DMapEdit v3.0 - a doom map editor!


Welcome to DMapEdit.  DMapEdit is a true, full-featured map editor, and
not just a thing editor.  With it, you can create new maps from scratch, 
from the ground up, or just modify existing WADs.  It has many powerful 
features that other editor don't have.  It is also one of the easiest to 
use editor around.  Want the power of DEU, with the ease of use of 
DoomCad?  Give this a try; it might just answer your prayers.

This is the shareware version of DMapEdit v3.0.  It can do everything 
the Registered version can do, except it is limited to saving only small 
maps (subfiles 4k or smaller).  If you evaluate this editor and decide 
to register, it only costs $5, one time payable for the rest of your 
life.  Not too bad, eh?

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New stuff since v2.1
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* memory usage has been drastically altered.  You should be able to use 
   it with less memory now, and with larger files, as long as you have 
   memory for it all.  The old limits I had for everything are now 
   gone.  It still uses base memory, and not EMS or XMS.  Until I know 
   how to use these memories, it will stay this way.  If your map gets 
   too big to for DMapEdit, it's probably too to play with Doom without 
   it being slow on the average pc.  Split into a few missions instead!

* texture picklists!  No need to try and remember/figure out all the 
   wall texture names.  If you become familiar with the names, though, 
   and know just what texture you want, you can still just type it in,  
   (for power users like myself), by clicking with the right mouse
   button instead.

* zooming, roundoff, and the grid has been changed around.  Zooming has 
   "half-steps" now.  The grid now displays to the scale of the roundoff 
   level, unless the space would fall below 7 pixils between lines.  In 
   this case, every other line/fourth line, eighth/etc is drawn instead.

* made a new hilight method, which is now the default.  If you liked the 
   old way better, though, it is still possible to use that.  Just put 
   "flash mode=old" in the INI file.  Which brings us to:

* INI file support.  You change all sorts of default settings in the 
   "dmapedit.ini" file.  Take a look at it.  A list of all INI file 
   variables and values is discussed in "dme_ini.doc".

* There is now a crosshare that shows where adding things, etc will be 
   put.  With roundoff values greater than 1, this position can be 
   different from the mouse hotspot.  ("roundoff" is know and "snap-to 
   grid" in some other editors)  If it gets on your nerves or something, 
   you can turn it off with the 'x' key.

* node generator has been improved to eliminate the "sliver" effect it 
   used to produce.  The "sliver" effect is a very narrow vertical line 
   that you can see through while playing doom.  The speed hasn't been 
   changed from v2.1.  This will be worked on for the next version, 
   hopefully.

* loading/saving to a working datafile is no longer supported.  Such 
   files are obsolete, and PWADs should be used instead.  The new 
   load/save routines have been greatly improved as well. "L" and "S" 
   are now used to load/save to/from a PWAD, which is first prompts 
   your for.  "Alt-L" and "Alt-S" will also load/save to/from a PWAD, 
   but it doesn't prompt you for the name first, unless this is the 
   first time it has asked you.

* ability to re-configure the mouse buttons.  Key to do this is <tab>.
   Then just click the function button with the whatever mouse button 
   you wish that button to be used for.

* ability to mark objects (an object is a Thing, Vertex, Line, Sidedef, 
   or Sector).  Except for Things, all marked objects affect the marking 
   of the remaining object.  Thus, if you mark a sector, it also marks 
   all the lines touching the sector, all sidedefs facing the sector, 
   and all vertexes involved.  Once you have marked object(s), you can 
   do several things with them as a group.  See the appropriate section 
   below for more information.

* Ok and Cancel buttons have been added to the relevent windows.  The 
   <enter> key simulates the Ok button, and <esc> for Cancel also.

* Most of the edit modes have been changed around a little to be more 
   intuative and useful.

* More error checking routines have been implemented.

* many bugs have been corrected from v2.1, including: change level bug, 
   which reported inability to open "", display filter buttons wouldn't 
   light up, "sliver" bug in node generator, creating 'donut sectors.'
   That's all I can remember offhand.

Ok, so this isn't at it's full potential yet, but it's been a long time 
since the last version, so I figured it was time to get this version 
out, even if it is a little hap-hazard.  The next version should be a 
little better organized and less rushed.  I figured you'd rather have 
this version as it is, then just use v2.1 instead.  But, if that what 
you want to do, you still can.  If you do, though, you are wierd.

There is still plenty of things needing improvements, but I'm not going 
to sit on this version any longer.  I'll have a follow-up version v3.1 
or v3.2 a little later with these improvements.  Anyway, let me know if 
you have any wishes in this area.  Look at the future expansion section 
first, though.  I have worked hard (along with joost schuur) to try and 
insure this version is bug free.  Well, I beleive it is, though some 
things could be a little better.  Anyway, enjoy.

   -Jason