eme version 0.2a - seme version 0.2
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.
First run seme. The GUI is divided in seven parts:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Type in a number, for example 18. This will be number of tiles vertically. Then click on the "OK" button.
The right part has changed: the tile property, layers and map property part now contains images and texts.
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.
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.
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).
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.
To select a circle, click on the command "Select Circle".
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.
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.
To draw again, choose the command "Draw a Point".
Choose another tile property, for example the wood.
Click somewhere inside the selection. The previous image is replaced by the new one.
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".
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.
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.
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.
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.
notdone: Copy, paste, brushes
notdone: picking a tile value
notdone: map properties