Symbols and catalogs
Originally, I was going to only ask about a specific, strange thing that happened when I opened CC3 just now (which I haven't in a while, been away from this whole mapping thing). But since I've been thinking about picking up some Annuals and getting more into this, I think it's time I learned more about symbols and catalogs in general.
In short, catalogs have me completely baffled. I don't understand any of the menus for using them at all. I can use symbols on a map (i.e. place them, move them around, etc) fine, but CATALOGS, and organization, have eluded me.
The strange thing that happened today was, I opened the program, and instead of the normal, CC3-style bitmap symbols, it's showing me these odd, sort of "coloring book"-looking symbols, as seen here in the symbol column on the left:
http://i.imgur.com/nEBGU.png
As I said, I really don't know anything about managing symbols. All of the limited amount of mapping I've done with CC3, so far, has just used the default symbols; I've never tried to change anything.
Clicking on the buttons above the symbol area ("Mountains/Minerals", "Vegetation", etc) just brings up this menu window:
http://i.imgur.com/2mpC9.png
which I of course have no idea how to use. XD (And yes, I did try looking at the "advanced" options).
If I understand correctly, a "symbol catalog" is somewhat analogous to a playlist in iTunes in a way, in that the files themselves for each type of symbol exist in a specific place on your hard drive, and don't need to be moved/copied, but the catalogs allow a symbol to show up more than once (in "Mountains" and also in... "Ground", or something I guess) even though there's only one file (like a playlist does for a music file). But beyond that, I'm unclear about anything about catalogs (and that includes everything relating to actually USING them: making new ones, shuffling between them, that little menu I posted a screenshot of above, etc). SO:
1) Is the above summary of what a catalog IS about right?
2) What's the best way to go about learning more about this? Didn't find much by searching the forums or the help file in the program (though I could have missed it). Would the Tome of Ultimate Mapping have some information on this? I've thought about picking it up anyway; I'd assume it would be a good resource if I'm planning to try and dig deeper into CC3 use than I had previously.
3) How in the heck do I solve the immediate problem of getting back to the "normal" CC3 symbols?
Thanks, as always, for any and all help!
In short, catalogs have me completely baffled. I don't understand any of the menus for using them at all. I can use symbols on a map (i.e. place them, move them around, etc) fine, but CATALOGS, and organization, have eluded me.
The strange thing that happened today was, I opened the program, and instead of the normal, CC3-style bitmap symbols, it's showing me these odd, sort of "coloring book"-looking symbols, as seen here in the symbol column on the left:
http://i.imgur.com/nEBGU.png
As I said, I really don't know anything about managing symbols. All of the limited amount of mapping I've done with CC3, so far, has just used the default symbols; I've never tried to change anything.
Clicking on the buttons above the symbol area ("Mountains/Minerals", "Vegetation", etc) just brings up this menu window:
http://i.imgur.com/2mpC9.png
which I of course have no idea how to use. XD (And yes, I did try looking at the "advanced" options).
If I understand correctly, a "symbol catalog" is somewhat analogous to a playlist in iTunes in a way, in that the files themselves for each type of symbol exist in a specific place on your hard drive, and don't need to be moved/copied, but the catalogs allow a symbol to show up more than once (in "Mountains" and also in... "Ground", or something I guess) even though there's only one file (like a playlist does for a music file). But beyond that, I'm unclear about anything about catalogs (and that includes everything relating to actually USING them: making new ones, shuffling between them, that little menu I posted a screenshot of above, etc). SO:
1) Is the above summary of what a catalog IS about right?
2) What's the best way to go about learning more about this? Didn't find much by searching the forums or the help file in the program (though I could have missed it). Would the Tome of Ultimate Mapping have some information on this? I've thought about picking it up anyway; I'd assume it would be a good resource if I'm planning to try and dig deeper into CC3 use than I had previously.
3) How in the heck do I solve the immediate problem of getting back to the "normal" CC3 symbols?
Thanks, as always, for any and all help!
Comments
A catalog od symbols would be a set of symbols for say cities, or overland.
Overland would have symbols for cities, castles, keeps, forests, moutains, etc.
You click on the symbol in the catalog, left side of CC3, and add them to your map.
save as often, using filename_map01, filename_map02, etc.
I also couldn't help but notice that it' was updated and laid out by "Remy Monsen". I assume the name isn't a coincidence, haha.
That said... having looked at the section on symbols and catalogs, I understand it a bit better than before... I still have a lot to learn, but I think I can do so overtime. However, the more I read up on this, the more convinced I am that something is actively wrong with my CC3. I never changed the catalog that was being used when mapping, nor did I change the filters or what catalogs were available; I wouldn't have even known how to BEGIN to change any of that. All I did was use the program, close it one day, go on a big hiatus from mapping and not open it for a few months, then open it again just the other day, and boom, symbols are screwy. Not only have the default CC3 ones been replaced by those weird coloring book ones, but this menu window
http://i.imgur.com/2mpC9.png
which keeps popping up when I click various symbol buttons, is just empty, as you can see. I notice that in every screenshot of that menu that appears in the updated User Guide, that main vertical window is filled with a list of available catalogs. But mine is just blank.
Before opening CC3 after the hiatus, I ran CCleaner to clear cache data and clean the registry (something I'd neglected to do for too long actually). I'm wondering if, since I hadn't used CC3 in so long, something could have gotten changed or deleted that CC3 needs.
Tempted to just uninstall & reinstall CC3 to get everything back to square one, then continue trying to learn more about managing symbol catalogs once I have a properly functioning program. Thoughts?
For your problem, simply right click the Symbol Style Toggle
You can also left-click the symbol style toggle button multiple times until the correct symbols disappear (Dismiss any empty "select symbol catalog" dialogs that may pop up)
In this case, though... I followed your instructions in your last post, made sure that CC3 is selected in the Master Filter settings, but I'm still getting a menu with nothing in it when I click on any of those Symbol buttons, including the "Symbol Catalog Settings" button. Clicking "Symbol Style Toggle" (left-clicking it, that is) makes the main drawing window flicker like it's being refreshed, and sometimes also brings up that same empty menu, but that's it. No matter how many times I click it, none of the symbols in the column change, nor does the behavior of the other buttons change.
Soooo, unless you have another idea that I haven't tried yet, I think it might be time to throw in the towel, assume something has gone horribly wrong within the program, and uninstall/reinstall CC3? lol
Click the Symbol Catalog Settings
However, further tinkering and possible re-installing will have to wait till after my vacation to Seattle in two days, heh. Need to pack tonight/tomorrow, then won't have access to the program for 4 days. I'll keep at this after I get back, and post my findings here!