Arcade

Map Making Tutorials

Publishing

The new Battle.net publishing system allows you to publish your maps and mods directly to the Battle.net service, where they are permanently stored online and made available for others to play within the game. If you want to play your map online with other players, or if you want others to be able to use your mod in their maps, it must first be published to Battle.net.
Publishing Your Map or Mod

Publishing is done through the editor. First, open the map or mod you want to publish, and use the File > Publish command from any module window. This will open a dialog for configuring the publishing details, as follows:

Log In - Click the Log In button in the left panel to log in to Battle.net using your Battle.net account and StarCraft II character.

Published Name - The published name of your map or mod is what uniquely identifies it on Battle.net, and this name must not already be in use by any existing map or mod that has already been published by another user. By default, this will be the name defined through Map > Map Info or in the Document Info component within the Overview Manager.

If this name is already in use, or if you want to publish using a different name, click the Change Name button to enter a new name. You may also specify a different name for each language the game supports, but this is not required. Note that the name in each language must be unique across all languages.

Revision - Each published file has a version number associated with it. When you re-publish a map or mod that you have already published (that is, using the same published name), this version number will be incremented automatically. You can choose to increment it as a Minor revision, which generally means only small tweaks or fixes have been made, or as a Major revision, which means significant changes have been made.

Release (Maps only) - When you choose a Private release, the map will not be available to other players within the game, and only you will be able to create games using this map, after which you may invite other players into the game. This is a good way to test your map with friends online before releasing it to everyone. When you choose a Public release, the map will be available to the entire StarCraft II community, and anyone can create a game using your map.

Author - The author name will automatically display as your StarCraft II character, or you may optionally choose Show Real Name to have your real name shown instead.

Locked For Editing (Maps only) - Before publishing a map for the first time, you are required to choose whether it will be Locked or Unlocked.

NOTE: Once published, a Locked map cannot be opened in the editor by anyone, including yourself. Choose this option if you want to prevent others from viewing or copying your map using the editor. However, make sure to retain a local copy of your map for future modification in the editor.

NOTE: An Unlocked map can be opened by other users within the editor. Choose this option if you would like share your map with other map makers. This is a good way to contribute to the map making community, but keep in mind that others will be able to copy and publish the map as their own.

Locked (Owner Use Only) (Mods only) - Similar to maps, mods must also be either Locked or Unlocked.

A Locked mod will not be available to other users, and only you will be able to include it in the maps you make.

An Unlocked mod can be used by others in their maps, and sharing your mods with other map makers can benefit the map making community significantly. But as with maps, remember that an unlocked mod may also be copied by others.

Storage Requirements - Battle.net has the following limits for published files per user: up to ten individual maps or mods (represented as "slots" in the dialog), with no more than 50 MB total size, and no more than 10 MB used for any single map or mod.

If there are any additional requirements for publishing the map or mod, they will be listed on the left. Once everything has been configured, you can accept the dialog, and your file will be uploaded to Battle.net. Upload progress can be seen in the File Transfers window which will automatically be shown. When the upload is complete, you can hop in the game and play your map!

Managing Your Published Files

Once you've published one or more files to Battle.net, you can use the File > Manage Published command from any editor module to open a window for viewing all of your currently published files. You can log in to Battle.net from this window, and must do so in order to see your files.

Storage Used - Shows you how many publishing slots and how much storage space is currently being used by your account.

File List - Lists all maps and mods published to your account, with basic details about the status of the files. Selecting a file will show additional information and a preview image on the right.

Remove From Account - This button will remove the selected map or mod from your account and free up a storage slot. This means it will no longer be available for play or use through the Battle.net service. Note that for mods, any existing published maps that include the mod will still be able to access the old mod data, but newly created maps will no longer be able to use it.

Open In Editor - This button will open the map or mod in the editor, where it can be modified and saved to a new local file. This can only be done for Unlocked maps or mods.

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Comments (66)

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XGDragon #682
XGDragon
5/10/2013
Storage Requirements - Battle.net has the following limits for published files per user: up to ten individual maps or mods (represented as "slots" in the dialog), with no more than 50 MB total size, and no more than 10 MB used for any single map or mod.

These numbers are higher these days. Can this be updated please?
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PuffCaKe #801
PuffCaKe
5/2/2013
I published a map, but when I try to update it it says that the map name is already taken...? Even though I own that map and am only updating it...? Could it be because I am using HOTS? even when I try to use the wings if lib original map it says that the name is already taken...?
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How do I change the description of the map? I've looked through everything and it's the last thing I need to do. Please help!
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Kalil #111
Kalil
3/24/2013
i got it for the document description problem click on the tumbnail named map then click on map info, change the description, then save your map it should be ok after that
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Kalil #111
Kalil
3/24/2013
i cant get to that step cause it's telling me that the document description has not been changed from the default text how can i solve this issue?
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blackabyss #789
blackabyss
3/22/2013
where can i change the document description?
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MalZen #188
MalZen
2/25/2013
Apologies for being kind of a realist downer; but I cannot grasp the purpose behind this convoluted publishing system. It is a pain to properly publish, especially if you receive errors. The 20 map upload cap is a big bummer if you simply wish to tweak melee maps to play with friends. If y'all were unable to figure out a more amicable means to play edited maps in a private party (or recall how old blizzard approached it perhaps... Locally downloaded maps); then I feel private publishes should have a higher cap.
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Templar #113
Templar
2/21/2013
Can i publish already locked map, wich i cant open?
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Hercules #868
Hercules
2/6/2013
When I go to play my map in arcade and I click play, it does not open a lobby, but instead just says "waiting for players" as it does when I am doing people vs AI. How do I fix this? The map is called "Da Battle of 300"
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windsor #420
windsor
1/26/2013
has any one actually published the game that it is trying to make?
if so i want to play it.
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LawXClownedz #292
LawXClownedz
12/31/2012
I would like to know from a moder, how many textures, sounds, or models does the 20mb limit represent.

Is optimizing the map very important?

I am considering remaking the sounds of the existing models (lets pretend 200 sounds), would the map be too big?

Another optionnal question : Should i wait for HoTs to make my map ? i heard that they were adding a lots of new models, but after a litlle research it didnt seem to be the case, thank you , good day
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DeathBringer #960
DeathBringer
11/14/2012
I published the game in "Locked - Private" and I cant see it in the game. Whats the problem?
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Executor #163
Executor
1/6/2013
@DeathBringer: I keep having the same problem and can't find out what is wrong with it
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stormjustin #466
stormjustin
10/23/2012
I created a map using the Creator, its a three player map. i added three spawnpaionts for the game. I publishes it and went to invite my friends to play it but they couldnt play? didnt give the option to even invite them. What is wrong? (email stormjustin10@yahoo.com) or just replie on here
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BLaCKeaGLe #688
BLaCKeaGLe
9/11/2012
How do i add other computer players to play a match on my published map?
It doesn't give me an option to add them.. any ideas??
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DarcZaFire #558
DarcZaFire
8/29/2012
and no more than 10 MB used for any single map or mod. <<< outdated. I was pretty sure they changed the map size to 20 or 21MB?
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Paragon #541
Paragon
8/8/2012
When I select public in publish... it isn't public when I check custom maps. I can only make it public manually if I create a game. Is there a way to make it public so that others can play it even when I am not logged on?
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Distress #325
Distress
7/21/2012
Once you have a map installed, if the publisher updates it does it update it your installed one, or do you have reinstall the new version?
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TheBigPole #486
TheBigPole
7/14/2012
I have a prob i cant publish because it says :Document dependency header file not available., what does this mean and how do i fix it
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OCHOA #563
OCHOA
6/20/2012
when i try to play the map it 1) only allows one team 2) automaticlly tells me it a tie 3) if i press return to game i dont have any units or command center. Does it have something to do with the programming script that i have to do? I need some help!!
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TheBigPole #486
TheBigPole
7/14/2012
@OCHOA: put down starting points so that way you get your starting units
and command center
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jack #752
jack
6/13/2012
I can't poblish it says it is not available on teams 01 (mod) and liberty multi (mod) how do I make them available
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GREENDUDE #666
GREENDUDE
5/29/2012
how do i play my publish map vs computer not online
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Diode #210
Diode
6/2/2012
@GREENDUDE: Run it through the editor.
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TheRandomGuy #304
TheRandomGuy
5/27/2012
How come I met all the requirements but I can't publish saying "You've lost connection" even though I didn't. Someone help me.
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Diode #210
Diode
6/2/2012
@TheRandomGuy: when you publish you can't be log on battle.net till it say upload is completed.
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Tacoos #607
Tacoos
4/30/2012
Is there a thread for publishing errors or anything along those lines? I've looked for a wiki or guide but they all seem about as cryptic as the map editor it self.
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TheBomber #585
TheBomber
4/7/2012
Hey everyone I have done every thing but I cant seem to find my published map and play it, any help?
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TheDestor #747
TheDestor
4/9/2012
@TheBomber: That's easy, just go to "Create Game" in multiplayer, go up to the top, change the first filter from "Blizzard" to "My Published"
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Blackyogurt #795
Blackyogurt
1/4/2013
@TheDestor: THX man
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TheDestor #747
TheDestor
3/30/2012
I'm sorry if this sounds dumb, but I'm still relatively new at this map making
I'm really happy with the map I made, but apparently it's too large. How do I make it smaller without taking anything important out? If it helps, I have custom data/units/upgrades and custom triggers. Oh, and a custom sound track.
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codebuster #775
codebuster
3/20/2012
dont got to be mean about it
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GamingJake #422
GamingJake
3/5/2012
Wow KiTTyCat!
Okay you log into the game create a game. Pick your map from my published or search for your map within the popularity system.
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THINEENEMY #469
THINEENEMY
2/2/2012
How do you play your own map?
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spartan #1350
spartan
1/11/2012
how go into place to create map??????????????? requesting feedback!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!????????????????????
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TheHim #168
TheHim
3/6/2012
@spartan: I had this problem too! The "Map Editor" comes with Starcraft II. It should install automatically in addition to the game when you install off a disk, or (I think) you can download it off the internet in the same way as you download the game. If you used a disk, it should be somewhere in your "all programs" folder.
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Dubgee #114
Dubgee
12/18/2011
for what????
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Adovid #349
Adovid
9/10/2011
Thanks for this.
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Hakutsuru #960
Hakutsuru
8/25/2011
I wanna play this map
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TacoManStan #456
TacoManStan
7/23/2011
This is outdated, it still has the old file size and map limit requirements listed.