Hi everybody
After 6 years without playing SC4, I'm back on this fantastic game. And so I decided to do some changes/improvements to the Reader... even if I'm not really sure that someone uses it :D
Last version of this tool was 0.93...I hope I will able to reach version 1.0 ;)
At the moment, I only work on the UI and bug fixes. But requests on new features are welcomed ...
Thanks to use this thread for requests...
Ilive
Great news, Ilive! I hope I can test out the new version soon ;)
Welcome back! :thumbsup: Looking forward to the new version!
Welcome back! ;D Great news too, can't wait for the release! ;D Great work too. :thumbsup:
WELCOME BACK!!! &hlp
Hey, its Ilive! Welcome back! &apls
If you really want to know, Reader is still being used widely for modding. And its great to see you're working on it again! :thumbsup:
This is terrific news. And yes, the ilive Reader is used!
wow, cool :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Rest assured reader gets plenty of use, it's an essential tool. But possibility of even further improvements is some great unexpected news, add me to the queue.
Good to hear you saw sense and came back. ;)
ilive, it's absolutely fantastic to see you back here--the Reader is still the standard-bearer tool for the modding community here, and I really don't know what I'd do without it. I'm absolutely ecstatic to see there's a new version in the works here! :thumbsup:
-Alex
Wow, this is more than fantastic!!! Not only are you back but so are you bringing the reader as a bonus :)
I have always wanted to see you active, I got to SC4 after you dissapeared I think, if you had not made the Reader, I guarantee that no one would be here 6 years on.
I don't have the words to say, except Welcome Back!!!!!!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Jonathan
Its good to see you back working on the Reader.
Usesing it a lot doing trains and trams:
Vol 1 (http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=337), Vol 2 (http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=55), Vol 3 (http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=2306) and Vol 4 (http://sc4devotion.com/csxlex/lex_filedesc.php?lotGET=2345)
Quote from: ilive on March 07, 2010, 11:10:49 AM
After 6 years without playing SC4, I'm back on this fantastic game. And so I decided to do some changes/improvements to the Reader... even if I'm not really sure that someone uses it :D
Without Reader we certainly wouldn't have been playing this game after 6 years...
Thanks to Reader (and some other tools from another Toolman) I'm sure we will still be enjoying this game 6 years from now...
Welcome back,
ilive, this will be a day to remember! :thumbsup:
Wow! Just wow.
What more can anyone really say, ilive? The Reader is why we are still here talking about what is possible in this game today. Other great toolmakers have come along, but without what you did for the community first, well...
I just can't imagine where this will go from here.
David
Ilive, it really is you! It's good to see you back around. I'm looking forward to the new version of the Reader. :)
Welcome back! &apls &apls &apls
I doubt that I would have even gotten into modding if it weren't for that wonderful Reader of yours, which made it so easy.
What a wonderful surprise indeed - welcome back, ilive! :)
I've been using the Reader since the very beginning of my modding career, and even though other tools have entered the arena, the Reader is still one of the most valuable tools if you really need to get to the core elements of modding. Some things might take a bit longer, but you always have full control over what you're doing, and it has been the key to most of the popular mods that are around today.
When it comes to new or improved features, I can surely think up one thing or another; one item that has been particiularily high on my list is a batch tool for mass-replacing IDs or other values in properties of single or several different files - would surely make one or another modding task a lot easier.
But please do not ruin your wonderful tool with those hideous ribbons - I absolutely loath that design...
Welcome back! :thumbsup:
This is a essential tool for many SC4 players, it gives a new life to SC4. :thumbsup:
From those screenshots, I guess you used VC++ MFC to program it, not .NET Framework. $%Grinno$%
Anyway, I'm looking forward to the new version. :thumbsup:
Fantastic NEWS &apls &apls &apls
If you need anyone to break test the new Reader, I'd gladly volunteer.
And it is great to have you here iLive!
Wow, this is wonderful news! iLive Reader has been the "mainstream" SC4 modding tool for years, and definitely still is. So it's absolutely terrific to hear that a new version is being prepared.
As for requests about new features and fixes, here are my proposals:
- First of all, you may be surprised to hear that my first and foremost request is not about a new feature, but instead dropping a feature! And it's quite radical too! More specifically, I think the document list feature (the left third of the screen) must go, and instead make the program a standard SDI (Single Document Interface) or MDI (Multiple Document Interface) application. This takes up about a third of the screen, and to my opinion serves really nothing. All of the times I needed to work with multiple files I ended up opening multiple instances of the reader. It's completely impractical having opened and browsing, say, simcity_1.dat and working on another file in the same instance of the Reader. Refocusing on simcity_1.dat causes repeated filling of the list, like "flickering" (I regard this as a "bug"), and then you have to locate again the files you were focused on. So I have used the Reader basically as an SDI application; no problem with this, as the copy-and-paste feature works accross multiple instances of the program. It would also be OK to make it a standard MDI application instead, but I think that since the reader is currently actually SDI, it would be easier to make it SDI. In either case the document-list feature isn't really helpful to the user. It might be best to open a poll about this (eg with three options, Leave it As Is, Make it SDI, Make it MDI) and ask users about their experiences and the way they work. It would also be interesting to let us know why the Reader was made like that (ie a rather weird SDI application, with a document-list feature, neither pure SDI nor pure MDI) and how you expected the users to make use of it. I know, you have put a lot of work into this, so you may not look favorably into axing it, but I think it doesn't help at all. If you finally make it MDI, it would be great to allow multiple views (windows) of the same document (yes!). It is offered by default anyway, and would be extremely useful for browsing simcity_1.dat (and large .dats in general). And of course, the "Fill the List" button should go as well (users ALWAYS have to click this). Let's see what others users think.
- This has to do with performance/resources usage (doesn't concern "features"), but I would like to propose it too. Please consider changing the main list view, ie remove the "HASSTRINGS" style, and use callback items instead. Instead of "filling the list", you need to specify a callback function that tells the system what to display for each item. Currently, for each exemplar for example, the list contains a copy of the string "Exemplar file" for every single exemplar! By using callback items, you actually store very little information in the list, like the item state and icon, but basically an application-defined "LPARAM" (as usual in Windows) which you can define to be, say, a direct pointer to the item (exemplar or what), for fast access. Apart from the fewer resources, this has additional benefits, like no need for "syncronization" when you have multiple views, as all views point to the same data (I think invalidating the window(s) is enough, as this would force a redisplay, again calling the callback function for the items that are visible).
- Something that's really frustrating, is the way long lines in the exemplars' properties are displayed. The information, of course, doesn't fit there, so the user can't see the whole line. Maybe add tooltips, displayed when the cursor is hovered over the property for 1-2 seconds. The tooltips should be multi-line (otherwise they wouldn't fit on the screen too), and ideally you would have to make sure that the whole tooptip is being displayed (use some text-metric thing). Also it would be best to use a case-specific approach here, eg the Transit Switch Point property should be diaplayed in rows of 4 bytes each.
- I may disappoint you again, but I would propose that the "Themes" (the new feature) be dropped as well. I had used it too, in version 1.00 of my program (SC4 Model Tweaker, LEX), but users didn't like it, so I reverted to the OS default. And this is preferable to most users, as under Vista for example, the application will feature the "Aero" look. Making it looking like an ex Version of MS-Office or Visual Studio isn't really beneficial.
- Would it be too much to ask you to make the program ask the user to save the (modified) document before exiting? I know this is a lot of work (requires addinf a GetDocument()->SetModifiedFlag() command in EVERY operation that modifies the document) but it would be nice.
- Another feature I don't like very much is the "Apply" button next the "Values as text" box in the Property Editor dialog. This is something non-standard, and I often forget to click it. The dialog preferably should have an OK and a Cancel button at the bottom, not Apply and Cancel; two "Apply" buttons in the same dialog are rather confusing. The Apply button (the one next to box) could remain, but its meaning should be slightly modifed, ie its sole operation should be to modify the values in the list (make them the same as the ones in the box). The OK button (at the bottom) should assign the property the values IN THE BOX, and this without having to click Apply (changing the values in the list modifies the ones in the box anyway).
Don't get very angry with me, please! &Thk/(
I have a question too. Which S3D library are you using in this new version? I used the old good S3D.DLL in my program, but had compatibility issues with the newer MFC versions (crashes under Vista). It uses MFC42.DLL. Also it's single-byte, while my program is unicode (it has to be, because of the listview control). Also who made S3D.DLL, was it you? Otherwise can we contact him/her? Ideally I should get the source code (not included in the reader's source in sourceforge) or else the library in OBJ/LIB format (compiled with the new tools and in unicode format).
I'll be watching this thread with great interest.
Again, Welcome back!
WElcome back!
I believe lots of people are using it for lots and not only ;D
Few suggestions.
1. Compatibility with new_properties.xml from PIM-X - it would be best to just have one .xml, no sync problems, easier to update, etc.
2. Decode the values that are described as OPTION in the above file. As for now - some of them are decoded, but not ALL of them. Maybe it's just a matter of the file used...
3. Make it easier to edit a property in cases such as above, e.g. a list of available values, checkboxes, etc. Something similar to the way X-Tool implemented it.
Regards
G.
Wow :o the Legend himself has returned :) Thanks for the fantastic tool that really opened the game up &apls
-Dave
Quote
1. Compatibility with new_properties.xml from PIM-X - it would be best to just have one .xml, no sync problems, easier to update, etc.
You can update the .xml in the current version of the Reader you know.
And welcome back, ilive - your program is still the definitive modding tool for SC4... especially since it's so flexible - I prefer the current version as it is though there may be some things that need to be tweaked to improve productivity.
Also, I was wondering if it is at all possible to export this to other platforms such as Linux?
We are in the presence of original greatness!!! &apls &apls
Welcome back to the game and the community!
Cheers!
Scott
Quote from: Shadow AssassinAlso, I was wondering if it is at all possible to export this to other platforms such as Linux?
It already runs fine on Linux using Wine, although you have to install the Visual C++ 6.0 run-time.
Looking forward to the new version. :thumbsup:
Quote
It already runs fine on Linux using Wine, although you have to install the Visual C++ 6.0 run-time.
I've had problems getting the Reader to run on Wine... that's probably why it doesn't work - I don't think I have the C++ 6.0 runtime...
I'd be more than happy to test it when you are ready :)
Personally I think you should keep the ribbon UI. I think it works better than the menu tbh.
3 what I imagine are little requests but really I have no idea:
Increase the length of text that can be edited in RUL files. They are so big now that modifying them we have to export them, edit them and then import them back in.
When Exported a file (Saving a subfile) can you put a Save file dialog, so we choose where to put them instead of it saving them in the last used folder, which is not always obvious.
And possibly could add a button to the FSH window which lets users export the FSH as a PNG?
Thanks again for coming back :)
Jonathan
Quote from: Jonathan on March 07, 2010, 11:50:50 PM
Increase the length of text that can be edited in RUL files. They are so big now that modifying them we have to export them, edit them and then import them back in.
I'd second that one, and to add to that, I was wondering if perhaps a Find/Replace option for the RUL editor would be feasible.
-Alex
thats crazy.... welcome back.
I use reader religiously next to its 2 cousins sc4 tool and the infant of the pack SC4PIM. Glade to see you gonna update reader.I will miss the old look of it though since I have grown so accustom to it. 6 years a long time of no sc4...but then again the stuff out then was no where near as abundant as what is out now so I can see how you were not tempted to play every now and again. Nice to see you return.
thanks for all posts and for your support &apls
I'm trying to add as many requests I can...
cogeo > I changed the way to handle the main list as you described and it's really great ! displaying data is much quicker. Thanks for this tip.
About SDI/MDI in the Reader: the project was initially built on SDI at beginning (due to lack of time to fully understand MDI way). Then I tried to add multiple documents through the outlook bar because it was too late to switch to MDI. But the size of this bar should be keep in memory ; so if you reduce it , the next time you run the tool, it should stay at the previous defined width.
On the new version, you can open multiple "entries" of the same dat file in the same workspace (this is the tabs called PNG2, Exemplar4 ... in the first screen). At the moment, if you select an another dat, the workspace is reset ; I will to try to not reset it and let "entries" opened (but I don't know how to display on the tab the owner (dat file) of the entry as I don't have a lot of space)
About the "fill the list", it was requested due to the long time to fill the large simcity_x.dat (computer was slower 6 years ago :) ).
About S3D, I made it (and I also used external code for 3DS functions). I have the code (I don't even remember why it is outside the Reader project). Send my your mail through PM and I will send you back the code.
I don't forget other requests ;)
Quote from: ilive on March 08, 2010, 01:28:13 PM
I don't forget other requests ;)
Good to know... :) Then let me add one more... ::)
Lots of models are now in megapacks/proppacks (up to and sometimes above 10 MB in size).
These packs contain several S3D models and their FSH materials.
However, Reader is currently unable to show them correctly.
As we know, only the IID of the FSH files are saved in the MATS section of the S3D file.
In the game, SC4 is looking for S3D Materials (FSH files) having only either of two Group ID's:
1. A material having a Group ID of 0x1ABE787D
2. A material having the same Group ID as the S3D file
In step 2, Reader currently loads the first FSH file it finds in the same file (megapack) having correct IID (regardless of the Group ID).
Quelle surprise!
Nice to have you back working on the Reader. I am very handy with computer programs and especially these SC4 files, but the Reader made it possible for me to handle soem adjustmments to the files. It is the ONLY SC4 program that I can understand in some ways. I have tried to use other programs, but they simply don't either work with my computer or with me. ;)
Hearing about you to improve the Reader, automatically gave me hope that we might sometimes have a program that can extract (and create an independant) modelfile form a datfile. I know how to to extract the datfile, but this datfile always stays an independency for the descfile and besides it is always a painstaking processus to do so.
Sometimes you have dozens and dozens of files inside a datfile and when I want only one of them, I will have to keep the whole file, so extracting and creating one of the included modelfiles would be very fun to have.
I don't know if something like this could be added to the ilive Reader, but I thought I'd bring it up the same, just in case my dream could be realized.
It is good to see you again btw,
Bon retour
Fred
Just remembered a few more things to be improved:
- Property Editor: allow to enter SINT64 properties in decimal format (now this is allowed for byte, UINT32 etc, ie for all other types but not for SINT64).
- Parent Cohort property: allow copy/paste, just like for all other properties.
- Main list: the columns (at least the ones with a fixed length like the T, G and I IDs) should be initially as wide as to accomodate the text length exactly.
New reader?
*Ahem*
WOOHOO!
Wow, almost never thought there would be more work on this great program. Quite useful throughout all the modding that I do. It is nice that you have returned to work on it again to improve such a useful program. :) ()stsfd()
Ilive, je ne savais pas que tu existais et pensait que le Reader avait été pondu par une boite comme Maxi.
Je vais faire comme les autres : bienvenue même s'il semble que tu étais là avant moi (février 2007 qd même !!!!!).
Translation : Welcome back !!!!!
Quote from: Shadow Assassin on March 07, 2010, 07:03:14 PM
You can update the .xml in the current version of the Reader you know.
Theoretically yes - but I couldn't. I tried to add a file in Options/XML Properties File, and it doesn't work :( How did You?
Hi Ilive, I heard you were back. I'm happy you decided to work on this program again. I was wondering if you plan on leaving the effects.dir part in, even though it was not editable, it made looking at the numbers pretty handy when I tried to make new effects, I had to give up when the old reader stopped working correctly for me. I just hope i still retained the knowledge, since no one else ever persued that file besides me after Red decoded most of it. Just the simple viewer as it was would be good enough for me to try practice again. If it can be made editable with a way to have the header column names pulled from a editable file, so that unknowns can be edited and named later on that would be great, since I did find out what some of them were a few years ago. Thanks and Welcome Back.
Just two more things that could possibly be improved:
- LTEXT editor: display multi-line text properly (currently the control is single-line, and the CR-LF at the end of line is displayed as two "block" characters).
- When you are focused on the main list, you can move up and down using the arrow keys. If you move to a different filetype, eg from an exemplar to an S3D file, then you cannot move with the arrow keys anymore, you have to click (using the mouse) on the list again. Can this be changed? It's minor, but quite frustrating sometimes.
Quote from: cogeo on March 10, 2010, 11:42:57 AM
- When you are focused on the main list, you can move up and down using the arrow keys. If you move to a different filetype, eg from an exemplar to an S3D file, then you cannot move with the arrow keys anymore, you have to click (using the mouse) on the list again. Can this be changed? It's minor, but quite frustrating sometimes.
No that's just S3Ds, and it is quite frustrating when trying to find a model and having to use a mouse :)
Also the effect dirs could you make them editable?
Jonathan
I should really look down a little more at the forums some more. Then I might have known of your return yesterday.
Ergo: Welcome back!
Regards,
Korot
wow, long time no see ;).
Guess I can scratch my project then :'(
(https://www.sc4devotion.com/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg63.imageshack.us%2Fimg63%2F5518%2Fsc4datreader.th.jpg&hash=275d21b94c1a09633dd45c38774940538b15e3ef) (http://img63.imageshack.us/i/sc4datreader.jpg/)
:D
I'm working on something else now anyways.
I had been using the source code as part of (trying to) learning C++ (could never get it to compile though).
Anyways, look forward to seeing any changes/improvements etc, and congrats on your return ;).
Quote from: ilive on March 08, 2010, 01:28:13 PM
I don't forget other requests ;)
What's french for "floodgates" :D :D :D
Hello Ilive, the legendary member names that I have seen while reading this thread speak for themselves about the level of excitation that your return has created ¡¡¡ . The Reader is "the mother of the modding tools" and all and every modder started using it, and uses it currently. There are other tools which do many many new things, but none as versatile as yours.
Perhaps in a next phase, after implementing half of the requests in this thread you'll probably be tired of us .... ::) , some sort of integration with other existing tools could be studied. Lets say, I select a lot in the reader and right clicking I can open it with XPIM, modify it, and when done and back to the reader, the changes are done there as well, or if I check a model fsh file and I want to change its transparency values, right clicking would open cogeo's tool, or if I wanted to change an icon fsh file, right clicking allows me to open SC4Tool and create a set of fsh and update it in the current dat... not to speak about all the small transit network related tools... change a path file right clicking on it and opening a path editor and save the chages directly... well, the possibilities are endless.... ::)
Anyway, it a real pleasure to see you back and active. I am sure that the new Reader will be the best thing for the modding community in quite a long time ¡¡¡ :thumbsup:
Oh wow! Thankyou so very very much for coming back.
Joe
Could you integrate your UIeditor tool into the reader as the default UI viewer?
Quote from: jeronij on March 10, 2010, 03:27:16 PM
Perhaps in a next phase, after implementing half of the requests in this thread you'll probably be tired of us .... ::) , some sort of integration with other existing tools could be studied. Lets say, I select a lot in the reader and right clicking I can open it with XPIM, modify it, and when done and back to the reader, the changes are done there as well, or if I check a model fsh file and I want to change its transparency values, right clicking would open cogeo's tool, or if I wanted to change an icon fsh file, right clicking allows me to open SC4Tool and create a set of fsh and update it in the current dat... not to speak about all the small transit network related tools... change a path file right clicking on it and opening a path editor and save the chages directly... well, the possibilities are endless.... ::)
I'd say that'd be done by extending the Ribbon interface that's being used for the Reader... that interface actually allows 'plugins' (such as PIM-X integration) to be written without having to re-compile the entire program each time - it just needs to have room in the code for the plugin to erm, plug in...
For examples, see Microsoft Office's implementation of the Ribbon.
What I would love to see is a kind of Batch routine, e.g. to automatically change or delete textures in some dozen lots or so.
whaaaa... so many requests :)
about batch routine, I'm integrating "lua" engine in the Reader. The goal is not to play sc4 lua scripts :D but to allow the user to write scripts to manipulate data (entries, exemplar...)
At the moment, I'm on the first steps (the engine is implemented and seems functionnal but I have to expose all functions that will be available).
What did you expect?
Having you back working on a new version of one of the most important modding tool is liking waiting for christmas and a request thread is like an invitation to write a wishing list ... :D
Quote from: ilive on March 18, 2010, 08:04:09 AM
whaaaa... so many requests :)
about batch routine, I'm integrating "lua" engine in the Reader. The goal is not to play sc4 lua scripts :D but to allow the user to write scripts to manipulate data (entries, exemplar...)
At the moment, I'm on the first steps (the engine is implemented and seems functionnal but I have to expose all functions that will be available).
Would this allow something like this: change an IID of a FSH, it updates across any exemplars/S3D files/etc with the new IID automatically?
That would save so much work with having to manually change S3D and FSH IIDs in the Reader, the current configuration doesn't really allow something like that to happen.
Quote from: Shadow Assassin on March 18, 2010, 05:00:52 PM
Would this allow something like this: change an IID of a FSH, it updates across any exemplars/S3D files/etc with the new IID automatically?
That would save so much work with having to manually change S3D and FSH IIDs in the Reader, the current configuration doesn't really allow something like that to happen.
yes, you should do this. Reader uses the or_dat.dll to access and manipulate data. So I have to link all or_dat.dll functions to the "lua" engine... easy to say, a bit more complicated to code :)
Another solution would be to make the reader able to accept plugins (a programmer would have to write plugin(s) in DLL format). The reader should scan a "Plugins" folder for DLLs and load them; then it should add commands in the context menu (right-click) and enable/disable them according to the items (type and number of) being selected. This would make the reader "extensible" and allow editing and maybe previewing items in-place. For example, one could make a "SC4Path Editor" plugin, or implement custom batch functions like the ones requested above. It's nearly impossible to satisfy all requests submitted by all members here, as they could be asking new things again and again; in addition, some features may be useful to some modders, but irrelevant to or unwanted by many others ("niches"). A collection of optional plugins (made by other community members too, rather than you) would be a good solution, I think.
I could help writing the specs and/or a sample plugin, if you agree, and other members find this feature interesing.
Quote from: cogeo on March 20, 2010, 07:44:35 AM
Another solution would be to make the reader able to accept plugins (a programmer would have to write plugin(s) in DLL format). The reader should scan a "Plugins" folder for DLLs and load them; then it should add commands in the context menu (right-click) and enable/disable them according to the items (type and number of) being selected. This would make the reader "extensible" and allow editing and maybe previewing items in-place. For example, one could make a "SC4Path Editor" plugin, or implement custom batch functions like the ones requested above. It's nearly impossible to satisfy all requests submitted by all members here, as they could be asking new things again and again; in addition, some features may be useful to some modders, but irrelevant to or unwanted by many others ("niches"). A collection of optional plugins (made by other community members too, rather than you) would be a good solution, I think.
I would suggest that scriptable extensibility would be more user friendly than DLL's... especially since many powerusers already know how to use lua
Joe
I personally like the idea of both the LUA and Plugin advantage.... But having a plugin advantage would satisfied qutie a bit and make things somewhat easier to update portions, not to mention versitility in doing so... Both ideas are likable...:)
I'm afraid we (incl me) are asking Alain to implement features far beyond what he originally intended to (LUA interpreter, plugins etc). These are nice exotic capabilities, that are quite doubtful if they will ever be used (they should be used A LOT, to justify the development work). Pls also take into account that SC4 is already 7 y/o!
Instead, I think we should just ask improvements and fixes to existing features, and maybe small extra new features that could improve its functionality. Here are some:
- A small but very handy possible new feature: if you right-click on an item in the main list, there is a command named "Copy Entry ID". I think it wouldn't be very hard to implement a "Copy Entry ID as Text" one (maybe choose a better name) that will create a comma-separated string (like 0x5AD0E817,0xBADB57F1,0x10940000) and copy it to the clipboard (to be used in properties, eg in a Resource Key Type X property referencing a model). Btw the "Copy Entry ID"/"Paste Entry ID" commands should preferably work across multiple instances of the reader (currently they work only in the same instance).
- The Find in Files command appears not to work very well (or it's just me?). Actually I have not been able to find anything in the files, except for LTEXT items. Could you please take a look here?
- The Exemplar and Cohort Analyzers, meaybe need some minor UI improvements. First of all this "Search" command is a little confusing, as its meaning is rather "Fill the List". And why not fill the list automatically, when the dialog is first opened? The user will have to Fill the List anyway, otherwise he/she can't do anything. Maybe add a "Refresh" command instead, to update the list in the case that some items have been added, removed or modified in the main list. Also the "Find" command should have a shortcut of Ctrl+F instead of F3, and "Find Next" F3 instead of Ctrl+F3.
- LTEXT editor: the Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+X and Ctrl+A shortcuts don't work, and this is quite frustrating sometimes (you have to leave the keyboard and use the mouse). Btw these work for the generic text editor.
- This is a new that does require some work, but I think it would be very handy to people modifying S3D models (NAM and automata makers). Is it possible to copy/paste items like vertices, triangles etc en-masse? For copying it should create a multi-line, fixed-column-width text and copy it to the clipboard (this can easily be edited in notepad or Excel). Then the paste operation should replace the items in the list with the ones in the clipboard. And it's absolutely OK to refuse replacing if the data and format do not match EXACTLY, eg the number of rows or columns differ (some S3D files have different number of columns too). So this would be a quite safe operation. It should rather work at group level (one group at a time). But let's see what other members think.
Please note that I haven't actually tested the new version, so all my comments above concern the 0.93 version. Please disregard them if they are already done.
Quote- This is a new that does require some work, but I think it would be very handy to people modifying S3D models (NAM and automata makers). Is it possible to copy/paste items like vertices, triangles etc en-masse? For copying it should create a multi-line, fixed-column-width text and copy it to the clipboard (this can easily be edited in notepad or Excel). Then the paste operation should replace the items in the list with the ones in the clipboard. And it's absolutely OK to refuse replacing if the data and format do not match EXACTLY, eg the number of rows or columns differ (some S3D files have different number of columns too). So this would be a quite safe operation. It should rather work at group level (one group at a time). But let's see what other members think.
That is already possible, just select the cells by clicking and dragging, exactly as you do in Excel. You can then hit Ctrl+C and paste into Excel use formulas to move the S3D, and when you copy it back to reader it will paste the values that the formula returned.
This is how we manipulate models before your S3D tool, and for people like me who are on windows 7.
I have one suggestion, letting us use lowercase letters in the TGI editor? Small but a little annoying.
Jonathan
Quote from: Jonathan on March 21, 2010, 06:44:35 AM
That is already possible, just select the cells by clicking and dragging, exactly as you do in Excel. You can then hit Ctrl+C and paste into Excel use formulas to move the S3D, and when you copy it back to reader it will paste the values that the formula returned.
Only there appears to be no special implementation for this, it's just what the grid control does by itself. I'm talking about a group copy/paste thing, and data checking/validation as well - currently you can paste anything, and be extremely careful with what you are doing. But if you're OK with this...
Btw a minor change here, the tooltips are displayed immediately, maybe adding a 1-2 secs delay would be better.
Quote from: cogeo on March 20, 2010, 07:44:35 AM
Another solution would be to make the reader able to accept plugins (a programmer would have to write plugin(s) in DLL format). The reader should scan a "Plugins" folder for DLLs and load them; then it should add commands in the context menu (right-click) and enable/disable them according to the items (type and number of) being selected. This would make the reader "extensible" and allow editing and maybe previewing items in-place. For example, one could make a "SC4Path Editor" plugin, or implement custom batch functions like the ones requested above. It's nearly impossible to satisfy all requests submitted by all members here, as they could be asking new things again and again; in addition, some features may be useful to some modders, but irrelevant to or unwanted by many others ("niches"). A collection of optional plugins (made by other community members too, rather than you) would be a good solution, I think.
I could help writing the specs and/or a sample plugin, if you agree, and other members find this feature interesing.
I think it could an interesting feature. It can even help the Reader to have a more readable code if each viewer is in a separate dll. And if specifications are opened, even other tools could use these dlls.
If you have some ideas on how to implement it, don't hesitate :)
you may have the original S3D spec from Maxis in which case the first part doesn't matter.
We've updated the spec a little , specifically in the MATS section which now includes an alpha threshold, which can make quite a big change on the material in game, but currently the only way of editing this is in the hex editor.
So could you update the materials settings UI and code to be able to change the alpha threshold (there may be another thing that the reader can not do but I can't remember)
The updated S3D spec is on the SC4D wiki under S3D.
Also would it be possible to add a feature that allows you to change the material setting for a certain texture through multiple S3Ds.
Jonathan
Being but a simple BATer, I don't have any thoughtful suggestions to make, but I thought I'd throw some support out there with the clapping hands and thumbs up.
&apls :thumbsup:
An updated reader is very exciting. :)