Have deprotected map... Where do I start?

WillyWonka · Post by **WillyWonka** » June 29th, 2009, 4:37 pm

That's basically it. I requested a deprotected map and the request was fulfilled.

Now what do I do to edit the map? Basically, I need a step-by-step tutorial of how I should approach the editing, tools I should use, and how I should use them. I looked for a comprehensive guide of that kind but couldn't really find one. There's plenty of great info on this site, for sure, but it's really scattered over a hundred posts. If someone could help me out here or direct me to the "Map Editing/deprotection for Idiots" post I might have missed, that would be great.

I know I didn't put a lot of the specifics of my project down but I'll certainly do it later if it's necessary but here's the Overall Goal:

I'm not looking to add cheatpacks or anything (in fact I'd love to remove the cheats if there are any in this map) I'd simply like to make a few really minor edits to items, recipes, and heroes in this map for balance purposes, make a slight name change to the map, and then reprotect it, and I only want to know the quickest and most reliable way to do this.

I'm a quick study and I'm familiar with computers and some basic programming, but I've never done editing of maps or map files much before.

Post by **Syre** » June 29th, 2009, 11:06 pm

Can you give me a bit more info to narrow down the search? What exactly is the problem that you come up with when trying to edit the map. If its already deprotected and you get an error when trying to open with WE, try this.

http://forum.wc3edit.net/map-deprotecti ... 11336.html

And the tool for importing

http://forum.wc3edit.net/tools-f32/tool ... t5503.html

Get the first one, MPQmaster. Just open the map up with it, then right-click, addfile, then click the .w3i file thats in the first post.

If that doesnt answer your question, gimme some more info, and if you want, i could move this topic to map deprotection/cheating..which could provide a bit more support there.

WillyWonka · Post by **WillyWonka** » June 30th, 2009, 1:52 am

Well first of all, what WE should I be using? I dl-ed the Jass New Gen WE pack from this site, but encountered problems with my comp blocking it as a Trojan. I believe I got around that but ran into a different problem -- the editor would not start (I got an error message). I believe this is because I am playing without my CD's , since it says I have to have the disc in the drive. Is this correct, and if so, why do I have to have the disc?

Some very elementary questions (this is all new to me):

1. Do I HAVE to deprot the map to edit what I said I wanted to edit (items, recipes, heros, skills, NOT triggers)
2. Should I be able to open and play a deprotected w3x file in WarIII? (Because I couldn't with the deprotected map I was given from this site).
3. Even if I am able to get my WE up and running and I can open the deprotected file with it, if some of the map does not appear to be correct (there are errors), does it automatically mean the file is corrupted and unusable, or does it simply mean I need to do some additional steps or try something different?
4. You mentioned importing. What is that exactly?

Here's how editing works so far as I understand it, so please help me out where I'm missing steps.

1. deprot the map
2. get a WE
3. open the WE
4. open the map in the WE
5. edit map in WE
6. reprotect and play

EDIT: There's a lot I won't understand about what you might tell me but also alot that I do get, so don't get the idea that I'm totally clueless. So for example I read the posts your asked me to and I think I know what you're saying about replacing the w3i (is that the items data?) with the blank one to get around the protection. My question is, doesn't that mean I have to re-create all the items for the map from scratch? Basically, all I want to do is be tweaking some numbers here and there, like changing the damage type of a unit, or reducing the cost of an item, or increasing the cooldown of a spell, etc.

What I'm saying is that if there's no way to do this to a protected map without opening a huge can of tedious worms (like having to rewrite an entire spellbook, or reconstructing map triggers, or recreating every custom hero etc.) then I probably will just give it up right now.

Post by **Syre** » June 30th, 2009, 5:50 am

Im not too sure about the editor, i dont use a cd and Jass NewGen Pack works fine for me..that would be a question for their official fourms.

1. No.

Spoiler:

2. Should be able to, i had no problem playing deportected maps.

3. Due to the protecting and deprotection steps, the map will not be 100% like it was before, to do that you will have to go through the restoration process. http://forum.wc3edit.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1606. Also, that is not a service that we offer here..too much time consumeing, sorry.

4. Importing/Extracting. That is taking specific files from the map themselves and editing them alone. In this case, i told you to use the MPQMaster program to insert a blank .w3i file into the map.

Now, this also is needed for question 1. You will have to use MPQMaster (for import/export), or RMPQex (for exporting only, (better than mpqmaster at exporting)).

Use either one to extract the files you want from the map (See number 1). Then follow the steps listed there. You cant extract from WE so just save the map afterwards. After its saved, reopen whatever mpq editor you downloaded, and extract the files again. Than use mpq master to import the files BACK into the original map.

Nono, although im not familiar with the files, .w3i is not for items..im not exactly sure what its for ;x Deprotecting is not my thing. The files you need to worry about are all listed in the first questions spoiler. You can restore and edit everything by extracting the files from the map.

Well, hopefully you understand jass though ;x Since after a maps protected, all gui that was there is now gone..Anyways, i hope this answers some of your questions. Ill be on a few times almost every day so feel free to ask if youve got more questions.

WillyWonka · Post by **WillyWonka** » June 30th, 2009, 2:34 pm

Thanks very much for your help. Actually, if it's a matter of editing specific files using JASS I think I'd be down with that. I have programmed in Java before, which is object oriented, I read something on this site saying that JASS is more similar to C++, which my brother has done. Plus there's some nice guides to JASS on this site so I think I wouldn't be averse to trying. I think it would be a lot easier than trying to deprotect this map, since every time I have gotten it done by someone on this site the map needs restoration (which like you said is too time consuming).

I'll give what you posted a try and then write back when I run into problems (as anyone who's ever done programming knows, it's not IF you run into problems, but WHEN

). Thanks again.

WillyWonka · Post by **WillyWonka** » June 30th, 2009, 5:22 pm

I'm having a problem with the JASS NewGen pack that I got from this site. I disabled my virus protections so it installed without a problem, but I couldn't open the WE. I tried double-clicking on the .exe and the .bat files (following the direction in the readme file) to start the program but could not, I got an error message that said "War3 has encountered a problem and needs to close."

I have a couple of theories:

1. This pack has been made defunct/outdated by a new patch
2. I need a CD in the drive
3. Something screwed up because I installed Warcraft from my Battle.net account instead of installiing from my CD's as usual.

Someone help?

Post by **Syre** » June 30th, 2009, 8:58 pm

Alright, go to here http://www.wc3c.net/showthread.php?t=90999 and post your problem. Thats the official forum for Jass NewGen Pack.

WillyWonka · Post by **WillyWonka** » July 1st, 2009, 2:49 am

Tried, haven't yet received an answer. I'll be borrowing my friend's discs and i'll reinstall with them and try then. If that doesn't allow me to open New Gen then I really have no clue what the prob is.

WillyWonka · Post by **WillyWonka** » July 4th, 2009, 4:12 am

Alright, today I managed to get a hold of a copy of my friends discs, and a little investigation led me to dl and install patch 1.21b and lo and behold I was able to open NewGen WE.exe as well as my deprotected version of the map I want to edit. This map clearly appears to be corrupted, and appeared a lost cause even after I tried the blanks w3i trick suggested.

However I am ready to begin work on following your advice on my question #1 that you answered with the spoiler. Could you give me a slightly more detailed review of what I'm supposed to be doing, and what programs I need to have to undertake this project? And if you can, can you point me in the direction of a guide to the JASS language I will need? Thanks a bunch.

Post by **Syre** » July 4th, 2009, 10:03 am

Gladly. Its really pretty simple. Now, in my post above, i posted a link to MPQMaster. Go ahead and download that. Unrar it, and open it up. Then go File - Open, and open up the map. Check listfile.txt. That will show up with a bunch of files, the ones listed in spoiler one. Now, go ahead, and right click the ones you want and extract anywhere, or just go Operation - Extract All.

Now, after thats done, in WE, create a new blank map, save it, and close. Then reopen, if youve closed, MPQMaster. Open up the blank map now. Now, again, right click and click Add Files. Now, add the files that you just extracted into the blank map.

After that, you should just be able to open up the blank map, and edit them as you wish. After your done, just save and close. Then do the same processes above, but in reverse. Extract the files from the blank map, and put them back into the original. (If the map doesnt open, try deleteing the file (attributes))

Now, since ive never done this myself..sorry..lol im not completely sure about wether the triggers or strings will work alright. So if not, just open the strings in a notepad, and use Jasscraft for the triggers, Its listed on the same page as the MPQ editor is. However since your gonna use Jass NewGen, it will probably be fine.

Now..some tutorials for jass..Theres quite a lot..lol

Spoiler:

wc3edit.net

Have deprotected map... Where do I start?

Have deprotected map... Where do I start?

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Re: Have deprotected map... Where do I start?

Re: Have deprotected map... Where do I start?

Re: Have deprotected map... Where do I start?

Re: Have deprotected map... Where do I start?

Re: Have deprotected map... Where do I start?

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