CM13 Mapping Crash Course

Disclaimer: BEFORE YOU START!

This guide assumes you’re using the most recent of StrongDMM, and already have a working knowledge of how to use Git, and are familiar with CM13's general Git Practices. As long as you know how Git works, and you have StrongDMM installed you’re ready to start mapping.

You can learn about Git, and how to use it here.
You can read about CM13’s specific Git Practices when they're finished.
You can get a copy of StrongDMM here.

If you’re looking for the guide on how to make Nightmare Creator (NMC) inserts, it will be here when they're finished. You can still use Byond’s map editor, but we strongly recommend you use StrongDMM for your own sanity. If you’re using Byond’s built in map editor, or fastDMM you’ll need to use Map.

Merge 2 (hyperlink to how-to-use-section at end of this article) before committing your map(s) to Git.

Merge Requests with un-merged maps cannot be accepted. You will need to use MM2 or StrongDMM if you want any chance of submitting a mapping change!

For international readers, this guide is written assuming your keyboard is using the US Standard QWERTY Layout. Some keystrokes may be different, or not work entirely. Unfortunately, StrongDMM (And Byond’s built in map editor) cannot have their hotkeys rebound.

This document is a work in progress, some information may be incorrect, there might be typos, and some information outright may be missing.

StrongDMM Reference

File commands

Command	Description
Open Environment...	Opens a dialogue to locate a compiled DME file. Note: Only one DME may be loaded at a time. Loading a DME will close all map windows. You will be asked to save all unsaved changes.
Recent Environments...	Opens a side menu listing recently opened DME files.
New Map...Ctrl + N	Creates a new map. You will be asked to enter X and Y bounds, as well as the amount of Z levels to include. Note: CM13 does not use traditional Z levels, so always enter 1.
Open Map… Ctrl + O	Opens any map on a local hard-disk. Note: Opening a map will open a new map window, and will not close any other open map windows.
Open Available Map… Ctrl + Shift + O	Opens any map recognized in the current DME.
Recent Maps	Opens a side menu listing recently opened .dmm files for the currently loaded DME.
Close Map Ctrl + W	Closes the current map window.
Close All Maps Ctrl + Shift + W	Closes all open map windows.
Save Ctrl + S	Saves current changes to the open map. Note 1: This will save the currently opened map using the map format selected in the Preferences window. Make sure to use the TGM format always! Note 2: If the currently opened map is of a different format than the selected format in preferences, it will be saved in the new format, even if no changes were made.
Save All Ctrl + Shift + S	Saves current changes on all maps.
Save As...	Opens a dialogue to save the current map under an alternate title. Note: The newly saved version will not be automatically opened in the program. The new file will also not be appended with a valid file extension, you will need to type .dmm yourself in the save dialogue
Preferences...	Opens the program Preferences window. Note: Make sure you’re configured for CM13 properly.
Exit Ctrl + Q	Exits the program. Note: This closes all map windows, you will be asked to save all unsaved changes before quit.
Undo Ctrl + Z	Moves a step back in edit history. Note: One step in edit history is one action, click, keystroke, etc, that makes a change to the map that can be saved.
Redo Ctrl + Shift + Z	Moves a step forward in edit history (if there are any available).
Cut Ctrl + X	Removes the current selection from the map, and adds it to the clipboard. Note: Cut only removes content from the currently enabled layers.
Copy Ctrl + C	Copies the current selection of the map, and adds it to the clipboard. Note: Copy only copies content from the currently enabled layers.
Paste Ctrl + V	Pastes the current clipboard at the turf closest to the cursor. Note: The clipboard is always pasted relative to the bottom left corner of the clipboard selection.
Delete Delete	Deletes the current selection. Note: Delete only removes objects from the currently enabled layers.
Deselect All Ctrl + D	Deselects the current selection.
Set Map Size...	Opens a dialogue that allows you to edit the X and Y bounds of the map, as well as add or subtract additional Z layers. Note 1: CM13 does not make use of Z layers in its map files, as such you shouldn’t need to ever touch this option. Note 2: There is no 0,0 coordinate, the origin coordinate is 1,1 located in the bottom left corner of the map
Find Instance… Ctrl + F	Opens a dialogue that allows you to find all instances of a certain typepath. Once an object or instance is found, the search results menu will appear, allowing you to jump to each located object, as well as replace the objects via typepath substitution. Note: This dialogue also functions as the Find and Replace function native to Byond’s Map Editor.
Layers Filter...	Opens up the Layer Filter menu. Checking the box next to a typepath, enables it. Unmarked boxes are disabled. Permits precise filtering of typepaths. Note: Layer in mapping terms refers to Areas, Turfs, Objects, and Mobs, and aids in filtering what needs to be viewed while mapping. What actually controls how objects layer in game, is the layer variable locally stored on objects.
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