Did you get this error:

couldn't read #108 bytes from offset #64 in local tag "whatever"

example:
couldn't read #108 bytes from offset #64 in local tag 'tags\levels\test\sidewinder\sidewinder.bitmap'

in your debug.txt?



HEK+ doesn't extract the bitmap files correctly. It corrupts them instead!

You need to download the bitmaps from this link-


http://hce.halomaps.org/index.cfm?fid=2620

This topic needs to be addressed. Those of you dealing with this are thanking me, and I post this so that the google users find this topic, so I hope! This file opened up my modding capabilities greatly!

Moderator please address this issue somehow, I believe there's more people out there with this issue.

Would this be for things like the corrupted Halo bitmaps in ui.map?
Edited by MoooseGuy on Dec 18, 2010 at 06:29 AM

This is for anyone who extracted a .map file (one of the official halo multiplayer maps) using HEK+, then opened it in sapien, sapien crashes, debug.txt says that error. You know thats the problem when you use guerrilla to open the bitmap aswell, and guerrilla crashes. This is even after a clean install of halo ce/hek/ hek+. Even extracting the bitmap seperately, with or without recursive.

I've seen the issue on google a few times, different forums, unresolved. I finally found the golden file to solve that issue, and the golden files description doesn't even tell you its the solution to this problem.

ui.map? I don't know. It's a problem with extracting the scenarioname.bitmap file, perhaps unique to vista /windows 7 users.

so on the subject of scenario files,any idea why i have never be able to open any of a10,a30,a50 etc?
i get this in the debug...


12.18.10 11:18:14 sapien pc 01.00.00.0609 ----------------------------------------------
12.18.10 11:18:14 reference function: _write_to_error_file
12.18.10 11:18:14 reference address: 401b13
12.18.10 11:18:14 Couldn't read map file './sapienbeta.map'
12.18.10 11:18:15 CreateDevice succeeded with refresh rate = 0
12.18.10 11:18:24 Increasing sound decompression buffer size to 1048576 bytes
12.18.10 11:20:00 file_open('tags\ui\ui_tags_loaded_solo_scenario_type.tag_collection') error 0x00000002 'The system cannot find the file specified. '
12.18.10 11:20:00 couldn't open tag_collection tag 'ui_tags_loaded_solo_scenario_type.tag_collection'.
12.18.10 11:20:00 failed to load ui tags tied to solo scenarios
12.18.10 11:20:03 EAX: 0x00A4FBBC
12.18.10 11:20:03 EBX: 0x00000001
12.18.10 11:20:03 ECX: 0x00000002
12.18.10 11:20:03 EDX: 0x00000000
12.18.10 11:20:03 EDI: 0x0012E3F8
12.18.10 11:20:03 ESI: 0x00000000
12.18.10 11:20:03 EBP: 0x0012E2D0
12.18.10 11:20:03 ESP: 0x0012E2C0
12.18.10 11:20:03 EIP: 0x7C90E514, C3 8D A4 24 ?????
12.18.10 11:20:03 EXCEPTION halt in \halopc\haloce\source\tag_files\tag_groups.c,#3157: #3 is not a valid animation_block index in [#0,#3)

Your missing the tag specified. I recommend re-extracting the .map file. I had no problems with a30. a10 I did. If the extraction still causes the same problem, download that map from another author. (If you got the maps in a bundle download, redownload the individual map) not all downloads on here come with all the tags you need to run them in sapien.

If that doesnt work, do what I'm doing, start fresh and reinstall your hek. I'm going all the way reinstalling EVERYTHING, I was unable to open a30 , when I could b4, my fualt for overwriting tags with new ones all the time. Also I tend to have problems opening CMT's version of a30.

This is just examples of what I go through. In general your problem is a missing tag needed for the scenerios you try to open. Try dlling

http://hce.halomaps.org/index.cfm?fid=1401

if you havent already. Just a guess, the missing tag might be in there. In fact I dlled this first thing b4 opening the official campaign maps.

EDIT::::
you know whats funny, I use an older version of hek too I think. I tried to install the vversion you just listed, it asked me to go to site and dll framework from microsoft. I did, and restart. But trying to double click the heksetup, it says it agian "dont have framwork v1. something. I installed framework v4, so maybe I'm screwed there. Now I have older hek installed i think
Edited by rescue86k on Dec 18, 2010 at 07:19 AM

EDIT2:::
ouch. the framework v1.1 available only to xp users or lower. I think I'm stuck with older hek.
Still goes, I'm vista user and able to open a30 and silent cartographer. I never tried other maps, but i cant seem to extract cmt related content well.

Edited by rescue86k on Dec 18, 2010 at 07:28 AM

Dear Rescue86k

Might I just say from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much. I have been looking on the internet for three days collecting useless tutorials trying to make custom maps on Halo Custom Edition. You've been so much help. When I do create my custom map, I'll be sure to give you tons of credit as well as spread the word about the corrupted bitmaps. Again, thank you so much.
Sincerely, Shawn Reid