Improving the Mini-Map for Sailing and Navigating

[Teddy Schumann]

Ahoy Mates,

here is a helpful note for better sailing: How to improve your mini-map by excluding skyboxes?

For all those who use their mini map for navigating, it may be helpful to cut out skyboxes so that the coastline is better discernible.

How to do that ?


Open the file "colors_base.xml" in the folder „C:\Program Files\SecondLife\skins\default“ with WORDPAD and scroll down to the Mini-Map section:




















Now replace the figures according to the following pattern (works with all browsers):



















Once done save the file and restart SL. The skyboxes are gone now and the coastline and islands much more clearly discernible.

Happy Sailing,


Captain Teddy Schumann


Thanks to Nomad Zamani, Vin Mariani, Chaos Mandelbrot, Jane Fosset and Silber Sands!

[Oma Larnia]

Hmm...I can't see what you posted I am on Windows Explorer 7. Thanks..though I always wanted to do away with big black boxes in the mini map.

[Stephanie Helstein]

I use FireFox and can't see it either. If you are going to include XML in your post for people to see, put <![CDATA[ in front of it and ]]> after it.

[GaiaGirl Pearl]

yes, there was a problem posting a script here. Teddy is working on putting it into a graphic and posting that

[Teddy Schumann]

Sorry about that, the XML code didn't show up in my post. I try again with Stephanie's hint. If it doesn't work this time, please have a look at the script at:

http://schiffsratten.de/blog/

(scroll down a bit to find the mini-map issue with the original and the new XML-code figures)


Note for better sailing: How to improve your mini map by excluding skyboxes?

For all those who use their mini map for navigating, it may be helpful to cut out skyboxes so that the coastline is better discernible.

How to do that ?


Open the file "colors_base.xml" in the folder „C:\Program Files\SecondLife\skins\default“ with WORDPAD and scroll down to the Mini-Map section:




















/>]]> Now replace the figures according to the following pattern (works with all browsers):



















/>]]> Once done save the file and restart SL. The skyboxes are gone now and the coastline and islands much more clearly discernible.
Happy Sailing,


Captain Teddy Schumann


Thanks to Nomad Zamani, Vin Mariani, Chaos Mandelbrot, Jane Fosset and Silber Sands!

[Teddy Schumann]

ummm.... didn't work again :(

ok, here are the figures one has to change with WORDPAD in the Mini-Map section of the colors_base.XML file at C:\Program Files\SecondLife\skins\default:

– MINI-MAP –

NetMapBackgroundColor value=”0, 0, 0, 77

NetMapYouOwnAboveWater value=”0, 100, 100, 100

NetMapYouOwnBelowWater value=”0, 100, 100, 100

NetMapGroupOwnAboveWater value=”100, 0, 100, 100

NetMapGroupOwnBelowWater value=”100, 0, 100, 100

NetMapOtherOwnAboveWater value=”60, 60, 60, 100

NetMapOtherOwnBelowWater value=”30, 30, 30, 100

[Pamus Bing]

Great worked this time :))

[Stephanie Helstein]

Like this?

Replace this:

<!-- MINI-MAP -->
<NetMapBackgroundColor value="0, 0, 0, 77" />
<NetMapYouOwnAboveWater value="0, 255, 255, 255" />
<NetMapYouOwnBelowWater value="0, 200, 200, 255" />
<NetMapGroupOwnAboveWater value="255, 0, 255, 255" />
<NetMapGroupOwnBelowWater value="200, 0, 200, 255" />
<NetMapOtherOwnAboveWater value="60, 60, 60, 255" />
<NetMapOtherOwnBelowWater value="30, 30, 30, 255" />
<NetMapThisRegion value="255, 255, 255, 255" />
<NetMapLiveRegion value="204, 204, 204, 255" />
<NetMapDeadRegion value="255, 128, 128, 255" />
<NetMapFrustum value="255, 255, 255, 20" />
<NetMapFrustumRotating value="255, 255, 255, 51" />

With this:

<!-- MINI-MAP -->
<NetMapBackgroundColor value="0, 0, 0, 77" />
<NetMapYouOwnAboveWater value="0, 100, 100, 100" />
<NetMapYouOwnBelowWater value="0, 100, 100, 100" />
<NetMapGroupOwnAboveWater value="100, 0, 100, 100" />
<NetMapGroupOwnBelowWater value="100, 0, 100, 100" />
<NetMapOtherOwnAboveWater value="60, 60, 60, 100" />
<NetMapOtherOwnBelowWater value="30, 30, 30, 100" />
<NetMapThisRegion value="255, 255, 255, 255" />
<NetMapLiveRegion value="204, 204, 204, 255" />
<NetMapDeadRegion value="255, 128, 128, 255" />
<NetMapFrustum value="255, 255, 255, 20" />
<NetMapFrustumRotating value="255, 255, 255, 51" />

[Teddy Schumann]

Aye, thank ye so much, Steph :)