Map Editor

SOM_MAP

This is part of the Tutorial. The next section covers the System Editor Menu.

Features and Functions of The Map Editor Window

For the purpose of this tutorial, a space on the map will be called a "tile". A graphic that can be placed within a tile will be called a "piece". The sections of the Map Editor will be named as such:

The Map Grid takes up most of the window, starting in the top-left. This 99x99 unit grid represents your map.

The Piece Selection Grid is located on the right side of the window. The name and a preview graphic of the selected piece are shown just to the left of this grid. Here, you can select a piece to place on the Map Grid.

Just below the Map Grid is the Map Name field and the Pick Map button. Pick Map allows you to load a new map from the current project. SoM will prompt you to save before changing maps.

The Mode Select buttons in the middle of the screen towards the bottom control how you interact with the Map Grid. There are three Modes:

Assembly Mode allows you to physically construct the map using the Piece Selection Grid.

Activity Mode allows you to alter the Enemies, NPCs, and Items that exist on a given tile.

Set Zone Mode does............. uhh. Information forthcoming.

Centered just beneath the Mode Select buttons are the Submenu Buttons.

Piece Setup enters the Piece Specifications Setup submenu for the piece in the currently-selected tile.

Lighting enters the Lighting submenu, which allows you to alter the lighting of the entire map.

Map Setting enters the Map Settings submenu, which allows you to change the map's music, sky type, name, and many other important settings.

Event List enters the Event Catalogue, which allows you to add to or change the list of available events on this map.

And along the bottom of the screen are a number of 'Menu Bar' buttons:

Undo (Assembly Mode only) undoes the last change made to the Map Grid. There is no "Redo".

Cut (Assembly Mode only) removes the currently-selected piece from the Map Grid and adds it to your clipboard (allowing you to paste it).

Copy (Assembly Mode only) adds the currently-selected piece on the Map Grid to your clipboard (allowing you to paste it).

Paste (Assembly Mode only) places the contents of your clipboard into the currently-selected tile on the Map Grid.

Delete (Assembly Mode only) clears the currently-selected tile of its piece and resets all its values to default.

Compile builds the map and event data, saving it all as a completed .MPX file ready for the final game. This must be done before you can select "Test Map".

Test Map takes you into Test Mode. Changes made since the last time you Compiled the map will not be reflected. You must compile the map at least once for this option to be available.

Save saves your current map and event data. Unlike Compiled maps, these files are only usable in the SoM Editors.

Close takes you back to the Editor Selection menu. You will be prompted to save if any changes have been made to the map.

Controls

General Controls:

• Arrow Keys: Move the active Grid Cursor.
  
• Home: Toggle the active Grid Cursor between the Map Grid and the Piece Selection Grid.
  
• Tab / Shift + Tab: Select the next / previous Menu Button.
  
• Space Bar: Access the currently-selected Menu Button.
  

On any 3D preview window:

• LMB (Left Mouse Button): Rotate model.
  
• RMB (Right Mouse Button): Move model sideways.
  
• LMB + RMB: Zoom in /out.
  

Map Grid (Assembly Mode):

These functions are available when in Assembly Mode.

• LMB: Place currently-selected piece.
  
• Ctrl + LMB: Select a tile without placing a piece and "pick up" the piece's attributes.
  
• Shift + LMB (Click): Select a tile without placing a piece and without "picking up" the piece's attributes.
  
• Shift + LMB (Drag): Select an area of tiles.*
  
• RMB: Rotate the piece in the clicked-upon tile 90 degrees counter-clockwise. (rotation +90 degrees)
  
• Shift + RMB: Rotate the piece in the clicked-upon tile 90 degrees clockwise. (rotation -90 degrees)
  

The following keyboard functions may be used when the active cursor (red cursor) is in the Map Assembly Grid:

• Enter: Place currently-selected piece into currently-selected tile.
  
• Shift + Arrow Keys: Select an area of tiles.*
  
• Numpad Plus/Minus: Raise/lower the elevation of selected tile's piece by 0.5 units.
  
• Ctrl + Left/Right Arrow: Jump 37 spaces left or right.
  
• Page Up/Down: Jump 22 spaces up or down.
  
• Ctrl + C: Shortcut for Copy button.
  
• Ctrl + V: Shortcut for Copy button.
  
• Delete: Clear selected tile (shortcut for Delete button).
  

*Note that there is sadly no way to "fill" tiles into the selected region, but you can change the region's elevation. If your cursor is currently resting on an empty space when you change the region's height, the change will *not* be reflected on-screen since the elevation of tiles without map pieces is always 0.0. The change will, however, have been made.

More Information:

On various text lists such as Item/Object dropdowns and Event command lists, you can push a letter key on the keyboard to jump to the items that start with that letter. For example, you can press "w" in the item dropdown to jump to "weapon" or "b" to go to "Begin Screen Effect" in the event command list. Pushing the same letter again will cycle through entries that start with that letter.

Portions of this section were lifted from HwitVlf's thread "Helpul SoM controls" in the Forums.