FS2004 night/day parameter

[pinkjr]

Hi, what is the correct parameter editing to make an effect "night only" such as a ramp light?

Also, is there a parameter for scaling the effect in size?

Thanks,
David

 

[JRobinson]

In the placement XML:
effectParams="DAY=0;NIGHT=1"

...and if you also want the effect to be visible at dawn/ dusk you need to place a second copy of the effect and specify:
effectParams="DAWN=1;DUSK=1"

so a typical placement XML:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<FSData
  version="9.0"
  xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
  xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="bglcomp.xsd">

  <SceneryObject
  lat="48.7292243912816"
  lon="-116.293408423662"
  alt="13.591M"
  altitudeIsAgl="TRUE"
  pitch="0"
  bank="0"
  heading="0"
  imageComplexity="NORMAL">
  <Effect
  effectName="fx_obslight2.fx"
  effectParams="DAWN=1;DUSK=1"/>
  </SceneryObject>

  <SceneryObject
  lat="48.7292243912816"
  lon="-116.293408423662"
  alt="13.591M"
  altitudeIsAgl="TRUE"
  pitch="0"
  bank="0"
  heading="0"
  imageComplexity="NORMAL">
  <Effect
  effectName="fx_obslight2.fx"
  effectParams="DAY=0;NIGHT=1"/>
  </SceneryObject>

</FSData>

If you're attaching an effect in gmax for example you attach the effect to a box or whatever (reference point located in the scene wherever you want the effect to show up) with the attach tool, you'd then need to clone the box and attach an effect to each copy, one specifying effectParams="DAY=0;NIGHT=1" and the other specifying effectParams="DAWN=1;DUSK=1". Personally I find attached effects quirky and have had better luck placing them with a placement .bgl as described above. Sometimes they have draw order issues when attached, they don't when placed.

Scaling the effect needs to be done in the .fx itself. I'm not studied up on what you'd need to change, I think it would be X Scale=n,n, Y Scale=n,n and , Z Scale=n,n in the [Particle.X] sections. Make a copy of the effect in question and name it my_effect_scaled.fx for example and then try changing those values to see if it gives you the desired "effect" .

I think if you attached effects to an oversized gmax model and then scaled down it's placement it may possibly scale the effect as well but I know that doesn't work in P3D2 so again, attached effects are quirky.

 

[pinkjr]

Thanks J. I am using ADE 1.60 to place the effect, and I think it gives you some limited editing capability. I will try as you recommended. Thanks!

 

[JRobinson]

In that case just put DAY=0;NIGHT=1 into the parameters box when you add the effect. If you want to duplicate the placement for DAWN=1;DUSK=1 just place the effect again adding those parameters, then edit the first and copy the coordinates, edit the 2nd one and paste those coordinates so the effect ends up in the same position. You can right click > Show XML to verify that the parameters made it into the placement.

Jim

 

[Shaun]

Is there a parameter for this for low visibility?

 

[JRobinson]

Unfortunately nope, that's a nut nobody's cracked yet that I'm aware of.

Jim

 

[Hangar32]

Actually, I think the whole Dawn, Dusk parameter takes low vis into account…I think…will have to test it. That said, I know airport beacons and other lighting comes on when the "fog rolls in"

Oops! just saw this is 2004 - I use FSX - don't know if its the same.