Common PolyWorks Problems & Questions
Problem: I have no palette! (or any other window)
Solution: On top of the window press Window --> Workspace --> Reset Window Locations
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/LightVader/palette.jpg)
Problem: I made my map but whenever I play on it I just fall through the map!
Solution: You probably didn’t compile your map. On top of the window press File --> Compile to PMS
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/LightVader/compile.jpg)
Problem: I don’t have any scenery/textures/maps!
Solution: You probably don’t have PolyWorks configured right. To check if you do, on top of the window press Edit --> Preferences (or hotkey Ctrl + P) and check if under “Soldat” the folder Soldat is installed in is correct.
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/LightVader/preferences.jpg)
Problem: I get this error when I try to run PolyWorks: System Error &H8007007E (-2147024770). The specified module could not be found!
Solution: Make sure these files exist in your Windows\System32 folder: MBMouse.ocx, COMDLG32.OCX, mscomctl.ocx, msvbvm60.dll, dx8vb.dll, scrrun.dll. The first three are included in the PolyWorks zip, the others can be found with Google. If putting them in the Windows\System32 folder doesn't work try registering the missing files: start -> run, type in regsvr32 name_of_file.dll_or_ocx.
It will work if a window pops up saying "Registering successful." If this doesn't happen the file is probably corrupted, so download the file from another location and try again.
@Windows Vista users: If you're getting an error that says one of the components is missing or invalid, you can try registering it like this:
Make sure you have administrative rights.
Go to C:\windows\system32, right click cmd.exe, and click "Run As Administrator."
Type in regsvr32 comdlg32.ocx (or whatever the name of the files is).
edit: With version 1.4.0.16, if you get the error that says:
Direct3D initialization failed
Error creating Direct3D objects
ActiveX component can't create object
do the above procedure with the dx8vb.dll file (search for and download it if it doesn't exist on your computer).
Thanks to Dro on IRC for working with me to fix this.
Problem: I can't add scenery. When i go to put in scenery it doesn't appear but the scenery count goes up.
Related: How do I make scenery transparent?
Answer: You probably have opacity set as "0" thus the scenery seems invisible. In order to change opacity either change it in "Palette" window before placing scenery on map, or change it in "Properties" window by entering a value between 1-100 in the “Opacity” box and pressing "Enter" to confirm (0 would make it invisible and it's kinda pointless to do that). Same thing goes for related question.
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/LightVader/CPPaQ/invisiblescenery2.jpg)(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/LightVader/CPPaQ/invisiblescenery.jpg)
Question: How can I make polygons transparent?
Related: Whenever I make a polygon it’s just invisible, help!
Answer: When you make a polygon you can either select whole one or just certain vertices. After you selected the pieces you want to make transparent in the “Properties” box enter a value between 0 to 100 in the “Opacity” box and press “Enter” to confirm.
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/LightVader/opacity.jpg)
Question: How do I add player and object spawns and colliders?
Answer: Use the spawn tool (hotkey is T). For different types of spawns press right mouse button and select the type you want.
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/LightVader/spawns.jpg)
Question: How do I make scenery collide?
Answer: It isn’t really the scenery that is colliding. It’s a collider that’s with the scenery. For different sizes of colliders in “Palette” window enter a value between 4 to 128 in “Radius” box and press “Enter” to confirm.
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/LightVader/colliders.jpg)
Question: How do I resize/rotate scenery?
Answer: In the Scenery window check Rotate box for rotating scenery and Scale box for changing size of scenery. In case if you check both rotating comes before resizing.
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/LightVader/scenery.jpg)
Question: How do I add animated scenery?
Answer: Make sure you have latest version of PolyWorks (http://forums.soldat.pl/index.php?topic=35195.0).
The only way you can add animated scenery now is as EnEsCe said...
Q. How will us mapmakers implement GIF's into our new maps?
A. The only way to do this currently will be by first creating map using "still" BMP/JPG versions of the animation, and then using a HEX Editor to edit the .PMS file, replacing "youranimation.bmp" with "youranimation.gif" etc.
Q. I don't know how to use a HEX Editor... Why can't you fix this?
A. Everyone uses PolyWorks these days, which is coded in Visual Basic by Anna. Anna was contacted about updating PolyWorks to support GIF's, but she ignored (read but didn't reply) the messages. So people will have to learn how to HEX edit their map until someone takes over PolyWorks and updates it.
Question: How do I add a picture of the whole map?
Answer: Just follow these steps:
- Open the map in PolyWorks
- Click on "Window" --> Hide All so that there are no windows covering the map.
- OPTIONAL: If you want to let people see the properties of the map click on Window --> Properties
- To make whole map visible click View --> Fit on screen
- Now press Shift + Print Screen on your keyboard.
- Open paint or some other picture editor and press Ctrl + V (paste).
- Now save the screenshot in PNG or JPG.
- Upload your picture as an attachment in your post, or upload it to some file hosting site like Photobucket, TinyPic, or ImageShack and include image code in your post.
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/LightVader/CPPaQ/hideall.jpg) (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/LightVader/CPPaQ/properties.jpg) (http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/LightVader/CPPaQ/Fitonscreen.jpg)
The outcome should look something like this:
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w75/LightVader/CPPaQ/finalscreen.jpg)
Much thanks for chutem and EA who helped a bit.
Screens might come soon! [pigtail]
Other suggestions? [fist]