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Angle Y-axis of light effect

T

timflightx

Messages
15
Country
netherlands
Hi,

Can somebody here help me out with the following thing. I am just creating some effect files for the apron lights. And I want to change the Y-axis and I don't know if there is a line for it and if it is even possible. This is how it is at the moment:



And this is how I prefer it to be:



If somebody can explain me how to do this I would be very happy. It seems like it is just a line to change the Y-axis!!
Thanks

Regards, Tim
 
Hi Tim:

You may find that this is possible to set most easily by keeping the Effect itself on the vertical axis, then adjust its "Pitch" relative to that vertical axis in your XML placement code when compiling the BGLComp (Effect) object placement BGL. :idea:

See "Pitch" near the end of the Special Effect Tool section in the "Creating Special Effects SDK" for more info:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc526969.aspx#Step1CreateanXMLFile


NOTE: The online MSDN SDK documentation for ESP is essentially identical to that for FSX SP2. ;)


If by "Apron lights" you are referring to what may more often be called "Ramp Lights", you may wish to review these links:

http://www.google.com/#output=search&sclient=psy-ab&q=FSDeveloper+ramp+light&oq=FSDeveloper+ramp+light&gs_l=hp.3..33i21.2111.16653.1.19821.22.22.0.0.0.0.266.3909.0j18j4.22.0....0...1c.1.19.hp.BahSSdhyhgw&psj=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.48705608,d.aWc&fp=f63cc7b990c20fb7&biw=1366&bih=680



PS: You may also wish to review the info posted here recently relative to the 'Pros and Cons' ...to use of 'Effects' as RWY and/or Taxiway lights at airports: :alert:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=426677

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=426678


Hope this helps ! :)

GaryGB
 
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Well, that sounds quite good. I am going to figure out how that works since I didn't use that method but I used MCX to add effect points and exported them as MDL. But I am going to try this :)

I will let you know the results!!
Thanks

Tim
 
Hey, the compiling isn't working. When the pitch is zero it compiles well but when I change the pitch to (for example) 30 degrees it won't compile. Is there also a possibility to change it within the .fx file itself?

Thanks

Tim
 
Hi Tim:



Please post in here, a report of what symptoms and/or error message was generated by BGLComp which you saw associated with the compilation failure(s).


FYI: In addition to examining any screen captures you might post here, we might all learn more about this scenario from a review of any error messages which may be generated by the BGLComp compiler.


I'd recommend using Arno's excellent "CompileHelper 2.0":

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/downloads.php?do=file&id=75


[EDITED]

After the path to FSX SDK Resample and any other applicable SDK or 3rd party compilers is added to the CompileHelper info fields in its GUI, one can then use the Windows Explorer file manager (aka "Computer" or "My Computer") to Drag-N-Drop one's ex: *.XML file onto CompileHelper ...rather than directly onto ex: BGLComp.

After a (attempted) compile procedure, the FSX SDK Resample and any other applicable SDK or 3rd party compilers' output text messages (for either successful compilation or various errors etc.) ...are retained in the CompileHelper window for subsequent review for as long as that instance of one's CompileHelper task session is left open in Windows.

Compiler error messages captured and retained by CompileHelper can be copied and pasted into a post here; for better legibility, you can insert that text from CompileHelper in between forum formatting tags using the "CODE" delimiter (click the '#' icon) in the 'Reply to Thread' editor ex:
HTML: 
[CODE]Error message text goes here[/CODE]



PS: To answer your other question above, you may be able to change Y-axis orientation of a FS Effect depending on what type it is, and how it is coded.


FYI: You can test FS Effect (*.FX file) code parameter value changes interactively with a live 3D preview using:

* Arno's stand-alone FXEditor:

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=FXEditor


...or inside a FSX flight session by enabling visualfxtool.dll in your DLL.XML ...using:


* FSX 'Creating Special Effects' SDK "Special Effects Tool" (aka : "FX Tool")


To conditionally enable visualfxtool.dll file, in the DLL.XML file, its entry should read:

<Launch.Addon>
<Name>Visual Effects Tool</Name>
<Disabled>False</Disabled>
<ManualLoad>True</ManualLoad>
<Path>..\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Special Effects SDK\visualfxtool.dll</Path>
</Launch.Addon>

At the prompt when FSX starts up, one can choose whether to run visualfxtool.dll each session manually, or every session automatically.



To permanently disable visualfxtool.dll file, in the DLL.XML file, its entry should read:

<Launch.Addon>
<Name>Visual Effects Tool</Name>
<Disabled>True</Disabled>
<ManualLoad>True</ManualLoad>
<Path>..\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Special Effects SDK\visualfxtool.dll</Path>
</Launch.Addon>


One can find the DLL.XML file for enabling / disabling visualfxtool.dll and other FS default / 3rd party *.DLLs located in:

Windows XP:

C:\Documents and Settings\[user account or profile name]\Application Data\Microsoft\FSX


Windows Vista / Win-7:

C:\Users\[user account or profile name]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\FSX

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=SDK_Installation_(FSX)_-_Troubleshooting

http://www.simforums.com/forums/fsx-sdk-install-guide_topic31522.html


BTW: A convenient FS utility with a GUI to manage the DLL.XML and EXE.DLL files used to enable / disable visualfxtool.dll & other FS default / 3rd party *.DLLs:

ModuleToolX 0.4

http://library.avsim.net/search.php?SearchTerm=moduletoolx_0.4.zip&CatID=root&Go=Search



Also, Finney Ground "Cross Hairs Plus" (aka "CH Plus" or "CH+") is very good for previewing Effects with FSX SDK 'Fx Tool', as the cross-hairs 3-D model is relatively thin, and all but the tiniest Effects normally can be seen, especially with Jim Robinsons excellent 2.5 Meter sized version which is open in the center.

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showpost.php?p=124985&postcount=4

http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19052


[END_EDIT]


Hope this helps ! :)

GaryGB
 
Last edited:
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