eme version 0.2a - seme version 0.2

  1. Introduction
  2. Tutorial: How to draw a map ?
  3. Tutorial: How to create a map format in SEME ?
  4. Tutorial: How to write a plugin ?
  5. Tutorial: How to create a new type of property ?
  6. The user interface
  7. seme
  8. ieme
  9. The API
  10. FAQ
  11. Portability
  12. Known bugs
  13. Reference: Application Program Interface
  14. Reference: emetool
  15. Index

Tutorial: How to draw a map


The tutorial will use seme. Some parts are specific to seme, this will be noted as "seme specific".

There has been some graphical changes since the images were created.


  1. Basics
    1. The interface layout
    2. Loading a map format
    3. Creating a map
    4. Simple drawing
    5. Undo/Redo
    6. Moving the map
  2. Selection
    1. Selecting a circle
    2. Apply
    3. Using a selection
    4. Selecting a rectangle or a point
    5. Selecting by property
    6. Adding tiles to and removing tiles from a selection
  3. Layers
  4. Copy, paste, brushes
  5. Miscellanea
    1. Picking a tile value
    2. Map properties


1 - Basics



1.1 - The interface layout

First run seme. The GUI is divided in seven parts:

If you prefer an image instead of ASCII art, look at doc/img/tut0.png or use a browser that support correctly the <OBJECT> tag. You will follow the tutorial far more easily if you can see the images.
   +-Menu(1)------------------------------+
   |+--------------------++------++------+|
   || Map(2)             ||      ||      ||
   ||                    ||      ||Layers||
   ||                    || Tile ||(4)   ||
   ||                    || Prop-|+------+|
   ||                    || erty || Map(5)|
   ||                    || (3)  || Prop-||
   ||                    ||      || erty ||
   ||                    |+------++------+|
   ||                    ||   Tools(6)   ||
   ||                    ||              ||
   |+--------------------++--------------+|
   +-Infos(7)-----------------------------+

  1. Menu: You can access many of the functionalities via the menu.
  2. Map: You can see the map and edit it here.
  3. Tile property: This part shows you the current property for the tiles. This property will be used for drawing.
  4. Layers: Show the list of layers, you can change the active layer here and choose which layers are visible.
  5. Map property: You can edit the map properties here. The map properties are some global data for the map (for example the map name).
  6. Tools: You can choose the tool you want to use here.
  7. Infos: This part is visible only when a map has been loaded. It gives you some informations such as the map size.

You can access the general help by "Help->Help" or by pressing F1. To access the help about a specific part, right-click on it.


1.2 - Loading a map format

seme specific: To be able to edit or create a map, you must choose a map format. For this, go in "Map Format->Load map format" and choose examples/seme/format.fmt.

The map format defines how many layers there are in a map, what their type is (image, number, etc.). We will see later how to define a map format. This definition depends on the eme variant you are using.


1.3 - Creating a map

Now that you have chosen the map format, you can create a map. Go in "File->New". You will see a popup asking you the map width. If the message "Please create or load a map format first (...)" appears, re-do the previous step.

[The map width popup (doc/img/tut2.png)]

Type in a number, say 24. This will be number of tiles horizontally. Then click on the "OK" button. A new popup will appear, asking you the map height.

[The map height popup (doc/img/tut3.png)]

Type in a number, for example 18. This will be number of tiles vertically. Then click on the "OK" button.

[The right part (doc/img/tut1.png)]

The right part has changed: the tile property, layers and map property part now contains images and texts.


1.4 - Simple drawing

[The tile property box (doc/img/tut4.png)]

You have now a new map, but it is empty. To draw some tiles, click on one of the images in the tile properties part. A frame appears around the selected image.

[A tile property is selected (doc/img/tut5.png)]

To set a map tile to this image, click on it. You can also draw several tiles at a time by moving the mouse pointer while the left button is pressed.


1.5 - Undo/Redo

If you want to undo a command, use the menu "Edit->Undo". To re-do it "Edit->Redo". You can undo and redo several commands. Alternatively, you can use the shortcuts Ctrl-Z (undo) and Ctrl-R (redo).


1.6 - Moving the map

To see other parts of the map, you can move the scrollbars near the map by clicking on them. Alternatively, you can press the arrow keys to move the map.


2 - Selection



2.1 - Selecting a circle

[The "Select Circle" command (doc/img/tut6.png)]

To select a circle, click on the command "Select Circle".

[A selection in the map (doc/img/tut7.png)]

In the map, click on the center of the circle you want to select, do not release the mouse button. Drag the mouse to the border of the circle, and now release the mouse button. Several tiles are now surrounded with dotted lines. All these tiles are inside the circle.


2.2 - Apply

[The result (doc/img/tut9.png)]

Choose an image in the tile property list (for example, the water) and click on the "Apply" button. All the selected tiles are set to the chosen image.


2.3 - Using a selection

[The "Draw a Point" command (doc/img/tut10.png)]

To draw again, choose the command "Draw a Point".

[Choose a tile property (doc/img/tut11.png)]

Choose another tile property, for example the wood.

[Drawing inside a selection (doc/img/tut12.png)]

Click somewhere inside the selection. The previous image is replaced by the new one.

[Drawing outside a selection (doc/img/tut13.png)]

But if you click outside the selection, no image is drawn.

This is a normal behavior: when some tiles are selected, the commands apply only to these tiles. If no tile is selected, the command can apply to any tile. (This behavior is inspired by The Gimp's behavior).

To deselect all the tiles, you can use "Select->None".


2.4 - Selecting a rectangle or a point

notdone: Selecting rectangle/point

To select a rectangle in the map, choose the command "Select Rectangle", click on one tile (do not release the mouse button) and drag the mouse to the opposite corner, then release the mouse button.

To select a point, choose the command "Select Point" and click on a tile.


2.5 - Selecting by property

notdone: Select By property

Note: this is not a "magic wand"

Choose the command "Select By Property", and click on a tile. All the tiles with the same value are now selected.


2.6 - Adding tiles to and removing tiles from a selection

notdone: Adding/removing to/from selection

If you issue a selection command ("Select Point", "Select Rectangle", "Select Circle", "Select By Property") while the SHIFT key is pressed, the new selection is added to the previous one.

If you issue a selection command while the CTRL key is pressed, the new selection is removed from the previouse one.


3 - Layers


notdone: Layers

Almost all commands are executed on one layer, here called active layer.

The list of layers appears in the top-right box. Layers that are visible in the map are grayed in the list. The active layer is displayed in reverse video in the list.

To change the active layer, click on a layer name: the corresponding layer become active and visible in the map, all other layers are hidden.

If you SHIFT-click on a layer name, this layer become active, and the previously visible layers remain visible.

If you CTRL-click on a layer name, this layer is hidden.


4 - Copy, paste, brushes


notdone: Copy, paste, brushes


5 - Miscellanea



5.1 - Picking a tile value

notdone: picking a tile value


5.1 - Map properties

notdone: map properties


Last modified on 21/5/2003