LOD in Rail Simulator Exporter

The new version of 3DC that includes this change in LODs is now available: [img:iva1y4gb]http://amabilis.com/forumattachments/a/tpc/f/5496093974/m/32110325341[/img:iva1y4gb]
3DC 7.1.1.3 Beta

If you are defining LODs yourself you have to say ‘No’ to creating LODs. It seems counter-intuitive, but from 3DC’ perspective you are not exporting LODs if you are doing all the work manually.

Richard,

I have some problems with LOD in the Rail Simulator Exporter:

I don’t know if I am specifying correctly the LOD.
EX.: I have two objects:
I want the first to have a LOD of 500 metres.
I want the second to have a LOD of 200 metres.

I name the first object 1_0500_Post
and the second 1_0200_shadow_post as mentionned in the DEV Docs of KRS.

1-� If I answer NO to Create distance-based level of detail?, I got the first objet named 1_1000_post and the second 1_1000_shadow_post at the end of .IGS.

2-� If I answer Yes to Create distance-based level of detail? and Yes to export custom level of detail?, I got the same result of 1-�

3-� If I answer Yes to Create distance-based level of detail? and No to export custom level of detail?, I got the following objets named 1_0100_post, 1_0100_shadow_post, 2_0400_post, 2_0400_shadow_post,3_1000_post, 3_1000_shadow_post at the end of .IGS.
Those are the custom LODS.
After exporting with Blueprint of KRS, I got 3 LODS.

But in no way, I can have the LOD I specified.

Can I have some lights on that?
Thanks

Sorry, I’m way behind on documenting all of this. The information needed is here, but it’s scattered.

The method you need to use is the same as with Train Simulator. It’s in the tutorials for Train Simulator. Also, I posted this previously:

[BLOCKQUOTE class=’ip-ubbcode-quote’][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-title’]quote:[/div][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-content’] The new Rail Simulator LOD exporting feature works as in the MSTS tutorial on LODs, with one new exception.

It’s now possible to use object naming to indicate which LOD an object should be in. What you need to do is affix ‘_LOD_x’ where ‘x’ is 1 to 3.

When 3DC exports non-custom LODs it will use these affixed lods to determine which LOD an object should be in. For example ‘3’ indicates it should be in lods 1 to 3, ‘2’ indicates lods 1 to 2, and ‘1’, indicates only in lod 1.

Any object that does not have this affixed will be culled from lods based on it’s size. That means objects need to have two sides of .5 meters or more to be in lod 2 and objects need to have two sides of 2 meters or more to be in lod 3. (this is assuming you don’t have custom LODs)

The non-custom lods are visible to 100, 400 and 1000 meters.

This will all be documented properly eventually.

This LOD feature also works with the MSTS export.

Oh, one more thing I forgot. MSTS placeholders are not exported to Rail Simulator now. This is part of the process of making it possible to have one model that can be exported to both MSTS and Rail Simulator. [/div][/BLOCKQUOTE]

It doesn’t work.

I must have two objects:
One is the post and the other is the shadow of the post.

I am naming:
Main.0500
Main.0500
shadow
post.

I always got 1_1000 in the .IGS

A simple question:
How must I name the 2 objects to have a LOD of 500 metres for the 2.

If naming doesn’t work for your particular case then you should use the information from the MSTS tutorial.

[BLOCKQUOTE class=’ip-ubbcode-quote’][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-title’]quote:[/div][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-content’]Originally posted by Amabilis Support:
If naming doesn’t work for your particular case then you should use the information from the MSTS tutorial. [/div][/BLOCKQUOTE]

Richard,

I am a bit upset here. <!– s:( –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_sad.gif" alt="" title="Sad" /><!– s:( –>

I read and used the information from the MSTS Tutorials to try adapt it to Rail Simulator.
I just asked a simple question and got this answer.

MSTS and KRS are 2 different games.

I am the kind of person who search and try and try and try before asking something to others.

Why aren’t you using the same object definition as KRS and 3DMax and Blender.
It will be so simple for us, not for me, to simply name the object 1_0500_name.

Don’t forget, if you don’t adapt the program to
KRS and not the reverse, more and more people like me will be moving from 3DC to Blender who give exactly the result needed to make Rail Simulator give it’s full potential.

You should take a look at the section 2.11.2 Naming of 4.03 General Guidelines and Considerations.pdf of the KRS DEV docs.

It tells that:
We can have a single object in LOD
1 visible at distance of 0500 metres (1_0500_name).
[b:9b1etonx]Corrected:
We can have an object visible at 3 different distances (1_0050_name, 2_0100_name and 3_1000_name).[/b:9b1etonx]
And even have an object always visible in the game(1_0000_name).

This is just one of the problems I have with the KRS exporter…

Remember this, 3DC must adapt to the games, not the opposite.

I have to support multiple train simulators so my goal is to make it so users have to deal with a little of the peculiarities of the particualar tain simulator as possible. I also need to re-use as much of my work as possible. Train simulators are a very tiny market. I can’t devote all of my time to it.

I’m not sure what the specific problem you are having is. Maybe you can explain in detail what you would like to achieve, and I can tell you how to achieve it. As far as I know there are no major restrictions if you use custom LODs, which is roughly the equivalent of what is in the Rail Simulator documentation.

Richard,

How can I explain it to you. If I specify a LOD of 1_0500, in the .IGS, it gives 1_1000, it is not 1_0500.

Actually, we can name the object 1_0500_name but in the .IGS, it gives 1_1000_1_0500.
It is very near of the desired result, but not the good one.

[BLOCKQUOTE class=’ip-ubbcode-quote’][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-title’]quote:[/div][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-content’]Originally posted by Amabilis Support:
I have to support multiple train simulators so my goal is to make it so users have to deal with a little of the peculiarities of the particualar tain simulator as possible. [/div][/BLOCKQUOTE]

If I want to get a LOD of 0200 and I must enter Main.200 but the result is always 1_1000.
This is not the easy way and useless.

[BLOCKQUOTE class=’ip-ubbcode-quote’][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-title’]quote:[/div][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-content’]I also need to re-use as much of my work as possible. Train simulators are a very tiny market. I can’t devote all of my time to it. [/div][/BLOCKQUOTE]

I am sorry to tell you this, but if you don’t want to devote the time required to make it do the results required, then don’t offer the KRS .igs option in the exporter.

OR Thinks about have an assistant to work on this KRS section of 3DC.

Someone has already done a KRS plugin for Blender and it is working.

I will have to do all the basics in 3DC and use the Blender exporter to have the result desired
OR use Blender all the way and forget 3DC.

[BLOCKQUOTE class=’ip-ubbcode-quote’][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-title’]quote:[/div][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-content’]I’m not sure what the specific problem you are having is. Maybe you can explain in detail what you would like to achieve, and I can tell you how to achieve it. [/div][/BLOCKQUOTE]

I explained again at the beginning of this topic and this reply.
I want to have a lod of 1_0500 for KRS, not 1_1000 or 3 LODS 1_0100, 2_0200 and 3_1000.

And news for you, if I have 2 objects, the .IGS gives 3 lods for the second object only. No one for the first.

This is a real BUG

[BLOCKQUOTE class=’ip-ubbcode-quote’][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-title’]quote:[/div][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-content’]As far as I know there are no major restrictions if you use custom LODs, which is roughly the equivalent of what is in the Rail Simulator documentation. [/div][/BLOCKQUOTE]

That’s not what the custommer is asking.
Remember that the custommer is always right.

You might not be able to get exactly what you desire, but you certainly can have something very close with custom lods. For example, you can have:

1 LOD to 1000 meters. Unfortunately, I don’t think your example of an object visible to 500 meters is possible at this point. You can make a suggestion for it in the rail simulator suggestions forum if it’s important to you. If it’s really important, you can change the 1_0500 to 1_1000 in the exported file. That should be simple enough. Not ideal, but possible.

3 LODs at 100, 200 and 1000 is possible with custom LODs

Maybe you can send me an example 3DC file showing the bug? I don’t quite understand what you mean, and it may be easier if I see the problem. Maybe it is a case of my not explaining properly how it works.

On a side note, I can guarantee you that I will not be implementing the Rail Simulator export in the same was as it is in 3DS Max. I have to think about consistency between train simulators. I think a lot of people appreciate this consistency.

I don’t think it was entirely clear, but the market for the Rail Simulator export is very small. This is the reason that Abacus declined to create a new version of TSM with a Rail Simulator export. My time, or an assistant’s time has to be paid for. That’s what a business is all about. As it is, I am very skeptical that the Rail Simulator export will pay for the time I have invested in it. But, unlike other companies, I haven’t abandoned my users. I have done what I can to allow them to move forward with 3DC.

But, despite the business aspect, I think I have done a good job on the export, and am happy with it. Unfortunately, I haven’t managed to get to documenting it outside of the forums yet. That is, as I see it, my main priority.

Sorry, I forgot to say that you should send your sample with the bug to <!– e –><a href="mailto:’support@amabilis.com">’support@amabilis.com</a><!– e –>’.

I suspect that a lot of this is just a matter of confusion caused by my lack of proper documenting. It’s coming. There should be a general FAQ with the next release.

If I get your sample I should be able to squeeze in a fix.

I’m planning to release on Monday.

[BLOCKQUOTE class=’ip-ubbcode-quote’][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-title’]quote:[/div][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-content’] 3 LODs at 100, 200 and 1000 is possible with custom LODs [/div][/BLOCKQUOTE]

If i write into the name of the group 1_0456_Bremen and i can see 1_0456_Bremen into the IGS, than it is a REAL custom LOD because i can set it as i want. <!– s;) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!– s;) –>

For my 3d Sleppers i’m using a lod of only 30 meters and i have to set it with and hexadecimal editor… everytime i do a change to the shape i have to reedit the IGS file… it’s a thing that takes only 30 seconds… but if is possible to set it one and for all into the name of the group will be a great thing. <!– s;) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!– s;) –>

With custom LODs, 3DC is supposed to export the lod distance that you specify. If it isn’t then it is a bug. The only exception is the last LOD which is by default visible to 1000 meters.

[BLOCKQUOTE class=’ip-ubbcode-quote’][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-title’]quote:[/div][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-content’]Originally posted by Amabilis Support:

If I get your sample I should be able to squeeze in a fix.

I’m planning to release on Monday. [/div][/BLOCKQUOTE]

Richard,

I just sent you a sample.

[BLOCKQUOTE class=’ip-ubbcode-quote’][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-title’]quote:[/div][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-content’]Originally posted by Bremen:
For my 3d Sleppers i’m using a lod of only 30 meters and i have to set it with and hexadecimal editor… everytime i do a change to the shape i have to reedit the IGS file… it’s a thing that takes only 30 seconds… but if is possible to set it one and for all into the name of the group will be a great thing. <!– s;) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!– s;) –> [/div][/BLOCKQUOTE]

Bremen,

I am also making some tracks for Quebec-Rail.

What hexadecimal editor do you use right now to modify the .IGS?

How does it renders in Rail Simulator with a LOD of 30 meters?

Thanks a Lot <!– s;) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!– s;) –>

[BLOCKQUOTE class=’ip-ubbcode-quote[/img]
[div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-title[/img]
quote:[/div][div class=’ip-ubbcode-quote-content[/img]
What hexadecimal editor do you use right now to modify the .IGS?

How does it renders in Rail Simulator with a LOD of 30 meters? [/div][/BLOCKQUOTE]
Cygnus Hex Editor free edition.

This is a part of the set of narrow gauge tracks for my international route <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –>
The first track has a visible LOD of 30m. A LOD over 30 is visually better but it’s an hammer for the poly count…
[img:2kmteiju]http&#58;//utenti&#46;lycos&#46;it/brerepos/Centovallina/RailSim/BreRS021&#46;jpg[/img:2kmteiju]

This is the same track as above except that is done with the new RS/TS wizard <!– s8-) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cool.gif" alt="" title="Cool" /><!– s8-) –> It’s a piece of modern art because the LOD in this case is working wrong, instead of showing progressively the sleepers, they are loaded all at the same time and only on a small portion of the track.
[img:2kmteiju]http&#58;//utenti&#46;lycos&#46;it/brerepos/Centovallina/RailSim/BreRS020&#46;jpg[/img:2kmteiju]

With the exporter alone, with a file that wasn’t previosly converted with the wizard, i have no problem <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –>

Bye Bye
Bremen