DCME

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Revision as of 14:48, 20 January 2007 by Samapico (talk | contribs) (Version 1.1)
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DCME, or Drake Continuum Map Editor, is an open source map editor created in Visual Basic 6 initially by Drake7707, and then Samapico also got involved in the project. Notable features are the addition of the so-called "special tiles" to the tile palette, easy placement of styled text on the map, and a tool for representing a bitmap image as tiles.

DCME is in constant development, but the automatic updates feature will keep you up to date all the time.

Download the latest version here

Main features

  • Extended LVL support
  • Walltiles
  • Quick map testing
  • Non-rectangular selections with possibility of transparency
  • Automatic updates
  • Various drawing tools
  • Tileset editor and tile editor
  • Maximal working area when using popup tileset and popup radar

Extended LVL support

DCME 2.0 fully supports eLVL features as map attributes and regions.

Custom Chunks

DCME uses some custom data chunks that are not defined in the standard ELVL_Format.

Region Color (rCOL)

rCOL is a region subchunk used to store the defined region color, instead of assigning a new random color every time the map is loaded. Its size will always be 4 bytes. It is saved as an unsigned 32bits integer. (Version 2.0.1 and up)

Map ID (DCID)

DCID is a chunk that represents a hash code generated by DCME to identify the map in a unique way. It is used for the autosave feature and might be used for more things in the future. Its size should always be 8 bytes. It is a 8 hexadecimal characters string made up from the Volume ID of drive C and the current time. (Version 2.0.2 and up)

Walltiles (DCWT)

DCWT is a chunk in which are stored walltiles data. It is not implemented yet.

External links

Version history

Version 2.0

Version 2.0.1

  • Complete Elvl support (attributes, regions)
  • Completely rewrote Undo/Redo code (all should be undoable now)
    • Undoing airbrushed special objects now work correctly
    • Undoing actions related to selection now work correctly
  • Added: Test your map on the fly
    • You can draw left tiles with Q and right tiles with W in Test Map
    • You can see how bombs will bounce with B
    • Shift = Afterburners
    • Insert = warp to center
    • Right-Click on radar to warp where you want
  • Special object are also highlighted now
  • Undo/redo menu was not disabled when no map was loaded
  • Fixed problem with drawing a special object (overflow error)
  • Tile 0 was never drawn
  • Random stuff is now completely random
  • Popup Tileset & Popup Radar when right bar is hidden
  • Tips of the day updated
  • Fixed glitch with unable to move selections with magicwand
  • Fixed offset of DCME window when not maximized
  • Tool options toolbar can be pinned/unpinned
  • Fixed rotation bug (out of range error)
  • Fixed tile problem with flip/mirror
  • Mousewheel zoom focuses on the tile beneath the cursor
  • Radar preview is showing complete map when zoomed out
  • Fixed bug with top left tile
  • Fixed unnecessary redraws
  • If a map is not maximized, a new map won't be maximized either
  • Fixed problems with grid settings
  • Fixed mystery line when making a new map or opening one
  • Added warning when importing a tileset from a map without tileset
  • Fixed drag speed of map

Version 1.2

Version 1.2.90

  • Added "TileText" tool
  • New option: "Create new map at startup"
  • Bucket Fill code improved
  • Tile editor can export tiles as .bmp
  • TextToMap interface slightly changed
  • Adding empty tiles to selection is now much faster
  • New maps load a bit faster
  • A debug log is now available (help -> view debug log)
  • Fixed a lot of possible bugs when DCME searches for files
  • Background of certain items did not match the color scheme depending on windows theme

Version 1.2.80
  • Mousewheel behaviour changed (up zooms in, down zooms out, shift
  • Line drawing code greatly optimized, it is almost 75% faster
  • Tools width can be changed by clicking on the label and writing a value, in addition to the slider that was already existing
  • Fixed a bug on pencil that would make it crash if you used mousedown outside the map's limits, and released the mouse inside the limits
  • Fixed tile editor's tools
  • Fixed replace brush offset (like pencil offset)
  • Fixed placecursor & size of replace brush ( size 5 was 4 etc)
  • Tile editor's ellipse now works
  • Tile editor can now be resized
  • Added tool toolbars with size & step for every tool that required that.
  • Changed default walltiles files name to mapname.wtl
  • Added round tip of tools (you can choose between square or circle)
  • Added a security in bucket / magic wand to avoid filling the whole map
  • Moved "fill in screen" settings to bucket / magic wand toolbars
  • Fixed tile preview being drawn on certain tools that should not
  • Added a performance-enhancing setting for ellipses: Render width after drawing only (large ellipses are VERY slow to draw)
  • Selections are highlighted (brightness is added to those tiles so its easier to see)
  • Custom Shapes added: cogwheel, star and regular n-shapes (all definable with angle, teethsize, nr of teeth/spikes, size)
  • Fixed the CTRL shortcut issue
  • Fixed distortions when using quick UpdateLevel
  • Latest changes shown directly in details label when retrieving update info
  • Made tile nr's only print if tile <> 0 , and made special objects nr print correctly
  • Added grid for Tile Editor
  • Added small preview in the tool toolbar for the custom shapes

Version 1.2.7
  • Fixed problems with Tileset & Tile Editor
  • Added more tools to tile editor (selection, airbrush, undo/redo,...)
  • Added zoom in/out toolbar buttons in main toolbar
  • Added a new tool: Replace Brush
  • Bookmarks are now visible through their menu
  • Fixed update problem

Version 1.2.68
  • Update system greatly improved ; The program now updates itself without having to unzip anything manually
  • Tileset editor now allows you to import .PNG files as source image
  • Fixed radar not updating after moving selection with magic wand
  • New tool option for bucket and magic wand to consider diagonal tiles
  • Fixed bug with magic wand and bucket not checking all the tiles it should
  • Fixed bug that would make your selection move by clicking the middle mouse button
  • Most tools of the tile editor are working

Version 1.2.67
  • frmGeneral's caption now indicates version
  • Fixed bug with switching / replacing walltiles on edge of map
  • Fixed grid problem at high res
  • Fixed small bug with magic wand (select and drag an area immediately without releasing mouse button didn't call sel.MouseDown, screwing up the move coordinates)
  • Added .gif and .jpg to the default filter of the "Import Source Image" dialog of the Tileset Editor

Version 1.2.66
  • Added Radius and Density settings for AirBrush
  • "Count Tiles" dialog now shows number of flags directly, and warns user if there are more than 256 of them
  • Pasting something now switches to the "Selection" tool automatically
  • Fixed important/critical issues concerning "Switch / Replace"
  • Critical bug: Showing / Hiding toolbars did not update scrollbar values ; that could cause Out-of-range errors in several cases
  • Added some missing 0 -> 1023 checks in selection class
  • Fixed lots of problem when resizing general form or map's form ; it did not update scrollbar values

Version 1.2.64
  • Added Tool Toolbars
  • Toolbars can be hidden/shown with right click on the toolbars or from the menu
  • Fixed delete selection menu
  • Added asteroid brush (accessable from the airbrush toolbar)

Version 1.2.63
  • Switch/Replace now works with WallTiles
  • Possibility to Redraw or not walltiles when using 'Replace'
  • Using bucket to fill walltiles in a selection doesn't attach them to map tiles outside selection anymore
  • New "Delete selection" menu item ('DEL' key also works with any tool when a selection is active)
  • Fixed small bug about dropper and walltiles
  • Fixed pencil drawing in selection
  • Fixed crash when check for updates was called if form was already loaded
  • Added more icons
  • Fixed distortions and grid problems on high res
  • Tileset Editor works (still beta for now)

Version 1.2.62
  • Added more icons
  • Changed the structure of Selection
  • Fixed lots of things from SOS Report on v----Version 1.2.61
  • Fixed pixel level of selection being wrong when selection moved by any tool except you moving it
  • New options for tile preview / cursor
  • Improved "Convert Selection to Walltiles"
  • Pencil and walltiles now draw in selection
  • Fixed some menu icons and enable states
  • Fixed pressing cancel when closing DCME
  • Can now switch / replace walltiles (some bugs left to fix)

Version 1.2.61
  • Fixed error with resize
  • Added lock aspect ratio in resize
  • Airbrush can now draw multiple tile selections from tileset
  • Fixed error when checking for updates and not being able to connect

Version 1.2.60
  • Selections can now be resized
  • Added some more options for selection
  • Finally fixed the grey/black tileset bug
  • Added Fill in Special Tiles
  • Done Some minor fixes

Version 1.2.53
  • Airbrush can now draw special objects
  • Options dialog now draws walltiles correctly
  • Fixed airbrush, selection, and magic wand tools not causing the "Changes were made, do you want to save?" message to appear when closing map
  • Deleting selection at pixel level now updates preview correctly
  • Can now open the downloaded file directly from the Update dialog
  • Can now access this forum from the "About" dialog
  • Added Ctrl+A and Ctrl+D for "Select All" and "Select None"

Version 1.2.52
  • Special tiles now redraw correctly when moving around with hand tool

Version 1.2.51
  • Update dialog improved
  • Added option for automatic updates
  • Made Automatic updates happen in background
  • Changed "Select All" to "Select All Tiles On Screen"

Version 1.2.50
  • Close menu fixed
  • Special objects are updated after you mouse up in hand or keyup when moving with the arrow keys (not the best solution but it will do for now)
  • Fixed problem with white borderlines of selection when moving with hand
  • Fixed problem with borders of selection with transparent pasting/ paste under
  • Made a selection menu where selection actions go into (select all/none, convert to walltiles, center selection in screen)
  • Fixed and added some icons in the menus

Version 1.2.4
  • Added hotkey for magic wand (W)
  • Added "All files (*.*)" filter for importing tilesets and maps
  • Fixed problem with asking for importing walltiles on a new map, because the specified default tileset had walltiles saved along with it
  • Fixed problem with selection's dotted rectangle not appearing after canceling a selection with a single left mouse click outside the selection
  • Fixed several bugs from SOS report on v----Version 1.2.3
  • Can now draw in selection with most tools
  • Grid is now redrawn correctly when erasing special tiles with line tool
  • All tools now have a preview tile
  • Fixed the problem with able to see the map tiles when black tiles are in the selection in pixel level
  • Fixed problem with maps wouldn't open when DCME wasn't opened and a lvl file was double clicked (it just started dcme), if you opened the lvl when DCME was already open, then it opened

Version 1.2.3
  • Added Check for updates
  • Screen now updates much faster (still no effect on selection's speed however)
  • Free rotating feature (choose any angle)
  • "Step" functionnality improved
  • Special tiles now draw correctly when on the edge of screen
  • Can now apply special tiles with line, rectangle, or ellipse tools, although it only draws a single special tile just like pencil
  • Fixed "Save" menu icon appearing beside "Close" in the "File" menu
  • Copy/Paste now works between different maps

Version 1.2.2
  • Partly fixed undo/redo for selection
  • Walltiles greatly improved
  • New option to specify default walltile set
  • Now asks to load walltiles definition if it finds a .wtl file with the same name (when opening map, or tileset)
  • Fixed eraser and magic wand offset
  • Preview of tile with pencil
  • New cursor shows drawing area
  • Middle mouse button now switches to the Hand tool temporarily (Doesn't seem to be always working though)
  • Tons of small fixes from SOS's report on Version 1.2.1
  • Fixed "Transparent Selection" menu icon when it is selected
  • Improved Airbrush's drawing speed
  • Various optimizations
  • Dropper now grabs empty tiles as well
  • Convert selection to walltiles now has its own dialog
  • Right-clicking with wand doesn't select anymore
  • Changed From/To labels behaviour
  • Fixed single-column filled rectangles
  • Step is now usable even with multiple tiles selected
  • Fixed bug that would crash DCME when drawing over special objects with a large-width pencil at top/left edge of map
  • Fixed "Create Walltiles" tileset not appearing correctly sometimes

Version 1.2.1
  • Walltiles
  • Use up to 8 walltiles set simultaneously
  • Save and load walltiles definitions
  • Use walltiles with every tool
  • Convert selections to walltiles
  • Quickly access walltiles from the tileset ; double-click on them to edit them

Tileset's tooltip text slightly modified

  • Selection's speed optimized a bit

Version 1.2.0
  • Selection rebuilt completly
  • Now able to use photoshop-like selections (CTRL or SHIFT + drag)
  • Most tools not adapted to it yet
  • Now able to modify (flip, rotate, replace...) a selection after it was moved
  • Preview of a 'Normal' , 'Under' or 'Transparent' selection is now done correctly
  • New magic wand tool
  • Got rid of default.bmp
  • 'Jump to' feature improved
  • Grid is now fully customizable
  • Added tips
  • User is now warned when a corrupt or invalid file is loaded
  • You can now specify a default tileset you want loaded when creating a new map
  • Fixed issues with larger resolutions

Version 1.1

Version 1.1.11

  • fixed updating level when mouseup with airbrush
  • fixed airbrush at boundaries of map
  • fixed some menu's
  • fixed menu items save ssme, save minimap when no map loaded
  • fixed selection being 1 tile too small for height and width when selecting
  • max chars for goto form is now 4
  • in frmrotate, changed button from done to close
  • changed caption of switch/replace form
  • changed showing of dialogs with vbModal and frmgeneral as parameters so that the dialogs always stay on top of DCME
  • Do you want to save dialog now has a cancel button
  • fixed problem when importing a tileset from a lvl file that has no tileset
  • fixed txtstep selstart and disabled able to type "2e3", or with comma's or points
  • fixed selection that tagged along with radar when clicked on it to go to another position

Version 1.1.10
  • confirmation with DiscardTileset
  • read-only in commondialogs removed
  • changed overwrite code for commondialog with cdlOverwritePrompt flag
  • fixed grammar issues in menu
  • disabled/enabled toolbar buttons when appropiate
  • changed flip and mirror to flip V and flip H
  • fixed problem with saving minimap
  • fixed eraser tool (only 1 tile was set)
  • fixed redrawing the grid after using pencil with tile 0
  • changed closing a map prompt to do you want to save
  • msgboxes now all have icons (information, exclamation, question or critical icons)
  • fixed bug with using airbrush for a long time results in DCME crash (closes without warning)
  • Added icons to the menu's for graphical appeal and better reference to the buttons on the toolbars
  • Added drawing under tiles for every tool available (except for filling)
  • Edits1:
    • added about/splash form
    • fixed opening the same lvl file twice caused the 2nd instance to be visible (because of me.show in the load)
    • fixed crashing DCME when closing a map (although now mousewheel for zooming probably won't work anymore)
    • changed some menu captions
    • cleared pictilesetlarge and picsmalltilesetpreview when no map is loaded
    • changed bitmap of extratileset, it was only 303 in width instead of 304 which caused a white line at the right tiles of extratileset
    • changed the way txtstep behaves when inputting non-numerical characters

Version 1.1.09
  • Fixed issues with tools drawing outside map's limits
  • Made 'GoTo' window less annoying

Version 1.1.08
  • Option to assign lvl extensions to DCME
  • All lvl files open in 1 DCME window (damn that was hard to to)
  • Fixed drawing with tile 0 with line, rectangle, and such (eraser picture was shown instead of blackness
  • Changed the grids to match with continuum's grid (A1 - T20) (there is a redundancy of 4 tiles however, because (1024/20) isn't a integer, but not that thats the end of the world)
  • Edits1:
    • Fixed A1-T20 coordinates from radar
    • A semi transparent grid is shown on the radar (like in continuum)
    • Now you can select multiple tiles f.rom the tileset to draw with
  • Edits2+3:
    • Temporarily removed radar grid due to some disturbing noise in the grid lines which i can't seem to get out
    • Added an airbrush for all you mapping guys out there to enjoy :P
    • Added a step for lines, rectangles and ellipses (0 = solid, 1 = dot.dot.dot.dot, 2 = dot....dot....dot, and so on)
    • Added bookmarks (shift + 0-9 will set a bookmark, just 0-9 will go to the bookmark), can be useful if you switch between bases a lot

Version 1.1.07
  • Save as... now asks for confirmation to overwrite an existing file
  • Tileset now always saves, except if default tileset is being used AND that it hasn't been changed
  • Map names now update correctly under the 'Window' menu
  • Grid lines appear under tiles
  • Added colored grid lines separating sectors (each 32 tiles split by a lighter grey line, each 256 tiles split by a red line, middle of map split by a blue line)
  • These colored grid lines also appear at pixel level (zoomed out)
  • Map border now appears clearer on the radar

Version 1.1.06
  • Map now saves with tileset even if using default.bmp
  • Fixed crashing when invalid values entered on 'Save minimap'

Version 1.1.05
  • Right-click radar to 'Go to' specified tile
  • Fixed offset near edge of map
  • Fixed crashing when certain tools could draw outside map
  • Fixed crashing when thick lines tried to be drawn outside map
  • Edit 1:
    • Can move the map around while dragging any tool (except hand)
    • Dragging can be made faster by holding Alt
    • Hiding/Showing tileset & radar now updates scrollbars and preview correctly
  • Edit 2:
    • Can see more details after counting tiles

Version 1.1.04
  • Eraser tile can be selected with any tool
  • Menu buttons can now access the different functions
  • Various bug fixes

Version 1.1.03
  • Added Picture to map
  • Fixed some bugs