Map editing

Introduction...

To begin map editing, while in AssaultCube, press the letter E which toggles editmode. AssaultCubes map editor is built into the client, so its easy to learn and you don't need to download any special tools to get started. In editmode, you can fly around in any direction you like and you can even go through walls. This is to make map-editing easier.

In editmode, you will see a grid being drawn where ever you point. Each of these small squares is a single cube. The cubes in AssaultCube are known as "geometery". The blue lines indicate a selection of 8x8 cubes. You will also see some blue sparkly things. These sparkly things are known as "entities" (which will be explained later). Click and drag the small white box at your crosshair over some cubes (you will see a red box over what you are selecting). This is how you select geometery.

If you would like to start creating a new map, type: /newmap and then the size you would like (7 is the sensible default) and then press enter. You can save your map at any time by typing: /savemap and then the name you would like it saved as. The map gets saved in the packages/maps directory. Save your map often, to avoid the frustration of losing all of your work if something goes wrong.

Note: Make sure when you start a map, to use the /newmap command, rather than editing an existing map, otherwise your map may get saved a bit strangely. Also note: you cannot put spaces or any illegal characters in the name you save it as.

Below are the controls that get used in map-editing...

Map editing controls

Changing geometery

Control	Function
[	Moves cubes in the floor downwards.
]	Moves cubes in the floor upwards.
O	Moves cubes in the ceiling downwards.
P	Moves cubes in the ceiling upwards.
F	Makes selected cubes a solid.
G	Makes selected cubes a space/non-heightfield.
K	Makes selected cubes a corner.
C	Copy selected cubes.
V	Pastes copied cubes. Note: It pastes from the upper corner of the red dot.
U	Undoes the last action (only applies to geometery).
,	Equalize the floor.
.	Equalize the ceiling.
H	Makes the floor a heightfield.
I	Makes the ceiling a heightfield.
9	Manipulates the corner of a cube where the red dot is positioned upwards. Works only if the cube is a heightfield.
8	Manipulates the corner of a cube where the red dot is positioned downwards. Works only if the cube is a heightfield.

Changing textures

Control	Function
Home	Browses forward through wall textures.
End	Browses backward through wall textures.
7 (on the keypad)	Browses forward through upper-wall textures.
4 (on the keypad)	Browses backward through upper-wall textures.
Insert	Browses forward through floor textures.
Delete	Browses backward through floor textures.
PageUp	Browses forward through ceiling textures.
PageDown	Browses backward through ceiling textures.

Mouse controls

Control	Function
Left-click	Allows you to select cubes.
Right-click	Show the editing menu.
Scrolling	Scrolling will move cubes up/down, depending on the direction you look.
Hold Q and scroll	This will manipulate the corner of a cube where the red dot is positioned up/down. Works only if the cube is a heightfield.
Hold Z and scroll	Scrolls forward/backwards through textures on the floor/ceiling, depending on the direction you look.
Hold X and scroll	Scrolls forward/backwards through textures on the wall/upper-wall, depending on the direction you look.

Misc

Control	Function
E	Toggle edit mode.
Backspace	Delete entity.
L	Shows the lighting menu.
F5	Toggle ocullsion on/off.
F6	Toggle showmip on/off.

To load your map, type /map and the file name you chose for your map. If you have not placed lighting in your map yet, your map will turn up dark. To temporarily fix this problem, type: /fullbright 1 - this will fill your whole map with light. The fullbright command only works in edit mode and is not a permanent fix. To remove fullbright mode, type: /recalc. Note: These commands can be found in the lighting menu (press L).