AMG for dummies

[Adamo]

Hi Kentaro and Zooom! Thanx for the answers!

ok, here`s what I do:
I. create a new folder

II. put there files:
1. bant3-back`.bmp
2. bant3-side`.bmp
3. bant3-atk`.bmp
4. bant3-front`.bmp
5. "convert-and-import" file
6. "new AMG" file
7. bant3.ini

III. turn on "convert-and-import" file

Then I get a proper bant3.bin file, wchich I check with the "EditAltMonsterGraff" application; everything is fine, so I can add that file to CSBgraphics.dat through CSBgraphics.exe app.

But when I change the pictures from your original ones (ants) into mine (named: "dragon3-attack.bmp", "dragon3-side.bmp", "dragon3-back.bmp" and "dragon3-front.bmp") and change stuff in bant.ini file, there appear a problem.
First problem is, that the name of that file (bant.ini) should be unchanged; if it is changed, then "convert-and-import" app shows a message:

Code: Select all

C:\Documents and settings\(...)\Nowy folder>NewAMG.exe bant3.bin .\bant3.ini
build `(untitled)` now.
*ERR* front picture must be specified.

If .ini file is named "bant3.ini", then:

Code: Select all

C:\Documents and settings\(...)\Nowy folder>NewAMG.exe bant3.bin .\bant3.ini
build `dragon3` now.
pic front.
*ERR* fail load bitmap

in the .ini file I`ve got:

Code: Select all

[ALTMONGRAPH]
front=dragon3-front.bmp
side=dragon3-side.bmp
back=dragon3-back.bmp
attack=dragon3-attack.bmp
colorkey=4
title=dragon3

[00]
0=95
1=70
2=127
(...)

When there is original bant.ini file (unchanged) with original file names inside, and my dragon pictures are named like "bant3-back`.bmp" etc., it still doesn`t work.

Doesn`t work with the proper values ([0], [1], [2], (...), [10]), wchich I took from ADGE for that monster.

About my pictures: they are imported and then exported into/from ADGE to get a proper colour values (indexed colours, etc). They`re definitely less than 256x256 pixels.

I`m using XP. I`m sending you these files, so you could try if it works.

ADGE_Candy04b_2x works fine on my computer, since I installed Microsoft ActiveX application, but the "unreleased" (ADGE v0.4b4) doesn`t work; I get error messages, wchich Zooom told about in his previous posts.

[kentaro-k.21]

hi.

First problem is, that the name of that file (bant.ini) should be unchanged; if it is changed, then "convert-and-import" app shows a message:

Code: Select all

C:\Documents and settings\(...)\Nowy folder>NewAMG.exe bant3.bin .\bant3.ini
build `(untitled)` now.
*ERR* front picture must be specified.

i'll fix incorrect error message in release next. thanks for report

I`m using XP. I`m sending you these files, so you could try if it works.

i've received and verified your work. i'm afraid your image files seem to duplicate file extension:

bant3-atk`.bmp
bant3-back`.bmp.bmp
bant3-front`.bmp.bmp
bant3-side`.bmp.bmp

please remove extra extension: bant3-front`.bmp.bmp → bant3-front`.bmp

if you cannot see that, you can tweak your Windows to show full extension. instructions:
1. open my computer, then open menu [Tools]→[Folder Options...]
2. open upper [View] tab.
3. uncheck [Hide extensions for known file types]
4. then [OK]

i removed duplication part, then it worked well.

again i verified your work with debugger,

Doesn`t work with the proper values ([0], [1], [2], (...), [10]), wchich I took from ADGE for that monster.

it works well in current version. you can expect proper result whenever you fill them with new X,Y position values. the result is confirmable while game play.

About my pictures: they are imported and then exported into/from ADGE to get a proper colour values (indexed colours, etc). They`re definitely less than 256x256 pixels.

your images' metrics and color depth are ok, no problem.

ADGE_Candy04b_2x works fine on my computer, since I installed Microsoft ActiveX application, but the "unreleased" (ADGE v0.4b4) doesn`t work; I get error messages, wchich Zooom told about in his previous posts.

sorry. i misunderstood about Microsoft ActiveX application.

Plugin.ocx (ADGE requires?) seems to be part of Microsoft ActiveX application, as kbinfo says. (my Windows XP already lost it due to security patch )
my copy of ADGE works well without it, but i'm interested whether you could recover it on someway.

Internet Explorer ActiveX update
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/912945

[zoom]

I think it should be noted somewhere in the tutorial that the
graphics have to be a multiple of 16 pixels.
(I read it once or twice but forgot about it)
16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 144, 160, 176, 192, 208, 224, 240
x
16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96, 112, 128, 144, 160, 176, 192, 208, 224, 240

(I tried to create a maximum amg-monster that uses up the entire
screen,(to see boundaries and check for possibility of a large monster)
but failed of course with 255 x 255 pixels, would not create
a proper .bin file and the graphic was not 100% accurately shown
in editaltmon.exe which should have made me suspicious about
my plan in the first place.

It works now , but there are some graphic glitches on the wall.
I am confident that this will sort out with some more tweaking
from my side..

[Adamo]

it works all right now, thanx !
thanx for the tool Kentaro, it`s extremely usefull for me !!!

[TyGuy6]

I was having the toughest time with changing graphics sizes until I read your post here, Zoooom! I think that should definitely be on the tutorial.

[kentaro-k.21]

here is new version (fixed some BUGS): http://homepage3.nifty.com/kkdf/EditAlt ... .Rev.1.rar

enjoy!

zoooom:

(I tried to create a maximum amg-monster that uses up the entire
screen,(to see boundaries and check for possibility of a large monster)
but failed of course with 255 x 255 pixels, would not create
a proper .bin file

it is tool's bug. having problem to calculate accurate image size. and generate inproper file as you point.
new version allows you to process up to 496 x 255 pixels image size.

It works now , but there are some graphic glitches on the wall.
I am confident that this will sort out with some more tweaking
from my side..

in my case, i saw the glitches when i had big image size(256x127). that sample is attached for estimation purpose in this new version.

[zoom]

Cool kentaro-k.21! Nice and concise tutorial ,btw

[Adamo]

cool, thanx Kentaro! it was extremally usefull for me !

In case somebody needs help with Alternate Monster Graphics
(credits for ID numbers of AMG goes to Kentaro; I took them from his site):

monster/AMG number/Csbgraphics.dat proper ID number

Code: Select all

Giant Scorpion               graphic 1: 0
Giant Scorpion               graphic 2: 1
Giant Scorpion               graphic 3: 2  
Graphic group: 1

Slime Devil/Swamp Slime      graphic 1: 3
Slime Devil/Swamp Slime      graphic 2: 4
Slime Devil/Swamp Slime      graphic 3: 5
Graphic group: 0

Giggler                      graphic 1: 6
Giggler                      graphic 2: 7
Giggler                      graphic 3: 8
Graphic group: 0

Wizard Eye/Flying Eye        graphic 1: 9
Wizard Eye/Flying Eye        graphic 2: 10
Wizard Eye/Flying Eye        graphic 3: 11
Graphic group: 2

Pain Rat/Hellhound           graphic 1: 12
Pain Rat/Hellhound           graphic 2: 13
Pain Rat/Hellhound           graphic 3: 14
Graphic Group: 1

Ruster                       graphic 1: 15
Ruster                       graphic 2: 16
Ruster                       graphic 3: 17
Graphic group: 1

Screamer                     graphic 1: 18
Screamer                     graphic 2: 19
Screamer                     graphic 3: 20
Graphic Group: 0

Rockpile                     graphic 1: 21
Rockpile                     graphic 2: 22
Rockpile                     graphic 3: 23
Graphic group: 0

Ghost/Rive                   graphic 1: 24
Ghost/Rive                   graphic 2: 25
Ghost/Rive                   graphic 3: 26
Graphic group: 0

Stone Golem                  graphic 1: 27
Stone Golem                  graphic 2: 28
Stone Golem                  graphic 3: 29
Graphic Group: 1

Mummy                        graphic 1: 30
Mummy                        graphic 2: 31
Mummy                        graphic 3: 32
Graphic Group: 0

Black Flame                  graphic 1: 33
Black Flame                  graphic 2: 34
Black Flame                  graphic 3: 35
Graphic Group: 1

Skeleton                     graphic 1: 36
Skeleton                     graphic 2: 37
Skeleton                     graphic 3: 38
Graphic group: 0

Couatl                       graphic 1: 39
Couatl                       graphic 2: 40
Couatl                       graphic 3: 41
Graphic Group: 1

Vexirk                       graphic 1: 42
Vexirk                       graphic 2: 43
Vexirk                       graphic 3: 44
Graphic Group: 0

Armoured Worm                graphic 1: 45
Armoured Worm                graphic 2: 46
Armoured Worm                graphic 3: 47
Graphic group: 1

Antman/Blue ogre             graphic 1: 48
Antman/Blue ogre             graphic 2: 49
Antman/Blue ogre             graphic 3: 50
Graphic group: 0

Giant Wasp/Muncher           graphic 1: 51
Giant Wasp/Muncher           graphic 2: 52
Giant Wasp/Muncher           graphic 3: 53 
Graphic group: 2

Animated Armour/Deth Knight  graphic 1: 54
Animated Armour/Deth Knight  graphic 2: 55
Animated Armour/Deth Knight  graphic 3: 56 
Graphic group: 0

Materializer/Zytaz           graphic 1: 57
Materializer/Zytaz           graphic 2: 58
Materializer/Zytaz           graphic 3: 59
Graphic group: 0

Water elemental              graphic 1: 60
Water elemental              graphic 2: 61
Water elemental              graphic 3: 62
Graphic group: 0

Oitu                         graphic 1: 63
Oitu                         graphic 2: 64
Oitu                         graphic 3: 65
Graphic group: 0

Demon                        graphic 1: 66
Demon                        graphic 2: 67
Demon                        graphic 3: 68
Graphic group: 0

Lord Chaos                   graphic 1: 69
Lord Chaos                   graphic 2: 70
Lord Chaos                   graphic 3: 71
Graphic group: 0

Dragon                       graphic 1: 72
Dragon                       graphic 2: 73
Dragon                       graphic 3: 74
Graphic group: 0

Lord Order                   graphic 1: 75
Lord Order                   graphic 2: 76
Lord Order                   graphic 3: 77
Graphic group: 0

Grey Lord                    graphic 1: 78
Grey Lord                    graphic 2: 79
Grey Lord                    graphic 3: 80
Graphic group: 0

Graphic groups; if you don`t want to develop new graphics groups (want to use original ones=taken straight from the graphics.dat file), just copy and paste these values
(wchich one you need) to .ini file (Kentaro`s AMG tools):

Code: Select all

Graphic group 0:

[00]
0=95
1=70
2=127
3=70
4=129
5=75
6=93
7=75
8=111
9=72
[01]
0=131
1=70
2=163
3=70
4=158
5=75
6=120
7=75
8=145
9=72
[02]
0=59
1=70
2=91
3=70
4=107
5=75
6=66
7=75
8=79
9=72
[03]
0=92
1=81
2=131
3=81
4=132
5=90
6=91
7=90
8=111
9=85
[04]
0=99
1=81
2=146
3=81
4=135
5=90
6=80
7=90
8=120
9=85
[05]
0=77
1=81
2=124
3=81
4=143
5=90
6=89
7=90
8=105
9=85
[06]
0=83
1=103
2=141
3=103
4=148
5=119
6=76
7=119
8=109
9=111
[07]
0=46
1=103
2=118
3=103
4=101
5=119
6=0
7=0
8=79
9=111
[08]
0=107
1=103
2=177
3=103
4=0
5=0
6=123
7=119
8=144
9=111
[09]
0=0
1=0
2=67
3=135
4=0
5=0
6=0
7=0
8=0
9=0
[10]
0=156
1=135
2=0
3=0
4=0
5=0
6=0
7=0
8=0
9=0

Code: Select all

Graphic group 1:

[00]
0=94
1=75
2=128
3=75
4=111
5=70
6=111
7=72
8=111
9=75
[01]
0=120
1=75
2=158
3=75
4=149
5=70
6=145
7=72
8=150
9=75
[02]
0=66
1=75
2=104
3=75
4=75
5=70
6=79
7=72
8=73
9=75
[03]
0=91
1=90
2=132
3=90
4=111
5=83
6=111
7=85
8=111
9=90
[04]
0=80
1=90
2=135
3=90
4=125
5=83
6=120
7=85
8=125
9=90
[05]
0=89
1=90
2=143
3=90
4=99
5=83
6=105
7=85
8=98
9=90
[06]
0=81
1=119
2=142
3=119
4=111
5=105
6=111
7=111
8=111
9=119
[07]
0=0
1=0
2=101
3=119
4=84
5=105
6=70
7=111
8=77
9=119
[08]
0=123
1=119
2=0
3=0
4=139
5=105
6=153
7=111
8=146
9=119
[09]
0=0
1=0
2=83
3=130
4=57
5=121
6=47
7=126
8=57
9=130
[10]
0=140
1=130
2=0
3=0
4=166
5=121
6=176
7=126
8=166
9=130

Code: Select all

Graphic group 2:

[00]
0=95
1=59
2=127
3=59
4=129
5=61
6=93
7=61
8=111
9=60
[01]
0=131
1=59
2=163
3=59
4=158
5=61
6=120
7=61
8=145
9=60
[02]
0=59
1=59
2=91
3=59
4=107
5=61
6=66
7=61
8=79
9=60
[03]
0=92
1=65
2=131
3=65
4=132
5=67
6=91
7=67
8=111
9=66
[04]
0=99
1=65
2=146
3=65
4=135
5=67
6=80
7=67
8=120
9=66
[05]
0=77
1=65
2=124
3=65
4=143
5=67
6=89
7=67
8=105
9=66
[06]
0=83
1=79
2=141
3=79
4=148
5=85
6=76
7=85
8=111
9=81
[07]
0=46
1=79
2=118
3=79
4=101
5=85
6=0
7=0
8=79
9=81
[08]
0=107
1=79
2=177
3=79
4=0
5=0
6=123
7=85
8=144
9=81
[09]
0=0
1=0
2=67
3=69
4=0
5=0
6=0
7=0
8=0
9=0
[10]
0=156
1=96
2=0
3=0
4=0
5=0
6=0
7=0
8=0
9=0