Popping up and down EOD objects

[xavierb]

I have noticed that large objects built with Easy Object Designer (EOD) have a tendence to suddendly disappear if they are only partially displayed in the screen because you, for example, are having a round look to the surroundings.

It seems size has some relationship: it only happens with large objects, as big buildings or hangars. I would like to know if someone knows a hint or a trick to prevent it from happening.

I attach the original EOD's API and the .sca file for CFS2 to help those who know or may try to help.

Thank you in advance,

Xavier

[ian elliot]

Hi Xavierb, i use EOD myself but i was wondering if its your scenery program, do you use FSSC? When you place a macro object, do you check the V1 and V2 values of the macro, these values decide when the objects appear when your flying to it and when is disappears when out of vision, my own preferance is 6000m for V1, the object pops up 6000m in front of me as im flying, and 100m as my V2 value, objects dissapear 100m behind me so your PC isnt wasting power generating objects you cant see.
hope this helps, cheers ian

[xavierb]

Thanks for your message, Ian. Yes, I use FSSC, but I don't put EOD objects there: I make a GSL destroyable object using the SCASM output of the API Macro. Then I add this model to a CFS2 layout using MB and then the layout is loaded into CFS2.gsl using Martin's GSL tools. Didn't know about V1 and V2 values and haven't find them elsewhere but a similar one in the own EOD, where is a parameter to set the visibility of the object (I have 10000 m on it).
I don't know if this can have relationship, as the problem I describe is related to a close look at a part of the building (then it disappears), not from the distance.

Best regards,

Xavier

[crashaz]

Yeah seeing the same problem with my large seaplane hangars on Ford Island. I am looking for the answer Xavier and when I find the answer will post here.

[xavierb]

Interesing, crashaz: which design tool are you using? EOD, Gmax or FSDS? If different from EOD, then I suspect the sheer size of the building is the problem. Strangely, large stock objects (Large hangar type A or type B) don't show this strange behaviour.

[crashaz]

Using GMAX to custom build the seaplane hangars on Ford Island. Looking at my Hangar5 code right now as it does not pop in and out... the new one I just did... Hangar 6 is popping in and out of view on the outside view with the plane flying over.

GMAX to build custom hangar...
use the _0.asm to create BGL with BGLC...
use raw2scasm to create the new .asm I refer with my library .sca code to add damageable library objects.

The same method discussed in this forum by Rhumba in an earlier thread.

[xavierb]

Thanks, crashaz. So this is not a problem of the tool but perhaps some setting in the scasm code... It seems it is time to try tweaking something. Although the problem is not serious (the building is displayed, it can be destroyed, etc.), it hurts our "designer pride":-)

Best regards,

Xavier

[Martin]

If you are making library objects then it is the SIZE value in the object header that tells CFS2 how "wide" the object is and so when it can stop drawing it because it is all off the side of your screen. If this value is too small then it will think the object is out of view when its centre point is just off screen.

SIZE is, I think, done relevant to SCALE so if your object scale is 0.01 and it is 50m wide you need a SIZE value of 5000 and so on.

CFS2 also prefers objeccts at a very small scale. The default buildings are 0.001. Objects of larger scale (like the CFS1 objects, many of which are 1.0 or 0.5) tend to disappear much too soon in the distance.

Though it is a while since I looked at this stuff...

[xavierb]

Yes, it was that, Martin. As always, you have told the solution. Hard to find words to say you thanks, as you already must be bored of people saying thank you.

Then, to keep you so bored:

A BIG THANK YOU AGAIN!!!

I add a paella to the beers I already owe you in Barcelona :icon29: :icon29: :icon29:


If you are making library objects then it is the SIZE value in the object header that tells CFS2 how "wide" the object is and so when it can stop drawing it because it is all off the side of your screen. If this value is too small then it will think the object is out of view when its centre point is just off screen.

SIZE is, I think, done relevant to SCALE so if your object scale is 0.01 and it is 50m wide you need a SIZE value of 5000 and so on.

CFS2 also prefers objeccts at a very small scale. The default buildings are 0.001. Objects of larger scale (like the CFS1 objects, many of which are 1.0 or 0.5) tend to disappear much too soon in the distance.

Though it is a while since I looked at this stuff...

[Martin]

When designing objects at 1:1 scale Gmax generates code scaled to 0.01 or 0.001 (can`t remember offhand) which means they work well in CFS2 without needing any tweaking.

FSDS when creating api code uses a much bigger scaling factor and I guess that EOD is similar. In the past when creating library objects from FSDS1 I would actually create a scenery bgl and then disassemble it. When creating bgl it would use a smaller scale so the disassembled code, converted to library code, gave much better displaying library objects

It`s all coming back to me now....

[xavierb]

For EOD the correct scale value to get objects properly displayed is 0.5. I have set size to 5000 and everything is all right for the big hangars I am building. I have now to play with different values (smaller) to find out which is the smallest.

Best regards,

Xavier

[crashaz]

Hehehe well already answered I see. Did not find a motel available in Austin so I was without internet last night. Thanks Martin! :)

[Martin]

I was meaning to check how you were doing.

Hope the damage is minimal. I quite fancy a trip to Dallas ;^)

[crashaz]

Hey door is always open buddy. Had a lot of hurricane evacuees come and fill all the hotels in Austin,Dallas,San Antonio... kinda caught me by surprise and I had no room. No matter... next week I will be back working in Dallas and won't have to worry about motel rooms. :costumes: