How would I go about making a level editor ?

[keokeo]

Similar to the one that comes with Knytt Stories by Nifflas? Anyone can give me a few advices on how to go about it?

Also what type of file would the resuliting level that is created with the editor have to be saved in order to stay interactive after I take it into MMF2 (because if I save it as one giant png, that won't work). Thanks in advance

[eceva]

Well, I would recommend looking at Nifflas' level editor, which is built the same way as the one that comes with Knytt Stories. It's very simple, but I think it would give you a good idea on how to construct your level editor.

[Pkeod]

Use the NVO extension. Then, name your keys based on what layer they are on. Finally, you can iterate the file and filter out whatever data you want with the string parser. Works really well. I've used this method on a few level editors.

[Nifflas]

I'd actually use the Ini++ object for that, it does more or less everything that NVO does but better, and it produces far smaller files too.

However, I'd only use Ini++ (or NVO) for objects not bound to a grid, or objects that needs dynamic data. When dealing with tiles on a grid, Binary Array is so much faster, and with no doubt the way to go.

[Pkeod]

Does Ini Plus Plus support iteration?

[TreeHugger]

Yes.
You can get a total group count, total item count, total items in group count.
You then also have a number of Get N-th expressions depending on what you're looking for: Get N-th Group Name, Get N-th Item Value, plus some more.
Stick it with a fast loop using the index as the 'N' value there you go.

You can also perform searches based on criteria and then do the same Get N-th type expressions based on the search results.

[Pkeod]

Cool. I don't know how I missed that extension before