MSX/Coleco Sprite & Tile Set Editor

[Tony Cruise]

Version 1.0.7923.34004 Uploaded.

Main change is to re-published with a new app signing certificate as the other one had expired.   

This provider, Sectigo, is more trusted so less people should have issues installing on Windows 10 and pass most Malware and Anti-virus scanners as trusted.

More actual functionality updates soon.

[Captain Cozmos]

I have discovered that the game I am working on so far has 50 sprite patterns with more to come.

 

Working with all of that data is not so hard but when you go to use the pattern you have to figure out where it in the table.
Even if you assign it a label with EQU you still have to know where it starts in the table.  is it pattern number 27 or 32

 

Pattern 0, 4, 8, 12....

Or double sprites 0,8,16,24......

 

Is it possible that in the auto-generating comments you can put a count next to it.

As in

pattern01 ;........00

pattern02 ;........04

pattern03 ;........08

pattern04 ;........12

ect.....

 

With the tiles portion of your data listing you have them displayed with a number in the comments for quick reference.

; 000

; 001

; 002

and so on

 

In the early stages it was not a big deal but when you get up there in numbers it becomes a real chore especially when rearranging everything.

 

Thank you for your time

CC

[Tony Cruise]

On 10/21/2022 at 1:37 AM, Captain Cozmos said:

I have discovered that the game I am working on so far has 50 sprite patterns with more to come.

 

Working with all of that data is not so hard but when you go to use the pattern you have to figure out where it in the table.
Even if you assign it a label with EQU you still have to know where it starts in the table.  is it pattern number 27 or 32

 

Pattern 0, 4, 8, 12....

Or double sprites 0,8,16,24......

 

Is it possible that in the auto-generating comments you can put a count next to it.

As in

pattern01 ;........00

pattern02 ;........04

pattern03 ;........08

pattern04 ;........12

ect.....

 

With the tiles portion of your data listing you have them displayed with a number in the comments for quick reference.

; 000

; 001

; 002

and so on

 

In the early stages it was not a big deal but when you get up there in numbers it becomes a real chore especially when rearranging everything.

 

Thank you for your time

CC

A good idea, I will see if I can add it to the next version.  Also going to add sprite sets at the same time.

[Captain Cozmos]

Something else that, at least I think, that would be consistency.

 

You can load in a whole screen from the clip board.

You can load in a slew of tiles and tile colors through the clip board.

but, the sprites you have to do one at a time.

 

It would be a convenience to be able to copy a set of sprite data then past them as you would the tile and screen editors.

 

I have also found that using the copy and paste you have to click on an older sprite then back again in order to update the data.

[Tony Cruise]

On 10/27/2022 at 11:27 PM, Captain Cozmos said:

Something else that, at least I think, that would be consistency.

 

You can load in a whole screen from the clip board.

You can load in a slew of tiles and tile colors through the clip board.

but, the sprites you have to do one at a time.

 

It would be a convenience to be able to copy a set of sprite data then past them as you would the tile and screen editors.

 

I have also found that using the copy and paste you have to click on an older sprite then back again in order to update the data.

Also another good idea, I will see if I can add that one in shortly.  Already did the other change, but my app signing certifcate has expired again, just going through the process of getting a new one before I can release the new version.

[Captain Cozmos]

I doubt if everything I come up with is a great idea.
I list things that would help me get work done.
If I need to fix a car I grab a screwdriver and socket wrench.

When I am working on graphics for the Colecovision your tile editor is the first tool I grab.
The problem is that graphics take up 90% of the time when I am programing.  Your tile editor does a great job but sometimes there are parts of it that slow me down because of little quirks here and there.

One of them being it is not meant for a modern working environment.  Multiple Monitors, High resolution, non scalable, popout windows fly to the farthest it can away from your main window.
The latest issue has been that if you rearrange your tiles in the character sets that it does not rearrange that same tile in your screen layout.  Twice the work by forcing you to redraw your screen every time you rearrange your tiles.

 

The non scalability of the main program is another huge issue when working in 4k or even 1080p  I think it was OK when I tried it at 1024x720.

But, no matter where the future lays with your editor this is my go to tool and will be always grateful for it.
Now if someone wants to release a modern sound and music editor for the Colecovision that works in windows without installing JAVA I am all for that too.

[Captain Cozmos]

Here is an idea, and you should know by now I love to run my mouth on ideas.

In the screen layout.  There is the option to move the patterns by single pixels instead of 8 with your defined arrow keys.  Better yet in the full screen editor.

 

I understand that may be a bear to tackle but my point of view as working on these types of graphics (limitations) I am relying how it would help me to tackle certain issues.

 

My goal is to lay down a set of patterns for example a 10x10 grid with whatever picture I created.

Then be able to shift that picture left, right, up, or down then save that new set of patterns and use them like a scroll effect.

 

You already do this with your character editor by having 4x4 patterns so what I am suggesting is that you make that same tool but for a much larger set of tiles 10x10,  20x20 or whatever size you need within the boundaries of the screen.

 

If I knew windows programing as much as I do Coleco and the Z80 then I would try and write my own graphics editor but being as it would take me forever and away from what I do best, I rely on others for the tools I use.