Map: Height Maps

[MarkSheppard]

Question to dmnt:

I assume that the SP map files are like many other things, RLE (Run Length Encoded) -- I've looked at them myself over the years.

Is there a specific format they follow for their RLE compression?

[dmnt]

As far as I have figured out the format they're not - at least the parts I am poking. The height / tile / slope stuff there is just variable length data. Adding water to the mix has proven to be quite a challenge with the amount of time I can invest in it.

[lukerduker123]

Mind if I ask a question of my own?

Do you think we'll have satellite view in the foreseeable future? I've only got one monitor, and boy howdy it's a pain to switch between three different views (Game, Earth, map) to get everything down. Thanks for this masterpiece, by the way. It's already sped things up enough as it is!

[jp10]

I have 2 work arounds for making the maps with 1 monitor.

The first is simply to zoom in to where the grid is legible but covers a good sized area and print ou the screen image.

The second is involves using Photoshop. I open PS and create a new project (paper sized) and then I open my browser and go to the map maker website. When I have my location set I start in the lower left hand area of the 'map zone' and zoom in to a level that the grid appears legible. I then 'Print Screen' and switch to PS. I 'Paste' into the new document the screen shot, trim off the none map zone area of the image and print it out.
Reset view with a slight overlap and repeat.
Using a new layer each time I can sometimes get multiple zones on a single sheet of paper.

The second method (PS) is simply to reduce the amount of printing and paper shuffling. The first method is quicker but will take a lot of paper with a relatively small strip of the map on each page.

This way I can be in WINSP making a map and have a paper reference of the area I am making. I may not be an ideal work around for everyone and Sometimes I need a magnifier glass to read the details but it enables me to stay making the map and not constantly exiting WINSP to check the grid details with 1 monitor.

[dmnt]

Originally Posted by lukerduker123

Mind if I ask a question of my own?

Do you think we'll have satellite view in the foreseeable future? I've only got one monitor, and boy howdy it's a pain to switch between three different views (Game, Earth, map) to get everything down. Thanks for this masterpiece, by the way. It's already sped things up enough as it is!

I've thought about it, a lot, but the problem is that the good quality satellite view doesn't seem to be available outside of google maps and that does not work outside of google stuff - so I'd have to write a separate web app for that. And it's not the simplest thing ever.

If people have better ideas I'm all ears.

[dmnt]

We're lucky. Since I last checked things have progressed and now Google provides an API to get the actual satellite map tiles. It's not as straightforward as it is with the openstreetmap tiles we're currently showing, but still manageable. I'll add them as an option when I have some time.

[dmnt]

Had to go with Bing Maps API as Google requires "a contact to sales" before allowing the API. That means I should have a well defined use case and pay something for the privilege. This time Bing map tiles should be good enough.

Try http://www.venhola.com/maps/geo2.php#64,26,0 for early testing. Downloading maps won't work at this url as it's a work in progress.

[DRG]

Very nice! That's an excellent resource just as information alone. It's quick to adjust the location and the resolution and clarity seems better than Google.

[scorpio_rocks]

Awesome! Agree with Don seems much faster and clearer.

[RecruitMonty]

I can't seem to zoom in to the level of the grid. Might have something to do with Microsoft's absolutely useless "Edge".