Hexdraw 2.0 in the works

[Jo.B]

I am currently working full time on a completely new version of HexDraw.

HexDraw 2.0 is not just a small update of the old program. It is being rebuilt on a new technical foundation, with the goal of making ASL-style and general hex-map creation much more flexible, faster, and easier to maintain in the long run.

Planned / already started features include:

HexDraw 2.0 Feature List

• Completely new HexDraw foundation
• Multiple board and grid types: flat-top, pointy-top, odd/even offset layouts, short board layouts, and ASL/MMP-compatible board geometry
• Fast terrain painting with cached hex neighbors
• Incremental terrain recalculation instead of rebuilding the whole map
• Woods masses rendered as large organic polygons
• Hill masses rendered as large stacked level polygons
• Abrupt elevation-change support
• Level-aware hill editing, where higher hill levels sit on lower hill levels
• Organic editable contour points for woods and hills
• User contour editing by dragging terrain points
• Spine-based terrain-border shaping
• Improved map-edge and half-hex handling
• Seamless texture rendering for terrain fills
• Roads with curved rendering
• Hexside features such as walls, hedges, rivers, slopes, and forest edges
• Image overlays with rotation, opacity, and layer order
• Coordinate labels, center dots, and grid display controls
• Direct PDF export
• VASL board export without LOS data (experimental)
• Save/load map package format
• Export-ready rendering with border and outside-board masking
• Possible macOS support / cross-platform potential

The first target is a solid Windows version. Cross-platform support is technically possible because of the new foundation, but I do not want to promise more than I can properly build and test.

My main goal is to make HexDraw 2.0 useful both for traditional ASL-style map work and for more general hex-and-counter wargame map creation.

 

[M.Koch]

Thank you for your efforts, Jo.

 

[footsteps]

 

[Zugführer]

Interesting!

 

[Honza]

Hex draw 1 helped me enormously to create my own HASL maps. This should be good.

 

[footsteps]

I am currently working full time on a completely new version of HexDraw.

Two questions:

1. Will old HD map files be compatible with 2.0? (likely not, but I ask just to be clear)
2. Do you need/want testers to, well, test your work? I'd be all over that, and will buy the product when ready for prime-time.

 

[Peter J]

Thanks for HexDraw 1.0. I eagerly await HexDraw 2.0.

 

[Jo.B]

Two questions:

1. Will old HD map files be compatible with 2.0? (likely not, but I ask just to be clear)
2. Do you need/want testers to, well, test your work? I'd be all over that, and will buy the product when ready for prime-time.

1. no it is sadly technically not possible.
2. yes that would be great. just not on Mac. best way to talk would be discord

send me ideas and demands

 

[Jo.B]

narrow street support enabled

 

[igycrctl]

I’m assuming this is for purchase. Any idea how much funds?

 

[footsteps]

1. no it is sadly technically not possible.
2. yes that would be great. just not on Mac. best way to talk would be discord

send me ideas and demands

I'm on Win10.

Here's what I sent you via email back in January (before I knew you were working on 2.0)

The features I'm looking for are related to Overlays. The first one, and I'm willing to outright beg for this one, is for a keyboard short-cut for moving an overlay right/left/up/down one pixel at a time (i.e. ctrl-arrow or shift-arrow, etc). Using click-hold is fine for large moves, but some of my work with long railway lines or complex buildings using several combined overlays requires very precise adjustments. My hand co-ordination is just not steady enough, and it can take up to a dozen attempts before I get the placement I want.

The second feature is a bit related to the first - being able to select several overlays on the map as a group to be moved/rotated together. The third feature is the least important, but I'm including it as it would still be helpful. In the pick-list for overlays, having the ability to create sub-folders for specific groupings of overlays (i.e. Wood Buildings, Gullies, Railways, etc).

 

[Sparafucil3]

narrow street support enabled=

I do not think U7/U8 is legal given the crest line. I don't expect your software to enforce rules though

 

[footsteps]

narrow street support enabled

This looks like a variation of Hexside elements, which don't allow for borders. I would prefer a variation on Roads, which allow for borders.

 

[Jo.B]

I’m assuming this is for purchase. Any idea how much funds?

yes for to purchase. But I don't know. feel free to suggest a price. assume it is much about ASL and not so much about other wargames.

 

[Jo.B]

I'm on Win10.

Here's what I sent you via email back in January (before I knew you were working on 2.0)

I see. will try to realize both.

 

[Jo.B]

This looks like a variation of Hexside elements, which don't allow for borders. I would prefer a variation on Roads, which allow for borders.

the only rule the software cares about is one can only setup a hill two on a hill one etc.

 

[footsteps]

the only rule the software cares about is one can only setup a hill two on a hill one etc.

I think you're confusing what I said. Here is an example (HD 1.0) of a Road and a Hexside "Road". One allows for borders, the other doesn't. Your Narrow Street option shown above doesn't seem to allow for borders.

 

[Jo.B]

I think you're confusing what I said. Here is an example (HD 1.0) of a Road and a Hexside "Road". One allows for borders, the other doesn't. Your Narrow Street option shown above doesn't seem to allow for borders.
View attachment 35414

you now not need to use hexsides for this you draw your road with narrow roads. the green spots are the points you can draw to from this position. it is very easy to use.
I just implemented your crtl arrow key wish . the multi select will come soon.

 

[Jo.B]

 

[zgrose]

I believe footsteps is referring to the ability to apply a stroke to the outside of the road. See the red bit.
I believe he is saying he would like that to be available on hexside roads as well. See the blue bit.