INFO: Map Installation Instructions

[tungston 19]

Date: 12/3/2005 11:07:08 AM Author: dolsson I really, really tried to find an existing post on this, both on and off Simtropolis, but found nothing.  Please help: I DL'd the Macedon map: https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?mode=files&filetype=Map&Str=macedon When I try to render it, a portion of the map renders correctly, but the rest remains flat, as it was pre-render.  Any idea why?  The jpg seems okay (I imagine none of it would render if it was the wrong format).  I'll attach the jpg so you can look for yourself.  I assume the problem would not be with the config, but I'm not certain. BTW, I don't know if I'd have a similar problem with other DL'd maps, because I haven't tried any.  Also, I don't think I have any mods causing the problem.  I have only a few mods and I think they are unrelated: PEG water mod, Urban Housing, Network Addon, Equinox Query Upgrade. Thanks for any help, David KEYWORDS: download map problem trouble install render part

When I check the image you attached it comes up a bit map, but check the grayscale you are using to make sure that it is a true grayscale.  Some of the grayscales on the STEX have been altered, i.e. resized to make them larger, and that sometimes makes them unusable.

 

I will give the map a try to see what happens.

 

EDIT: I just finished the render, and it came out just as it should.  You may need to do the download again.  It is a big region, so if you don't have a lot of memory, or a slow computer it can sometimes quit before it finishes.

[dolsson 0]

Date: 12/3/2005 1:37:51 PM
Author: tungston

EDIT: I just finished the render, and it came out just as it should. You may need to do the download again. It is a big region, so if you don't have a lot of memory, or a slow computer it can sometimes quit before it finishes.

quote>

Tungston,
Thanks so much for the quick and helpful response. I think of my laptop as sort of middle-of-the-road, power-wise, but this did seem like maybe a resource problem. So, I shut down other programs, including my wireless network and my anti-virus, shut down as many background processes as I was comfortable with, and ran the render again.

This time, it rendered just fine.

[gunslinging2stepper 0]

Okay now I think I have a huge problem with the game. Someone said it should take 5-15 minutes to render a map depending on computer... Well it takes my 45-1:15 to render a map!

Here's my puter specs

Intel P4 2.4 ghz 533fsb, Asus MB, 1gb PC3200 micron ram, Gforce 6600gt 265mb, SB Live XGamer 5.1, 80gb 133 HD

 

Does anyone with a slower set up render faster? If so what the heck? I will try my next render with shuting everything down but I didn't think I would need to. I don't have much running in the background to start with. Just the normal stuff... virus, spyware detectors and I just leave the room and come back so I'm not trying to do anything. I've never had a render not come out like it should.

[Betel 0]

 

I have a problem too. When I'm done converting the maps they're all covered with water. I can see the landscape almost as it should be when I raise it fr

[tungston 19]

Date: 12/6/2005 4:30:08 AM Author: Betel

I have a problem too. When I'm done converting the maps they're all covered with water. I can see the landscape almost as it should be when I raise it fr

[Betel 0]

 

I'm kind of new to the whole mod/plugin/map thing so I tried some maps just as a test. where can I find the elevation mod you're talking about...

 

The map that I tried is fish island adn grand river 1

[tungston 19]

Date: 12/6/2005 4:55:45 AM Author: Betel

I'm kind of new to the whole mod/plugin/map thing so I tried some maps just as a test. where can I find the elevation mod you're talking about...

The map that I tried is 'fish island' adn 'grand river 1'

On the following map page is a link to MallowtheClouds plugin pack, it has several elevations, and a import.dat.  To use the dat files, I make a subfolder to the Plugin folder named Maps, copy the dat file there, and be sure to remove it after you render your region, other wise it could alter the next region you render.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=14086

 

I will try to check out the two maps you posted.

 

EDIT: OK, I am familiar with Fish001's maps, you will need to use one of the dat files in the plugin pack.  I would start with the 3000.dat to see how that turns out, then adjust to suit.

[Betel 0]

Thanks! Just a quick question. When I download mods, should I make a folder in the pluginfolder for them or should I just copy the files directly to the pluginfolder?

[tungston 19]

Date: 12/6/2005 5:31:21 AM Author: Betel

Thanks! Just a quick question. When I download mods, should I make a folder in the pluginfolder for them or should I just copy the files directly to the pluginfolder?

quote>

I would suggest making a folder for downloads, apart from the Simcity4 folder.  Unzip the pack into that one, or a subfolder.  You will copy only one dat file at a time into the plugin folder.

 

I always recommend making subfolders for the plugin folder so you can keep things organized, and be able to find mods, and lots, as you might want to remove them.  Some lots come with more than one file, plus readme, and image files.  Those are handy to tell what the lot is, and what it looks like.

[Betel 0]

I rendered the map again with the 3000 dat that you recommended and it worked perfectly. But I have to go to citywiew to se the result. On regionwiew its the same as before... Not a problem though, just have to save the city and the landscape takes the form it should in regionwiew

Ok. Thanks again.

[tungston 19]

Date: 12/6/2005 5:55:42 AM Author: Betel

I rendered the map again with the 3000 dat that you recommended and it worked perfectly. But I have to go to citywiew to se the result. On regionwiew its the same as before... Not a problem though, just have to save the city and the landscape takes the form it should in regionwiew

Ok. Thanks again.

Maybe what happened is you didn't delete all the files in the region folder except the config.bmp [and the grayscale if that is where you had saved it] *before you did the render*.  A lot of the time opening and saving a city will correct things like that.

 

EDIT:  One other note:  There is a known bug with rendering.  If you render with the screen resolution at 1600x1200 the region will have gaps in it.  The work around is to render at a lower resolution, then go back to the higher resolution and all will look OK then.

[gashleyf 0]

    I have a small problem. For the past three hours I have been trying to render my map. When I tried a message appeared that said that I had a map whose resolution was too large or something like that. To solve that I downloaded Landscape Designer, but I don't have the slightest clue when it comes to working it. How do I get the resolution for my map to go to 1025 by 1025 using the Landscape Designer. Thanks in advance.

[tungston 19]

Date: 12/21/2005 1:36:32 AM Author: gashleyf     I have a small problem. For the past three hours I have been trying to render my map. When I tried a message appeared that said that I had a map whose resolution was too large or something like that. To solve that I downloaded Landscape Designer, but I don't have the slightest clue when it comes to working it. How do I get the resolution for my map to go to 1025 by 1025 using the Landscape Designer. Thanks in advance.

quote>

Rather than get the map [grayscale] to a different size, the config.bmp needs to be larger.  I have seen some of the maps come with a config file that is not named right.  That may be the problem.  If the file is named config1.bmp, rename it config.bmp, regardless it needs that name.  Then copy it into the region folder you are creating.  That should get you started.

[gashleyf 0]

 Thanks, as it turns out the name was the problem. I always renamed the bitmap config.bmg, but as it turns out the game automatically adds the .bmg, so the bitmap was named config.bmg.bmg. Thanks, I owe you one. By the way, it seems like you have been posting and helping out people a lot. Maybe you should consider becoming a moderator or something like that.

[tungston 19]

Date: 12/21/2005 1:46:46 PM Author: gashleyf Thanks, as it turns out the name was the problem. I always renamed the bitmap 'config.bmg', but as it turns out the game automatically adds the .bmg, so the bitmap was named 'config.bmg.bmg'. Thanks, I owe you one. By the way, it seems like you have been posting and helping out people a lot. Maybe you should consider becoming a moderator or something like that.

quote>

You're quite welcome, and thanks for the compliment.  Being a moderator carries a lot of responsibility, and I can help without being one.

[Xokeu 0]

sorry guys if these are stupid quesitons but im kinda a $%&^! and i just recently got a new computer and ive spent a ton of time playing simcity 3000 and just recently got sc4.  What i was wondering if i could create a huge landscape with just 1 city or area in it instead of all the little ones?

 

Second question whenever i try to render maps it tells me to change it to 1025X1025 or whatever, so i go into paint and do that and change the .jpeg file to that and i still keep getting the same problems.  what am i doing wrong.   As well how are these people giving out these large maps because i would like to use them.  the bigger the better is what i am going for?

 

thanks.

 

ps.  i have landscape designer as well.

[tungston 19]

Date: 12/24/2005 11:15:54 PM Author: Xokeu

sorry guys if these are stupid quesitons but im kinda a $%&^! and i just recently got a new computer and ive spent a ton of time playing simcity 3000 and just recently got sc4.  What i was wondering if i could create a huge landscape with just 1 city or area in it instead of all the little ones?

Second question whenever i try to render maps it tells me to change it to 1025X1025 or whatever, so i go into paint and do that and change the .jpeg file to that and i still keep getting the same problems.  what am i doing wrong.  As well how are these people giving out these large maps because i would like to use them.  the bigger the better is what i am going for?

thanks.

ps.  i have landscape designer as well.

1.  The largest city you can have is the large city [4x4 pixels on the config file] [256 tiles square, I think].

 

2.  When you create a folder for the region, make sure the config.bmp is named exactly that, config.bmp.  When you download that file from the STEX it sometimes gets named config1.bmp.  The game default size is 16x16 which requires a 1025x1025 pixel grayscale.jpg.  If the config file is named wrong the game ignores it, and uses the default.

[Aliens62 0]

Hi all. This is my first post on this forum, and firstly I would like to say what a great resource this site is for a great game. However, like a few others I am having endless problems downloading maps successfully. i have followed the instructions further up this post to the letter. But no matter what I do I keep getting the error message about the map being 0 x 0 and it needs to be 1025 x 1025. i can't find a link to the landscape designer either. I saw the Greyveil says it is in the last link on his sig, but that only takes me to a region resource, and I cannot see a link top the landscape designer.

 

I know all this $%&^! rambling is probably irritating, but any guidance anyone can give would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks

[tungston 19]

Date: 12/28/2005 4:17:54 PM Author: Aliens62

Hi all. This is my first post on this forum, and firstly I would like to say what a great resource this site is for a great game. However, like a few others I am having endless problems downloading maps successfully. i have followed the instructions further up this post to the letter. But no matter what I do I keep getting the error message about the map being 0 x 0 and it needs to be 1025 x 1025. i can't find a link to the landscape designer either. I saw the Greyveil says it is in the last link on his sig, but that only takes me to a region resource, and I cannot see a link top the landscape designer.

I know all this $%&^! rambling is probably irritating, but any guidance anyone can give would be much appreciated.

Thanks

quote>

If you read item 2. on my post just above yours that will solve the incorrect size problem.

 

The link to Landscape Designer is this:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?mode=files&filetype=BAT&Str=landscape%20designer%200973%20beta

 

[Aliens62 0]

Thanks for the reply Tungston. Here is what I have tried and the result:

Copied the map .JPG file to a folder of the same name in mydocuments/simcity4 etc. Then copied bitmap file and called it config (thinking the PC would add the .bmp extention).

Result: Region Generation error  Map 0 x 0 should be 1025 x 1025

So I did the same, but called it config.bmp. Same result.

Then I copied one of the config files from a city that comes with the game (New York). Then copied in a different .JPG file. (As per instruction on Gizmo's site). Same result.

Next I tried creating a region in the game first, then exiting, then saving the files to the new folder. Same result.

 

I am sure the mistake I am making is very simple and fundamental, but I cannot see what else to try.

 

Thanks again for any help.

[tungston 19]

Date: 12/29/2005 3:33:02 AM Author: Aliens62 Thanks for the reply Tungston. Here is what I have tried and the result:

Copied the map .JPG file to a folder of the same name in mydocuments/simcity4 etc. Then copied bitmap file and called it config (thinking the PC would add the .bmp extention).

Result: Region Generation error  Map 0 x 0 should be 1025 x 1025

So I did the same, but called it config.bmp. Same result.

Then I copied one of the config files from a city that comes with the game (New York). Then copied in a different .JPG file. (As per instruction on Gizmo's site). Same result.

Next I tried creating a region in the game first, then exiting, then saving the files to the new folder. Same result.

I am sure the mistake I am making is very simple and fundamental, but I cannot see what else to try.

Thanks again for any help.

quote>

OK, here is the basic's.  You can copy the jpg anywhere, I find it easier to have it in a subfolder of C drive. 

 

grayscale to config.bmp ratio :64:1 plus 1,

this is in pixels,  substract 1 from the jpg [height, and width] divide those by 64, that will be the size of the config.bmp.

 

Large city = 4x4 pixels  blue
Medium city = 2x2 pixels  green
Small city = 1x1 pixels  red

 

With the game shut down.
Create a new folder in the C:\My Documents\SimCity 4\Regions folder.
Name it with the name of the region you would like.
copy the config.bmp file there.
start the game, load the region you just made.
do the key press [shift ctrl alt R] browse to the grayscale [*.jpg] and select it.
 
The hour glass will appear if all has been done right, and the cities will cycle, but no terrain will show yet.  When it is done with the render your region should be terraformed.
 

I think once you get the hang of it, it will be easy from then on.

 

[Aliens62 0]

Hi Tungston, again, many thanks for your help and patience. Sadly, I still have not been able to sucessfully render any new maps.

No matter how many ways I try it, I still get the same result, for clarity here is the message I get:

'Regoin Generation Error

Region Bitmap size is incorrect --- 0x0

should be 1025 x 1025'

 

The folder for my new city is definately located in 'MyDocuments/Simcity 4/Regions/Boston' and the only documents in there were the 'Boston.jpg' and 'config.bmp'. The .bmp file is 16 x 16 pixels and I confirmed the .bmp was correctly named after the ctrl-alt-shft R key press as the contents of the directory comes up on the screen (as you know). I select the .jpg file and click OK, and get the message above.

At the end of the day, I know it's not rocket science, but .........!

 

If you have any further ideas then I would be pleased to read them, otherwise again....thanks for trying to help.

For now I guess i'll have to make do with the maps that come witht the game.

 

cheers

 

EDIT: One thing I have tried since my original post. I tried changing the config.bmp file to another one that should produce all large cities (image is all blue). When I click load region, the flat surface that comes up before you do the key press thing did display all large city squares.

So i carried on in hope that the render might work, but it didn't. Does this indicate another possible solution to you?

 

[venomdaffy 1]

I'm having the same problem that Aliens62 is having.  my message says:

Region bitmap size is incorrect

1025 X 1537 , should be 1025 X 1025 

please help

 

[pianista 0]

About ROME, ITALY

https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/index.cfm?mode=files&filetype=Map&Str=rome%20italy

Excellent job, but when I load the jpg file, after 30 minutes it goes, but there's no river neither sea: at the place of sea the is a plane, in place of tiber there's a canyon and the rest of map is a mountain. Where I am in wrong?
In other words, altitude is wrong
Any suggestion?

[doodleman266 1]

Hi, I tried a map pressed Ctrl+Alt+Sht+R then I selcet the image in the folder I made with the config and everything. I press ok, the browse box disappears like its supposed to, then nothing happens.

[sim1234 62]

hmm, Are you selecting the right file for SC4 to render? It is the .jpeg file you want to select in the browse box not the config.bmp.

[ChiTown847 0]

hmmm...how do i resize a region so i can insert the jpg? it keeps saying the region doent fit the jpg, or somethin like that , any help is appreciated

[Kazeneko 0]

Hello,

I just tried to start a new region using Icelandic Fantasy ( https://www.simtropolis.com/stex/details.cfm?id=15399 ) by justinhayward, and got weird results.

I searched Simtropolis looking for posts about this, as well as the net, with no luck.

This happened on a fresh install of SimCity 4 with Rush Hour installed and all Maxis plugins.

Anyone have any idea as to what is causing this

If the answer is floating around here somewhere, I apologize, as I didn't know what words to use for the search

[sloppet 3]

I have to say I see this for the first time in my life.. hmmm weird indeed...

[sim1234 62]

Kazeneko: Make sure all background programs and screensavers are turned off while rendering, don't do anything else while the map is rendering because the map could turn out strange like the picture above.