How to shorten the loading time of maps?

My map takes more than 4 minutes to load. The loading bar stops at 40% for about 3 minutes.
Any one have idea about how to shorten the loading time ? Thanks.

Custom object data takes a long time to load. Preplaced units exacerbate it somewhat, but you've gotta load the models some time, so it might as well be during the load bar.

When you make lots of custom data, the game has to load that in addition to all the default data. Not to mention, each multi-level hero ability takes as long to load as as many levels worth of one-level abilities.

Placing lots of destructables and unit objects on a map makes loading take a while, since those are both fairly flexible objects with a lot of data to consider.

Well, yes, easily. remove some units/doodads/regioins/etc that are unecissary. The game has to load each and every thing you have on the map, so the less stuff you have, the less load time it takes.

also, if you have any custom models, they may have too many vertecies/etc and that will cause a long load too.

There are less than 20 units on the map when the game starts. And only a few destructables.
Yes, I made many custom items and skills.
Do you think if it's better to modify the data of default items rather than add new item ?

Of course it could be that you just have a slow computer?

also map initialization triggers, if you have alot of things it will pull the F*ck out your computer.

i made a quickmap called random wars, in which you were given an arthas with completely random int, str, agi, armor, damage, attack type and armor type...

in it, if your lucky you could get 999 divine armor, 999 chaos damage, 999 strength and 999 agility.. but the chance of that is extremely remote.

advertissing!!!!! ^_^
One thing to do is to not place units before the game
ie for a town : let it empty and when (let say) game time = 10, create villagers....
(it works for building too)

But then it's hard to see how it will look in the end.

I prefer putting everything like I planned and then just play and test it without caring how much it will take to load the map. After everything is finished, then it's time to take the useless stuff out.

Yeah.. of course
-place all your units
-when u have test what u wanted, remove units
-creat trigger to place units
-check if they work as u expected
-release the beta

i wasnt advertising... i never released it. it had no terrain what so ever it was just the framework to mess around with.

Exactly.
...

Hum
There is some freeware to make warcraft3 map lighter but i'he never used them...
Give a look !!!

Yeah. I'v heard of it too. Never tested it myself, but I think it was ment to be used with cinematics only or something like that.

one question the poster asked above, is it better to EDIT the existing abilities/heros/items than create a new one? since it's much easier for organization if i create it

i would say it's better to edit than copy but i do like you : I copy them to make all my edited unit in one folder....