Help with protection

For a while, I've been using W3M Utilities to protect my map. However, ever since I made my latest version, everytime I protected it with W3MU, WC3 crashes whenever I try to play it. So, I tried switching to Heavy Locker. It worked, but it seemed to screw up the files I imported for Vex's Hero Selection System, since now they were only showing the Green Box instead of the imported icon..

I wanted to try Extprotect, but the guy's link to his site wasn't working...


The only major change I made between the last version that worked and this version that's messed up is the addition of Lord Vexorian's Selection System... but I don't see how the actual selection system is messing it up, since only the imported files seem to be affected and the rest of the system functions perfectly... and those are the only imported files I have.

So, the protectors aren't accepting imported files? But, so many other maps have imported files, so I'm pretty sure that's unusual.

Someone give me a solution? Otherwise I could just resort to not using the imported icon for the selection system...

HLocker will only add the files to the compressed/protected map that are listed on the map current (listfile). It will not add "unknown" files. You can also use an external listfile. Also some ppl said that HL is not working nice with patch 1.14.

Hmm... so, do I use WinMPQ to extract the listfile from the map file and add the file names into it or something?

If you want to use HL, you should do that.

Hmm... well, first, I tried extracting (listfile) from an unprotected version of my map. I opened it up with notepad, and the files were already listed there. So, I closed it and tried importing it into a map file locked by HL. When I tried to play the map, WC3 crashed again.

Then, I tried using heavy locker to first create a new map file with the "Include (listfile)" option. Then I opened that new file with HL and made a Locked version with it... still didn't work.'


So... can someone tell me what exactly I need to do? Bah... I feel so noobish.

Open your map with WINMPQ and then export the complete listfile. Then set HL to use that exported listfile. HL -> Menu Options and select an external listfile.

I had it select the external listfile...

when I protect the map, it still doesn't work.

I can't select Include (listfile) and Map Lock at the same time...

I cant´t understand you. I´ll try to make a brief guide here:

1) Open the unprotected version of your map with WINMPQ. Then save the listfile to "something.txt". I´m not telling you to EXPORT the "(listfile)" file, I am telling you to use the WINMPQ´s Save Listfile feature.
2) Open HL and go to Options. Then press ADD and browse till you find the "something.txt" you´ve created on step 1.

Here here, first it leaves off the '.w3x' file extension (if you have any periods in your map name, it cuts it there and uses the characters after the . as the file type).

I tried adding the extension back, but it errors with 'cant find game' when I try to select the map in TFT.

*sigh*

Okay. I opened my unprotected map file in WinMPQ. I did Save File List. I saved it literally as something.txt

I opened Heavy Locker. I went to options. I clicked Add, and selected my something.txt. Then, I saved a new version of the map with the Include (listfile) box checked. Then, I opened that new version with Heavy Locker. I saved a new version of that version with Full Map Lock on. I open it with WC3, and I just get a green box for icons.

I also got the same results when I saved it without checking Include (listfile) and just doing Full Lock.

You don´t need that intermediate version. Get the listfile (the something.txt) and set HL to use that. The your are ready to use HL (you don´t need to use the Include Listfile in HL, you can lock it directly without having an intermediate version).

I also must warn you. Ppl said that HL seems to be not working properly with version 1.14. If you still have problems, send me the unprotected version to [email protected] so I can take a look.