52 replies to this topic

[Unsung Hero]

I rarely use external editors at all. When sprite editing, I just use the one already on GM. For sound editing I usually use Audacity or something like that. I don't use external coding editors; just the one on GM.

Edited by Unsung Hero, 25 January 2011 - 01:55 AM.

[NakedPaulToast]

I never use the external editor options. On the rare occasion that any of them doesn't suffice, I'll just run it and then cut and paste.

[Takagi]

I used the Windows Sound Recorder for sound editing.

[Manuel777]

I dont actually use the option, but i do use lots of programs to edit and make my resources (images and sounds)

[Shadow Link]

I don't use the option for external editors. My workflow is the same as Smarty's: Concentrate on one asset at a time externally, import when ready, use placeholders when not. I wouldn't miss it if it were removed, though it seems a few people do change their options.

[Penguinstar]

I use GIMP for Graphics, Audicity for audio...
I really don't like or use the in-bulit graphics editor...not advanced...
I think a re-vamped graphics editor would be great....

[kburkhart84]

I have never used the external editor options. I think they would be a little more useful if they were used similar to shortcuts. Instead of not returning to GM until the other program exits, you should simply let the program open, and be able to use GM at the same time. I don't expect integration with other software, which is simply too much to ask for. But, you could have it where when you click to go the external editor, it saves a file that is compatible with that editor(for images, something generic like PNG), and then opens that file in the editor. Meanwhile, you should be able to go back to GM if you want. Without closing the other program, you would re-save the file, and GM could either detect automatically that the file changed(similar to Unity) or wait until you press a button, and reload the file into the resource.

But as it is, I don't see a need to remove it from the options(I believe it is already stated that it isn't going to be removed). It isn't affecting game speed, or even editor speed, and it is way out of anyone's way.

[Derme]

I've never tried the external editors until just now, using a external code editor (Notepad++ with the GML extension) was usable, but watching the program close every time I just wanted to even view a script was annoying. If the external editors were kept a "View" and "Edit" option should be added. In view you'd just see the code inside GM and edit would bring up a external code editor. I think someone said something very similar in a previous post.

As for the sound editors, seeing as GM doesn't even have a trimming function, everyone who edits their sounds have to use an external editor. Though personally I will never use the option inside GM to open a external editor, I would prefer to have the editor running alongside GM.

Finally the image editor, ever since GM8 brought in the improved GM image editor, I have only ever had to use Photoshop/GIMP for first creating the image and the GM8 then is fine for touch ups and small edits. If the external editor command was to be useful here, a second button on the sprite properties would be needed so you could pick which editor to edit the image with.

I don't see a need to remove it from the options(I believe it is already stated that it isn't going to be removed). It isn't affecting game speed, or even editor speed, and it is way out of anyone's way.

I completely agree, while it would be nice if the function was improved in GM 8.1, it is out of the way and doesn't effect everyone else, so I see no reason why it can't stay.

[icuurd12b42]

Notepad++... can't be beat.

Internal GM8 image editor is the best I have seen though

Edited by icuurd12b42, 25 January 2011 - 07:17 AM.

[Desert Dog]

I don't use external editors at all. I either use GM, or I use another program... I really don't like the idea of 'joining' the two.

That being said, I don't think it's a bad option.

[mcoot]

I don't use the external editors functions at all. I'm fine with their removal (though it is possibly a good idea to keep them even if they aren't commonly used), except, of course, for the sound editor (at least until if and when one is built into GM).

Generally I run Photoshop alongside GM and copy and paste the results in, my only complaint being that the transparency isn't kept (that's probably because GM uses separate alpha and not 'real' 32-bit colour - something Mike Dailly said he would like to fix at some point). With GM8 I have found that the new image editor is fine for doing light graphics work, so I don't have to continuously copy and paste from Photoshop all the time.

[Yal]

I use the external editors a lot. Especially for MIDI editing, I use a program called Jazz MIDI Sequencer 4.0 that was written for Windows 98. The good thing with it is that it starts up nearly immediately, almost beating the built-in Image Editor. I spend a great deal of time polishing my BGM MIDI files, and being able to on-the-fly change an instrument or a pitch without having to open the editor, save the file, then load it into GM is a wonderful feeling. When I do something in my games, I often start from scratch and perfects the thing before moving on to the next thing. Goes for sprites, music, levels... And when I need to, I go back and polish or add more frames or a chorus or something.

While a basic built-in music/sound editor would be nice, there's lots of programs that could do the work for you (Audacity is for instance pretty popular and can do millions of things).

The problem with external code editors is that they don't know Game Maker syntax, and the problem with external image editors is that they're too big (Adobeware) or lack all the possibilities of the built-in sprite/image editors (they are absolutely AMAZING! The new gradient fill function makes it possibly to do some photoshop-quality underwater backgrounds, for instance.) But when it comes to sound and music, there is no choice, you have to use external programs to edit them. Sound Recorder does its job for simple sound effects, so it's good to have it predefined as the editor. (Back when I was a newbie, I tried to define that as the editor for MIDI and MP3 music as well. Of course it failed but I couldn't realize why.)

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