with all others, it’s exactly what is needed. Map making truly is the hard work in building scenarios.

An important and hugely impressive addition to CMBN.

Congratulations.... .

All the best,

Kip.

[A Canadian Cat]

This looks really interesting! As you can see from my sig line this kind of thing is at the top of my wish list...

I hope to get a chance to play with this tomorrow - at work now though. I have a couple of questions:

1) There is a MS Office Excel 2010 file in the Campaign directory. Do I need to have that version of Excel to use this software?

2) Clearly that campaign directory is a sample project. Do I have to use the same directory for my project or can I create my own directory(ies) to store my projects?

I will follow along the help file directions and report back.

[benpark]

This is flippin' amazing. It's the missing element from the map maker, sorely needed and finally delivered. Many, many thanks.

Can someone write something about the scaling of the source image to properly match CMBN with this tool?

[Broadsword56]

This is flippin' amazing. It's the missing element from the map maker, sorely needed and finally delivered. Many, many thanks.

Can someone write something about the scaling of the source image to properly match CMBN with this tool?

You'll find this in the help.htm file, but you need to make sure you take your Google Earth screenshots at 95 meters above ground level. If you want to use French aerial photos, or 1:25 scale maps, or whatever else, just overlay them as jpegs onto your Google Earth and then go to 95m above ground and shoot that image.

[Moon]

Jawdropping good... Amazing job!

Martin

[StoneAge]

That is a great tip Broadsword56. I will be doing this way from now on, I will add that to the help file

[StoneAge]

Thanks Moon. still adding other ground types to it and trying to come up with an easy way to add flavor items.

[McAuliffe]

Hi,

I am trying out my first map conversion. In the help file it says at certain point: "Now create a CSV file called 151-151.csv or what ever xy your mapping. (I save these files into the folder called campaign, you can save them anywhere though)"

I am not sure how to create a CSV file as I don't know what the CSV extension stands for. Do I just open a blank wordpad document and save it as a xxx.CSV file? or should I open specific application?

Thanks,

[Broadsword56]

I use an accessory program, like Notepad or Wordpad.

Just make a new blank file, paste in your data, then save the file with the .csv extension and make sure the format is selected to text.

[Ranger33]

Amazing! I tried my hand at making a scenario back in the summer, but the mind numbing tediousness of creating a map while flipping back and forth looking at Google Earth turned me off pretty quickly. It also made me wonder how the more prolific scenario designers around here manage to maintain their sanity...maybe they don't

Just imagine how many more scenarios and campaigns will see the light of day thanks to this cutting down on the most time consuming part of the process.

[A Canadian Cat]

flipping back and forth looking at Google Earth turned me off

I felt the same Ranger. This tool just might bring me back to my project. I started working through the help file this morning.

[A Canadian Cat]

1) There is a MS Office Excel 2010 file in the Campaign directory. Do I need to have that version of Excel to use this software?

2) Clearly that campaign directory is a sample project. Do I have to use the same directory for my project or can I create my own directory(ies) to store my projects?

I saw an answer to question 2) but not question 1). Do I need to get some way to read produce Excel 2010 files?

[Broadsword56]

No, those excel and csv files in the Campaign folder are just leftover examples from a project that StoneAge was apparently working on. You don't use them at all, you can delete them, and you don't need Excel.

[StoneAge]

Broadsword56 is correct you dont need excel.

That excel document is in there from a map that I was making, where I had to make a few hands on changes to things (ie copy the center out of one map into another already built map) I just find excel or open office handy sometimes as it will open the .CSV files with each item in a separate cell handy if you only need to move 1 thing in a file.

Sorry about not putting what a CSV (comma Seperated Values) was in the help file but I was trying to keep its size down.

[PaulMG]

Here is the freeware that I use for CSV files. I use the uniCSVed because what I work with encodes with unicode 8.

http://home.hccnet.nl/s.j.francke/software/software.htm

[winkelried]

I fully appreciate your effort guys - a really nice tool.

What would be even nicer, when BF could offer us a export/import facility for maps so third-party map editors don't need this click-hacking tools to import maps.

[Pete Wenman]

This looks great, but I'm struggling to get it working.

I've created a 400m x 400m square image from GE and saved it as 1-1.jpg.

I've loaded the js settings file as follows

var bgMap_location = "im/maps/1-1.jpg";

var xCountStart=1;

var yCountStart=1;

var tilewidth=33;

var tileheight=50;

var tilesize=30;

As then saved this file with the csv extension in the campaign folder.

However when I open Groundmaker the image does not show, but I get this

As you can see a get a small image icon in the top left square of the grid, but nothing else.

I'm sure this is user error, but I can't get it working beyond this

thanks

P

[Broadsword56]

Pete,

When you input the settings into settings.js, you simply save that file. You don't change its format to csv.

[Pete Wenman]

When you input the settings into settings.js, you simply save that file. You don't change its format to csv

Yes I saving the settings.js as is in the js folder, and then I'm saving the same file into the campaign folder with the csv extension as per this instruction

Now create a CSV file called 151-151.csv or what ever xy your mapping. (I save these files into the folder called campaign, you can save them anywhere though)

I know I'm doing something wrong, but don't have a clue what

P