Post
by hc_pookie » 2001-08-13 14:24:00
Let's try again with correct formatting...
>After that I have to talk nicely to Jerry to help me get them into the "Terrain
>Master Patch" he is working on.
How soon we talking? I'd like to get the master patch stuff ready for next weekend, perhaps for release next Monday - assuming we hit no roadblocks!
>The objects will then be available to all theatre makers but won't be placed
>(I still have to discuss what the best way of doing the placement is as it could
>lead to changes to nearly every objective in the existing Falcon 4 database
>plus the creation of a few new ones).
IMHO - we should not add to the existing objectives, as the database changes would be problematic. I really think the best way is to add the clumps, and place them selectively around the objectives.
IF we choose to edit the existing objectives, we will really need to examine the best way to do it. I don't know an easy way to make the changes. Perhaps the easiest way is to make a carbon copy of the objectives, then add the features to the 'new' objectives. Sound difficult? It will be. That's the easiest way IMO.
Here's the reason:
The .FED pointers enumerate each instance of the features for the objective. The FED file is a list of pointers. So for example:
Objective1 => FED #1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Objective2 => FED #8,9,10,11,12
Objective3 => FED #13,14,15,16
Let's say we wish to add 3 trees to Objective2:
Objective1 => FED #1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Objective2 => FED #8,9,10,11,12,X,Y,Z
Objective3 => FED #13,14,15,16
Here is what happens to the feature numbering:
Objective1 => FED #1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Objective2 => FED #8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15
Objective3 => FED #13,14,15,16
The new pointers are NOT INSERTED - Now Objective3 is using the features from Objective2!!!! Not good.
Unless a programmer can make a FED insert function, that adjusts the numbering of **every** objective's FED pointers, we can't insert FED pointers. THerefore, we can only append new pointers, and use those. That's what the Balkans features do. That's what the Tree features will need to do.
The ONLY alternative is to pick with existing features we wish to REPLACE, then substitute those with our new. For example, to add a tree to an airbase, you may select one of the refuelling/rearm 'trucks' that are parked along the tarmac. These are FED #3072-3079. Take those, and edit their CT number to point to the new CT for the Trees. Now, just edit the X,Y coordinates and viola! you have effectively replaced the refuel trucks with trees.
So you see, we have a few bugs to iron out....
- Jerry
