So...Getting lost is getting old pretty fast, so I thought I would try out Larkin's AutoMapper. I have VERBOSE, CONFIG ALL, and default colors on. I import the script and then the config file. No dice. I move around, but nothing is mapped at all. It is still blank. To be totally honest I have no clue how scripting in zMUD works at all, so I can't really give more information at this time. Any help at all would be great. Thanks.

How exactly did you import the script and the mapper config? There's a right way and a wrong way.

Did you get the map database loaded okay? Does #FIND do anything?

For the script I went: Settings --> Import --> Script (ASCII) --> automapper.txt
For the config file: Map --> Config --> Import config --> From zfg file --> achaea.zfg

EDIT: Oh, and I didn't use your map database. I want to find things myself. I just want the automapper so I don't get lost getting to places I thought that I knew.

Building your own map is a little trickier than using someone else's. You have to start by following these steps:

1. Put mapper in mapping mode (obviously, right?).
2. Create a new room with the square outline button, placing it anywhere on the map.
3. Right-click the new room and set it as your current location.
4. Use the magnifying glass icon or the #LOOK command to set the room title, exits, and description. (If this doesn't work, something's not configured right.)
5. Use SURVEY to update the room's color based on terrain type.
6. Walk around and map rooms, moving them around manually to fit together properly when necessary. Use SURVEY after walking into any room that isn't automatically colored (shops, sewer grates, wilderness entrances, and roads are all colored by my script).

Hope that helps.

Thanks Larkin, that worked pretty well! However, I sometimes get this weird double room thing:



Any idea how to fix that? Or what went wrong?

Usually once you start seeing double, it's a good idea to stop drinking.

Double rooms are usually from spam, something comes in from the game between your move command and the room description. If the rooms are over top each other like that, you can right-click the room and merge it with the room below it. If it happens with a lot of rooms, something isn't quite right in the configuration still. I usually mapped while phased because: 1) less spam, and 2) no aggro mobs getting in the way.

I notice you're chatting on HT at the same time. Something that really helped me minimize mistakes making my maps was to go SILENCEON while working on them. A little lag and a citytell will usually screw up the detection. If you're certain those double rooms are the same, you can right click and merge stacked rooms. Then I would suggest reloading description and checking to see if you have extra empty exits or one ways that shouldn't exist. A pain, but worth having a well functioning product in the end.

Thanks for all the input guys! I still get the occasional double, but it's pretty smooth now!

EDIT: Nevermind. Larkin's system probably has all of this anyways.

so how would one actually use the zgf and the initialization file thing? I'm a bit confused as to that.

There's four files-

The automapping script
The configurations
The database
The initialization file

The script for automapping I just go through settings, import, text.. done

The configurations I just went to map, config, import, then I find the file after clicking zgf and it's done...

The database, eh I just map->file->open, found the db and opened it and it brought up the map

So.. the initialization file... what do I do with that?

Also.. while the automapping script went out fine, I still can't get the map to work... I'm guessing because I'm missing the initialization file, and because chances are I installed the map wrong...

So what order am I suppose to install the files in?

Oh, and the maps are very pretty

You installed everything correctly. You don't actually want someone else's .ini file for your maps, unless you want their colors and last known location, which is primarily what's stored in that file. The automapper automatically creates the file when it's not found, so you're good.

thanks larkin everybody do the cooh HWip!

Where could i get the achaea.zfg file. As i think mine is corrupt. It follows perfectly, #find works well. but i cant create new rooms. it does not seem to pick up the exits.

I think I have it posted somewhere around here. Hold on and I'll post it back up if it went down.
here is an archive with the .zfg the automapping script and a random .ini file that was in the folder. If you need the map itself, I can post that if needed.