Level Editor Help (SDL)

[xx6heartless6xx]

I learned how to make a level editor from lazyfoo by reading off numbers from a map file and then applying the desired tiles. I am in the process of making a level editor for my game but I dont know how to have it work with my game. I have my level editor and game application in separate programs and separate files.

After I save a level from my level it saves my map file in the level editor folders and I need to manually transfer it to my game application folders each time I make a change to the level. Is there any easier way where I do not need to manually transfer the map file to my game application folder after I change it?

I thought of merging them into one program and then having an option to run the level editor or game but that seems like too much of a hassle. I would rather have two separate programs. Need help, thanks.

[bnpph]

3 options:
1. hardcode the directory the correct directory into your game.
2. make a config file that contains the correct directory and load it when your level editor starts. This is probably the best option.
3. use a "save-as" dialog box.

[Milch]

You could simply give the program arguments when you start it:
e.g 'game.exe -L[PathToLevel]'
The game would then check it and automatically load the level.

[xx6heartless6xx]

Thanks, I think I'll tell the level editor to access the map file in the game application folder. When I load files, I usually have them all in the same folder so I would just need to do a simple command to load the map file like this:

Code: Select all

std::ifstream map( "Tile.map" );

How can I load a file when the file is located outside of the same folder as the game folder? Can I just put ifstream map( "C:\Tile.map")?

[BugInTheSYS]

"C:\Tile.map" will give you an error. Since \ indicates a character constant such as \n or \t, you would have to use \\ if you mean the "real backslash".
And you can provide absolute paths (as in "c:\\blah.txt") or relative paths ("blah.txt") with the slight difference that the relative path will be understood as appended to the path of the directory your executable is located in.

[Aleios]

Or you could use the good old forward slash / instead of using C:\\blah.txt you would simply do C:/blah.txt

And i would be saving the file either next to the executable for the game, or in a sub directory of the executable's location.
What you need to do is save the file and either do a manual copy, or use one of the options provided by bnpph.