Hey, I would also like to see this question answered. I've run into the same problem; when you save to the custom maps folder, nothing appears 'in game'.

As for the editor itself, I can answer this one. To place an object, first select the type from along the top (star, planet, resource, ship, asteriods, etc.), then place it anywhere you would like it to go. Once you have placed the base object type, right click on it to open a pop-up modifier which will allow you to alter the star's density, the planet's quality, the type of resource, and so on.

Thanks for all the answers guys

Anyway, for any others interested in this, I have finally found the answer. It seems that either most do not have this problem or are highly skilled at these things. The problem is where the map defaults to save - at least for some people.

The defaulted spot C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv\Mods\Default

is incorrect and should be through

Twilight\Data\CustomMaps\Yourmaphere

So, act23456, load your map on the editor and resave it through this file and you should be good to go

here is the full and exact string that I use

C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Twilight\Gfx\RaceLogo999


with bold being typed exactly like that but you can sub 999 for whatever number you want, untill you get the hand of it, use numbers over 100 though as the default ones use under that number.

C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\Twilight\Data\CustomMaps

___________________________________________________

Also, I could not find how to explore TA on my desktop, so this might help if you want some graphical help assuming you have Impulse, I'm not sure if StarDock has the same approach,

Go to MY Games Tab in the Impulse platform. Right Click on your TA game, select opens application folder and then on the left side of your screen, scroll down to find TA and expand that folder, then Data, then Custom maps, if this is not your exact setup, then you should be able to find the whole string anyway from figuring out where the other custom maps are. THis could help you as it certainly helped me. I believe you can explore the game the same way from your computer, but I have no idea what kind of system you have.