[Tutorial] Adding Map Markers

[Darth_Rogue]

I've seen some confusion on the forums here about how to add map markers to highlight areas or game objects.  There is a really simple way to do it without having to add scripts to your mission file and without worrying about having to play with BE filters to prevent players getting kicked due to the custom marker scripts.  Markers can be easily added to the mission.sqm file.  Yes, the default file is encrypted, but a quick search here on the forums will help you find one that's "normal".

 

Toward the bottom of the mission.sqm is a section labeled "class Markers".  You can add more items in that section and it will place markers on the map for all players to see.  No extra scripts.  No BE filter adjustments.

 

Use the following code as a template:

class Item3
		{
			position[]={7218.08,0,12069.4};
			name="My Object";
			text="My Object";
			type="hd_objective";
			colorName="ColorRed";
		};

Pay close attention to the position, as the coords go x,z,y instead of x,y,z as they do in other places.  In the mission.sqm markers section the z coords can always be 0, since the height of a marker on the map doesn't matter.

 

When you add items to the class markers pay close attention to the top of the markers section.  There is a line that says 'items = X'.  The 'X' is the sum total of all markers in the list.  This value MUST match the total number of markers that you have in the markers section.  Keep in mind that the markers list begins with 0, so if your markers list ends with 'Item3', then your line 'items = X' should say 'items = 4', since there are actually 4 items in the list and the list begins with 0. Zero still counts as an item, even though it's zero.  See below for an example.

 

class Markers
	{
		items = 4;
		class Item0
		{
			position[] = {11264,50,11264};
			name = "center";
			type = "Empty";
		};
		class Item1
		{
			position[] = {13813.433,81.107765,6882.491};
			name = "respawn_east";
			type = "Empty";
		};
		class Item2
		{
			position[] = {13813.405,81.111084,6882.538};
			name = "respawn_west";
			type = "Empty";
		};
		class Item3
		{
			position[]={7218.08,0,12069.4};
			name="Object X-99";
			text="Object X-99";
			type="hd_objective";
			colorName="ColorRed";
		};
	};

 

Some aspects of the markers can be changed, such as marker types and marker colors.  Here is a list of different marker types.  Here is a list of marker colors.  Simply substitute the 'type' or 'colorName' values in the example shown above for your chosen type or color.  The 'name' of the marker can be anything.  The 'text' of the marker is what is displayed on the map to players.  It can say anything you want, but I would recommend keeping it short so as to not clutter up the map view with text.  

 

Hope this helps out!  Enjoy!   :D