perigrine falcon
Map Rater
Posts: 1684
Registered: 3-11-2003
Location: Iowa
Member Is Offline
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DFBHDMED layers tutorial
alot of mappers fail to see the importance of using layers or dont care to trying to get to know how.
first off let me give you a general idea of what layers are and there use let me use a building blueprint as an example
a building blue print can be printed on a see through blueprint called 'vellum' a single blueprint may have a stack of several sheets of vellum(clear
blueprint) each sheet contains a differnet set of drawings
example: the plumbers copy would show plumbing and bathroom fixtures etc. the electrical contrators would show wireing, outlets, lighting, breaker box
and electrical service, the heating.cooling contrators would show furnace, AC and ductwork, etc etc.
now any 1 of these contractors could remove all the sheets of vellum(clear blueprint) that he dont need to see leaving only the sheet(s) he needed to
see
ok now lets give an example of a map where u might need to use layers
example: a map that has 2 layers of tunnels one dirrectly over another, and/or two layers of tunnels crossing over/under each other; the tunnels have
alot of decorations in them; there is buildings on the surface; there is a custom structure made of wooden planks on the surfac or in a building
all of these items are on top/under one another. if any thing needs to be moved or changed or deleted/added to this map. now you have the problem of
sorting out what is what and trying to select the right object(s)
if these items where in layers you could turn off whichever layer(s) u dont need to see
ok now hopfully you have an understanding of what layers are and there uses now ill explain how to use them
first off u need to figure out what ur going to put into layers and how many layers u need so u can name them and always try to go from top too bottom
side to side or bottom to top with layers its less confusing ill use the example map above to name some example layers
layer 1 surface buildings decorations
layer 2 custom wood structure bottom
layer 3 custum wood structure top.sides
layer 4 tunnels A
layer 5 tunnels decorations A
layer 6 tunnels B
layer 7 tunnels decorations B
NAMING LAYERS
1. left click on edit(upper left of med)
2. select layer names
3. click on desired layer number
4. click layer name box
5. type desired layer name
6. chose desired layer color
7. click ok
CHANGING ITEM LAYERS(on exsisting map[edit 11-30-04 falcon])
1. select items u wish to place in a layer
2. go to item atrributes window
3. change item layer using layer dropdown menu box(upper left hand corner of item attributes window)
4. after desired layer is selected click ok
VIEWING turning ON/OFF LAYERS
1. click layers button(top middle of med)
2. A.uncheck/check any layer(s) you wish to hide/see
B. to hide layer 1 you have to change default layer by clicking on default layer
drop down menu box and selecting a new default layer
3. click ok
NOTE: if you change default layer any new items placed will be set to the default layer
you can also show all or hide all(default layer is always visable) by clicking the show all or hide all buttons.
TO VIEW LAYERS BY COLOR
1. click on view(upper left of med)or right click on the terrain screen with no items selected
2. select view by layer
when placing new items change default layer to whatever layer u want the new objects to be in
example: when placing the top layer of tunnels set default layer to 4 'tunnels A'
CHRISLEW sent me a U2U and reminded me that using layers in multi floored buildings is very useful if you are placeing alot of deco on each floor and
in some cases a basement this makes editing alot easier and faster
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MAVERICK69
Grunt
Posts: 4
Registered: 6-23-2004
Location: FARGO, ND
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this is a nice tutorial, i wish i had this earlier before i learned things the hard way. very informative.
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The Bloodthirster
Private
Posts: 24
Registered: 3-31-2004
Member Is Offline
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n1
Nice tut Falcon, always wanted to know how to use layers, wished I read it before starting this map. It's a real pain trying to select something and
everything but your item within a 20mtr radius gets selected!! Cheers
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Eagle_Eye
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You can still edit your map and convert it to layers....
Just select any or all items you want in the layer, edit items attributes, then, top left corner, select the layer..
It's just a bit time consuming going back over the map..I wouldn't worry aboout it if you have finished the map..but, if your half way through a
map..go to it..
EE
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The Bloodthirster
Private
Posts: 24
Registered: 3-31-2004
Member Is Offline
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Cheers EE!
Was having problems, but now Knowing I can convert an existing map is gonna make life a whole lot easier!! Cheers
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KENNYJENSEN
Grunt
Posts: 15
Registered: 9-8-2004
Location: St. Louis, Missouri U.S.A.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Feel Like Shoot
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Nice
Thanks for letting people know the benefits of layers falcon, I see people who are having trouble making maps because the MED gets clustered and my
answer is always 'set up your layers'.
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