Huge Region Problem

[mexicano_brazil 0]

I came up with the idea of creating a region and together with another member from here, Klyte45, we were creating. The region have 182x121 in the config.bmp. The idea was to render from inside the game. Then I opened the SimCity 4 and when I opened the region for the first time, I had a CTD (I couldn't even try to choose the image). I tried again, just for sure, and was another CTD (with a Windows message: SC4 stopped working). Then, while we were discussing, he came up a theory: it could be the number of cities (thinking that it might could be 1024 as a limit). We tried the following tests:

 

1 - 182x121, with 180x120 Blue, 2x121 Green and 180x1 Red - I made a mistake with Blue RGB, but with Green and Red, it appeared these parts. But after the correction, CTD

2 - 128x128, all Blue - Worked

3 - 128x128, 16x16 Green and the rest, Blue - Worked

4 - 128x128, All Green - Worked

5 - 256x256, All Blue - CTD

 

We realised that the problem was related to the config.bmp and my PC (he did 500x500 and worked), and unfortunately was the first time we're seeing something like that. We were searching and thinking on some possibilities of a solution, but nothing came up. I don't know if we were the first ones to see that, but we didn't find the answer here, so I'm bringing this problem, after a good answer last time I had a problem, to find a solution and try to make this huuuuuge region possible here, not for me, but for the other ones too.

 

The specs are:

Windows 7 x64

NVIDIA Geforce 9800 1GB

AMD A8-3850 2,9Ghz

8GB RAM

[GeometryMath Algebra 614]

I came up with the idea of creating a region and together with another member from here, Klyte45, we were creating. The region have 182x121 in the config.bmp. The idea was to render from inside the game. Then I opened the SimCity 4 and when I opened the region for the first time, I had a CTD (I couldn't even try to choose the image). I tried again, just for sure, and was another CTD (with a Windows message: SC4 stopped working). Then, while we were discussing, he came up a theory: it could be the number of cities (thinking that it might could be 1024 as a limit). We tried the following tests:

 

1 - 182x121, with 180x120 Blue, 2x121 Green and 180x1 Red - I made a mistake with Blue RGB, but with Green and Red, it appeared these parts. But after the correction, CTD

2 - 128x128, all Blue - Worked

3 - 128x128, 16x16 Green and the rest, Blue - Worked

4 - 128x128, All Green - Worked

5 - 256x256, All Blue - CTD

 

We realised that the problem was related to the config.bmp and my PC (he did 500x500 and worked), and unfortunately was the first time we're seeing something like that. We were searching and thinking on some possibilities of a solution, but nothing came up. I don't know if we were the first ones to see that, but we didn't find the answer here, so I'm bringing this problem, after a good answer last time I had a problem, to find a solution and try to make this huuuuuge region possible here, not for me, but for the other ones too.

 

The specs are:

Windows 7 x64

NVIDIA Geforce 9800 1GB

AMD A8-3850 2,9Ghz

8GB RAM

Try to patch the game's EXE with the 4GB patch. Google it if you want to download it.

[mexicano_brazil 0]

Well, I tried to patch the game's EXE right now and I found another CTD.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

First, I don't think even dimensions work for config.bmp.  It pretty much has to be 2ⁿ+1.  And the relation to the actual map has to be n=<map dimension>/64.  That's the rule for SC4 regions.  I've no idea why you should want to test this since it is well known and unalterable.

 

Any set of pixels in the config.bmp that are not maxed for their colour dimension show up has holes in your map.  The only possible rgb colours are pure red (255,0,0), green (0,255,0) and blue (0,0,255).  Other values can be used in the non-designational positions but have no effect.  For example, you could use a light blue (192,192,255) which will be recognized as indicating a large tile if the area is 4 x 4.

 

The whole scheme is pretty rigid and hard coded.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

Or an easier way to think of it is that each pixel corresponds to a small city tile.   It's greyscale JPEGs that cannot have even dimensions; the config usually does.

[mexicano_brazil 0]

That's what we thought, A Nonny Moose. We used the idea of the calculation of the actual map dimensions and when we hit the config.bmp, it reached that dimensions I mentioned, so the dimensions followed strictly the rules. So it was supposed to fit in the new region when I try to render and if it wasn't, it was a question of 2 or 3px to increase or decrease in one of the sides to work. But, oh well...the map couldn't stand a chance (as I said, CTD after trying open the plain region for the first time). That's sad...

 

Indiana Joe, that is a little bit confused. Each pixel is a small city, that's true. But JPEGs that cannot have even dimensions, the config usually does...I didn't get that part.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Sorry guys, I wasn't thinking straight.  The relation between config.bmp and the gray scale image is one config.bmp px represents 64 px in the gray-scale, but the gray scale has to be 1 px larger in each dimension because of something to do with the renderer.

[APSMS 1,892]

Has the map been imported into the game already?

 

If it hasn't, and you've just created the region config.bmp file, then I suggest using the SC4Mapper tool by Wounagaine. A region of the size you're suggesting would likely take hours to render in-game, and I think takes about 15 minutes in Mapper.

 

It also (iirc) has a region config file editor, that should allow you to plot out your city sizes without having to count each pixel in the paint program.

 

What map are you trying to render?

[mexicano_brazil 0]

It was created, so it'll take a while to update to show, since it's not here or anywhere else. But the map isn't in the game yet. That's the dream. The Sc4Mapper will be the next route,

 

RESULT: Guess what. The SC4Mapper didn't open the region, so it didn't worked. I tried with 256x256 config file, but it didn't worked too. I wonder why. I'm asking Google for this "region config file editor"

  Edited November 23, 2013 by mexicano_brazil  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

If you have a gray-scale JPEG file, try the Landscape Designer.  You can read in your map, it will help you correct it if necessary.  You can then use it to generate your config.bmp.

[mexicano_brazil 0]

Well, I tried too some minutes ago, but...well...the program Landscape Designer stopped working when tried to work with the image.

 

I don't know, but...Is this computer missing something important or else?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

What do you mean "work with the image"?

[mexicano_brazil 0]

When I said work with the image, I mean open it with the program and "try" to edit, if I get it right about the program's funcionalities.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

That's correct.  To modify the image other than with the overall tools, you have to exit to an editor to make the changes you want.  Tricky to work in reverse but that's what it takes.

 

So what problem did you have?  Didn't work is pretty vague.

[mexicano_brazil 0]

Well...I opened the image...he asked to resize it. I resized it. Then it opened a total dark blue image in a new window. Then, when I tried to use it, the PC was suddenly slow and when I noticed, the program had crashed.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Sounds like your image is too big for the program.  Open it and check the options in the New routine.  It shows the maximum dimensions it can handle.  If you run out of buffer space, all bets are off.