Argon Manual
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Keyboard Keys:
Directions: You can use the following keyboard keys as directional keys: N,E,S,W,U,D, -- 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9 P - Pen Mode - As you move around the map in the directions above, Pen Mode will leave a trail of rooms. By default, Pen Mode is "down" when you load a map. L - Line Mode -Line Mode will not create new rooms, but it will create paths around the map. H - Shove Mode - Shove Mode works similar to Pen Mode - it will draw rooms as you move around - it will not, however, enter a room unless an exit is pointing towards it. If it encounters a room that it cannot enter, it will create a new row/column to grow the map to accomodate your desired room. I - Exit Mode - When in Exit Mode, your selected room will not move when you type a direction - rather, the exits in those directions will turn on and off. R - Toggle room - toggle on/off rooms, but leave paths alone. Z - Delete Delete a room and it's neighbor's exits X, C, V - Cut, Copy, Paste , (comma) & . (period) - rotate clockwise/counter clockwise G - Grid border toggle |
Argon's main purpose is to give you enough tools to draw maps for game areas.
When you begin to edit a new map, it will be virtually empty.
The first thing you might want to do is rename your map. To do this, just click 'edit map name' and the text turns into an editable field. Change the text, and then click somewhere else to finish the change.
Here's what your new map will look like:
To begin mapping, use your keyboard keys N (north), E (east), S (south), W (west), U (up) and D (down) to move around the map. As you move, Argon will create rooms.
The first mode you'll be in is "Pen Mode:down". If you wish to move about the map without creating rooms, hit "p" to lift your pen - the cursor color will change.
If you need to remove a room, highlight it (you can click directly to it with your mouse) and hit the delete button in the toolbar (or your Z key on your keyboard).
See how this took away connecting exits too?
When you begin to edit a new map, it will be virtually empty.
The first thing you might want to do is rename your map. To do this, just click 'edit map name' and the text turns into an editable field. Change the text, and then click somewhere else to finish the change.
Here's what your new map will look like:
To begin mapping, use your keyboard keys N (north), E (east), S (south), W (west), U (up) and D (down) to move around the map. As you move, Argon will create rooms.
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Here's what it would look like if you typed S, E, S, W, W |
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The first mode you'll be in is "Pen Mode:down". If you wish to move about the map without creating rooms, hit "p" to lift your pen - the cursor color will change.
If you need to remove a room, highlight it (you can click directly to it with your mouse) and hit the delete button in the toolbar (or your Z key on your keyboard).
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See how this took away connecting exits too?
Sometimes you'll be in a situation where you need to move in a direction which would put you in a room already created. If that's OK, "Pen Mode:down" will enter the room and create a new exit for you.
Often, however, those two rooms are not really connected in the game world... when this happens, you'll need to insert new column or row to make room. This is where "Shove Mode" comes in handy. Shove Mode will not enter a neighboring room unless it has an exit pointing towards your current location.
To turn Shove Mode on, press 'H' on your keyboard.
See how it added a column to push the other room out of the way? If we weren't in Shove Mode, Argon would have gone back into the room marked S.
Try out "Line Mode" (hit the "L" key) to move around the map without creating rooms - useful for connecting two rooms which are connected, but can't be near each other on the map.
Often, however, those two rooms are not really connected in the game world... when this happens, you'll need to insert new column or row to make room. This is where "Shove Mode" comes in handy. Shove Mode will not enter a neighboring room unless it has an exit pointing towards your current location.
To turn Shove Mode on, press 'H' on your keyboard.
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So let's do N,E,S,W with Shove Mode on (starting at the square marked S): |
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See how it added a column to push the other room out of the way? If we weren't in Shove Mode, Argon would have gone back into the room marked S.
Try out "Line Mode" (hit the "L" key) to move around the map without creating rooms - useful for connecting two rooms which are connected, but can't be near each other on the map.
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So let's do N,E,S,W with Line Mode on (again, starting at the spot marked S): |
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Now let's look at up and down exits - they follow the same rules. I'm just going to type up twice so you can see lines and arrows which identify up/down exits: |
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To make your maps more interesting and more accurate, you'll need to add door types and path/exit types. You can find various doors and paths in dropdown menus in the toolbar:
What if you encounter a one way exit?
Let's add an arrow (from the Path Dropdown) to a room to indicate that you can go east, but cannot return west:
And doors...
Let's create a room with a door (Door Dropdown) that you can open/close to the west... and then another locked door to the east:
You're the map maker, and maybe you like open/closed circles instead of lines? These could also mark doorways:
The next thing your map will need is some color.
At the least, you should color rooms with aggressive mobs, so you can know at a glance that a baddie lives there.
From the color drop down menu (or the color palette window), let's choose red (I use red to indicate danger):
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What if you encounter a one way exit?
Let's add an arrow (from the Path Dropdown) to a room to indicate that you can go east, but cannot return west:
And doors...
Let's create a room with a door (Door Dropdown) that you can open/close to the west... and then another locked door to the east:
You're the map maker, and maybe you like open/closed circles instead of lines? These could also mark doorways:
The next thing your map will need is some color.
At the least, you should color rooms with aggressive mobs, so you can know at a glance that a baddie lives there.
From the color drop down menu (or the color palette window), let's choose red (I use red to indicate danger):
You can write a label on the room (up to 3 letters) to help you identify important room information.
To use it, just select a room and type in the label box found in the Text Window (find the Text Window icon in the Window section to the left to read more).
Obviously useful uses for labels are for marking bad things like death traps, or good things like inns:
... or two rooms that are related in some way:
One last thing before you go make maps.... room notes! There's plenty of stuff in one room, and you'll need a good way to see the details. You can use it to keep track of objects in a room, what keywords you'll need, or what loot a monster will drop.
There's a toolbar button for opening (and closing) the room info window:
Use the room info window to view/edit room notes, which can be unique for each room:
For more information about the room info window or other tools, click their icons to the left.
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Label: | |
To use it, just select a room and type in the label box found in the Text Window (find the Text Window icon in the Window section to the left to read more).
Obviously useful uses for labels are for marking bad things like death traps, or good things like inns:
... or two rooms that are related in some way:
One last thing before you go make maps.... room notes! There's plenty of stuff in one room, and you'll need a good way to see the details. You can use it to keep track of objects in a room, what keywords you'll need, or what loot a monster will drop.
There's a toolbar button for opening (and closing) the room info window:
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Use the room info window to view/edit room notes, which can be unique for each room:
For more information about the room info window or other tools, click their icons to the left.
Pushing Rooms:
Use this tool to push your current selection in a direction. It will swap positions with whatever room is in its way.
This is very convenient way to move a room down a line. Let's suppose we have a room somewhere on a long path:
Let's select the room (click on it) and hit the left push arrow 3 times::
And the room has moved down the path.
Multiple Selections:
There are two quick ways to make a multiple room selection. The easiest is with your shift key. Click a room, and then hold shift while clicking another room. Your selection area will grow.
Alternately, you can option(alt)-click (Mac or Windows) or Control-click (Windows) on any room to add it to your selection.
The speedwalk window will also highlight a path. Use either "get path" or "run path", and Argon's speedwalker will highlight all rooms in between.
Many Argon features have behaviors for multiple selections. You can push rooms (like above), color rooms, set path types, cut/copy/paste, or remove rooms easily with multiple selections.
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Use this tool to push your current selection in a direction. It will swap positions with whatever room is in its way.
This is very convenient way to move a room down a line. Let's suppose we have a room somewhere on a long path:
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Let's select the room (click on it) and hit the left push arrow 3 times::
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And the room has moved down the path.
Multiple Selections:
There are two quick ways to make a multiple room selection. The easiest is with your shift key. Click a room, and then hold shift while clicking another room. Your selection area will grow.
Alternately, you can option(alt)-click (Mac or Windows) or Control-click (Windows) on any room to add it to your selection.
The speedwalk window will also highlight a path. Use either "get path" or "run path", and Argon's speedwalker will highlight all rooms in between.
Many Argon features have behaviors for multiple selections. You can push rooms (like above), color rooms, set path types, cut/copy/paste, or remove rooms easily with multiple selections.
Meta info (will write when feature complete)
Links (will write in feature complete)
Speedwalks:
Use the speedwalks window for drawing or for calculating speedwalk paths - follow instructions when you open the window with this button:
The format Argon uses is common. 2e = "two east"... 2e3ws6ne = "two east, three west, south, six north, east". When inputting, argon will ignore semicolors or periods.
Using the 'i' key:
The 'i' key on your keyboard will toggle on and off "Exit Mode". Exit Mode will change how your N,E,S and W keyboard keys behave. Instead of actually moving in the desired direction, you will simply toggle on/off exits in the direction you chose.
Using the 'r' key:
The 'r' key will toggle on/off a room, but leave all paths running through the room alone.
Tip: For just a few rooms, the 'r' key is often faster to hit than going into Line Mode ('l' key), moving the cursor, and then switching back ('l' key again).
Links (will write in feature complete)
Speedwalks:
Use the speedwalks window for drawing or for calculating speedwalk paths - follow instructions when you open the window with this button:
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The format Argon uses is common. 2e = "two east"... 2e3ws6ne = "two east, three west, south, six north, east". When inputting, argon will ignore semicolors or periods.
Using the 'i' key:
The 'i' key on your keyboard will toggle on and off "Exit Mode". Exit Mode will change how your N,E,S and W keyboard keys behave. Instead of actually moving in the desired direction, you will simply toggle on/off exits in the direction you chose.
Using the 'r' key:
The 'r' key will toggle on/off a room, but leave all paths running through the room alone.
Tip: For just a few rooms, the 'r' key is often faster to hit than going into Line Mode ('l' key), moving the cursor, and then switching back ('l' key again).
Save Map
Save the map to the server.
If you're not logged in (say, your session expires) it will refresh the Argon Map Tome navigation bar to the left. If this happens, the map is not yet saved. To save, log in via the Map Tome navigation and click the save button again.
On success, it will write "saving..." and then "Map saved successfully" in the Argon status window. It will also update the map list in your "Map Tome" navigation bar.
Save the map to the server.
If you're not logged in (say, your session expires) it will refresh the Argon Map Tome navigation bar to the left. If this happens, the map is not yet saved. To save, log in via the Map Tome navigation and click the save button again.
On success, it will write "saving..." and then "Map saved successfully" in the Argon status window. It will also update the map list in your "Map Tome" navigation bar.
Save as image (png)
This button will draw the currently displayed map as a png (png is a type of graphic file), suitable for other uses.
This button will draw the currently displayed map as a png (png is a type of graphic file), suitable for other uses.
Create New Map
Starts a new map.
For help on starting your first map, read First map - part 1.
Starts a new map.
For help on starting your first map, read First map - part 1.
Delete Map
Permanantly deletes a map from the server - it will display an "are you sure?" dialog at which point you may choose to cancel.
Permanantly deletes a map from the server - it will display an "are you sure?" dialog at which point you may choose to cancel.
Print Map
Print the map to your printer - the floating windows dissapear, and only your map remains.
Print the map to your printer - the floating windows dissapear, and only your map remains.
Help
You can open/close the help window with this button:
It contains the help info you're currently reading.
You can open/close the help window with this button:
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It contains the help info you're currently reading.
Room Info Window
You can open/close the room info window with this button:
In the window that appears, clicking the text (default is [edit]) will replace the text with a text area, suitable for writing whatever you like about the room you're in:
before click...
after click...
To save, click anywhere else in your map. A room with a note will take on a dropshadow:
To read the note again later, just click the room. The room info window will always show the note of your currently selected room.
To erase a note, simply edit the note again by clicking the room, and then the note text. Then delete the text in the text area and click somewhere else - the note and dropshadow will dissapear.
You can open/close the room info window with this button:
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In the window that appears, clicking the text (default is [edit]) will replace the text with a text area, suitable for writing whatever you like about the room you're in:
before click...
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Click the text in the room info window to edit it. |
after click...
To save, click anywhere else in your map. A room with a note will take on a dropshadow:
To read the note again later, just click the room. The room info window will always show the note of your currently selected room.
To erase a note, simply edit the note again by clicking the room, and then the note text. Then delete the text in the text area and click somewhere else - the note and dropshadow will dissapear.
Meta info window
You can open/close the meta info window with this button:
This window will let you edit the "meta information" of the map.
You can open/close the meta info window with this button:
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This window will let you edit the "meta information" of the map.
Color Palette Window
You can open/close the color palette window with this button:
For more customization with colors around your map, the Color Palette window offers you the ability to change the color of a room, its border, its background color, or the text note:
To use the Color Palette window:
Select a room in your map (perhaps by clicking on it), select from the four buttons room/border/bg/text, and then click a color.
Note 1:
setting the background won't be immediately obvious until you move your cursor to a new location.
Note 2:
Printing background colors will require your browser's "print backgrounds" feature to be on.
Note 3:
Color changing works when more than one room is selected - read "intermediate tips" for information on how to select multiple rooms.
Note 4:
The button selected in this window (room/border/bg/text) will also change the behavior of the Quick Colors menu.
You can open/close the color palette window with this button:
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For more customization with colors around your map, the Color Palette window offers you the ability to change the color of a room, its border, its background color, or the text note:
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To use the Color Palette window:
Select a room in your map (perhaps by clicking on it), select from the four buttons room/border/bg/text, and then click a color.
Note 1:
setting the background won't be immediately obvious until you move your cursor to a new location.
Note 2:
Printing background colors will require your browser's "print backgrounds" feature to be on.
Note 3:
Color changing works when more than one room is selected - read "intermediate tips" for information on how to select multiple rooms.
Note 4:
The button selected in this window (room/border/bg/text) will also change the behavior of the Quick Colors menu.
Layers Window
You can open/close the layers window with this button:
You can open/close the layers window with this button:
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Text window
You can open/close the text window with this button:
This window will let you drop text anywhere on the map.
The label field will let you type up to six characters that Argon will render in various ways. In the following examples, note the size of the font.
Typing a label in a square without a room:
Typing a label in a square with a room:
Alternately, from this window, you can add raw text to the map. Select a blank spot on your mpa with enough room to the right and type in the text area. Click "add text" when you're done.
You can open/close the text window with this button:
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This window will let you drop text anywhere on the map.
The label field will let you type up to six characters that Argon will render in various ways. In the following examples, note the size of the font.
Typing a label in a square without a room:
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Typing a label in a square with a room:
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Alternately, from this window, you can add raw text to the map. Select a blank spot on your mpa with enough room to the right and type in the text area. Click "add text" when you're done.
Speedwalk window
You can open/close the speedwalk window with the speedwalk button:
You'll be presented with the following text area and buttons:
Run Path
To let Argon draw (or merely traverse, if it's already drawn) a path for you:
Step 1: Make sure you're in the Pen Mode you wish to be in (Pen Mode up/down, Line Mode on/off, Shove Mode on/off). If you want to draw, Pen Mode "down" is necessary and Shove Mode "on" probably makes the most sense. If you only want to traverse, Pen Mode up is best.
Step 2: Enter your speedwalk into the text area (example above)
Step 3: Click Run Path
Get Path
And what about the reverse? Argon can also determine speedwalk paths for you. Click a room, click "get path", click the room to calculate the path to, and it will calculate a path. When it's done calculating it will write it in the text area.
The format Argon uses for speedwalks is common. 2e = "two east"... 2e3ws6ne = "two east, three west, south, six north, east". When inputting, Argon will ignore semicolors or periods. When outputting, Argon will seperate each direction by semicolon - necessary for diagonal exits (ne,nw,se,sw).
Tip: This is a convenient way of creating a multiple selection in order to change room colors or path type.
You can open/close the speedwalk window with the speedwalk button:
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You'll be presented with the following text area and buttons:
Run Path
To let Argon draw (or merely traverse, if it's already drawn) a path for you:
Step 1: Make sure you're in the Pen Mode you wish to be in (Pen Mode up/down, Line Mode on/off, Shove Mode on/off). If you want to draw, Pen Mode "down" is necessary and Shove Mode "on" probably makes the most sense. If you only want to traverse, Pen Mode up is best.
Step 2: Enter your speedwalk into the text area (example above)
Step 3: Click Run Path
Get Path
And what about the reverse? Argon can also determine speedwalk paths for you. Click a room, click "get path", click the room to calculate the path to, and it will calculate a path. When it's done calculating it will write it in the text area.
The format Argon uses for speedwalks is common. 2e = "two east"... 2e3ws6ne = "two east, three west, south, six north, east". When inputting, Argon will ignore semicolors or periods. When outputting, Argon will seperate each direction by semicolon - necessary for diagonal exits (ne,nw,se,sw).
Tip: This is a convenient way of creating a multiple selection in order to change room colors or path type.
Random Room Generator
You can open/close the random room generator window with this button:
Life: How many rooms each turtle will create before it dies.
Direction Trend: The square icon is actually 4 buttons. Click the top/left/right/bottom side to tell the turtle(s) which direction to prefer.
Trend Odds: The random chance for it to continue going towards the trend direction.
Turn Left Odds: The random chance for it to turn left.
Turn Right Odds: The random chance for it to turn right.
Go Straight Odds: The random chance for it to go straight.
Branch Odds: The random chance to create a new turtle - this is calculated each room.
You can open/close the random room generator window with this button:
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This window will create rooms randomly, useful for entertainment and generating random maps for games. Clicking 'Generate' will move your current room about, as if it were a turtle. |
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Life: How many rooms each turtle will create before it dies.
Direction Trend: The square icon is actually 4 buttons. Click the top/left/right/bottom side to tell the turtle(s) which direction to prefer.
Trend Odds: The random chance for it to continue going towards the trend direction.
Turn Left Odds: The random chance for it to turn left.
Turn Right Odds: The random chance for it to turn right.
Go Straight Odds: The random chance for it to go straight.
Branch Odds: The random chance to create a new turtle - this is calculated each room.
Delete Room
Keyboard shortcut: Z key
This button will delete any room currently selected.
This button works with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
Keyboard shortcut: Z key
This button will delete any room currently selected.
This button works with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
Toggle Map Grid/Borders
Keyboard shortcut: G key
This button will toggle the map grid (borders) on and off. This is useful while map building to line up rooms with each other, or to determine if you have empty rows/columns that you can remove.
Keyboard shortcut: G key
This button will toggle the map grid (borders) on and off. This is useful while map building to line up rooms with each other, or to determine if you have empty rows/columns that you can remove.
Delete Row
This button will delete a row from your map.
Rows run from left to right.
Regular use of this button will not remove exits on touching rooms. If, however, the shift key is held down while this button is pressed, it will also delete any north and south exits on either side of the row.
If more than one row is selected, each row in the selection will be deleted.
This button works with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
This button will delete a row from your map.
Rows run from left to right.
Regular use of this button will not remove exits on touching rooms. If, however, the shift key is held down while this button is pressed, it will also delete any north and south exits on either side of the row.
If more than one row is selected, each row in the selection will be deleted.
This button works with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
Delete Column
This button will delete a column from your map.
Columns run from top to bottom.
Regular use of this button will not remove exits on touching rooms. If, however, the shift key is held down while this button is pressed, it will also delete any east and west exits on either side of the column.
If more than one column is selected, each column in the selection will be deleted.
This button works with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
This button will delete a column from your map.
Columns run from top to bottom.
Regular use of this button will not remove exits on touching rooms. If, however, the shift key is held down while this button is pressed, it will also delete any east and west exits on either side of the column.
If more than one column is selected, each column in the selection will be deleted.
This button works with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
Add Row
This button will add a row to your map. It will add the row below your current selection).
Rows run from left to right.
Adding a row will extend exits that touch it from the north or south.
Tip: To add above your selection instead, shift-click the button.
This button will add a row to your map. It will add the row below your current selection).
Rows run from left to right.
Adding a row will extend exits that touch it from the north or south.
Tip: To add above your selection instead, shift-click the button.
Add Column
This button will add a column to your map. It will add the column to the right of your current selection.
Columns run from top to bottom.
Adding a column will extend exits that touch it from the east or west.
Tip: To add to the left of your selection instead, shift-click the button.
This button will add a column to your map. It will add the column to the right of your current selection.
Columns run from top to bottom.
Adding a column will extend exits that touch it from the east or west.
Tip: To add to the left of your selection instead, shift-click the button.
Cut room(s)
Keyboard shortcut: X key
This button will remove any room(s) currently selected, to be placed into your Argon clipboard.
This button works with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
Your Argon clipboard is account based - thus, you can cut/copy and paste rooms between your maps.
Keyboard shortcut: X key
This button will remove any room(s) currently selected, to be placed into your Argon clipboard.
This button works with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
Your Argon clipboard is account based - thus, you can cut/copy and paste rooms between your maps.
Copy room(s)
Keyboard shortcut: C key
This button will place currently selected rooms into your Argon clipboard.
This button works with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
Your Argon clipboard is account based - thus, you can cut/copy and paste rooms between your maps.
Keyboard shortcut: C key
This button will place currently selected rooms into your Argon clipboard.
This button works with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
Your Argon clipboard is account based - thus, you can cut/copy and paste rooms between your maps.
Paste room(s)
Keyboard shortcut: V key
This button will paste rooms from your Argon clipboard onto your map.
To paste, put your selection in the topmost/leftmost position to paste, and hit the 'paste' button. This will paste over any rooms that fall under the selection area. Argon will create new rows/columns as necessary.
This button works with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
Your Argon clipboard is account based - thus, you can cut/copy and paste rooms between your maps.
Keyboard shortcut: V key
This button will paste rooms from your Argon clipboard onto your map.
To paste, put your selection in the topmost/leftmost position to paste, and hit the 'paste' button. This will paste over any rooms that fall under the selection area. Argon will create new rows/columns as necessary.
This button works with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
Your Argon clipboard is account based - thus, you can cut/copy and paste rooms between your maps.
Push room(s)
These two icons represent four buttons each. To push a room in a direction simply select it, and push an arrow button on one of the above images. The room will swap places with whatever it encouters.
When used with multiple selections, the squares being displaced will appear on the other side of the selection.
Rotate rooms left and right. The keyboard equivalents are the comma and period keys.
When one room is selected, the exits will rotate in the desired direction. When more than one room is selected, all rooms will rotate.
Flip rooms.
When one room is selected, the exits will flip over the center axis of the room. When more than one room is selected, all rooms will flip over the selection's axis.
These buttons work with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
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When used with multiple selections, the squares being displaced will appear on the other side of the selection.
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Rotate rooms left and right. The keyboard equivalents are the comma and period keys.
When one room is selected, the exits will rotate in the desired direction. When more than one room is selected, all rooms will rotate.
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Flip rooms.
When one room is selected, the exits will flip over the center axis of the room. When more than one room is selected, all rooms will flip over the selection's axis.
These buttons work with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
Toggle room(s)
This menu will let you toggle on/off rooms of different shapes, or set it to no room at all (but leaves the paths). You may want to use a diamond shape, for example, to denote the beginning and end of a maze. Or, you may wish to use them to indicate "spinny" rooms with random exits. As with many of Argons features, it's up to you to determine what they mean to you, the mapmaker.
Example of room toggle (with paths in tact):
Consider the following set of rooms:
If we put our selection in the middle of the bottom row, and toggle that room off, it becomes:
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Example of room toggle (with paths in tact):
Consider the following set of rooms:
If we put our selection in the middle of the bottom row, and toggle that room off, it becomes:
Quick Color Dropdown
The menu above will let you set colors quickly. These colors are the colors I use commonly in my maps. To clear a color of your selection quickly, click the menu button (white room) itself.
For more colors, click the Color Palette Window button in the Floating Window section of the toolbar:
Note: The room/border/background/text button selected in the color palette window will change the behavior of the color buttons in the color palette as well as the Quick Color Dropdown above.
For more colors, click the Color Palette Window button in the Floating Window section of the toolbar:
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Note: The room/border/background/text button selected in the color palette window will change the behavior of the color buttons in the color palette as well as the Quick Color Dropdown above.
Exit/Path Dropdown
Each of the buttons in this dropdown menu turn on and off various path/exit type. The bottom two buttons are used for toggling up and down exits in a room (same as turning on Exit Mode and using the 'u' and 'd' keys on your keyboard).
These entries will turn on/off N,E,S,W and NE,NW,SE,SW, UD exits/paths in Regular, Hidden, and Secret styles. Each of those 6 entries work by clicking the exit type itself (so, really, there are 4 buttons on each entry).
To use, select a room, hover over the menu, pick a selection type and click on the exit in the direction you want in to appear in your target room.
These buttons work with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
If you have more than one room selected, the paths will change between rooms that are selected (but not paths pointing outside the selection area! This is a good thing...).
Each of the buttons in this dropdown menu turn on and off various path/exit type. The bottom two buttons are used for toggling up and down exits in a room (same as turning on Exit Mode and using the 'u' and 'd' keys on your keyboard).
These entries will turn on/off N,E,S,W and NE,NW,SE,SW, UD exits/paths in Regular, Hidden, and Secret styles. Each of those 6 entries work by clicking the exit type itself (so, really, there are 4 buttons on each entry).
To use, select a room, hover over the menu, pick a selection type and click on the exit in the direction you want in to appear in your target room.
These buttons work with multiple selections. Read more about how to make multiple selections in the Intermediate Tips section.
If you have more than one room selected, the paths will change between rooms that are selected (but not paths pointing outside the selection area! This is a good thing...).
These will create jumps - usable when two paths must cross over each other and you want to make it clear that the paths themselves are not touching (which does not make sense anyway - but it's nice to be clear.)
Examples:
Examples:
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Door Dropdown
Each of the buttons in this dropdown menu turn on and off various door types.
Their intended uses are:
To use, select a room, hover over the menu, pick a selection type and click on the door type in the direction you want it to appear in your target room.
Arrows do have an effect on the speedwalker "Get Path" feature. Read more about the speedwalker by clicking the speedwalker icon to the left:
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Their intended uses are:
- Door (single line)
- Locked Door (double line)
- Door (Open circle, style 2)
- Locked Door (Closed circle, style 2)
- 1 way exit (arrow)
- Secret exit (I've never used this - a friend requested it denoted this way citing usefulness for tabletop gamers - I choose a dotted path style from the Exit/Path Dropdown instead).
To use, select a room, hover over the menu, pick a selection type and click on the door type in the direction you want it to appear in your target room.
Arrows do have an effect on the speedwalker "Get Path" feature. Read more about the speedwalker by clicking the speedwalker icon to the left:
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Icon Dropdown
This menu lets you add artwork to your maps. Simply select a position (usually an empty square...) and select an icon.
Tip #1: Place appropriate icons next to rooms where you can find the object/monster.
Tip #2: Icons can take on room info notes - click [edit] to write about the object/monster.
To remove an icon, click either the menu itself (the book icon that is the Dropdown menu), or on the same icon that is in the room (it will toggle it off). So, if you have a sword icon in a square, you can remove it by either clicking the sword icon from the dropdown, or the book icon menu itself.
Tip #1: Place appropriate icons next to rooms where you can find the object/monster.
Tip #2: Icons can take on room info notes - click [edit] to write about the object/monster.
To remove an icon, click either the menu itself (the book icon that is the Dropdown menu), or on the same icon that is in the room (it will toggle it off). So, if you have a sword icon in a square, you can remove it by either clicking the sword icon from the dropdown, or the book icon menu itself.
Room Label
Link Window
You can open/close the link window with this button:
Map ID: The Map ID of the map you're liking to (leave blank if it's the same map). And then enter one of the following... :
Position X/Y: The X/Y coordinates of the room you're liking to. This information shows in the Argon status window as you move your mouse over the map. Or ... :
Label: A room label - if you've marked a room elsewhere as "A1", you can enter that here to link to it. Set a room's label with the text window.
A room with a link to another room will take on a link icon:
If you double click a linked room, Argon will change its selection to the linked-to room. If that selection is in another map, argon will reload the map page to get to your linked-to room.
You can open/close the link window with this button:
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Map ID: The Map ID of the map you're liking to (leave blank if it's the same map). And then enter one of the following... :
Position X/Y: The X/Y coordinates of the room you're liking to. This information shows in the Argon status window as you move your mouse over the map. Or ... :
Label: A room label - if you've marked a room elsewhere as "A1", you can enter that here to link to it. Set a room's label with the text window.
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A room with a link to another room will take on a link icon:
If you double click a linked room, Argon will change its selection to the linked-to room. If that selection is in another map, argon will reload the map page to get to your linked-to room.
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