I need some help getting the map editor to work. Anyone know what to do? I'm sure others have had this question, so forgive me if this seems repetitive. I haven't found anything that worked so I figured I'd ask here.

So anyway, I'm on Windows 10 with fantastic hardware specs. I also have the Windows version on disk, but I'm not sure how to install it. The reason I mention this; is the Windows version any better than this updated DOS version through GoG? If anyone has any clues on that, I know there is an update file online that I can grab, so I would also like to know how I can install that.

Anyway, back to the more relevant topic here... I'd like to just get the map editor to run.

Are you running it through DOSBox?

How would I do that? I can't seem to figure out how to use DOSBox

EDIT: So far I can get it to open, but it crashes immediately. It only finally opened once I put my Windows 95 disc in and I set compatibility mode to Windows 95 on the editor. Just can't get it past the initial white screen when it starts.

If you install the DOS version of the game, the setup program should also install the editor, with a shortcut using DOSBox.

Anyway, HoMM 1 is hardly worth bothering with, when HoMM 2 and 3 are available.

Having the same issue. Came across your post researching a solution today. Did you ever figure it out? From what I can see it appears to be a configuration change (?) that GOG may have done due to a specific Windows update(s). The Map Editor when launched from the HOMM directory says the Wing32.dll file is required. Adding the Wing32.dll back to the directory and/or Windows directory as Microsoft suggests doesn't fix the issue either. If you put the Wing32.dll in the GOG/HOMM directory, Windows doesn't like it and if you put in back in Windows, it try's to run the map editor, but asks for the original Windows 95 game CD.

Haven't played this game in over a year, but I used to be able to edit /launch custom maps when I originally download this game form GOG. I put in a queue with Support in hopes of maybe fixing the problem. I did uninstall the game, reinstall, and allow GOG to update the game and it didn't resolve the issue. I did notice that the DOS box menu options no longer has the map editor option it used to have. You only get 3 options to choose from now.

The map editor feature is still available if you happen to have Heroes of Might & Magic: Gold edition, which I believe combines the original game with the second game. Tried it out a bit and it is working for this version of the game.

No, its opposite to what you say. There is almost NO proper GOG releases for such old games. All ScummVM are broken
Most of DosBox are outdatet and DOS-only ripped. While heors1 game is originally DOS only, still Win-edition been superior and more updated. You need Windows version.
And it probably inluded in image disc present in game files... homm1.gog (copy and rename it to .img)
It should be multi-tracks but looks like there is no cue file for that bin. Bin itself (renamed to gog) can be one track only.
Better use this or any else normal Windows re-edition disc's\image's to intsall proper Windows version and update
http://redump.org/disc/81014
and patch (for EU version actually)
http://patches.ubi.com/heroes_might_magic_1/

Anyway, better mount cue\ccd\etc disc image file (bin gog or else is NOT an image file, image files is tiny ones and looks like there is no one in GOG build, so i cant say how to proper mount it, CDMage tool required probably to create cue file, again this time better not use anything from GOG, they mess with heroes1\2 releases a little bit more than usual)
to Daemon Tools (Lite 4, not newer) SCSI virtual driver (SPTD driver required), then using Alcohol (120% FreeEdition) to make new image from image.
Only new one mds(+mdf) should be used to install game.

Almost all DosBox releases here have missing dll\etc issues.

As for DosBox'ed executables not have own start link files for GOG releases - just drag-n-drop them exe onto bundled DosBox executable (within same game installation folders or by using your own installed separatly DosBox client - but that reqire few conf-file's editing).

Also, there is something in this article
[url=http://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Heroes_of_Might_and_Magic:_A_Strategic_Quest]http://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Heroes_of_Might_and_Magic:_A_Strategic_Quest[/url]
but whole article and this issue description refer to initially wrong GOG build version. GOG version is not a good source.

If there is real compatibility issues (and not wrong actions from GOG or user) - HeroesGL wrapper mod by Verok for Windows version.
Its easier than trying to find best-latest Windows re-editon (dozen of them in many compilations) version and patches.

If you're having trouble with DOSBox, go here, https://www.vogons.org/index.php and ask in the appropriate forum.

Good news!
GOG has finally updated the game and the map editor now works perfectly.
Better late than never, I guess.

The update doesn't work for me. It got rid of the WING.DLL error, but it just launches to a black screen and crashes. There's a pop up, but I can't read it because the screen is black

OK. Just tried installing the game from scratch. The issue you've mentioned happens.
For some bizarre reason if one launches the editor using the Galaxy client it opens without issues. And then the editor always works perfectly, without ever needing Galaxy again.

I suspect that whoever "fixed" the Editor issue, somehow must have unintentionally linked the Editor to some Galaxy activation. I'll try sending a support ticket so that the Editor can be launched only through the offline installers.

To OP:
If you have Galaxy installed on your PC, run the editor through it and it'll fix the issue.

I was incredibly bored at work today. Be nice to me for over analyzing this. Thanks.

Galaxy runs a few things before it runs the actual Editor. It goes by way too quick for me to see what it was though.
I was suspecting some form of Virtual CD drive. But, looking deeper it runs "editor.cmd" which just sets 6 registry settings. Neat! Not sure how that fixes the popup wanting the original disk in the drive.

The registry settings:
All are DWORDs (listed in decimal for easier reading)
All in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\New World Computing\Heroes of Might and Magic\1.0
Editor Show Menu 1
Editor Full Screen 0
Editor X 10
Editor Y 10
Editor Height 600
Editor Width 800

BUT! When looking at the above registry section you will notice a ton more settings (for running the regular Windows version which they are not using). And CDDrive is set to the main folder GoG installs HoMM1 in. (so blahGogFolderStuff>\HoMM). That probably fixes the Disk popup. I don't see any cmd file that it runs for this. I suspect this is something done when installing thru the offline installers, or thru first install thru Galaxy.
Or, most of the other settings (for sure), and maybe the CDDrive (but doubt it), get set when the Editor is first run.

Edit: did a fresh install (including removing the Heroes of Might Magic full registry key section).
Install from Galaxy adds AppPath, CDDrive path, and the 6 Editor registry entries. I noted all set as above, except the Full Screen comes set as 1. And
Running the editor directly before using it from Galaxy and it still does not run.
First time just popups the Please insert CD the first time. But adds of other registry entries. And changes Width to 640 and Height to 480.
Second time actually tries to run at full screen 640x480 but is black the second time. I suspect the EDITOR doesn't see everything in the registry it wants to and resets a few things on first startup but pops up the CD error like it didn't read what was already in there.
Running the editor.cmd (Galaxy does this EVERYTIME you run the editor form its menu) sets the above 6 Editor registry entries, then starts the editor.

More research. Fresh install with Editor values set incorrectly, but before first run of EDITOR, either in galaxy or straight from folder). Change Full Screen to 0.
Results: pops up cd in driver error, Full Screen reset to 1, Height/Width to 480/640.
Second start up, tries to do full screen and fails.
Must run thru galaxy to reset those three values to correct. Or manually change them. It then works.

Fresh install, as above, run editor.cmd directly. The registry entries fail to update due to access privileges. But when it runs the editor.exe it DOES ask for admin rights. Which fails as above.
LOCAL_MACHINE registry entries does require admin.

Fresh install, running editor.cmd as admin. Same result as above. Running editor first time fails as above. running editor.cmd second time as admin works. editor then runs by itself fine.

Fresh install, running thru galaxy for first time.
Result, fails as above.
Second time run, it works, and then can run by itself outside of galaxy.

So, I suspect the editor is looking for some of those other registry settings in the same area as the above 6. Which ones I do not know. It puts them there first run but ignores the few already set, and resets them to its defaults. Which then lets it sort of run the second time but fail on the 640x480 full screen resolution thing.
Resetting it to do no full screen lets it run in a window. The resolution being set to 800x600 is just minimum size thing GoG is setting I suppose.
If you try to then run it at full screen by hitting F4 in the editor program it does pop up a DirectDraw error and closes. So... no full screen for it.
You CAN run it at 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768 or 1280x1024, but NOT full screen of course.
But, the editor.cmd thru galaxy will reset that to 800x600 everytime if you run it thru Galaxy.

Notes:because you gave Galaxy admin rights during install, it can run things as admin without any sort of popup. This, mildly concerns me on a computer security level. It just runs the editor.cmd and editor.exe as admin without getting a UAC prompt. Manually running the editor WILL prompt for UAC
Notes: uninstall leaves three registry entries in there. editor full screen, Editor Y, and CDDrive. Doesn't really matter to be honest. But funny to think they forgot to add these three to the "remove these entries" list.

Thanks for taking the time to check this issue exhaustively.
Unfortunately I still haven't received any reply to my support ticket and AFAIK GOG still hasn't uploaded any update to the offline installer.

Not sure they will update the offline installers. Do you want me to copy the cmd file? It does have to be run twice as admin. But once done... the HOMM1 editor works fine.

---- start of editor.cmd file----
@echo off
@REM SET locpath=%~dp0
@REM SET locpath=%locpath:~0,-1%

setlocal
cd /d %~dp0

SET regpath="HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\New World Computing\Heroes of Might and Magic\1.0"

REG ADD %regpath% /v "Editor Show Menu" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f /reg:32
REG ADD %regpath% /v "Editor X" /t REG_DWORD /d 10 /f /reg:32
REG ADD %regpath% /v "Editor Y" /t REG_DWORD /d 10 /f /reg:32
REG ADD %regpath% /v "Editor Width" /t REG_DWORD /d 800 /f /reg:32
REG ADD %regpath% /v "Editor Height" /t REG_DWORD /d 600 /f /reg:32
REG ADD %regpath% /v "Editor Full Screen" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f /reg:32

start EDITOR.exe
exit
---that was the end of editor.cmd file"

Honestly, run that as admin twice. The editor will run in wodowed mode there on even if started from windows directly.

Note: filename.cmd are the Windows NT (Xp/Vista/7/8/10/11/whatever comes in the future) equivalent batch file. Or consider it a windows script file.

Thank you for your help in adressing this issue. I wish GOG techs were as diligent as you concerning game compatibility problems.