NOTE: This page copied from Builders Paradise

By Lasse Jensen

Last updated 25 February 2002

Installation of Panzer General II Maps
The Panzer general II maps consist of two types of files. The *.SHP files, which is the image, and one *.MAP files, which holds all the data for a hex on the image. For it to work you will need both types of files. Here is a step by step to make it work.

First time installation

For it to work in the future, you will first need to do these three steps. This is a one time thing only.

  1. Make a directory named "MAP" in your main Panzer General II directory. This is the directory were there is also sub-directories named "SCENARIO", "SFX", "USERSCEN" and "SAVE".
  2. Copy ALL *.SHP files from the "MAP" directory on the CD-ROM to this new MAP directory. It about 60Mb.
  3. De-select "read-only" on ALL *.SHP files in the new MAP directory. This is the files you just copied from the CD-ROM. It WILL NOT work if you don't do this! You do this by selecting ALL *.SHP files, right click on them, choose "properties", and remove the cross in "read-only".

You can now play without the Panzer General II CD-ROM, cause your Maps are now on the hard drive. If you want to hear music (not sound) and see the smack videos you will still need the CD-ROM. 
Do a test to see if it works, before you do anything else. Start a scenario in the game and see if the map is displayed.

Installing new Maps
  1. Download a Map. These comes normally packed in a Zip file.
  2. Extract the *.SHP files in the Zip file into the "MAP" directory , in your main Panzer General II directory. This is the "MAP" directory you made in the First time installation.
  3. Put the *.MAP file that followers the new *.SHP files, in the "SCENARIO" directory. This is were all the other original *.MAP files are. As said on this site the MAP files are NOT packed in the same Zip as the SHP's. Other site may have them together.

You have now installed a map and it should be selectable in the map list in the scenario builder.

FAQ

Q: All the original maps is there, but this new map is not available in the game/editor ?
A: Remember to put the *.MAP file in the "SCENARIO" directory.

Q: The map is selectable in the game/editor, but when I try to use the new map, the screen is black ?
A: Copy all *.SHP files from the new map, to the "MAP" directory. Remember to de-select "read-only" on all the *.SHP files. Usually you don't have to do this on usermade maps.

Q: All maps is selectable, but all becomes black screen, even the original, when I try to use them ? 
A: ALL *.SHP files will now be taken from the new "MAP" directory, and for it to work, you HAVE to DE-SELECT "read-only" on ALL *.SHP files, including the original ones.

Q: I HAVE de-selected "read-only" on ALL *.SHP file in the new MAP directory in my PGII directory - but it still don't work ?
A: You have to copy ALL the original *.SHP from the CD-ROM to the new MAP directory - its about 60MB. It will NOT work, regardless of you having the CD in the drive or not. Ones you make a new MAP directory, the ONLY directory from which the game will read *.SHP file, it this new MAP directory. It will NO MORE read the MAP directory on the CD-ROM.

Q: All "videos"(SMK) and "intro sound"(MUS) are gone ?
A: You will still need your PGII CD if you want too hear MUS and see SMK files, but all maps (*.SHP files) will now be taken from the new "MAP" directory in your PGII directory.

Q: The PGII editor keeps telling me, that "no map selected", even though I have selected one ?
A: Again - all *.SHP files have to be in the "MAP" directory. INCLUDING the ORIGINAL! And again, remember to DE-SELECT "read-only" on all the *.SHP files.

If you have follower the instruction to the step, IT WILL WORK!
IT WORKS IN ALL VERSION AND ALL COUNTRY VERSIONS. That means UK, US, German, French - v1.00, v1.01 and v1.02.


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