Making level maps

[Andante]

I can't seem to find this great utility I used to use all the time for making maps.

It created an ascii representation of the levels in a set, with all the important info.

Below is an example. Please let me know which utility made this, and where I can get it again! Thanks.

---------------------------

ruleset ms

%%%
LEVEL 1
title Force Shield
passwd WDOR
chips 1
time 100

tiles
A chip north + ic chip
B ball north
C invisible wall
D fireball north
end

map
# # # # # # # # # # #
# #
# #
# > > > #
# ^ A ^ #
# ^ > ^ #
# #
# #
# #
# # # # # H # # # # #
# E E #
# B B #
# E B B E #
# # # # # # # # # #
# # # # # # # #
# #
# # # # # # # # # #
# # # # # #
# C E # # # # #
# # # # # D # #
# # # # # # # #
# #
# E #
# # # #
end

creatures 4 12 ; 6 12 ; 6 11 ; 4 11 ; 7 19

%%%
LEVEL 2
title Bombs Away
passwd PNVW
chips 1
time 100

tiles
A chip north
B toggle closed
C teeth west
D green button
F teeth north
end

map
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
# A = > 6 6 B C #
# = $ = D B C #
# ^ = ^ = ^ B C #
# 6 6 6 6 6 B C #
# B C #
# B C #
# B C #
# B C #
# B C #
# B C #
# B C #
# B C #
# B # B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B B C #
# H # F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F C #
# E # #
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
end

creatures 19 4 ; 19 2 ; 19 11 ; 19 1 ; 19 3 ; 19 5 ; 19 6 ; 19 7 ; 19 8
creatures 19 9 ; 19 10 ; 19 12 ; 19 13 ; 19 14 ; 18 14 ; 17 14 ; 16 14
creatures 15 14 ; 14 14 ; 12 14 ; 13 14 ; 11 14 ; 10 14 ; 9 14 ; 8 14 ; 7 14
creatures 5 14 ; 6 14 ; 4 14 ; 3 14

%%%
LEVEL 3
title Run-a-muck
passwd TEZD
chips 7
time 500
hint You are almost done!

tiles
A brown button
B blue button
C ball west + blue button
D tank south
F ice boots
G glider south
I ball west
J trap
K tank north
L ball north
M ball south
N force boots
O blue block floor
P teeth south
Q fireball east
R water boots
S ball west + green button
T green button
U red button
V fireball south
W toggle closed
X block + force floor any
Y toggle open
Z block + fire boots
a glider west
b ball east + clone machine
c fireball west
d block south
end

map
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # A & # # # #
B C B # D D D # # # | F # [&& # G #
# # # # # # # |~ ~ I | # : : # #
"# J @ # | | | , , , : #"
# = = # # | _ _ | | # # # # #
# & & # # K K K K L # |M _ _| # N 6 []G :
# ^ ^ # = # # # # # # # # # # # |O O I # # # # # # H
"# , , # = # # # # # # # # # # # # # P |"
# : : # = = = = # # # # # # |
# : : # # # # # = = = = = = = = # : |
Q Q Q Q # # L L L L # : : R |
# # # # : |
# # # # # : # # # # # # M M M M M M # P |
_ _ _ _ # S J T # ^ # >]= = A # # # # # # : # # # # U
$ # # # # # ^ # # # # # # # # # # # # # # & #
$ # # V V V V V : # W #
I $ # M [6M X M [$M # # P W Y W
I $ # Z # # W Y W Y
I $ # a # # Y W Y W
I $ # # # # # # # # # # : # # # # # # # # # # # W Y W Y
# # # # # # # A [J # Y W Y :
b 6 6 6 E # # # c c c c # # # # ?
# : # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
#
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # [] [] [] [] [] [] []
# # d d d d d d d
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # [] [] [] [] [] [] []
# # U 6 6 6 6 6 = = = = d d d d d d d
# # U 6 6 6 6 6 = = = = # [] [] [] [] [] [] []
# # # # # # # # # # # # # d d d d d d d
# #
# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #
end

traps 7 20 -> 3 3 ; 26 0 -> 15 20 ; 16 13 -> 8 13

cloners 3 28 -> 0 21 ; 31 13 -> 13 13

creatures 8 10 ; 10 10 ; 12 10 ; 14 10 ; 14 18 ; 8 16 ; 10 16 ; 12 16
creatures 14 16 ; 19 12 ; 18 12 ; 20 12 ; 22 12 ; 23 12 ; 24 12 ; 27 7
creatures 28 12 ; 7 5 ; 8 1 ; 9 5 ; 10 1 ; 11 5 ; 12 1 ; 13 5 ; 1 1 ; 24 6
creatures 21 2 ; 19 5 ; 7 13 ; 0 16 ; 0 17 ; 0 18 ; 0 19 ; 5 10 ; 0 10
creatures 2 10 ; 3 10 ; 29 1 ; 29 5 ; 17 15 ; 19 15 ; 21 15 ; 23 15 ; 25 15
creatures 26 21 ; 23 21 ; 20 21 ; 17 21 ; 15 5 ; 28 16

%%%

[IceyLava108]

are you referring to c4? if so, links are available at http://chipschallenge.wikia.com/wiki/C4

otherwise, I don't know. sorry!

[Andante]

Thanks, Icey. I thought that C4's purpose was to convert a set to another file type. Are you sure it makes maps as well?

[geodave]

Well, once it's converted to .dat, there are several mapmaker tools out there.

[Andante]

That's true, Dave, and I thought I had them all. But for some reason, I can't seem to identify the utility that made the map above. Do you recognize it?

[geodave]

No, sorry. That looks similar to c4 codes. Did that not work? Btw, i find it easier to just use ccedit.

[Andante]

Yes, I've used CCEdit as well. But I have a reason for wanting to identify the utility that made the map above. Does C4 make maps? If so, how? Thanks.

[James]

I thought that C4's purpose was to convert a set to another file type. Are you sure it makes maps as well?

c4 is a Perl script written by Brian Raiter, which can convert Chip's Challenge level files between four different formats: the original Lynx format, the Microsoft version's format, the DOS format, and a textual format designed by Brian. The latter format allows c4 to be used as a level editor.

c4 is indeed what you are looking for! The format you posted is Brian Raiter's text format.

Here is the source code; near the end of it is Brian Raiter's documentation, which will give you a refresher on the text format and explain the syntax for running c4 through the command prompt.

[Andante]

Oh, thank you, James. I have C4 already (first got it in 2003 when Brian put it out), but just couldn't remember that it was the one that created those maps.

I went and ran the latest version I have (5.8), and looked at the instructions on screen. I then easily created another map. Perfect!

Appreciate your help, my friend.