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ZZT World Editor

ZZT World Editor

Cadence & Code

|
6 installs
| (0) | Free
View and explore ZZT world files
Installation
Launch VS Code Quick Open (Ctrl+P), paste the following command, and press enter.
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ZZT World Editor for VS Code

Welcome to the ZZT World Editor, a VS Code extension designed to help you create and modify ZZT worlds directly within your IDE. This editor provides a visual interface for designing boards, placing elements, and managing game logic.

Getting Started

To begin using the ZZT World Editor:

  1. Open a ZZT World File: Open a .zzt file in VS Code. The editor will automatically launch in a custom editor tab.

Editor Overview

The editor interface consists of the main board view and a sidebar with various tools and palettes.

Tools

Located in the sidebar, these tools control your primary interaction mode with the board:

  • Select Tool: Use this tool to select areas on the board. You can then copy, cut, or paste selections. You can also move selected areas as a "floating layer" on the board.
  • Draw Tool: This is your primary drawing tool. Select an element from the palette and click or drag on the board to place it.
  • Text Tool: For placing text characters directly on the board. Each character placed is a separate ZZT text element.
  • Fill Tool: Use this to flood-fill contiguous areas with the currently selected element.

Element Palette

The sidebar provides various categories of ZZT elements you can use:

  • Terrain: Basic board elements like walls, water, forest, and empty space.
  • Items: Collectible items such as ammo, gems, keys, and energizers.
  • Creatures: Various ZZT creatures like bears, ruffians, sharks, and lions.
  • Puzzle: Interactive elements including boulders, sliders, ricochets, and bombs.
  • Transport: Elements for board navigation, such as passages and transporters.
  • Text: Pre-defined colored text elements.
  • Objects & Other: Special elements like objects, the player, scrolls, and board edges.

Current Brush & History

The editor displays your currently selected element (the "brush"). You can also see a history of recently used brushes for quick access.

Object/Stat Editor

When you select an object or certain interactive elements on the board (e.g., passages), an Object/Stat Editor will appear. Here you can:

  • View and modify the element's properties.
  • Write and edit ZZT-OOP (ZZT's scripting language) code associated with objects.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Many common actions have keyboard shortcuts for efficiency:

  • Arrow Keys: Navigate the cursor on the board. When a floating layer is active (in Select mode), these move the floating layer.
  • Ctrl/Cmd + Arrow Keys: These are not explicitly handled for movement in the editor, but are typically used for system-level navigation or other VS Code commands.
  • Enter:
    • In Select mode: If over an object or text, opens the character selector. Otherwise, picks up the tile under the cursor as the current brush.
    • In Text mode: Moves the cursor to the beginning of the next line.
  • Spacebar: In Select mode, places the current brush/selection onto the board.
  • Backspace / Delete: In Text mode, deletes the character to the left of the cursor.
  • Ctrl/Cmd + C: Copy the current selection to the clipboard.
  • Ctrl/Cmd + X: Cut the current selection to the clipboard.
  • Ctrl/Cmd + V: Paste from the clipboard.
  • C: In Select mode, opens the color selector for the tile under the cursor.
  • B: Opens the board selector for quick navigation between boards.
  • P: Runs the current ZZT world in a ZZT emulator.
  • E:
    • If over a passage, opens the passage editor.
    • If over an object, focuses the object's code editor. (Note: Escape returns you from this editor.)
  • Escape: Clears the current selection or floating layer.

Mouse Interactions

  • Left Click (and Drag):
    • Select Tool: Starts or extends a selection. Dragging a floating layer moves it.
    • Draw Tool: Draws with the current brush.
    • Text Tool: Moves the cursor.
    • Fill Tool: Performs a flood fill.
  • Right Click:
    • Draw Tool: Picks up the tile under the cursor and sets it as the current brush (eyedropper).
    • Fill Tool: Picks up the tile under the cursor and sets it as the current brush (eyedropper).

Display Modes

Toggle between different display modes (e.g., showing object highlights) to assist with editing.

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