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Making Seasonal/Timed Props

Started by smoncrie, May 29, 2008, 03:15:32 PM

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smoncrie

At BarbyW's request I am re-posting an old tutorial about making seasonal/timed props. The tutorial is attached to this message.

The tutorial was made for a novice ilive reader user.  I created it after I discovered how to make these props – my first discovery as a modder!  :)

RippleJet

#1
Thank you, Smoncrie for posting it! :thumbsup:
It remember it being a very interesting and good tutorial the first time I read it... ages ago! ::)

ehbk2006

I would like to read this tutorial, but the link is broken.  &mmm
Can somebody repost the tutorial please.

Thanks in advance,

ehbk2006
My BAT Showcase: ehbk2006's traffic BAT's
My sketchup models on the 3d warehouse.
[RDY]: Veolia - Coal hopper + E189

BarbyW

I have just downloaded the tutorial without any problems. It isn't a link to read but to download and read once you have it on your computer.
Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened. TP



Barbypedia: More alive than the original

jeronij

Quote from: ehbk2006 on June 25, 2008, 01:16:50 PM
I would like to read this tutorial, but the link is broken.  &mmm
Can somebody repost the tutorial please.

Thanks in advance,

ehbk2006

Pls try again. There was an issue with that attachment  ::)  ;)
I am currently not active - Please, contact Tarkus for any site related matter. Thanks for enjoying SC4D :D


Autism Awareness;  A Father Shares
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ehbk2006

#5
Thanks for the fast reply, link is fixed.

The tutorial is great but, I have one question.

Is it possible to add more than one 'Time of Day Changes' a day. For example i'm creating an roadside Variable-Message Sign that will lit during rushhour (7:00,9:00 and 17:00,19:00). I have made several attempts to make it lit 2 times a day. But only the first period works (7:00,9:00) for the second period it remains black till 7:00 the next day.

()what()

My BAT Showcase: ehbk2006's traffic BAT's
My sketchup models on the 3d warehouse.
[RDY]: Veolia - Coal hopper + E189

Diggis

No, I think you can only add the one swap into a timed prop.  What you would need to do is do 4, 2 on and 2 off and have no prop as the second time, then add them all onto the lot in the same place. More work, but how seasonal trees are done.

ehbk2006

Okay to bad  &mmm , well then they will be active between 5:00 and 23:00 for now.

But I will try this method in the near future.  :thumbsup:

Thanks for the help  :)
My BAT Showcase: ehbk2006's traffic BAT's
My sketchup models on the 3d warehouse.
[RDY]: Veolia - Coal hopper + E189

jeronij

you can make two version of the model, one which shows from 7-->9 and the other from 17-->19, and place them in the exactly same position in the lot. This way the same lot will show the lights at the desired moment. I hope this helps.

EDIT: After re-reading Diggis post, perhaps I am repeating the same ::)
I am currently not active - Please, contact Tarkus for any site related matter. Thanks for enjoying SC4D :D


Autism Awareness;  A Father Shares
Mallorca My Mayor Diary


ehbk2006

#9
Another questions rose up the last night in my mind.


Can you add more than 2 props in the Resource Key Type 4 (more than 16 reps), if so how do you number them?For example now you have this: 1,0,0,0,x,x,x,x,0,0,0,0,x,x,x,x . Can you extend that chain?


Thanks in advance,

ehbk2006
My BAT Showcase: ehbk2006's traffic BAT's
My sketchup models on the 3d warehouse.
[RDY]: Veolia - Coal hopper + E189

RippleJet

Quote from: ehbk2006 on June 27, 2008, 02:59:17 AM
Can you add more than 2 props in the Resource Key Type 4 (more than 16 reps), if so how do you number them?For example now you have this: 1,0,0,0,x,x,x,x,0,0,0,0,x,x,x,x . Can you extend that chain?

Yes, you can! :thumbsup:
That's how Maxis made their streetlights, which contain 3 or 4 props in one RKT4.

E.g, Streetlight1x1x11_$$$StreetlightBanner1_2A5A (TGI 0x6534204A 0xC977C536 0x2A5A0000):

0x00000001,0x00000000,0x00000000,0x00000000,0x27812821,0x5AD0E817,0xBADB57F1,0x2A5A0000,
0x00000001,0xFFFE6667,0x00078000,0x00000000,0x27812820,0x5AD0E817,0xBADB57F1,0x29DA0000,
0x00000001,0x00019999,0x00078000,0x00000000,0x27812820,0x5AD0E817,0xBADB57F1,0x29DA0000,
0x00000000,0x00000000,0x00000000,0x00000000,0x27812821,0x5AD0E817,0xBADB57F1,0x2A5A0000

The 1st line points to the lightpole (TGI 0x5AD0E817,0xBADB57F1,0x2A5A0000) which is visible at night (0x01)
The 2nd line points to the lightbulb (TGI 0x5AD0E817,0xBADB57F1,0x29DA0000) which is visible at night (0x01)
The 3nd line points to the lightbulb (TGI 0x5AD0E817,0xBADB57F1,0x29DA0000) which is visible at night (0x01)
The 4th line points to the lightpole (TGI 0x5AD0E817,0xBADB57F1,0x2A5A0000) which is visible at day (0x00)

Note also that the lightbulbs are offset in X (± 2.0 m) and Y (7.5 m) directions.

I don't know what the limit would be on how many reps you can add to a RKT4.
However, they can all only be either on (0x01) or off (0x00).
Thus, you cannot add props that would appear at different time intervals this way.

ehbk2006

#11
So a prop can only have 2 statuses? A defaulth state and a special state.
My BAT Showcase: ehbk2006's traffic BAT's
My sketchup models on the 3d warehouse.
[RDY]: Veolia - Coal hopper + E189

RippleJet

#12
Quote from: ehbk2006 on June 27, 2008, 05:44:18 AM
So a prop can only have 2 statuses? A defaulth state and a special state.

Yes, the first rep can only be either 1 or 0.
You might also want to take a quick look at this thread: Timed props ...

The complete structure of the RKT4 is:

Rep 1: 0x0000000S
Rep 2: 0xXXXXXXXX
Rep 3: 0xYYYYYYYY
Rep 4: 0xZZZZZZZZ
Rep 5: 0xRRRRRRRR
Rep 6: 0xTTTTTTTT
Rep 7: 0xGGGGGGGG
Rep 8: 0xIIIIIIII


These 8 reps can be repeated several times.

0x0000000S
is 0 for the normal state, 1 for the special state (if timed, see smoncrie's post below for simple animations).
If one of the states is missing, the prop will be invisible at that state.
The special state is given by one of the following properties:
- Nighttime State Change
- Prop Time of Day
- Simulator Start Date, Simulator Date Duration, Simulator Date Interval

0xXXXXXXXX
is the offset in the model's X direction. Divide this number by 0x10000 to get metres.

0xYYYYYYYY
is the offset in the model's Y direction (vertical). Divide this number by 0x10000 to get metres.

0xZZZZZZZZ
is the offset in the model's Z direction. Divide this number by 0x10000 to get metres.

0xRRRRRRRR
is the Resource Key Type of the prop, one of the following:
- 0x27812820 for RKT0 (one single model used for all rotations and zooms)
- 0x27812821 for RKT1 (separate models for each rotation and zoom)
(see what the original prop you're converting used).

0xTTTTTTTT
0xGGGGGGGG
0xIIIIIIII

is the TGI address of the prop model.

ehbk2006

My BAT Showcase: ehbk2006's traffic BAT's
My sketchup models on the 3d warehouse.
[RDY]: Veolia - Coal hopper + E189

smoncrie

Just to add a little more information:

I don't know the maximum number of reps for RKT4, but it is more than 152.

As far as I know there can be only two states for any of the timed props, but there can be more than two states in other props that change.   An example is the animated rail crossing gate (0x2ad50000) where there are 4 states.

Another property that can be used to make props that change is:

Requires Power to Appear

MandelSoft

@smoncrie: I think the maximum number of reps is 256.

Good tutorial. See if I can use it.
Lurk mode: ACTIVE

RippleJet

Quote from: smoncrie on June 27, 2008, 10:15:38 AM
As far as I know there can be only two states for any of the timed props, but there can be more than two states in other props that change.   An example is the animated rail crossing gate (0x2ad50000) where there are 4 states.

Thanks for that info, Smoncrie! :thumbsup:

MandelSoft

#17
One question: Is it possible to have a special state twice? For example a speedcontrol matrix sign that only goes on between 8 to10 AM and 5 to 8 PM.

D'oh! I didn't read the thread good enough!
Lurk mode: ACTIVE

BarbyW

mrtnrln: if you read this thread thoroughly you will see that your question has already been answered. You need to make two props - one for each state and stack them on the lot.
Inside every old person is a young person wondering what happened. TP



Barbypedia: More alive than the original

dedgren

I'm wondering, before I would spend a bunch of time bashing away at this, if it's possible to have a "time of day" effects prop.  I'm specifically thinking about one of the game fountain props, and having it on a lot where it would appear and then "turn off" as the day progressed.  If anyone has has ever explored this, any info you might have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

If I wind up checking this out myself, I will post what I find out here.


David
D. Edgren

Please call me David...

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