The Ultimate Simfile FAQ

[robert01]

file --> save as --> at the bottom
type whatever you want your file to be called, (say.. songnamehere.DWI)
not just "songnamehere" make sure its on NOTEPAD, not on microsoft word
or any of that crap, there too professional and probably will change something there, if it is on notepad and its not working
get ya comp fixed lmao

[maxxrdw]

Originally Posted by Kryai

I can't seem to save it as .dwi, only .txt. o_o

same i dont get ow this works

[businessman07]

no?
slow?
yes.

[Helloween]

I sort of have a question, I got my step mania somg loaded, but I downloaded the song from t stepmania site, can I still put the simfile on and if i can how?

[Ramengan]

Originally Posted by Helloween

I sort of have a question, I got my step mania somg loaded, but I downloaded the song from t stepmania site, can I still put the simfile on and if i can how?

What exactly are you asking? Do you want to put a simfile that you got from the Stepmania website into the simfile database? If that's what you want, then you're not allowed to, because they aren't your steps. If that's not what you want... please clarify.

Also, I think you can use Microsoft Word and other text editor programs to create .dwi or .sm files. I tried it once and it looked the same as it did in notepad, and no screw ups in the files or anything. Just go to "Save as..." and Click on the drop-down menu "Save as type:" and choose 'All Files'. Then name your simfile, add .dwi or .sm (doesn't matter, really, Stepmania reads both), and Save! Not too bad, right?
A .dwi or .sm file is, in essence, a plain text file that is read and interpreted specially by the Stepmania program.

[Zero0o]

Er.. I have a problem. I created a folder in songs named "Zero's Stepfiles" then a folder inside that named "Lorelei" and then inside that I put the song and the .dwi file, but when I go to Stepmania it doesn't even show up to edit... I don't know what's wrong -.- Does the song have to be in a certain format? It's an MP3....

[Zero0o]

Actually, it's WMA. So I guess that's not accepted.

[POOPTURTLE]

4.2 Theory
The banner and Background should provide a similar feel to the one that the song creates. This provides greater harmony. No, I cannot describe how to do this, you just have to experiment to get it. This means don't photoshop some tie dye bullcrap for a dark song. Likewise, don't make a black BG for speedcore rave.

4.3 BG
Generally 640x480. The top and bottom 50 pixels or so are cut off by the top and bottom of the screen, so try to keep any text from drifting into that area unless you want it to be covered up after the bars come in.

4.4 Banner
256x80. Always have a banner, that way when people take screenshots it identifies your song. Also, always put the name of the song in the banner.

Uhhhh... I dont know how you get the BG and banner to work. I tried using add/edit bg change, that made it too small and it didn't appear right away. I tried editing the sm or dwi (or whichever has the bg/banner strings). Yet despite this, I have everything else. The pic's in the folder, yet it still continues to show the default stepmania bg. It should work, being a jpg file... I don't know what's wrong.

[Ramengan]

Originally Posted by Stepmania README

If a song file does not specify a valid banner file, StepMania first looks for a graphic in the song folder that contains the word "banner". If that search fails, StepMania will guess which image is most appropriate.

If a song file does not specify a valid background file, StepMania first looks for a graphic in the song folder that contains the words "bg" or "background". If that search fails, StepMania will guess which image is most appropriate.

If a song file does not specify a valid CDTitle file, StepMania will look for a graphic in the song folder that contains the words "cdtitle". If that search fails, StepMania will guess which image is most appropriate.

If there is exactly one movie in the song folder, StepMania will insert a background change to that movie at beat 0.

Basically, if your banner has the word 'banner' in its name, background has 'bg' or 'background' in its name, etc, etc, then Stepmania SHOULD automatically use those files. I think you need to reload the songs (somewhere in Stepmania's options menu) for this to take effect.

Hope that helps.
PM me or post on my profile if you have any other questions.

[Aa_Doodaa]

How do I upload a sim to the FFR Simfile database? (I have a good Xepher one to share )

[Ramengan]

There's a link at the top of the page, it says "Simfile DB". Click it. On that page, there's a link below that will say "Upload". Follow the instructions and you should be fine.

[Aa_Doodaa]

oh thanks a lot bud, you're a great Simfile artist btw

[Ramengan]

Thanks. If anyone's read this far in the FAQ and they are STILL unsure about something, pm me or post on my wall.

[666vampire666]

Ok, I keep looking through everything and I'm not finding what program I'm supposed to use to make the simfiles. Can someone please explain this to me, and sorry if it's already been somewhere.

[Ramengan]

Well, it's been just about EVERYWHERE (including in this guide). I doubt you looked at all.

Click this link.
Stepmania

[xcrono1321]

Tooo Complicated

[ffr6]

if i hav a song on audacity
how do i put it on here???

[jakesprettyflashy]

Can anyone help me, I'm trying to a stepfile for SMMAX of the Mortal Combat theme song, however, the version I have is about 5 or six minutes long, and I would like to be able to cut it short to about 3 20 or so, does anyone know how I can cut it shorter?!? (most helpful would be if I didn't have to download 230498230498230498230498 different softwares to do it). If you know the answer post here, but prefferably send me a PM

[Yesssss]

You can do it using only Audacity (although you need a plugin to export mp3, ogg will work just fine as a replacement).

[V3T_ddrultramix3]

*sigh* To put a song from Audacity to here, you first have to go to File>Export as mp3 or Ogg (I prefer Ogg because you dont need additional software to convert an AUP into mp3). Save it under a file on your computer. Go to the StepMania program menu and select Create Song. Make steps, yadayadayada. Upload here and you're done.