Tutorial for converting maps from MP3 to MP4

[pt_maps]

- So it is not doable per CMD / Batch via Steam Version ?! You have to install MP/Retail Version to update Maps ?!

the maps should be the same; just login to maniaplanet, download the client, install him and convert your maps.

- i saw Black Blocks on a few maps from a server does this mean they havent updated it ?

you can't play MP3 maps with MP4

- is there a difference between the script way or the manual single via Editor ?

you have to validate the maps again if you using the editor and the ID will change.
with the batch tutorial here, the map ID doesn't change.

[Demented]

you have to validate the maps again if you using the editor and the ID will change.
with the batch tutorial here, the map ID doesn't change.

That's not necessarily true.
I've converted about 340 maps in Canyon, Valley and Stadium to MP4 (Ultra) using the map editor and only had to re-validate 4 of them and that was only because they had blocks with geometry changes that made the maps unplayable.

[eyebo]

Big thanks to haagse for creating this topic!

I just wanted to share my own process for batch updating maps, as it may vary a little from others in this topic.
I don't claim this is the best way, but it's worked for me over the past couple months, while updating thousands of maps for Project GPU on Mania Exchange. So I thought it might be worth sharing.

Disclaimer: this is for the non-Steam version of ManiaPlanet.

• 1. Move all your maps out of your maps folder except the maps you want to update.
• 2. Open ManiaPlanet normally, like you are going to play.
• 3. Open each of the titles and/or titlepacks that the maps will be updated in.
• 4. Exit ManiaPlanet.

  Be aware that your game settings will affect the quality of the map thumbnail in your upgraded maps.
  So set your game to highest settings first if your PC can handle it.
  Also try to make sure you have local copies of all texture mods the maps use, so they show correctly in the thumbnail.

• 5. Run the batch command.
  There are several different ways you could run the batch command:
  • a. [Linkin]Alex likes to copy and paste the command into the address bar of a Windows Explorer window and run it there. You can find the full batch command in the second code block below.
  • b. haagse explains how to use the command line to run it.
  • c. Domino54 explains how to create a .bat file for it
  • d. I personally have a Windows shortcut set up on my desktop with all the parameters included.

  For option d, you only need to create the shortcut once. Then you can use it for all future batches.
  But if you're only doing one batch, option a might be the better choice.

  If you're going with option d, follow these instructions:
  To create a shortcut, right click on your desktop and choose "New -> Shortcut".
  When asked for the location, paste in this (or wherever your game is located):

  Code: Select all

  "C:\Program Files (x86)\ManiaPlanet\ManiaPlanet.exe"

  Click "Next"
  For a shortcut name, write: Upgrade Lightmaps
  Click "Finish"
  Right click the shortcut you just created and choose "Properties".
  In the area called "Target", erase everything and copy in the full batch command:

  Code: Select all

  "C:\Program Files (x86)\ManiaPlanet\ManiaPlanet.exe" /computeallshadows /upgrademaps /useronly /fullcheck /LmQuality=High

  Click "OK"
  Now double click on the shortcut to start the batch!
  

  Note that I do not use the /titles= parameter in the command.
  This lets the game to use whatever titlepack is needed when converting the maps.

• 6. When the batch command launches ManiaPlanet, it gives you 4 options:
  Connect, Silent, Offline, or Select Profile.
  Choose Offline!
  This ensures the game doesn't try to look for updates for all of your installed titles and titlepacks.
• 7. ManiaPlanet then has a dialog box that says:

  Load titles.
  Search of matching collections.

  There's an "OK" button. You don't have to press it.
  The game will take a moment and then move on to upgrading your maps.
  

  If the game closes while doing a batch, you can find which map may have been the culprit by looking at:

  Code: Select all

  Documents\ManiaPlanet\UGCErrorsLog.txt

  Whatever is the last map in the list was probably the culprit for the failed batch.

• 8. Remove the failed map and/or any completed maps from your maps folder before restarting the batch.

  It's easiest if you sort map files by "last modified" in the details view in Explorer.
  
  The time the map was updated usually gives some indication if the map was successfully updated.
  But to be safe, use GbxDump to check the lightmap version of the map.
  
  ManiaPlanet 3 and prior maps are going to be lightmap version 5 or version 6.
  Successfully updated ManiaPlanet 4 maps are going to be lightmap version 7.

• 9. When your batch completes, you may get a warning dialog in the ManiaPlanet window that some maps couldn't be updated because they're from a certain title or titlepack. Do step 8 (removing only completed maps), and then go back to step 2 and start again.
  

  You can also use GbxDump to check maps to see which TitlePack ("Title ID") they were created in. Make sure the TitlePack is loaded into a station and that you've opened it once prior to starting the batch again.

• 10. You may want to clear your game cache from your launcher settings when all is done, especially if you're upgrading 100s or 1000s of maps. The local lightmaps created can end up being quite large and you'll have GBs of them before you know it.
  

  Just be aware that clearing your cache will also remove any cached signs, music, mods, etc. So if you have limited bandwidth to download them again, be careful here.

Happy upgrading!

[Brejifus]

We followed your instructions on converting our maps to work there are 50 of them and everytime we input the info to run it says they can not find trackmania stadium we are running on windows 7 and followed everything and trackmania is on c drive we would like to get maps up and running can you help

[eyebo]

Brejifus, I don't know what the problem is. But if you'd like to zip up the maps and send them to me I'd be happy to convert them for you.

[lorino]

.dds pannels are no more supported ?
After converting the maps, maps remain validated but if I try to edit them to only change the pictures on the pannels, I have to revalidate the map (and the track loses its previous records ...). Is there a way to modify pannels of a map without editing it ?

[eyebo]

Haven’t tested, but try editing it in the TM2 titlepack. Of course that only works if you originally built in a base title.

[stefan.fueger]

I have a question about maps containing replays.

I have 25 Maps that contain the 4 replays for the medal times. IN solo mode the times are shown correctly but the replays won't race.

The people at Openplanet said that when MP4 doesn't recognize the replays the Scripts of Openplanet won't either.

Is there a way to extract the replays from a map so that the replays can be used for MP4 again.

[Qlex]

Hi,

Maps do contain the medal times, but not the medal replays themselves. Normally, those replays are already there at MyMapName.Replay.Gbx and are MP4 compatible.

[BestNoob]

Hmm whatever i try i do not get it to work. I hope that you can help me.
It definily doesnt work with MP4