I've tried using Uber@tion 3 and OSMap 2 to compress/protect my maps, but they always completely mess up the strings for Unit names.

For example, Zerg units are colored Orange in text. Works fine unprotected. Soon as I protect the map, all unit names get switched around or deleted outright. I keep hearing "the string errors were fixed", but I'm not seeing it.

Post the map or just don't protect.

Try a few more compressors, Uberation3 and OS Map 2 are both known to be a bit buggy, OS Map and Uberation 2 are more stable. I would recommend TinyMap, as it will give you the smallest map size, all protectors and unprotectors that are commonly used can be found here: http://falkoner.cow.googlepages.com/programs.html#ProtectionandCompression

Except for The War of Emperium v47b amirite .-.

Perhaps my eyes missed it, but I didn't see Tinymap under programs in the DLDB. Any reason? And yeah I know the link has it. Just saying.

The DLDB doesn't have a lot of useful programs that are out there (especially in terms of modding). I'll get around to harassing people about it eventually.

Yes, a few random maps have things in them that manage to cheat the programs, but in most cases it's true.

i hate to be a downer but map protection is dead.

Map protection might not be what it once was, but the people that will be using these maps won't go out of their way to modify them. And in the rare scenario that one does, it wouldn't matter anyway because the maps will be sanctioned and version checked. The compression is the biggest benefit, and the protection that results from that is just a bonus to hinder anyone that's just trying to modify the map, without any prior map making experience; i.e., doesn't know about unprotectors.

By the way, TinyMap works flawlessly. Thanks!