SC4Mapper help needed please

mrbisonm · January 10, 2009

I have asked this in the bugs and technical problems thread and no help there, maybe no one there to help me.

Anyways, hope that someone here is able to help me clear this up.

First, I can't use the SC4Terraformer on my computer simple because it jams my computer to a dead stop everytime I open it, so please don't ask me to try it again., because I have tried everything and gave up now.

Now I have a problem with the SC4 Mapper. Whenever I open a sc4m file and try to save it to the regionfolder it says that I should enter a valid region name.....Geeez, I have tried dozens of names, one word names, numbers etc , and it is always the same, the program refuses save it. That goes with every freaking sc4m file. I even re-installed the program several times.

Hm....what in the world do I have on my computer that doesn't work with those mappers? Or is it something I don't know about? Help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks..........

(have XP and latest DirectX)

mrb

JakeMD · January 10, 2009

If the latest DirectX is 10, then you need 9.0c in order for it to work. Maybe this is a problem.

By the way, whats with the ugly theme?

mrbisonm · January 10, 2009

I have no idea what DirectX I have on my computer, but it was installed with the latest game I installed (Civ IV) about two months ago. How do I know which one I have?

And if it is v10, do I have to re-install v9? (What do I do to re-install v9 and will I then have problems playing Civ IV? Thanks.

SWAT-MEDIC

Btw, what do you mean by *theme*? If it's the region name, then tell that to Vandy, he named it so. I kinda like it, it sounds far away.

tungston · January 10, 2009

If your CivIV is working then you most likely have the correct DirectX file [MSVCP71.dll]. You can check the Windows\System32 folder for the file.

I haven't used either of those programs for years, so I am not sure if you first need to create the folder for the region or not, but you might try that.

mrbisonm · January 10, 2009

tungston,

Yes , I have the msvcp71.dll file in my systems32 folder. I also tried what you said by creating the regionfolder first and no luck, same thing. It doesn't even ask for it.

Once opened the .sc4m file with the SC4Mapper I wanrt to save it as a region and it asks me to give it a name. Whatever I type into the namebox ain't ok, the program simply says everytime that the name is not valid................hm

I'm beginning to believe that my computer doesn't like those mapper programs.....lol

I always have created my maps by handterraforming them (57 of them) and never bothered to download a program and a file to render into a region, now that I would like to........Darn!!!, I can't.....little frustrating it is.

Thanks for helping me so far and if someone finds a solution, hey.......I'm gonna pay you a couple o'beers.

mrb

tungston · January 10, 2009

Vandy should wander in sometime soon, he usually has the answers to those two programs.

mrbisonm · January 10, 2009

Great.............and thanks

mrb

bulito · January 10, 2009

The directx version and really thats the uglyes theme

JakeMD · January 11, 2009

Btw, what do you mean by *theme*? If it's the region name, then tell that to Vandy, he named it so. I kinda like it, it sounds far away.quote>

Your XP-Theme (Thats XP right?)

If you want to check your direct X version, do a run command, then type "dxdiag" which opens up the direct X diagnostic tool. This will tell you your latest DX installation.

mrbisonm · January 11, 2009

Thanks. It is DirectX 9.0c

Vandy · January 12, 2009

Hello, MrBison.

Let me see what I can do to help resolve this issue.

We know that you have the correct version of DirectX installed. Be sure you also have the following file installed (if not, click on the link to download the dll):

MSVCP71.DLL

Assuming you have this file installed as well, I'm going to take you step-by-step on opening SC4Mapper, creating a region and saving a region just to be sure we're all on the same "page".

I will be using my Lake Wamusco .SC4M and config.bmp files for this series of instructions. These instructions are based on using WindowsXP.

1) Download the region file(s) you wish to use and store them in a temporary folder. I have placed the Lake Wamusco.SC4M and config.bmp file in C:\TEMP.

2) Launch the SC4Mapper application.

3) Click on the Create Region button.

4) From the "Do you want to create a region from?" dialog box, click on the SC4M button.

5) From the Choose a SC4M file dialog box, navigate to where you've stored your .SC4M file, select it and click on the Open button. I navigated to C:\TEMP, selected Lake Wamusco.SC4M and clicked the Open button.

6) The 2D view of the Lake Wamusco region file with the city file grid appears in the SC4Mapper window.

7) Click on the Save Region button.

In the "Enter the name of the new region" dialog box, type in the name you wish to call the region. Note that the field is pre-filled with the current name of the .SC4M file. In my example, I used the default name of Lake Wamusco.

9) Click the OK button.

10) A "Saving Region" progress bar box appears and shows (in progressing green bars) the saving of the region.

11) Click on the Quit button to close the SC4Mapper application.

12) Navigate to C:\My Documents\SimCity 4\Regions\

13) You should see a folder with the same name as used in Step , above. In my example, I have a folder named Lake Wamusco.

14) Open this folder and you will see the appropriate city files and the config.bmp file.

15) The region is ready to be used in SimCity 4.

MrBison, please let me know if you are still having problems after following the above instructions.

Thanks.

Regards,

Gary (Vandy)

mrbisonm · January 12, 2009

Originally posted by: Vandy Hello, MrBison.

Let me see what I can do to help resolve this issue. Glad you're here, I have my last hope on you (giving you a little stress....lol) to make the Mapper work.

We know that you have the correct version of DirectX installed. Be sure you also have the following file installed (if not, click on the link to download the dll):

MSVCP71.DLL see picture below, it is in C;/WINDOWS/ System32

Assuming you have this file installed as well, I'm going to take you step-by-step on opening SC4Mapper, creating a region and saving a region just to be sure we're all on the same "page".

I will be using my Lake Wamusco .SC4M and config.bmp files for this series of instructions. These instructions are based on using WindowsXP. I have WindowsXPand it is the Wamusco National Park .SC4M file I am using, including the original config.bmp file that came with the download.

1) Download the region file(s) you wish to use and store them in a temporary folder. I have placed the Lake Wamusco.SC4M and config.bmp file in C:\TEMP. Downloaded again and I have placed both files in C:/X-Files (my download fileholder)

2) Launch the SC4Mapper application. No problem......

3) Click on the Create Region button. Did just that.....

4) From the "Do you want to create a region from?" dialog box, click on the SC4M button. I did....

5) From the Choose a SC4M file dialog box, navigate to where you've stored your .SC4M file, select it and click on the Open button. I navigated to C:\TEMP, selected Lake Wamusco.SC4M and clicked the Open button. I did that too, everything's fine....

6) The 2D view of the Lake Wamusco region file with the city file grid appears in the SC4Mapper window. It does appear and looks darn good!

7) Click on the Save Region button. I did.............................then the Unthinkable happens everytime with every possible region I choose and with every possibility of a name..................Dohhhh!

......and here my conquest with the Mapper ends..........

In the "Enter the name of the new region" dialog box, type in the name you wish to call the region. Note that the field is pre-filled with the current name of the .SC4M file. In my example, I used the default name of Lake Wamusco.

9) Click the OK button.

10) A "Saving Region" progress bar box appears and shows (in progressing green bars) the saving of the region.

11) Click on the Quit button to close the SC4Mapper application.

12) Navigate to C:\My Documents\SimCity 4\Regions\

13) You should see a folder with the same name as used in Step , above. In my example, I have a folder named Lake Wamusco.

14) Open this folder and you will see the appropriate city files and the config.bmp file.

15) The region is ready to be used in SimCity 4.

MrBison, please let me know if you are still having problems after following the above instructions.

Thanks.

Regards,

Gary (Vandy)quote>

Thanks for trying to help Vandy, it is greatly appreciated.

I had the Mapper before on my computer and it worked fine before, never having had any problems whatsoever, then I had to change the hard-drive (after 6 years of use) and ever since it doesn't work and tells me that the regionname is not valid.

On the old hardrive I had the SC4-Terraformer too, but everytime I openend the program the computer screen came to a deadend jam. Now with the new harddrive, it just tells me to choose a valid regionfolder although I have tried everything possible to my knowledge and followed all step-by-step instructions.....I liked the Mapper, I even have a good knowledge of how to use it and I would dearly love to get it back to work for me. Geeez, what is in my computer that doesn't like these programs?.

Thanks again,

mrb

Vandy · January 12, 2009

Hello, MrBison.

There are five words that a support persons HATES to utter. They are "I don't have an answer". I'm afraid I'm at that point.

I don't have a clue as to why the appllication is not accepting valid names for the folder.

I have put in a message with the application's creator (wouanagaine) and am waiting for his reply. Once I receive his reply, I'll post an update to this thread.

I am truly sorry, MrB, that I have been unable to resolve your issue.

Regards,

Gary

mrbisonm · January 12, 2009

I can understand Vandy, and it somehow doesn't surprise me, because I have had computer and program problems like no one else has and most of the times they are insolvable, ever since I own a computer. It wouldn't surprise me neither if wouanagaine will not find a solution. So thank you very much for having tried.

Anyways, I haven't given up yet....

I will continue to try all kinds of things and now I downloaded the MSVCP71.DLL file and want to re-install it in the C:/Windows/ system32 folder, but it wouldn't let me delete the old one or replace it......and I have shut down all the programs running (except Explorer and windows) and even re-started my computer. Any way to have it replaced? Maybe the old MSVCP71.dll is damaged.........Thanks

mrb

tungston · January 12, 2009

Right click the file, then properties, see if "read-only" is checked. If so uncheck it to see if you can delete the file. If that doesn't work boot into safe mode, then you should be able to delete the file.

mrbisonm · January 12, 2009

*read only* was unchecked.

Now *boot into safe mode* does mean what? How do you do that? I have no idea what this is.

Thanks for helping.

mrb

tungston · January 12, 2009

Just as the computet starts to boot, press F8, you should get a menu to select which type of boot that you want.

mrbisonm · January 12, 2009

Originally posted by: tungston Just as the computet starts to boot, press F8, you should get a menu to select which type of boot that you want.quote>

........and then what? Sorry that I ask, but I am no computerwizzard at all.

mrb

tungston · January 12, 2009

In this case use the up/down arrow keys to select "Safe Mode", for this task you won't need internet access, or any of the other options. Once in safe mode, get into the system 32 folder and go to work on the dll.

I press the Windows [start] key and E key to bring up the Windows Explorer. You should be able to overwrite the file with the new one. I also will open two windows of the Explorer, and then drag the new file into the system32 folder in the other window.

mrbisonm · January 12, 2009

Hey thanks , it worked and I just discovered another face of my computer. I deleted the file and replaced it with the new one........but it didn't change a thing with the Mapper, always the same.

Funny though, everything else with the Mapper seems to work fine, I just exported a region I made to a sc4m file without any problems. It is only the Saving region that denies me.

oh well, I'll wait (and hope) for a solution from wouanagaine one day.

Thanks again.

mrb

Vandy · January 13, 2009

Hello, MrB.

I've heard back from wouanagaine and would like to determine the following information:

1) Location of My Documents Folder

You're using WindowsXP so I assume that your My Documents folder location has not been changed? Is this correct? Assuming it is in the default location, it should be located in the following path:

C:\Documents and Settings\ < PROFILE NAME > \ My Documents (or < PROFILE NAME'S Documents)

where < PROFILE NAME > would be the name of your computer account. For example:

C:\Documents and Settings\Your Name\My Documents\ ( or Your Name's Documents\ )

2) Full Path of Regions Folder

The full path name of your Regions folder for SC4 should be as follows:

C:\Documents and Settings\ < PROFILE NAME > \My Documents\SimCity 4\Regions

Is the above path correct?

3) Creating a SC4 Region the Standard Way

Are you able to create a SimCity 4 region the standard way using a grayscale image and config.bmp file?

wouanagaine is going to have a look in the source code of SC4Mapper to determine if there is any "hard" reason for your getting this error message and let me know the results of his search.

Other than the above information, MrBison, I'm afraid we're "stuck" at finding a cause for your issue.

I'll post again when I receive a reply from wouanagaine.

Regards,

Gary

Vandy · January 13, 2009

Hi, MrBison.

I've received a reply from wouanagaine. I've rewritten / paraphrased his information to me and have the following for you:

A clarification on my Point 3) from my previous post. Ignore it... What should have been said is to try and use SC4Mapper to create a map which, by the statement you made earlier, you are able to do so -- at least, able to export a .SC4M file.

wouanagaine was able to look into the source code of the application and presents the following four possibilities for your problem:

Originally written by: wouanagaine and re-written by Vandy

The only way for this error message to be displayed is for Windows to not be able to create the folder in the default path as follows:

C:\Documents and Settings\ < PROFILE NAME > \My Documents\SimCity 4\Regions\ <REGION NAME >

The following four possibilities could be the cause of the problem:

1) If the < REGION NAME > folder is not a valid folder name.

I doubt this is the cuase as you've stated you've tried numerous combinations of names.

2) If the 'Documents and Settings" path does not exist.

This could occur if you're running the SC4Mapper application on a computer that doesn't have SimCity 4 installed. Again, I doubt that this is the case.

3) Don't have permissions to create folders.

This could be a possibility when using a coroporate (work) computer. However, on your home computer, you should have Administrator permissions and be able to create folders.

4) Another mysterious and amazing IT Anomaly

Read - Gremlins in the machine. This is my personal favorite.

wouanagaine has given a workaround that he believes will work. Try the following:

1) Create your region folder manually in the proper path. This should force SC4Mapper to find the folder.

2) Get to the point in SC4Mapper where you click on Save Region.

3) Enter the same region name you used in Step 1), above. SC4Mapper should return a Yes / No dialog box asking to to confirm the overwriting of the folder contents.

4) Click on the Yes choice to overwrite the folder contents.

Finally, depending upon what version of SC4Mapper you have installed, there is the possibility of a sc4mapper.exe.log file in the application's folder. If there is such a file, please cause your error then attach a copy of the to a post for review.quote>

Good luck, MrBison, and I look forward to your reply.

Regards,

Gary (Vandy)

mrbisonm · January 13, 2009

Originally posted by: Vandy Hi, MrBison.