Testing custom map in proving grounds?

[Kai-Mon]

With the new update there's a button named "LEVEL..." that seamingly lets us load whatever map we want. But I can't figure out how it works. Anybody know what it does and how to load in maps?

[DerEggen]

With this feature you can load your own maps from the editor in order to test them. So unfortunately you can not load any map.

[Univerpix]

Ok, but how can I load my own map? What files to place and where to place them?

[Machine]

Same question here. Been searching everywhere, but no luck yet.

[remoh667]

You need to have your mod started in the editor. Not under prebuild(the old way) but under the mod folder. That will auto link the map to proving grounds. The map will be named whatever your xml file is called and will be on the list under the level heading. You don't need your level uploaded on steam, just need the level rooted from the mod folder.

[Fritz_Schmitz]

Hello, could you @remoh667 or someone explain it more detailed how to set it up please? Or does one have a URL to a tutorial how to set this up?
When i copy my level into the mod folder and try to start it with double clicking on it, same as i do when it is in the prebuild folder then it doesn't load the level but says can not open level.
So some help would be great.

[remoh667]

Have you started your map by right clicking the "mods" folder in the editor and clicking "new terrain" or did you start it by right clicking the "prebuild" file and clicking new terrain? To use proving grounds to test your mods they need to be from the "mods" folder. If you can see a blank mod in your workshop maps page it is in your mods file and should work by clicking level in proving grounds and selecting your map file (level_yourmapname). If you started your map from the prebuild file you can copy your level xml file to a new mod. This guide will tell you how to move your map to the "mods" folder if you need. Under "Workshop Publishing" heading near the top. It is a very well done guide

[remoh667]

steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1249124522

Forgot the link. Haha

[Fritz_Schmitz]

@remoh667 Thank you for your reply! I didn't have the time so far to try out your recommended steps but will do that as soon as possible and reply here in this thread. What i can say so far is that i didn't start my level by right clicking the mod folder and also not by right clicking the prebuild folder but instead i converted a level that i was working on years ago in the original spintires editor, by using the convert tool in the "Spintires Mod/ Mudrunner Plus".
But i will try out your instructions next time and create a quick test level like that. Also i will watch the Map Editor Guide video.

[DIMENTS]

If i look in the editor it keeps saying (No Title) even though i gave it one in the string.xml; any fix for this? And if it has "No Title", WIll that make it so it doesn't show up ion the Levels menu in Proving Grounds? And i am sick of either uploading the map into my game or uploading it to the workshop for testing. So i really need to know how to test it in Proving Grounds.

[remoh667]

In proving grounds (PG) it will just say level_(yourlevelname) under the levels tab if you have posted to workshop or not. It won't show a name on your mod until you edit the strings.xml and upload it to the workshop with the strings xml changed. I have forgot to do that before and it still worked in PG. The important part is to have your map rooted from the _mods folder. Keep in mind it will be your xml file name and not the name you changed it to in the strings xml. I posted a link to a guide earlier if you want to start a new mod and copy your old files to it.

[DIMENTS]

I already have it in the _mods folder. But it just won't show up in the levels tab in PG. So what am i not getting here? I read your guys message multiple times buti still don't get it...

Because everyone keeps saying have it started in your editor and all. or have it rooted. But i am new to all this. So hwo do i do all that. I would really like to test it in PG since i need to get everything perfect before publishing.

[remoh667]

Try the section on workshop publishing. Start a new mod from the mod folder, right click that new mod and click "New terrain" and make a new map the same size as the one your trying to test. You have to copy the old .xml file and paste it to the .xml of your new mod and save it. (easier if you have notepad++) then open the editor and rebuild the new mod. The guide has a much more in-depth tutorial so go off of it. It will link your map to a new mod and hopefully it will work for you.

[DIMENTS]

But i want to test it in PG, so it shows up there and i dont have to go through the pain of publishing it every time. That's the point of testing it in PG right? BUt there is literally no other tutorial on how to do so.

And since you said:
- "You need to have your mod started in the editor." < Did that
- "You don't need your level uploaded on steam, just need the level rooted from the mod folder." < But how to do the rooting part? :thinking:

[remoh667]

Doing what it says in the workshop publishing tutorial will make sure it's rooted from the correct folder. Try starting the new mod and name it level_test. Rebuild it and save it so it will just be a blank dirt map and Try and access it through PG. I guess it's possible something is wrong in your files and its not seeing it. The map I'm currently working on isn't published and I test it quite often in PG. I know it takes forever the other way. I feel your pain

[DIMENTS]

I did what you said, created a whole new terrain and mod and all. Started up my game. And it still is not showing up in PG. Maybe you vcould add me on steam or Discord so we can figure this out a bit better?