Hi there! For the past few weeks, I've been working on a program I call Minecraft Topographer.
Basically, it's a mapping application for VIEWING Minecraft levels. I created it for myself and a few friends of mine (I run a private server for a small community I'm in), so that we could more easily navigate maps, find underground lava, avoid water, find caves, etc. But it eventually turned into a fully-featured application, including:
- View your maps using in Topographic Mode, using gradient colors to represent the height of the blocks, in coloring based on the color of the blocks, or false-color, like you might see on actual topographic maps.
- View your maps using Slice Mode, allowing you to go through each vertical or horizontal "slice" or single-block-width cross-section of the map at at time, to easily find caves, see buildings one layer at a time, etc.
- In each mode, you can view your map from 5 different perspectives: top-down (sky), north, south, east, and west. From these side perspectives in Topographic Mode, you can see structures you've built almost as you would in-game, and blocks that are farther away are darker.
- In Topographic Mode, you can either disable liquids so you can see the sea floor, or show ONLY liquids, so you can make a map of where water and lava are.
- You can export a .PNG of whatever view you're looking at on the screen.
It's really cool to be able to look at maps you make from various perspectives. You can appreciate your work in new ways! Additionally, you can now show overviews of maps you upload for others to download, create your own custom navigational maps for your server, view the result of editing a map from Osici's Map Editor without loading up a server, etc.
Instructions: To change the level, simply drag the slider to the right. Change modes and options as you see fit! That's all!
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Technical Information and Troubleshooting
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Why can't I open maps larger than the standard size?
Currently, Minecraft Topographer doesn't support maps larger than 256 x 256 x 64. It will open these. However, it will only display a portion of the map.
It keeps saying that it can't load a map, because I don't have minecraft-server.jar. How come, where do I get it, and where do I put it?
As mentioned above in bold text, you MUST have Notch's minecraft-server.jar. It must be in the same directory as MinecraftTopographer.jar at all times. Minecraft Topographer uses the server's Level class to load the byte array of the map for easy processing and future-proofing. You can obtain minecraft-server.jar from http://www.minecraft.net/minecraft-server.zip
I cannot open MinecraftTopographer.jar by double-clicking on it! How come? FIX IT!
Usually, this indicates that you have an older version of Java installed, or your file associations have been misconfigured. Try installing the newest version of Java, or reinstalling Java. If that fails, Google around for "associating jar files with Java," or run it from the command line using the command: java -jar MinecraftTopographer.jar
Will Minecraft Topographer work on (INSERT OS HERE)?
Since it's written in Java, it should (theoretically) work on any OS for which Java SE 6.0 is available. It has been specifically tested on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 without incident. It has not been tested on Mac OS X, or any version of Linux.
It's not working! Help!
Please post as much information as you can, including OS, Service Pack version if on Windows, and any error messages. If there is no visible error message and you want to be even more helpful and kind, you could run it on the command line using "java -jar MinecraftTopographer.jar", reproduce the error, and copy me the stack trace via this thread. :biggrin.gif:
That is awesome, really awesome. Excellent work! I shall try it out =D I have a suggestion: Is it possible to have it running in the background and automatically output a screenshot every xx seconds? I'd love to be able to have a realtime image of my server on a website or similar :biggrin.gif:
That is awesome, really awesome. Excellent work! I shall try it out =D I have a suggestion: Is it possible to have it running in the background and automatically output a screenshot every xx seconds? I'd love to be able to have a realtime image of my server on a website or similar :biggrin.gif:
Thanks!
Indeed, it will be possible in the next release. :biggrin.gif: I'm going to make it so that you're able to run the .jar via the command line (say, in a batch file or such), it won't start up any of the GUI stuff in the background, you'll be able to specify the map, view, starting height, and other options, and then it will dump that image to a png.
I plan to use that feature with my server, as well. :smile.gif:
That is awesome, really awesome. Excellent work! I shall try it out =D I have a suggestion: Is it possible to have it running in the background and automatically output a screenshot every xx seconds? I'd love to be able to have a realtime image of my server on a website or similar :biggrin.gif:
Thanks!
Indeed, it will be possible in the next release. :biggrin.gif: I'm going to make it so that you're able to run the .jar via the command line (say, in a batch file or such), it won't start up any of the GUI stuff in the background, you'll be able to specify the map, view, starting height, and other options, and then it will dump that image to a png.
-TW
If you did that, you'd be my favourite person ever. It's a bloody brilliant idea, there's so many things it could be used for: Monitoring a server, seeing how a server progresses over time, seeing the progress of a building, watching people build rivers etc. I'll link notch to this later, he loves stuff like this :biggrin.gif:
So yeah: command line with periodic output = perfect :biggrin.gif:
Quote from GermanShepherd »
So you finally posted it... Now get to work on the next release! No rest for you!
Shiney! I really like the way you did the interface. It's not like most java interfaces.
Thanks! Yeah, I was going for an 8-bit look on this, to match Minecraft. First, I scaled up the Graphics objects I draw on by 2 times, thus giving the font a pixelated look. And second, I wrote my own SliderUI and ButtonUI classes (for example, I extended and customized this: http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/j ... tonUI.html), which is a fairly simple process. It's one of those things you can do to make Java not look so boring. :smile.gif:
Thanks, everyone, for all of the compliments. :smile.gif:
You could, however, if the person running the server makes the .dat file available to you. For example, on my server, I allow people to download the current version of the .dat file at any time they want. Encourage server admins to make .dat files available! :biggrin.gif:
Would it be possible to implement a "timelapse feature" to this thing? Have a few settings where every X minutes it takes a screenshot, possibly with settings like hiding water or whatever and it takes screenshots and saves them in a specified folder? Possibly have another setting that stops taking screenshot when no one is logged into the server? I'd like to see something like this, it'd be cool to watch thing build over time.
Would it be possible to implement a "timelapse feature" to this thing? Have a few settings where every X minutes it takes a screenshot, possibly with settings like hiding water or whatever and it takes screenshots and saves them in a specified folder? Possibly have another setting that stops taking screenshot when no one is logged into the server? I'd like to see something like this, it'd be cool to watch thing build over time.
I already asked about this and it was confirmed :wink.gif: However this seems to have died :sad.gif:
Would it be possible to implement a "timelapse feature" to this thing? Have a few settings where every X minutes it takes a screenshot, possibly with settings like hiding water or whatever and it takes screenshots and saves them in a specified folder? Possibly have another setting that stops taking screenshot when no one is logged into the server? I'd like to see something like this, it'd be cool to watch thing build over time.
I already asked about this and it was confirmed :wink.gif: However this seems to have died :sad.gif:
Would it be possible to implement a "timelapse feature" to this thing? Have a few settings where every X minutes it takes a screenshot, possibly with settings like hiding water or whatever and it takes screenshots and saves them in a specified folder? Possibly have another setting that stops taking screenshot when no one is logged into the server? I'd like to see something like this, it'd be cool to watch thing build over time.
I already asked about this and it was confirmed :wink.gif: However this seems to have died :sad.gif:
Then let's go all zombie and drag this thing back to life. :biggrin.gif:
Let me guess???? is this STILL dead?!?!?1 i want it brought back to life, so unless TW wants to start work on it, it would be cool if he released the sources. if they are not anyway.... i dont think they are.
Let me guess???? is this STILL dead?!?!?1 i want it brought back to life, so unless TW wants to start work on it, it would be cool if he released the sources. if they are not anyway.... i dont think they are.
I agree.
Also, perhaps it can be update to support different map sizes?
<TrueWolves> That's what I meant Iguana, I'm like an Extra+, to just fill in tiny cracks... right?
<Iguana> YUS. <Iguana> BUT WE NEED YOU
<Iguana> You are like...Billy Mays Mighty Putty. (trademarked)
IRC quote on the Minecraft Machinima
Basically, it's a mapping application for VIEWING Minecraft levels. I created it for myself and a few friends of mine (I run a private server for a small community I'm in), so that we could more easily navigate maps, find underground lava, avoid water, find caves, etc. But it eventually turned into a fully-featured application, including:
It's really cool to be able to look at maps you make from various perspectives. You can appreciate your work in new ways! Additionally, you can now show overviews of maps you upload for others to download, create your own custom navigational maps for your server, view the result of editing a map from Osici's Map Editor without loading up a server, etc.
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DOWNLOAD
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PRE-REQ: You MUST have Notch's minecraft-server.jar in the SAME DIRECTORY as MinecraftTopographer.jar. Download it from here: http://www.minecraft.net/minecraft-server.zip
PRE-REQ: You MUST have Java 6 or above, preferably the most up-to-date version. You can download Java from http://java.sun.com
Minecraft Topographer (Version 0.8, Release 1) download link: http://www.happyoranges.com/minecraft/M ... pherR1.zip
Instructions: To change the level, simply drag the slider to the right. Change modes and options as you see fit! That's all!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Technical Information and Troubleshooting
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Why can't I open maps larger than the standard size?
Currently, Minecraft Topographer doesn't support maps larger than 256 x 256 x 64. It will open these. However, it will only display a portion of the map.
It keeps saying that it can't load a map, because I don't have minecraft-server.jar. How come, where do I get it, and where do I put it?
As mentioned above in bold text, you MUST have Notch's minecraft-server.jar. It must be in the same directory as MinecraftTopographer.jar at all times. Minecraft Topographer uses the server's Level class to load the byte array of the map for easy processing and future-proofing. You can obtain minecraft-server.jar from http://www.minecraft.net/minecraft-server.zip
I cannot open MinecraftTopographer.jar by double-clicking on it! How come? FIX IT!
Usually, this indicates that you have an older version of Java installed, or your file associations have been misconfigured. Try installing the newest version of Java, or reinstalling Java. If that fails, Google around for "associating jar files with Java," or run it from the command line using the command: java -jar MinecraftTopographer.jar
Will Minecraft Topographer work on (INSERT OS HERE)?
Since it's written in Java, it should (theoretically) work on any OS for which Java SE 6.0 is available. It has been specifically tested on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 without incident. It has not been tested on Mac OS X, or any version of Linux.
It's not working! Help!
Please post as much information as you can, including OS, Service Pack version if on Windows, and any error messages. If there is no visible error message and you want to be even more helpful and kind, you could run it on the command line using "java -jar MinecraftTopographer.jar", reproduce the error, and copy me the stack trace via this thread. :biggrin.gif:
Relic of a bygone age.
Thanks!
Indeed, it will be possible in the next release. :biggrin.gif: I'm going to make it so that you're able to run the .jar via the command line (say, in a batch file or such), it won't start up any of the GUI stuff in the background, you'll be able to specify the map, view, starting height, and other options, and then it will dump that image to a png.
I plan to use that feature with my server, as well. :smile.gif:
-TW
If you did that, you'd be my favourite person ever. It's a bloody brilliant idea, there's so many things it could be used for: Monitoring a server, seeing how a server progresses over time, seeing the progress of a building, watching people build rivers etc. I'll link notch to this later, he loves stuff like this :biggrin.gif:
So yeah: command line with periodic output = perfect :biggrin.gif:
I agree with this!
MazeGen (Version 1.0) --- An automatic maze generation tool
ModelGen (Version 1.0) --- A 3D model import tool
Thanks! Yeah, I was going for an 8-bit look on this, to match Minecraft. First, I scaled up the Graphics objects I draw on by 2 times, thus giving the font a pixelated look. And second, I wrote my own SliderUI and ButtonUI classes (for example, I extended and customized this: http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/j ... tonUI.html), which is a fairly simple process. It's one of those things you can do to make Java not look so boring. :smile.gif:
Thanks, everyone, for all of the compliments. :smile.gif:
-TW
No, because it generates a server_level.dat, you can't use .dat files in singleplayer. (yet)
You could, however, if the person running the server makes the .dat file available to you. For example, on my server, I allow people to download the current version of the .dat file at any time they want. Encourage server admins to make .dat files available! :biggrin.gif:
-TW
Would it be possible to implement a "timelapse feature" to this thing? Have a few settings where every X minutes it takes a screenshot, possibly with settings like hiding water or whatever and it takes screenshots and saves them in a specified folder? Possibly have another setting that stops taking screenshot when no one is logged into the server? I'd like to see something like this, it'd be cool to watch thing build over time.
I already asked about this and it was confirmed :wink.gif: However this seems to have died :sad.gif:
dead, really? NOOOO!
Then let's go all zombie and drag this thing back to life. :biggrin.gif:
I agree.
Also, perhaps it can be update to support different map sizes?
<Iguana> YUS. <Iguana> BUT WE NEED YOU
<Iguana> You are like...Billy Mays Mighty Putty. (trademarked)
IRC quote on the Minecraft Machinima