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Creating a Custom Map Grid

Step 1 - Naming

Break up your map names into parts that change and parts that don’t.

For example, if your map numbers look like those in the following grid

Column A Column B Column C
G48-49 G48-50 G48-51
G49-49 G49-50 G49-51
G50-49 G50-50 G50-51
G51-49 G51-50 G51-51
G52-49 G52-50 G52-51

Then the center map G50-50 in column B would be broken up as follows:

  • G never changes
  • 50 changes by row ± by 1
  • Separator (-) never changes
  • 50 changes column ± by 1

We recommend that you build your map grid around the center of the map area by entering the center map information into the initial pattern.

Note

Any map close to the center will work as well.

Step 2 - Create a template

Create a template . 5 from the MapView option in the Entry menu.

To create a template for the grid above:

  • In the initial pattern column, type the letter G followed by Enter. The pattern length will automatically be set to 1 for 1 character (G). This pattern doesn’t change so no further information is needed on this line.

  • ⬇️ Arrow down to the next line (notice the G’s appear in the sample grid below). Enter 5 0 in the initial pattern column and press Enter. Pattern length is set to 2. This number changes for each row (vertically by 1) so enter a 1 in the "Increment" column under the V. That will finish this row.

  • ⬇️ Arrow down again (notice the changes in the sample grid). Put a minus sign in the "initial pattern" column. Once again this doesn’t change so no further information is needed on this line.

  • ⬇️ Arrow down again (notice the changes in the sample grid). Enter 5 0 in the "initial pattern" column and this time place a 1 in the Increment column under the H.

  • ⬇️ Arrow down again (notice the sample grid now looks like the grid above).

  • This template is complete, so hit the Escape key and return to the main map grid.

Step 3 - Overlay new map

We need to overlay our new map template on top of the default map grid.

  • Locate map number 5050 in the default map grid by moving the cursor with the arrows or using the jump command.

  • There are two methods available for replacing the default map numbers with the ones set up in the template, the blockfill option and the paint option:

    • The BlockFill option . 4. Before pressing . 4 to start the "BlockFill" function, determine the size of the map grid you wish to create. For this example, we will use a 10 row by 10 column map grid with G50-50 being the approximate center map. Determine which default map numbers represent the upper left and lower right corner of the desired grid. We will use 5545 as our upper left and 4655 as our lower right. Press . 4, the prompt asks for the upper left and lower right coordinates enter 5545.4655 and press enter. You should have new map numbers in a 10 x 10 grid with G50-50 as the approximate center map. It is also possible to press . 4 BlockFill followed by the Home key to replace all default map numbers with your custom map numbers.

    • The Paint option 5. With the cursor placed on "5050", press the 5 key. This turns on the Paint option (notice 5050 became G50-50). Move the cursor using the arrow keys, notice the map number you move the cursor over changes to the appropriate number from the new map grid. When you have finished changing all the desired map numbers, press 5 again to turn off Paint.

  • Press the Escape key to exit the map grid. You will be prompted to Save and Exit. Do so by pressing the number 1. A dialog box will appear prompting you to enter a name for the map grid file. Enter the desired name (naming the map grid with the same name as the spec files will enable loading the map grid automatically when you load the project) and then click OK.