Gamers4Life Website = http://gamers4life.biz/login.php = If You Need Help After The Fact Of Reading This Tutorial Your Welcome To Register To My Site To Ask For Help At That Point.

Setting Up Cod4 Custom Maps

so if you downloaded a map named newmap for instance

newmap.ff
newmap.iwd
newmap_load.ff

should all be in a folder named newmap inside your usermaps folder on both your server and redirect

Most map .iwds need to be cleaned directions below on how to clean them

In your redirect ftp you would make a folder named cod4 then inside that make a usermaps folder and a mod folder on your redirect just like it is in your game itself and in your server.These all need to be exactly the same to work properly

So you would look in cod4 folder on your redirect and you would have two folders mods and usermaps just like in your server

In mods would be your mod folders you use for your servers we will get in to that next

in usermaps all map files all 3 after youve cleaned them would be in a folder named the name of the map with the cleaned .iwds read below to learn how to clean them.

Directory Structures

Small Visual Tutorial Of Directories = Click Link To View http://gamers4life.biz/sigs/lojiks tut.swf

Maps In Redirect
.ff = http://yoursite.com/cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.ff
.iwd = http://yoursite.com/cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.iwd
.load = http://yoursite.com/cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap_load.ff

Maps In Server
.ff = cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.ff
.iwd = cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.iwd
.load = cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap_load.ff

Maps In Client
.ff = cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.ff
.iwd = cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.iwd
.load = cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap_load.ff

Mods In Redirect
.iwd = http://yoursite.com/cod4/mods/mymod/mod.iwd
.ff = http://yoursite.com/cod4/mods/mymod/mod.ff

Mods In Server
.iwd = cod4/mods/mymod/mod.iwd
.ff = cod4/mods/mymod/mod.ff

Mods In Client
.iwd = cod4/mods/mymod/mod.iwd
.ff = cod4/mods/mymod/mod.ff

Installing Mods

For mods say you are using Awe4 for instance it doesnt matter which mod most all mods would be installed the same way as awe4

Your server should have a cod4 folder and inside that a mods folder and inside that a folder named the name of your mod or ect.
In your mod folder and inside the folder you named for your new mod would include the mod.iwd and the mod.ff thats included with the mod and all server configs needed to start your mod.

So in your mod folder would be a mod.ff ,mod.iwd, .cfgs related to the mod you use

NO map .iwds go in your mod folder EVER



No map iwds in your mod folders only the mod.iwd itself from the mod you are using and the mod.ff along with the cfgs needed to start your server.Of course a correct server commandline is needed to execute the proper mod folder and the proper server start up cfg.

Thats either up to you to set your command line correctly or your server rental company to do it for you but either way its very important to be correct.

The redirect ftp for your mod download only needs to include the mod.ff and the mod.iwd for clients to download they do not need all the cfgs your server needs to start I hope everyone understands that.This should be exactly the same file structure as your server has cod4/mods/yourmod or it wont work correctly.


Redirect Settings

Redirect in your mod settings should look like this below do not have dldisconnected set to 1 do not do that leave it at 0 like below or you will have serious issues

set sv_allowdownload "1"
set sv_wwwDownload "1"
set sv_wwwbaseURL "http://www.yoursite.com/cod4"
set sv_wwwdldisconnected "0"


Cleaning a Map .IWD File

Many maps have a dirty .iwd file as we will call it for this tutorial

You will need winrar the newest available version will be good link below for that program
http://www.rarlab.com/rar/wrar371.exe you can dl a trial version there and it will work for as long as you need it to

1.Install winrar
2.double click a dirty map .iwd file for instance
3.Browse the contents of the .iwd.
4.Delete any folder besides sounds and images folders
5.Most maps dont have a sounds folder
6.Browse the contents of the images folder and make sure that there is only .iwi files included in the images folder and no readmes or anything of the likes.
7.If there is a readme in the images folder or anywhere else in the .iwd it needs to be deleted.
8.Only a couple maps will have fx scripts located in them in folders those maps will not work the usermap way I think there is about 4 or 5 of these type of maps not many at all.(Sharqi Day ,Sharqi Night ,Village Day ,Village Night,)


Couple Good Tips To Know

1.Must have lowercase letters in your mods folder on redirect and in server
2.Must have clean .iwds to run the usermap way read above to learn how to clean them
3.Any maps located in your own usermap folder that only have 2 files or a dirty .iwd will cause you errors on server rotations,restarts ect.
If you are not sure what you have been downloading from servers (clean .iwds or not) then you should just delete all your maps to start fresh with no unexpected problems.Your maps included in your usermap folder should all have 3 files and the .iwds should be clean.This is how you stay error free.
4.Advantages to the usermap way and cleaned .iwd way = Can rotate,restart,ect ect with minimal errors.Can add + delete maps while server is running if your slick
Cannot do either of those easily if the map .iwds are located in your mod folders.Will not have to download multiple .iwds upon joining a server or a pack of .iwds.Makes it 10 times easier to change maps in your server to add and delete them.There is so many advantages its ridiculous it must be done the right way thats all there is to it.
5.A Couple issues that can still happen even when set up right = You can get a cl_areliableservercommandwascycledout error here and there,it is either due to mods as all mods do it reliably ive tested that or due to code in the game either way it needs fixing.
6.Another issue that can easily happen is timeouts - depending on where you are located and where the servers redirect server is located its the cause of the problem for sure.Someone one from uk joining a west coast server could easily timeout or on any long distance connections that are made.Of course it will matter what type of connection you may have,if the server is some home pc or a real dedicated server,all that good stuff.
7.Number 5 and 6 can also happen Ive noticed when a client is joining the server ,starts to download a map but the server has now rotated this will give the 2 problems above sometimes ,sometimes not ?


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I will continue to add and add information to this help post so anyone wanting to know how to set up a server the usermap way can and will be able to do it with this tutorial only or a little help from me also if they just ask here.

There is tons more information then this to know about how to set up a server properly for custom maps and a mod but this is a good start for everyone and as I said above I will continue to add to this tutorial until it is complete for everyone.





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Tutorial For Cod4 UserMaps (Custom Map Installations + Mods)
Ive been writing a very short tutorial to start off its above to help the community have a single location for the correct information on installing Cod4 custom maps the correct way.If you still have a question or need more assitance after reading the small tutorial just post in my help forums.

I will add and add to this as new problems and ideas arise,So far I have a decent start to one on my site that is very limited to start but as I said will be added to until it is a full blown one stop tutorial to set up maps and mods the correct way.

After literally visiting tons of sites and offering my help to tons of individuals (thousands actually) Ive decided to give that up and lead them to my place since some people and site owners just dont appreciate when people give help at there sites and prove them wrong for some odd reason.

I have seen tons of sites saying the game is broken bla bla custom maps dont work right bla bla.Thats all garbage we have had custom maps running perfectly without a hitch the usermap way the clean way for months and id like to pass that info on as much as possible to help the community get this all squared away once and for all.

So if your sick of asking thousands of questions and waiting weeks for your answers and dealing with endless forum frustration then come by my site and register and id be glad to help anyone with mostly there custom map problems but I know a bunch about mods also so I can be of assitance with both for sure.

I have been running gaming clans for 9 years I have tons of server setup experience + mod setup experience.

I will not deal with whining and crying in my site,if you come for help just be patient and ill get you as soon as possible I am doing this in my spare time and for free so please respect that when you come to our site ,Thanks To All.

Install maps the correct way the usermap way the only way

..........................................................................................

Working on a More Detailed Mod Installation Tutorial to add to this so be patient it should and will be done this week sometime hopefully.

edited on May. 6, 2008 05:24 pm by lojik

Since I cant edit my first post heres an updated tutorial

Setting Up Cod4 Custom Maps

so if you downloaded a map named newmap for instance

newmap.ff
newmap.iwd
newmap_load.ff

should all be in a folder named newmap inside your usermaps folder on both your server and redirect

Most map .iwds need to be cleaned directions below on how to clean them

In your redirect ftp you would make a folder named cod4 then inside that make a usermaps folder and a mod folder on your redirect just like it is in your game itself and in your server.These all need to be exactly the same to work properly

So you would look in cod4 folder on your redirect and you would have two folders mods and usermaps just like in your server

In mods would be your mod folders you use for your servers we will get in to that next

in usermaps all map files all 3 after youve cleaned them would be in a folder named the name of the map with the cleaned .iwds read below to learn how to clean them.

Example below

.ff = http ://yoursite.com/cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.ff
.iwd = http ://yoursite.com/cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.iwd
.load = http ://yoursite.com/cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap_load.ff

Directory Structures

Maps In Redirect
.ff = http ://yoursite.com/cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.ff
.iwd = http ://yoursite.com/cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.iwd
.load = http ://yoursite.com/cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap_load.ff

Maps In Server
.ff = cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.ff
.iwd = cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.iwd
.load = cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap_load.ff

Maps In Client
.ff = cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.ff
.iwd = cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap.iwd
.load = cod4/usermaps/yournewmap/yournewmap_load.ff

Mods In Redirect
.iwd = http ://yoursite.com/cod4/mods/mymod/mod.iwd
.ff = http ://yoursite.com/cod4/mods/mymod/mod.ff

Mods In Server
.iwd = cod4/mods/mymod/mod.iwd
.ff = cod4/mods/mymod/mod.ff

Mods In Client
.iwd = cod4/mods/mymod/mod.iwd
.ff = cod4/mods/mymod/mod.ff

Installing Mods

For mods say you are using Extreme X4 2.0 for instance it doesnt matter which mod most all mods would be installed the same way as Extreme X4 2.0

Your server should have a cod4 folder and inside that a mods folder and inside that a folder named the name of your mod or ect.
In your mod folder and inside the folder you named for your new mod would include the mod.iwd and the mod.ff thats included with the mod and all server configs needed to start your mod.

So in your mod folder would be a mod.ff ,mod.iwd, .cfgs related to the mod you use

NO map .iwds go in your mod folder EVER



No map iwds in your mod folders only the mod.iwd itself from the mod you are using and the mod.ff along with the cfgs needed to start your server.Of course a correct server commandline is needed to execute the proper mod folder and the proper server start up cfg.

Thats either up to you to set your command line correctly or your server rental company to do it for you but either way its very important to be correct.

Example below

Mods In Redirect
.iwd = http ://yoursite.com/cod4/mods/mymod/mod.iwd
.ff = http ://yoursite.com/cod4/mods/mymod/mod.ff

Mods In Server
.iwd = cod4/mods/mymod/mod.iwd
.ff = cod4/mods/mymod/mod.ff

Mods In Client
.iwd = cod4/mods/mymod/mod.iwd
.ff = cod4/mods/mymod/mod.ff

Example Of A Commandline below

+set dedicated 2 +set net_ip xx.xxx.xxx.xx +set sv_maxclients 16 +set net_port 28960 +set fs_game mods/mymod +exec server.cfg +map_rotate

This commandline above would be executing the mods/mymod fsgame folder and server.cfg located in it to start a mod

The redirect ftp for your mod download only needs to include the mod.ff and the mod.iwd for clients to download they do not need all the cfgs your server needs to start I hope everyone understands that.This should be exactly the same file structure as your server has cod4/mods/yourmod or it wont work correctly.


Some Examples Of A Map Rotation

In your map rotation .cfg you should always set the gametype like so (used dm as an example) =
set g_gametype "dm"

If you only run one gametype this below would work fine ,you only need the gametype setting once in the beginning of the rotation if you only use one gametype in your server.

One Gametype Rotation
Good Rotation = set sv_mapRotation "gametype dm map mp_pow_rld map mp_carentan map mp_dc"
Bad Rotation (Wasted Characters (unneeded gametype dm wasting characters) = set sv_mapRotation "gametype dm map mp_pow_rld gametype dm map mp_carentan"
Bad Rotation (Wont Work Mispelled Map / Should Be mp_pow_rld) = set sv_mapRotation "gametype dm map mp_pow_rdl"

Multiple Gametype Rotation
Good Rotation = set sv_mapRotation "gametype dm map mp_pow_rld gametype koth map mp_carentan gametype dom map mp_dc"


Redirect Settings
Redirect in your mod settings should look like this below do not have dldisconnected set to 1 do not do that leave it at 0 like below or you will have serious issues

set sv_allowdownload "1"
set sv_wwwDownload "1"
set sv_wwwbaseURL "http ://www.yoursite.com/cod4"
set sv_wwwdldisconnected "0"

P.s. This setting could be many ways and still work fine like the examples below ive made for you all
set sv_wwwbaseURL "http ://www.yoursite.com/cod4"
set sv_wwwbaseURL "http ://www.yoursite.com/cod4/"
set sv_wwwbaseURL "http ://yoursite.com/cod4/"
set sv_wwwbaseURL "http ://yoursite.com/cod4"

Those Examples would all work fine above


Cleaning a Map .IWD File

Many maps have a dirty .iwd file as we will call it for this tutorial

You will need winrar the newest available version will be good link below for that program
http://www.rarlab.com/rar/wrar371.exe you can dl a trial version there and it will work for as long as you need it to

1.Install winrar
2.double click a dirty map .iwd file for instance
3.Browse the contents of the .iwd.
4.Delete any folder besides sounds and images folders
5.Most maps dont have a sounds folder
6.Browse the contents of the images folder and make sure that there is only .iwi files included in the images folder and no readmes or anything of the likes.
7.If there is a readme in the images folder or anywhere else in the .iwd it needs to be deleted.
8.Only a couple maps will have fx scripts located in them in folders those maps will not work the usermap way I think there is about 4 or 5 of these type of maps not many at all.(Sharqi Day ,Sharqi Night ,Village Day ,Village Night,)


Couple Good Tips To Know
1.Must have lowercase letters in your mods folder on redirect
2.Must have clean .iwds to run the usermap way, read above to learn how to clean them
3.Any maps located in your own usermap folder that only have 2 files or a dirty .iwd will cause you errors on server rotations,restarts ect.
If you are not sure what you have been downloading from servers (clean .iwds or not) then you should just delete all your maps to start fresh with no unexpected problems.Your maps included in your usermap folder should all have 3 files and the .iwds should be clean.This is how you stay error free.
4.Advantages to the usermap way and cleaned .iwd way = Can rotate,restart,ect ect with minimal errors.Can add + delete maps while server is running if your slick
Cannot do either of those easily if the map .iwds are located in your mod folders.Will not have to download multiple .iwds upon joining a server or a pack of .iwds.Makes it 10 times easier to change maps in your server to add and delete them.There is so many advantages its ridiculous it must be done the right way thats all there is to it.
5.A Couple issues that can still happen even when set up right = You can get a cl_areliableservercommandwascycledout error due to bad connections of clients either way it needs fixing.
6.Another issue that can easily happen is timeouts - depending on where you are located and where the servers redirect server is located its the cause of the problem for sure.Someone one from uk joining a west coast server could easily timeout or on any long distance connections that are made.Of course it will matter what type of connection you may have,if the server is some home pc or a real dedicated server,all that good stuff.
7.Number 5 and 6 can also happen Ive noticed when a client is joining the server ,starts to download a map but the server has now rotated this will give the 2 problems above sometimes ,sometimes not ?


----------------------------------------------------------------------



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[ All Mods Are Different (Couple Tips To Be Aware Of)

Wanted to add a couple facts to the above tutorial

Make sure to read any mods readme you are using very well

The tutorial above doesnt going into a couple important facts ill list below

Putting mod cfgs in your server can depend on what mod you are running

For instance you all know that Extreme X4 2.0 uses its own config folder which you need to upload cfgs to for it to work

Every Mod has a couple different tricks that I couldnt possible cover easily in this one tutorial id almost have to make a tutorial for each mod ,but you and I know that would be to much work.

So all im saying is the tutorial above is the basic rule of thumb but when it comes to each specific mod make sure to read the readmes very good and understand where the mod author is explaining to put the cfgs,files,ect.

You should also add this to the wiki over at http://www.modsonwiki.com

Nice work. Are you sure it has been tested and is all working correctly? If so permission to add to the tutorials?

edited on Jul. 8, 2008 08:02 am by Rasta

Actually, this should be in the tutorials and not the wiki. The wiki is for Faqs and compilations of information rather than tutorials. The tutorials can be added by anyone here now using the link in the top left menu (Add Tutorial).

Of course, if this was rewritten in a Faqs manner, then yes... the wiki would be great.

Trying not to pull the tutorials away from this site.

Ops my mistake then, shows what i know about wiki's

In the United Offensive section of the wiki theres a Setting Up The Editor page, its not finished, but has a FAQ style layout and refers to tutorials at the bottom, would be a good template for this one if Lojik wants to add it to the wiki.

It works and is the only way to make it work right.

Putting maps in mods folder is not the way to do it ,I will not go into why it isnt it just isnt.Its a long explanation and the tutorial discusses why it isnt good anyway.

You guys are more then welcome to put this in the tutorials section as long as some credit is left to me for writing it thats all I ask.

Anyone can take this and use it on there site as long as my credits are left intact.

posted.

Remember that tutorials can be edited directly if needed.

i have a slight problem i can download all of the files via http redirect apart from my mp_mapname_load.ff

i have the correct file structure on both the server & redirect.