here is a small tool that reads in the map.ent and map.ele files (FPSC classic//BIMA(Black Ice Mod Advanced)/GG classic/GG MAX) and dumps out a text file for each. map.ent contains a list of unique entities in your level. map.ele contains all entities in your map. This will help you locate entities in your map you can't find and also contains detailed info per entity. to use, you need to make sure you rename the .fpm to .zip, extract and use password "mypassword".. make sure the map.ent and map.ele are in the same folder as the app folder. run as admin and you will see 2 text files.
3 outputs for version 0.4. make sure you copy map.ent , map.ele (if universe.ele, rename to map.ele) and map.way (waypoints if your curious).

GG Classic / GGMax (CLI version 0.6) -works with CMD.exe / Powershell (run in admin mode for both).
Works with FPSC Classic/BIMA (up to ver 218 fpms only)/GG Classic/GG Max latest version (336) - user option /vns=218 (fpsc) /vns=312 (GG classic) /vns=330,331,332,333,334,335,336 (GG Max)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pCEt2NDi09lN4KWOlWsqe2R4Gm_RwgJn/view?usp=share_link

pwd for .zip file = "boredoftherings" without the double quotes.
small fix applied to the map.way code. Now works correctly for GG classic/Max and adds additional parameters

GG Classic / GGMax (CLI version 0.4) -works with CMD.exe / Powershell (run in admin mode for both).
Works with FPSC Classic/BIM-Advanced - user option /vns=218
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GG Classic / GGMax (CLI version 0.3) -works with CMD.exe / Powershell (run in admin mode for both)
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GG Classic / GGMax (CLI version 0.2)
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GGClassic (all versions)
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GGMax (previous/current/possibly not subsequent versions)
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Finding an entity in the editor:
If I know the name of an entity and can't locate it on the map, another alternative to finding it is to add a zone marker and add transportinzone/transportifused lua scripts. Not forgetting to also add the name of the entity to the "ifused" parameter in the zone marker. Add some decals if you want to to see the invisible zone marker and walk into it when in test mode. You should then be transported to the entity. then go into f9 edit mode, select "E" and delete key to remove the entity.

@ BOTR
Thanks for sharing this tool with us, I am sure it will be very useful to recover problematic maps.
Tomorrow I will purposely introduce bugs into a map to test your tool.

Here is the EXE for GameGuru MAX:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BxlANnR9Rt9hTN2PVGpqqZbufvy3BFu8/view?usp=sharing

Thank you.

thanks 3com@Pirate Myke.

Meant to add that as I don't have the source code for GGMax, the last 70 odd params will not make sense at this time in point until I figure out what they are.

update to the GGMax version which works with previous/current but possibly not subsequent GGMax builds:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1knZMtFFp4ul5E2wwgVfLJlm5RMpS5iuU/view?usp=sharing

Thank you Sir

Dave

Thank you very much, Bored of the Rings !
However version for "GGClassic (all versions)" not available for download, requires permission (I sent a request).

Should be ok now, removed restriction.

I downloaded the file, everything is ok, thank you.

@Tauren, no problem sorry for that, Gdrive defaults to restriction mode and I keep forgetting to remove it and sometimes it has mind of its own and changes it back, either that or I'm not doing correctly anyway seems to be ok now.

I have ideas floating in my head and will be testing out one these ideas hopefully this week, if I get a chance.

Great stuff, extremely useful tool.

@ BOTR
GG entity reader tool tested and working as expected!



Getting all the entities listed in the mapent.txt file and useful info in the mapent.txt file, here someone might get the X, Y, Z entity's pos and pass these values to a flag and/or to the player and transport him there.



Remember doing something like that years ago, it should be somewhere here on the forum.

Going to test the GGMax entity reader tool asap, back when done.
Thanks again mate, very useful tool, and very easy to use it.

@ BOTR
GGMax entity reader tested and working fine, anyway I have some questions, does the GGMax mapele.txt file thrown less info than GG [i]mapele.txt file?



I guess not that easy to get internal info from GGMax atm.

@3com- ggmax has approx 70 odd more parameters than classic. I can just have one EXE that covers all versions but I didn't want to confuse anyone so created 2 separate EXEs.

If anyone prefers one EXE, I'll generate one and upload.

Some of max Params are strings containing texture info and other stuff. The numeric values could be either float or dword(long) . I'm figuring out which but no idea what they represent without the source code. I doubt Max will ever be released as open source at least not anytime soon. Maybe 8 years time

@ BOTR
I guess so, but prefer to report it, just in case.

version 0.2 added to first post. This is a CLI version. Usage e.g. gg_entity_reader.exe /vns=312 (for Classic) or gg_entity_reader.exe /vns=316 (for current GGMax version).

It generated map.ent file, but yet can't understand where can I setup this: gg_entity_reader.exe /vns=312 and/or gg_entity_reader.exe /vns=316

Getting this popup msg.



What I'm doing wrong?

that message box displays when option isn't entered correctly. option has to be entered exactly as /vns=312 or /vns=316 (for max) e.g. usage
gg_entity_reader.exe /vns=312
OR
gg_entity_reader.exe /vns=316

no spaces or quotes should be entered.

how did you enter it on the CLI? if you still have problems, I will quickly look at code and correct if needed. Make sure both map.ent and map.ele reside in the same path as the .EXE.

NOTE: this version only works on the CLI - command line interface

@ BOTR


Both throw the same error msg, in the pic below you can notice how I'm doing it, you can notice also that the "missing file" already exists in my folder, together with the exe file. I'm using PowerShell, which ran as admin.

Ok, I will also test using powershell and see what happens. Currently it works using CMD.exe in admin mode.

for Powershell, I need to make the app compatible as it works differently. please use cmd.exe first in admin mode by clicking on the windows icon typing in cmd and then right mouse click and select run as administrator.

made an update v0.3 of the app-to be added to 1st post again shortly after posting this.

should now work with Powershell in admin mode. see pic. please allow a few seconds before refreshing powershell dir command especially for larger map.ele files. So if the mapele.txt file size = 0, just give it some seconds then type dir again and the file size will change.

@ BOTR
Sorry, guy, getting the same error that previews one.



As you can see on the pic above, the map.ent/map.ele files already exist. Tried both 315/316.
Getting text files 0 kb in size.

@3com-it only works if you CD to the app directory and run from there not the c:\ root dir i.e. copy the map.ent/map.ele files to the app folder and CD to the app folder and run from there.

Now, I got it, thanks, mate.

I thought I would re-open this thread for anyone that might be interested locating their entities. I have made update to the app in relation to other project(s) I'm working on.
The reader now correctly reads in both GG classic / FPSC, there were some strange values being output due to the slight differences in structures between the 2 (i.e. FPSC/GG). For FPSC classic use /vns=218 as the cli option. I'll post link later. This will be version0.4.

link to 0.4 also on 1st post.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AmS4HUJsnS1VhYoQSk1dAtC1PEo0udKw/view?usp=sharing
make sure you copy map.ent , map.ele (if universe.ele, rename to map.ele) and map.way (waypoints if your curious) to the root folder where the .EXE resides.

for example go to the app root folder, go to explorer address bar and type in cmd (works also with Powershell, use "start-process"). then as an example run for FPSC Classic, type:
GG_Entity_Reader.exe /vns=218

OR for GG Classic:
GG_Entity_Reader.exe /vns=312

OR GG MAX (outut may look odd in places as I don't have the source code for verification):
GG_Entity_Reader.exe /vns=325


you will see 3 outputs for v0.4.

Just what i was looking for . Thanks mike.

Hey Mike...One thing I noticed it does not list segments on the FPSC output only entities anyway to out put what segments
are in the level and their dir's ?

@Super Clark- yes that's correct the map.ele only contains entities and not segments. Let me look into segments and get back to you.

OK Mike, thanks....

currently updating for the latest GG Max version

version 0.6 now available which supports up to and including version 336 GG Max. See first post.

Thanks, BOTR.

thanks 3com. password for the zip is "boredoftherings" no double quotes. I will add to 1st post.

Thanks, mate, gonna try in GGMax asap, and will be back when done.

I need to fix a bug , so might be worth not trying /vns=336 for now.

So, waiting for news.

updated version now available, same link. I can't test as updated code using laptop and not my main PC which has the version 336 .fpms. will test in morning on PC. missed some code out by mistake. now implemented. fingers crossed all ok.
any issues please let me know.

I can confirm, app works correctly now using option /vns=336. I will create a little fpm version checker so that you can find out which version each fpm is, usually 218 is the last version of fpsc, 301 onwards is gg classic and 313 onwards in ggmax

also works with BIMA (Black Ice Mod) FPSC with fpms version 218 only.