Post by Redneck on Oct 5, 2004 9:18:31 GMT -5
Also, Back By Popular Demand!
ok I want you all to pay close attention here. Cause even though I reworded it, added pictures, etc it's still not an easy thing to do. And not all will grasp it. Not everyone's cut out to do everything I'm afraid. *sigh* But here we go. Round 2. lol One other note. If the pics do not load for anyone reading this after the day it was posted do not sweat it. Just wait a while then come back. Image station goes down from time to time for updates, or whatever they do to it. lol NOTE: if you haven't done so already you will need to unzip the base.scs ( and the patch_1.x.scs file if your game's been patched ). There's numerous posts and websites explaining how to do this. WARNING!! this is for people with computer skills. If you do not even know how to change a file's properties to open with a different file or if you don't even know what a zip file is THIS IS NOT FOR YOU!
legend:
negative numers = -xxx
positive numbers = xxx
spacer\seperator = : ( colon )
X AXIS = Left to Right
Y AXIS = Top to Bottom
Z AXIS = Front to Back
Bold and caps = points of interest
Bold and Italics = clips from actual flare def files
sflares folder = standard flares. these are the ones on your truck by default
aflares folder = additional flares that you buy in the notepad screen
Ok with the legend out of the way let's begin shall we? Again this will be complicated to grasp at first. If you need to reread it till you understand it. I've slimmed it down best I could but it's NOT an easy thing to explain.
Go to my documents\18WoS Across America\makes\truck\nameoftruck\acc folder. ( where name of truck is the truck you want to edit. for this whole tutorial I will be using the P379 ) In there you will find an sflares folder and an aflares folder. Note the legend above for which is which. Open the folder for the one you want to edit. In the case of the Western Star I found adding lights for the side of the bunk working best on the aflares cause the aflares add the lights to the bottom of the bunk. So everything lined up nicely with those on rather than off. lol Open the folder for the light you want then open the !desc.def file.
Once in the !desc.def file you'll see a bunch of stuff that, to most of you, might as well be written in gibberish. lol The lines we want are flare_offset: and flare_direction:. The flare offset tells the game where the light(s) will be positioned. The direction tells the game how to display it. I'll go deeper into both in just a minute. As well as a full write out of the direction lines that are available, to my knowledge, and what they do.
NOTE: Numbers along the Y axis should always be positive UNLES you are putting them below the frame. at a Y of 0 the light would be even with the bottom of the frame. A negative number would but them below the frame. For example the lights I put on the bumper of the P379 have a - in the Y. -32 if I remember right.
Ok let's start with the flare_offset line. Again in this tutorial I'm usin the Pete 379 ( P379 folder ) in this tutorial.
flare_offset:"-128.022 126.677 -681.727
That's just 1 line for 1 light but we'll start small. The first line -128.002 tells the game where, along the X axis (see legend for easier understanding) the light will be. Numbers with a - sign are on the left. Numbers that are just numbers ( no - sign ) are on the right. The second line 126.677 tells the game where, along the Y axis, the light will be. numbers with a - in the front would be below the frame. The third line -681.727 tells the game where, along the Z axis, the light will be. negative numbers, indicated by a - , are toward the front. Numbers with just numbers ( no - sign ) are towards the rear. See pics for example:
Now by default the Pete 379 has, if I remember right, 4 lights in the sflares def file. If you wanted to add more you would do something like this: (note the x's are indicaing what was already there. why xs? so they stand out and you can see what we're doing. :wink: )
flare_offset:"xxx.xxx xxx.xxx xxx.xxx:xxx.xxx xxx.xxx xxx.xxx:xxx.xxx xxx.xxx xxx.xxx:xxx.xxx xxx.xxx xxx.xxx:-123 -2 -750"
Notice how I added the line :-123 -2 -750? You must have a spacer\seperater inbetween each light definition. Each light definition has 3, yes 3 ( I had ALOT of people that put a spacer between everything. DO NOT DO THIS! ) sets of numbers BEFORE the spacer. example: -123 -2 -750: Note the spacer is AFTER -750.
Also for every light you add you must also add a direction for it. YOU MUST PUT THE DIRECTION FOR THE LIGHT IN THE PROPER PLACE. What I mean by that is is if you add a light definition in the middle of all the other light definitions you will have to put a direction in that same spot. But please keep it easy for yourselves and just add lights to the ned. makes it easier. Basically what I mean is add everything that you want to add to the end of what's already there. Don't try to mix it in in the middle somewhere.
One final note on the flare_offsets. If it's the last line in the offset it should NOT GET A SPACER! The last line in the offset must never have a spacer. Should end with a " not a : Doing that will cause the game to crash. Same with forgetting the spacer. If your lost by now then stop reading cause your not going to understand the next parts to come. lol
Ok let's move onto the directions.
flare_direction:"-1 0 0" again this is 1 line and this time is an example line. The direction works the same as the flares to a degree. Both have 3 sets of numbers and then a spacer\seperator at the end of each. (must also end the last line with a " not : just like the offsets ). valid (from what I've found so far. I'l update if I find more) direction numbers are as follows:
0 0 -1 = this line will put your lights forward facing. In other words when looking at the BACK of the truck you will not see them. Much like the lights I put on the Pete 379's breathers. (filters)
0 0 1 = this light makes them shine backwards only. Much like the loading light I put on the Pete 379. i.e. only visible when looking BACK of the truck. exact opposite of the 0 0 -1 line.
-1 0 0 = this line will make them show only on the left side of the truck. that means you will only see them when looking at the left side of the truck. Much like the lights I put on the left side of the sleeper (bunk) on the Pete 379.
1 0 0 = this line will make them shine on the right side only. Exact opposite of the -1 0 0 line.
DO NOT MIX NUMBERS. Thus far I have not been able to do both and the default game does not have both. What I mean is do not do this:
-1 0 -1
That will only crash your game. Even the default rusty's (Pete 351) blinkers are set to have 2 seperate lights. one with a 0 0 -1 and one with a 0 0 1 line so the blinkers are visible from both angles. You CANNOT MIX THEM!
Now for those of you adventurers, like me, that want to make your own aflares sets from scratch you must folow this carefully. (WARNING this is for advanced users of the light defs!)
Copy the aflares folder. rename it to aflares1 (all folders must be in sequencial order. i.e. aflares1, aflares2, etc.) Now go in that folder and delete the psm file. Next go into the !desc.def file. delete the offset (not flare_offset) line. Also delete the model line and the shader line. (not the flare_shadrer line. the regular shader line) Why do this? because if you don't you'll end up putting the flare housing model ontop of one that's already there and cause all kinds of havoc. lol Mostly lockups. Finally delete all the light definitions in the flare_offset line so you can add your own without having the same ones from another set there.
I think that's it. If anyone is still stumped then I dunno what to tell you. I'll answer any questions you have and I'll be glad to help. Just ask politely (means no goin PLEASE HELP! HELP! HELP! lol) and I'll answer it as fast and best I can. Or someone else will if they are kind enough to lend a helping hand. I can't be here 24/7 so I may take a while to reply.
If you have no clue as to what I'm talking about above DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT THIS!. This is not math people. This is merely positioning. It's quite easy to do but not easy to explain. And your not going to just up and learn it by reading this. Open a def and follow along if need be. But you HAVE TO GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY or you'll never learn it. i.e. you'll only learn by doing. not reading forever.
Topdog
ok I want you all to pay close attention here. Cause even though I reworded it, added pictures, etc it's still not an easy thing to do. And not all will grasp it. Not everyone's cut out to do everything I'm afraid. *sigh* But here we go. Round 2. lol One other note. If the pics do not load for anyone reading this after the day it was posted do not sweat it. Just wait a while then come back. Image station goes down from time to time for updates, or whatever they do to it. lol NOTE: if you haven't done so already you will need to unzip the base.scs ( and the patch_1.x.scs file if your game's been patched ). There's numerous posts and websites explaining how to do this. WARNING!! this is for people with computer skills. If you do not even know how to change a file's properties to open with a different file or if you don't even know what a zip file is THIS IS NOT FOR YOU!
legend:
negative numers = -xxx
positive numbers = xxx
spacer\seperator = : ( colon )
X AXIS = Left to Right
Y AXIS = Top to Bottom
Z AXIS = Front to Back
Bold and caps = points of interest
Bold and Italics = clips from actual flare def files
sflares folder = standard flares. these are the ones on your truck by default
aflares folder = additional flares that you buy in the notepad screen
Ok with the legend out of the way let's begin shall we? Again this will be complicated to grasp at first. If you need to reread it till you understand it. I've slimmed it down best I could but it's NOT an easy thing to explain.
Go to my documents\18WoS Across America\makes\truck\nameoftruck\acc folder. ( where name of truck is the truck you want to edit. for this whole tutorial I will be using the P379 ) In there you will find an sflares folder and an aflares folder. Note the legend above for which is which. Open the folder for the one you want to edit. In the case of the Western Star I found adding lights for the side of the bunk working best on the aflares cause the aflares add the lights to the bottom of the bunk. So everything lined up nicely with those on rather than off. lol Open the folder for the light you want then open the !desc.def file.
Once in the !desc.def file you'll see a bunch of stuff that, to most of you, might as well be written in gibberish. lol The lines we want are flare_offset: and flare_direction:. The flare offset tells the game where the light(s) will be positioned. The direction tells the game how to display it. I'll go deeper into both in just a minute. As well as a full write out of the direction lines that are available, to my knowledge, and what they do.
NOTE: Numbers along the Y axis should always be positive UNLES you are putting them below the frame. at a Y of 0 the light would be even with the bottom of the frame. A negative number would but them below the frame. For example the lights I put on the bumper of the P379 have a - in the Y. -32 if I remember right.
Ok let's start with the flare_offset line. Again in this tutorial I'm usin the Pete 379 ( P379 folder ) in this tutorial.
flare_offset:"-128.022 126.677 -681.727
That's just 1 line for 1 light but we'll start small. The first line -128.002 tells the game where, along the X axis (see legend for easier understanding) the light will be. Numbers with a - sign are on the left. Numbers that are just numbers ( no - sign ) are on the right. The second line 126.677 tells the game where, along the Y axis, the light will be. numbers with a - in the front would be below the frame. The third line -681.727 tells the game where, along the Z axis, the light will be. negative numbers, indicated by a - , are toward the front. Numbers with just numbers ( no - sign ) are towards the rear. See pics for example:
Now by default the Pete 379 has, if I remember right, 4 lights in the sflares def file. If you wanted to add more you would do something like this: (note the x's are indicaing what was already there. why xs? so they stand out and you can see what we're doing. :wink: )
flare_offset:"xxx.xxx xxx.xxx xxx.xxx:xxx.xxx xxx.xxx xxx.xxx:xxx.xxx xxx.xxx xxx.xxx:xxx.xxx xxx.xxx xxx.xxx:-123 -2 -750"
Notice how I added the line :-123 -2 -750? You must have a spacer\seperater inbetween each light definition. Each light definition has 3, yes 3 ( I had ALOT of people that put a spacer between everything. DO NOT DO THIS! ) sets of numbers BEFORE the spacer. example: -123 -2 -750: Note the spacer is AFTER -750.
Also for every light you add you must also add a direction for it. YOU MUST PUT THE DIRECTION FOR THE LIGHT IN THE PROPER PLACE. What I mean by that is is if you add a light definition in the middle of all the other light definitions you will have to put a direction in that same spot. But please keep it easy for yourselves and just add lights to the ned. makes it easier. Basically what I mean is add everything that you want to add to the end of what's already there. Don't try to mix it in in the middle somewhere.
One final note on the flare_offsets. If it's the last line in the offset it should NOT GET A SPACER! The last line in the offset must never have a spacer. Should end with a " not a : Doing that will cause the game to crash. Same with forgetting the spacer. If your lost by now then stop reading cause your not going to understand the next parts to come. lol
Ok let's move onto the directions.
flare_direction:"-1 0 0" again this is 1 line and this time is an example line. The direction works the same as the flares to a degree. Both have 3 sets of numbers and then a spacer\seperator at the end of each. (must also end the last line with a " not : just like the offsets ). valid (from what I've found so far. I'l update if I find more) direction numbers are as follows:
0 0 -1 = this line will put your lights forward facing. In other words when looking at the BACK of the truck you will not see them. Much like the lights I put on the Pete 379's breathers. (filters)
0 0 1 = this light makes them shine backwards only. Much like the loading light I put on the Pete 379. i.e. only visible when looking BACK of the truck. exact opposite of the 0 0 -1 line.
-1 0 0 = this line will make them show only on the left side of the truck. that means you will only see them when looking at the left side of the truck. Much like the lights I put on the left side of the sleeper (bunk) on the Pete 379.
1 0 0 = this line will make them shine on the right side only. Exact opposite of the -1 0 0 line.
DO NOT MIX NUMBERS. Thus far I have not been able to do both and the default game does not have both. What I mean is do not do this:
-1 0 -1
That will only crash your game. Even the default rusty's (Pete 351) blinkers are set to have 2 seperate lights. one with a 0 0 -1 and one with a 0 0 1 line so the blinkers are visible from both angles. You CANNOT MIX THEM!
Now for those of you adventurers, like me, that want to make your own aflares sets from scratch you must folow this carefully. (WARNING this is for advanced users of the light defs!)
Copy the aflares folder. rename it to aflares1 (all folders must be in sequencial order. i.e. aflares1, aflares2, etc.) Now go in that folder and delete the psm file. Next go into the !desc.def file. delete the offset (not flare_offset) line. Also delete the model line and the shader line. (not the flare_shadrer line. the regular shader line) Why do this? because if you don't you'll end up putting the flare housing model ontop of one that's already there and cause all kinds of havoc. lol Mostly lockups. Finally delete all the light definitions in the flare_offset line so you can add your own without having the same ones from another set there.
I think that's it. If anyone is still stumped then I dunno what to tell you. I'll answer any questions you have and I'll be glad to help. Just ask politely (means no goin PLEASE HELP! HELP! HELP! lol) and I'll answer it as fast and best I can. Or someone else will if they are kind enough to lend a helping hand. I can't be here 24/7 so I may take a while to reply.
If you have no clue as to what I'm talking about above DO NOT EVEN ATTEMPT THIS!. This is not math people. This is merely positioning. It's quite easy to do but not easy to explain. And your not going to just up and learn it by reading this. Open a def and follow along if need be. But you HAVE TO GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY or you'll never learn it. i.e. you'll only learn by doing. not reading forever.
Topdog
