PDF Modding Guide and Map Edit Guide

[NTJedi]

With the patch soon to be released... any chance the PDF guides will be updated??

These PDF files are getting outdated.

[Endoperez]

How so? I don't remember any commands that are broken that aren't fixed by the patch.

[Zylithan]

I don't know if they are outdated, but they could be improved. For mapmaking at least, there's no mention of needing white dots, of how to create neighbors, using red lines, etc. Also, more examples would help. This is something that perhaps the community could take on if the devs don't.

[Kristoffer O]

> This is something that perhaps the community could take on if the devs don't.

That would be appreciated

[llamabeast]

Maybe I'm just lacking the technical knowhow, but I don't believe pdfs can be directly edited. Could you provide the source for the documents KO? Then I'm sure we can update them as a community.

[Kristoffer O]

Oh! I guess JK has them. I havn't looked at them in ages.

[Zylithan]

PDFs can be edited, but most people don't have the software. (Adober Distiller?) But I think things like word can change themselves into a PDF (can write PDF, but not edit). So if we could wordify the original PDF, then have a working word doc (and PDF it for pretty release).

I'm up for working on this, but my knowledge right now is very minor. But maybe in a few months..

[NTJedi]

Endoperez said:
How so? I don't remember any commands that are broken that aren't fixed by the patch.

Check the bug thread, there are even red(major) commands which are still broken.

New commands and the new nations should be included within the PDFs. Typos in the old PDFs should be corrected(such as Johtunheim listed in the late age when that slot is actually Jomon). Broken commands should be marked as broken so new gamers don't lose several hours trying to get commands like #startspell working. Reviewing the progress page shows lots of information which can be added into the PDFs.

I'm mainly suggesting the update because new gamers which bought the game and install the patch shouldn't be discouraged or confused after reading outdated PDF guides.

[Edi]

If the original documents are in any form that can be converted to Open Office without losing formatting, the rest would be easy. Open Office does excellent PDF porting right out of the box, complete with index, table of contents and everything.

I could do some of the stuff, I've got some experience in writing end user documentation for completely software illiterate people, so fixing the existing mapmaking and modding documentation would be fairly easy, especially if done in collaboration with the experts on these forums.

I could probably do the mapedit section on my own, but I would probably need some help on the modding documentation.

[Zylithan]

yay for Edi. I owe your DB props as it was invaluable in my Eight Gates map. If you captain the map making pdf I'd love to proofread or add tips or whatnot.