GTA 3 Mapper FAQ - by KCow
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Last Updated: 13/08/2002


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CONTENTS
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# Why doesnt the mapper load?
# Why do none of my changes take effect in the game?
# What are the controls? How do I rotate things?
# I have added my model to GTA3.IMG but it doesnt show up, why?
# The 3D view is sooooooo slow!
# After adding/moving some objects, GTA 3 crashes!
# I added some objects then created an ipl file and saved but it doesnt work!
# I changed something, it went wrong and I havent backed up!
# Can I add parked cars and things?


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Q. Why doesnt the mapper load?
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Answer:

Due to the amount of model data in GTA3, my program loads all of it into memory when starting. This takes around 80mb of memory or so, then opening the .IPL files takes even more. Here are some tips:

  * Do NOT open the GTA3.DAT file unless you have 256mb RAM or greater
  * Open one or two IPL files to edit at a time to improve speed
  * Or click cancel and select new ipl file, and add things to that


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Q. Why do none of my changes take effect in the game?
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Answer:

The game ONLY uses the IDE and IPL files that are defined in the GTA3.DAT file, so check the file you are editing exists in the GTA3.DAT file.

There are duplicates of most of the IPL files in the MAPS directory which are NOT used at all, and these are NOT defined in the GTA3.DAT file.

Also, if you are editing an object which begins with LOD, this stands for 'Level Of Detail' and LOD objects are usually used to save processing power by having a simpler model of an object whilst in the distance, and when you get closer a far more detailed object will be shown instead. The LOD value can be changed in the 'objs' section of the IDE files (only do this if you know what you are doing)


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Q. What are the controls? How do I rotate things?
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Answer:

All of the mouse controls are listed in the 3d view, just click on the controls checkbox and they will be shown on the right hand side.

Rotation is done using 4 values, 3 represent what axis' are being rotated, and the last shows the angle. For ease of use, I have included four buttons X,Y,Z,N to setup the axis of rotation. Just click on Z to select rotation round the Z axis (most common) and then use the far right slider to change the value of rotation.

For example, an object will usually have rotation axis' of 180, 180, 180 and an angle of 0

To make it face the other way, we click on the Z button (under the 'Rotation Vector' text) then move the slider on the far right till it says 180

The object will now be facing the other way!

To get used to this, I suggest you just experiment and see what works, as for complete rotational control you need to be able to rotate around more than one axis at a time, which is possible but confusing!


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Q. I have added my model to GTA3.IMG but it doesnt show up, why?
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Answer:

Although the item is added in the GTA3.IMG file, it still needs to be declared for use in the game, do this by:

  * Add your own IDE file (put it somewhere in the data directory of GTA3) and select yes when adding it to the GTA3.DAT file. Alternatively you could add your definition to the DEFAULT
  * Select your IDE file from the file list, and select the 'objs' section
  * Click on 'Add', the next available ID value should be allocated
  * Change the Model to the name of the DFF file (without extension)
  * Change the Texture to the name of the TXD file (without extension) or use the default generic
  * Open or create your IPL file, then select Add Item from the 3d view, select the IDE file you added the definition to, and now your item should be there to view and add!


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Q. The 3D view is sooooooo slow!
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Answer:

Check you have the latest video drivers installed especially if you have Windows XP (as the standard microsoft ones do not support OpenGL 1.2)

On the file selection box, only have selected the IPL files you are dealing with at the time, so if you have opened the whole GTA3.DAT file, deselect all but the area you are working on, and everything will be far speedier!

Anyway, it is going to be slow due to the sheer amount of data being shown. It doesnt have a cutoff view yet (but might implement one in a future release), anyway, it is for map editing so doesnt need high framerates, just needs to be useable!


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Q. After adding/moving/deleting some objects, GTA 3 crashes!
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Answer:

You are not allowed to have duplicate items which have a 'path' defined on them, this includes roads, pavements etc. if you do want to, then you have to (using an IMG tool) export the piece, reimport it under a different name, redefine it in an IDE file, and then you can add it.

Make sure all items you add have a valid ID, the ID will be calculated automatically for you if you type in the name of a predefined object, otherwise it will be set to 0. The game will not load if any object has an ID of 0, so be sure to fix this before saving and testing it out!

Also quite a few files are used and referenced in the mission file MAIN.SCM which you need to make sure doesnt hold references to the files you are editing, currently there is an SCM decompiler and compiler in development, so you just have to be careful, make backups regularly and remember what you have changed!


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Q. After adding/moving/deleting some objects, the textures get mucked up!
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Answer:

As the textures are optimised on first load of GTA3, by changing quite a few files the textures might look mucked up. All you have to do is delete the TXD.IMG and TXD.DIR from your models folder, and these will be recreated next time you run GTA3

If this doesnt help then you might have mucked up something else in the IDE files, check what you have changed and try to fix it.


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I added some objects then created an ipl file and saved but it doesnt work!
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Answer:

Whenever you add an object it is added to the currently selected file on the file list (right hand side), so you have to create your IPL file BEFORE adding items to it, and then it will work.


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Q. I changed something, it went wrong and I havent backed up!
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Answer:

As the README.TXT file clearly states, you should have backed up everything before use! But you can just reinstall GTA3 to fix your problems.

Please do NOT email me asking for a certain file! Thank you

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Q. Can I add parked cars and things?
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Answer:

Simply, NO! This is a map editor, the parked cars are stored in the mission file MAIN.SCM and these cannot be changed with this mapper. Most objects though can be placed, just look for them in the item chooser, but cars, nope!