Making level maps

[Andante 3]

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 319]

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

 

otherwise, I don't know. sorry!

[Andante 3]

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 98]

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

[Andante 3]

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 98]

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

[Andante 3]

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 163]

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 3]

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.