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FSXA Creating blinking lights?

mhlarsen

mhlarsen

Messages
176
Country
denmark
What is the best procedure for creating timed blinking lights?

I want a set of two timed blinking lights, when one is off the other is on.

I can see two methods:

1. Create each one as an individual effect and hope the timing between them is
constant.

2. Create the set as a single effect with timing included (is this a garanteed to
make the timing constant?)


Thanks
Michael
 
If you are working on an aircraft model, you can use attachpoints for the .fx file(s) and drive them with embedded XML scripts.

Here is an example for driving a beacon light:
Code: 
    <!-- BEACON LIGHT FLASHER -->
    (A:LIGHT BEACON,bool)
    (A:ELECTRICAL MASTER BATTERY,bool)
    and
    if{
    (P:Absolute time,seconds) 2.0 % 1.0 > !
    if{ 1 (>L:B737_Beacon,bool) }
    els{ 0 (>L:B737_Beacon,bool) }
    }
Here is an example for a "Double-Flash" Strobe light:
Code: 
    <!-- STROBE LIGHT FLASHER -->
    (A:LIGHT STROBE,bool)
    (A:ELECTRICAL MASTER BATTERY,bool)
    and
    if{
    (P:Absolute time,seconds) 2 % 0.4 > !
    if{
    (P:Absolute time,seconds) 0.2 % 0.1 > !
    if{ 1 (>L:B737_Strobe,bool) }
    els{ 0 (>L:B737_Strobe,bool) }
    }
    }
The possibilities are staggering, and limited only by your imagination... :D
 
Last edited:
n4gix said:
If you are working on an aircraft model, you can use attachpoints for the .fx file(s) and drive them with embedded XML scripts.

Here is an example for driving a beacon light:
Code: 
    <!-- BEACON LIGHT FLASHER -->
    (A:LIGHT BEACON,bool)
    (A:ELECTRICAL MASTER BATTERY,bool)
    and
    if{
    (P:Absolute time,seconds) 2.0 % 1.0 > !
    if{ 1 (>L:B737_Beacon,bool) }
    els{ 0 (>L:B737_Beacon,bool) }
    }
Here is an example for a "Double-Flash" Strobe light:
Code: 
    <!-- STROBE LIGHT FLASHER -->
    (A:LIGHT STROBE,bool)
    (A:ELECTRICAL MASTER BATTERY,bool)
    and
    if{
    (P:Absolute time,seconds) 2 % 0.4 > !
    if{
    (P:Absolute time,seconds) 0.2 % 0.1 > !
    if{ 1 (>L:B737_Strobe,bool) }
    els{ 0 (>L:B737_Strobe,bool) }
    }
    }
The possibilities are staggering, and limited only by your imagination... :D
Click to expand...

Thanks n4gix, but I have no control over the aircraft model :(


Michael
 
Oh dear. I am afraid that creating and editing .fx files are the second worst explained (or rather not explained at all) bit of development in the "SDK." The worst being of course the black-box known as the .air file.

I've only had modest success with .fx files myself, and that quite honestly mostly by accident. I typically begin with finding an effect (.fx) file that's similar to what I want, then proceed to reverse-engineer it to try to figure out how it's doing what it's doing... :D

Part of the problem is that no edits to an .fx file can be seen without shutting down FS and relaunching it. It's tedious and a very HUGE "time sink..." :banghead:
 
n4gix said:
Oh dear. I am afraid that creating and editing .fx files are the second worst explained (or rather not explained at all) bit of development in the "SDK." The worst being of course the black-box known as the .air file.

I've only had modest success with .fx files myself, and that quite honestly mostly by accident. I typically begin with finding an effect (.fx) file that's similar to what I want, then proceed to reverse-engineer it to try to figure out how it's doing what it's doing... :D

Part of the problem is that no edits to an .fx file can be seen without shutting down FS and relaunching it. It's tedious and a very HUGE "time sink..." :banghead:
Click to expand...

I completely agree.

Even though I use FX Editor, it takes forever to create a useable effect.

My problem is now that if I launch two separate light effects side by side, they are often out of sync and I dont know what to do about it.

I have seen an 'effect control' being used for e.g. lighthouse lights, but can they be called from the aircraft cfg somehow?


Michael
 
Yes, you can use a 'controller .fx' file in an aircraft.
 
n4gix said:
Yes, you can use a 'controller .fx' file in an aircraft.
Click to expand...

I am not sure if this can be done 'outside' the model.

If I place a control fx in the aircraft cfg lights section, nothing happens?

light.17 = 7, 23.3, 0.3, -2.2, Cntrl_S64_mirror_lights,


Michael
 
A question if I may.

My working with effects files is at an early stage. In my experiments I have created a single-sided poly as an attach point, and placed accordingly. I have attached the effect as the left nav light. This does the trick, but my brain is thinking outside the box. Is it best to use a single sided poly, or is it best to create a small sphere and attach the effect to several polys in all directions of the radius, as far as efficiency in effect is concerned?
 
Last edited:
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