[Tutorial] Setting up the BF2 Editor for PR mapping/modding

[[R-DEV]Rhino]

Since its been over over a year and a half since I last updated this topic, which was for v0.6 its been long overdue a update so here it is.

Description:
This tutorial is so you can setup a modification that is more or less a clone of the PR mod but can be used for map editing, map testing and general modding without conflicting with your main PR and BF2 files so you can still play in public servers with normal PR or BF2.


Tools Required:

• WinRAR ~ A tool like win zip, but better in many ways. Used to compress and exstract .zip and .rar files.
  (Download: WinRAR download and support)
• BF2 Editor v3 ~ used to crate maps etc.
  (Download: FilePlanet: Battlefield 2 - Mod Toolkit v3 [BETA])

1. Getting Started
First you need the most recent versions of BF2, the BF2 Editor and PR installed on your machine before you can continue.

For this Tut I'm going to be using BF2 v1.41, BF2 Editor v3 and PR v0.809

This tutorial should be more or less compatible with other versions of BF2, PR and the BF2 editor but may vary slightly, will try to keep this tut upto date as best as possible with any major changes, thou you should use the most upto date versions of each available to you.


2. Cloning the mod
Once you have done that, we can now get down to business.

First go to: "C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2\mods\" (default install path, may vary)
You will see in that folder a "bf2" folder and a "pr" folder, and maybe more if you have other mods installed but we only need the bf2 and pr folders.

Copy and paste the "pr" folder into the same folder so you end up with a "copy of pr" folder. It may take a few mins for it to clone the pr mod folder since it is quite large...



3. Creating "pr_edit"
Now rename your "copy of pr" folder to "pr_edit"



4. Getting your content ready
So now we have our basic mod setup but we still need to do some work before this can be usable by the editor.
First lets get the vBF2 Objects working with it. The easiest way in the current BF2 editor version is to do this:

1. go to: "C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2\mods\pr_edit\objects\"
2. Select both the "Objects_client.zip" and the "Objects_server.zip" files, right click on them and click "Extract Here". This will take some time like above, and overwrite any files it asks you to.
   

What we have done here is allow the editor to read the PR object files as the editor dose not like looking inside .zips for files and can't edit them if they are in a .zip
It can how ever run the vBF2 objects out of the object .zips in the bf2 mod folder, then if they are changed it saves the changed file into pr_edit.


5. Setting up your Lightmap Samples
In the final stages of crating a polished map, it is necessary to generate lightmaps for your terrain and static objects. Lightmaps in a nutshell are pre-calculated light so the client ingame dose not need to have his CPU maxed out working where all the shadows are going to be etc. To be able to generate lightmaps for your static objects, you will need to have lightmap samples for them (unless you want to generate your lightmaps in 3DsMax and not in the BF2 Editor but that is some pretty advanced stuff there). So unless you do not plan on generating any lightmaps for any maps (ie, you only want to do coding or gameplayobject tweaking), you will need to install these lightmap samples.

First you need the stock BF2 Lightmap Samples. you can get them at any of the below locations and read the readme in them for info on how to install them.
1. Patches and Fixes: Battlefield 2 Beta MOD Editor Light Map Samples - Demo Movie Patch Download Section - GamersHell.com
2. BF2 Editor Lightmap Samples, Battlefield 2142 Downloads, Battlefield 2142 Utilities
3. FilePlanet: Battlefield 2 - Light Map Samples

Once you have them installed, you can then download and install the PR Lightmap Samples. PR's Lightmap Samples are setup in a different way from the stock BF2 Lightmap samples, but its just as easy to install them.

1. First download the PR lightmap samples here: http://www.gloryhoundz.com/prmm/down...les_082008.zip (~500mbs) (post below if the link brakes)
2. Once downloaded, extract the .zip to: "C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2\mods\pr_edit\" and overwrite anything it asks you to.

6. Setting up your editor

Now we need to set up the editor to work with our new pr_edit so you can load all the statics etc.

First its best if you install these files that will help you crate maps for PR by making the editor more compatible with PR's settings etc. Download this .rar and extract it to: "C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2\" (overwrite any files it asks you to).
Inside it are a few editor files and little extras to help you
Download: http://www.gloryhoundz.com/prmm/users/rhino/PR_EDIT.rar

Now after you have done that, start the editor and when it gets to the "Select Startup MOD" Screen, click on "pr_edit" and press ok.

Should load up pretty fast as, at the moment, it's not set to load up much.

Now we need to go to the mod manager to tell it what we want it to load. In the toolbar of the bf2 editor go to: Mod > Mod Manager...


In the Mod Manager click on the tab "Editor Content" and in there check every box in the list. If it has a white box next to it it is unchecked and will not load, if it has a green box it is checked and will load the content related to it. (IE: Common, Dynamic Objects, Effects, etc.)

Then click ok, will take a few mins to sort it out.

7. Advanced Tips
Now your editor is basically set up to map for PR without conflicting with your other files etc.

If you have already started a map, and want to now work on it with your new pr_edit mod, all you need to do is copy the map folder from "/*mod name*/levels/" and copy the map from there to "/pr_edit/levels/" then load up the editor and you will be able to load it etc

If you add new custom statics or w/e you want in your map, simply put them into your pr_edit mod in the right place, and if you also want to test with them pack them up into the .zips

Pack includes a "reminder" which is a little pin, that wont show up ingame etc. Place these on bugs etc or things that you need to redo or w/e, then you can browse though all the reminder pins in your map when you want to sort out the bugs.


Hope this helps you make some new maps for PR!

( Last Updated: 4-9-08 )

[[R-DEV]IronTaxi]

another thing that i have always done is to unload all of the pieces of the editor i dont need... fro example the effects,material,animation editors...i basically need the terrain and static/primary editor only so unload all others and the loading time goes way down...

i believe its in the mod manager..

[[R-DEV]Rhino]

This is not a topic to ask general questions on the editor, if you have a question, make a new topic about it.

Since no one has got this message after it's been repeated many times, I'm now locking this topic and will be cleaning up all the crap.

Cheers, locked.