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Starcraft Picture Mapper v4.0 Readme File
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About SCPMv4
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SCPMv4 is the fourth incarnation of a program I wrote several years ago.

The first version was meant for private use by me and me alone, and honestly was not fit for public distribution.  I thought some people would like to fiddle with it, so I created SCPMv2 using Visual Basic 6.  It allowed users to choose from a limited array of tile sets, and the images were all basically in shades of gray/blue/green depending on the tile set.

Several months later, I learned a few things about the MFC classes in school, and decided to make SCPMv3 using Visual C++ 6.  This version featured every tile set, and included all colors available for each tile set.  After completing SCPMv3 I was honestly never planning to return to create v4.

Several people would contact me periodically inquiring about a new version, but I was too busy with school/work to be able to make a new one.  Fast forward to March 2006, when I had learned the basics of Visual Studio .NET 2003 and was eager to try out my skills.  At this point I decided to revisit SCPM, and make another and final version, SCPMv4, thanks to Relentless[3R], which contacted me asking for 256x256 maps.

In SCPMv4, the user can choose the size of the output map, and several compatibility problems with StarForge have been resolved.  I hope you all enjoy this version, and have fun making maps!

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Q & A
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Q: SCPMv4 doesn't work for me!
A: I have programmed and tested SCPMv4 on the Windows XP operating system (Service Pack 2 installed).  If you are attempting to run it on another OS or on a Windows XP emulator or virtual machine, be advised that the program may not work!  First of all, ensure you have the latest patches and updates for your machine.  Visit http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/ and install all updates that it recommends.  At the very minimum, this program needs the "Microsoft .NET Framework version 1" in order to run, so be sure that component is installed.  If not, you can get it from the Windows update site mentioned above.  If you still encounter problems, take a screenshot of the error message, and email me the picture along with any and all relevant details, and I will do my best to fix it and help you out.

Q: How many different shades does this program use for each tile set?
A: The number of shades available for each tile set is listed below.  At first you may think that these numbers are inaccurate, but remember: most maps have many similar shades and all of them lack diversity.  So for example, while there may be 50 different shades of blue in the Twilight tile set, there is not a single shade of yellow.

	Twilight        74
	Space Platform  79
	Jungle World    73
	Installation    56
	Ice             72
	Desert          80
	Ashworld        71
	Badlands        91

Q: Will there be an SCPMv5?
A: As of right now I have no plans to create a SCPMv5, and I fully intend SCPMv4 to be the final version.  However, I am known to randomly change my mind about nearly everything, so you never know!  If a cool new feature comes to mind or I am able to identify and fix a big bug, I may make a new version, or at least a new release, perhaps v4.1

Q: How can I contact you?
A: You can reach me using the following methods:
AOL Instant Messenger (AIM): FernandoH26
Email: starcraftpicturemapper@gmail.com
Website: http://www.clanscag.com (Click on "Contact Scag" on the left hand side, it sends me an email)

Q: Did you make the "sexy pics" maps?
A: I made all the sexy pics maps from sexy pics 11 - sexy pics 110 to promote SCPMv2 and SCPMv3.  Sexy pics 1 - 10 were made by Vangaurd.  You can download ALL the sexy pic maps at http://www.clanscag.com .

Q: How does your program make valid .SCM and .SCX maps?
A: First of all, you can think of StarCraft maps as zip files, but with extensions of .SCM and .SCX instead of .ZIP.  Instead of ZIP, they are known as MPQ archives.  The program MPQ2K.exe is a program that allows you to modify MPQ archives.  I did not write this program, but SCPMv4 uses it in order to compress the map data into .SCM and .SCX files.  The actual map data itself is first created by SCPM as an uncompressed scenario file, and then it is compressed into a valid StarCraft map.

In order to create the uncompressed scenario file, I had to do a bit of research and reverse engineering of the StarCraft map file structure.  Because of this, I have fairly thorough knowledge of map files and their internal structure.  If you are a map maker or tinkerer and are interested in this information, please email me and I will send you what I have.  The reason I do not include this information with SCPMv4 is because quite frankly it is not written to be understood by the general user, and some basic knowledge of hex editing, hex vs binary, etc. is needed to comprehend it.  Since around 95% of the projected users of this program are not expected to know this, I am just trying to save myself from a flood of basic questions which I'm too lazy/busy to answer. :)


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License & Legal
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This program is freeware for corporate and/or personal use.  This program can be run in any commercial or non-commercial setting, and can be freely distributed (in fact, distribution is encouraged!).

SCPMv4 was written by Fernando Hernandez in Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003.
The Microsoft .NET framework is required to run this program.

StarCraft and StarCraft Brood War are owned/copyrighted/trademarked by Blizzard entertainment.
All trademarked/copyrighted items, logos, images, etc referenced herein are the properties of their respective owners.
I claim no ownership/copyright/trademark on any of the material referenced throughout this program.



