LAST EDITED ON Dec-11-04 AT 03:38 PM (EST)
This is the second public beta test. This set of programs is the almost final versions of the sphere creator. There are earlier versions of this posted elsewhere on the forum. Location:
http://home.cfl.rr.com/bvefl/sphere.zip
The Zip file contains a bit map file to create a unispnere ( see attached photo) a globe and a BVE map file. There are two versions of the sphere creator, one that uses cylinder commands and one that uses vertex commands. The second was created to answer some questions about the first and also allows the finished file to be changed by the file converter ( see other post). See below for restrictions on the file downloads. Final versions will be posted in the usual locations when all input has been received.
When the original beta of the sphere creator was created there were some questions by users. The essential questions came down to: is this the best way to create a sphere and to map a bit map to the outside. I will let others expand on this question for themselves. I did and do not have the answer to that, so the question to the community is does this work, or is there a better way? If so what?
Other questions such as why do this can also be discussed, but my reason was, first, can I do this and second, as we move toward BVE 4 can we/do we need more complete objects. The second question also contains within it the frame rate hits a complex object might make. BVE 4 does better, but can still be hit hard. Earlier test with a sphere created with cylinder commands vs an X object version of the same sphere seemed to show the Cylinder version was better received.
Below is a screen shot of the two version: the vertex version on the left, the cylinder version on the right (creator 3 and 10 in the zip file.)
Sphere radius is radius of sphere in meters
Segments, in the cylinder version, # of elements around the equator, #*2 around the poles, in the vertex version, # of elements in both directions. ( cylinder version started as a hemisphere creator so it is a little different)Map file: name of bit map used to cover the sphereMap rate, # of times vertically or horizontally the map is made. I.e. 1 and 1 is once in each direction 2 x 1 would be twice around and once high. Note that in the cylinder version, the map is applied to n-1 segments around the equator with the nth segment having the map backwards. ( a function of the cylinder command??) In the vertex version the map is made to n-1 segments also. The nth segment is not mapped yet is shows the same mapping a cylinder command.Base color, if you do not map a bit map, the color of the sphereTransparent color, the transparent color on the bit map file. When using the vertex version and the inside mapping feature, you can make a transparent sphere to get something like the unisphere show below.Output name, what you want to call the sphere.The cylinder version can make hemispheres. The vertex version can do inside or outside mapping.Suggested settings, Make a 18 element sphere and use the world map or BVE logo in a 1 x 1 map. Same sphere with the BVE logo and an 18 x 18 map rate. Unisphere, use the BW map file an 18 or so element sphere and inside mapping. Transparent color 0,0,255.Also try this, but expect it to fail or take a LONG time. With either version create a 180 and 360 element sphere, with the map rate equal to the elements. Look at them in structure viewer. On my system, only half the sphere would show.
Restrictions:
1)Do not distribute this software, it is Alpha software and probably buggy.
2) Do not distribute the link. To participate, people must come here and at least read The beginning of the thread.
3) If you download and use, direct any comments, criticisms and suggestions to this thread on this forum. this is where any problems will be ironed out. If you send me email, please use the Train-sim links to do so.
4) You may not reverse engineer this program. ( If you want the code, ask. I can probably use the help) Software is VB.
5) The first time you post, please indicate your system configuration: Operating system ( with service packs) video and processor.
Attachments
http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/41bb54c460ad643e.jpg
http://www.train-sim.com/dcforum/User_files/41bb5501618683e8.jpg
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