Why do custom maps crash all the time

[StripeyTiger]

And can anything be done? It's driving me potty!!

ST

[Dr Frag]

Custom Scenarios should only crash if there is something wrong with the installation. It usually means there is an XML issue somewhere or a resource that is required by the Scenario is not installed properly. But the truth is that we are pushing the limits of the game with some of this stuff and the game is not bug free either.

DF

[Geekyone]

yep, it can be the littlest thing too

</Era><
Era>
<startyear1823/startyear>
<startmonth1/star...etc.

something as minor as that little < > format error in the thousands of lines you might edit can crapshoot your whole deal...as I found out the hard way.

[StripeyTiger]

Thanks for the advice. I had already checked all of the xml files and they would all view properly in Visual Studio (my xml editor).

I had a few of the problems you hinted at with xml tags which caused the map not to load and these have been fixed. However, my main problem is usually about halfway through playing a map. This has happened with other custom maps I have downloaded. Any suggestions as to why it waits so long to crash?

ST

[snoopy55]

Geekyone - I'm guessing you found your problems, but what you should download is a program like StripeyTiger has called Notepad++. There is a XML Tool which you download with it that not only checks out you XML file before you save it for errors like those, but also does the indenting for you which also helps to find errors. It does the color coding also. Google it and use it. And if you do any thanking for it, that the first few who posted it on the forum.

StripeyTiger - If it's a map you're making, check out one Good or Industry at a time to make sure each is working. If it's most any map, post your system stats. When I ran dual screen with CPU usage it ran from 90% to 100%, 100% most of the time. It uses 700 to 800 Mb memory and 600 to 700Mb virtual memory. So with everything else on a system, 1.5 to 2 Gb is just about what you need. I have 3 Gb and it still slows down, but that, 'I' believe, is CPU time. Video memory size may also be a slow down. If you use AIs, cut down on the number and see what that does.

[StripeyTiger]

Thanks Snoopy55; and thanks also to geekyone and Dr Frag for the original suggestions/comments. I'll give the new suggestions a try. I'm running a single core AMD 64 with 2GB RAM and an X1950 Pro which ought to have enough grunt to cope.

ST