TGB Layer Floater
by Matthew Langley · 08/21/2006 (1:47 pm) · 18 comments
Download Code File
TGB Layer Floater
With the release of TGB 1.1.1 we introduced new functionality that supports managing of the individual layers (0-31) of your scene. We added a new rollout in the Edit Panel when the scenegraph is selected called 'Layer Management'. Though, the restriction of having to select the scenegraph in order to get at visibility/locking of a specific layer was found to be cumbersome after we code-locked our 1.1.1 release. So we decided to wrap a quick toggle floating window addon into our build and found it to be EXTREMELY useful. We have now released this addon to you, as a utility that not only shows how to write a simple floating window addon to the LevelBuilder (extending it's functionality through simple scripting) but also saves you alot of time when you need to hide objects in a complex scene to work on something or lock them so you don't select them accidentally.
Download Layer Management Floater Window Here
Installation
To install the layerFloater addon you need only download the zip file from the link at the bottom or top of this page and extract it into the path below. $installPath being the path you installed Torque Game Builder into.
$installPath/games/tools/resources/
Once you have extracted the folder into that path, you need only restart TGB and you can now use your new addon. It will also be listed in the about dialog as a loaded addon and should appear as 'layerFloater'.
Download Layer Management Floater Window Here
Enjoy!
-The TGB Team
TGB Layer Floater
With the release of TGB 1.1.1 we introduced new functionality that supports managing of the individual layers (0-31) of your scene. We added a new rollout in the Edit Panel when the scenegraph is selected called 'Layer Management'. Though, the restriction of having to select the scenegraph in order to get at visibility/locking of a specific layer was found to be cumbersome after we code-locked our 1.1.1 release. So we decided to wrap a quick toggle floating window addon into our build and found it to be EXTREMELY useful. We have now released this addon to you, as a utility that not only shows how to write a simple floating window addon to the LevelBuilder (extending it's functionality through simple scripting) but also saves you alot of time when you need to hide objects in a complex scene to work on something or lock them so you don't select them accidentally.
Download Layer Management Floater Window Here
Installation
To install the layerFloater addon you need only download the zip file from the link at the bottom or top of this page and extract it into the path below. $installPath being the path you installed Torque Game Builder into.
$installPath/games/tools/resources/
Once you have extracted the folder into that path, you need only restart TGB and you can now use your new addon. It will also be listed in the about dialog as a loaded addon and should appear as 'layerFloater'.
Download Layer Management Floater Window Here
Enjoy!
-The TGB Team
About the author
Was a GG Associate and then joined GG in 2005. Lead tool dev for T2D and T3D. In 2011 joined mobile company ngmoco/DeNA and spent about 4 years working game and server tech. 2014 joined startup Merigo Games developing server technology.
#2
Edit: Works great! I hope this is the first of many more widgets for TGB. Hmmm. I can think of one. Wonder if I can do it...
08/21/2006 (4:16 pm)
Oooooooh. No more layer shuffling! Should cut my swearing down by about 50%!Edit: Works great! I hope this is the first of many more widgets for TGB. Hmmm. I can think of one. Wonder if I can do it...
#3
08/21/2006 (8:27 pm)
This is very VERY useful! 
#4
08/22/2006 (2:23 am)
Thanks! Great!!!
#7
08/27/2006 (2:23 am)
Any chance on making the 'lock' more clear (maybe by making it red). The difference between the locked and unlocked layer is too subtle.
#8
08/28/2006 (8:20 pm)
How does it do all of this with such little code?! I'd like to know more about how this works. Is there going to be a tutorial or something to show how we can go about creating our own TGB addons like this? I have an idea or two that could possibly work similar to this.
#9
08/29/2006 (4:32 pm)
@Gellyware: Good idea.
#10
Lock icons
These go into:
$installPath/games/tools/gui/images
Preview:
09/03/2006 (10:07 am)
Had to hunt around for the icon images, but here we go:Lock icons
These go into:
$installPath/games/tools/gui/images
Preview:
#13
we always userd this great tool in our project, but since TGB 1.7.2 (or probably also the version before) it does not work any more.. has it to be put in a different folder, or loaded manually now?
05/06/2008 (8:41 am)
hello!we always userd this great tool in our project, but since TGB 1.7.2 (or probably also the version before) it does not work any more.. has it to be put in a different folder, or loaded manually now?
#14
05/18/2008 (10:26 am)
also not seeing the layer floater after manually loading it into the install path of 1.7.3 for mac. is this something that needs to be addressed or just a bone-headed mistake on my part, which is highly likely?
#15
put the layerFloater folder into:
$installPath/tgb/resources/
then restart TGB open "Project - Resources.."
add the layerFloater resource, save
then save the project, restart TGB again!
now it shall work again!!
07/03/2008 (9:18 am)
OK i got it fixed:put the layerFloater folder into:
$installPath/tgb/resources/
then restart TGB open "Project - Resources.."
add the layerFloater resource, save
then save the project, restart TGB again!
now it shall work again!!
#16
i followed the directions from 'and yet it moves' to install the 'layerfloater'. it shows up when i go to the resource menu, i add it, save it, save the project and then restart, but layer floater and it doesn't appear as an addon when i click the 'info' button. but every time i check resources in the menu, it is there.
any help would be appreciated.
it's annoying to struggle with something that at least seems this simple.
07/21/2008 (5:29 am)
this sucks because i have that nagging feeling that i am doing something stupid.i followed the directions from 'and yet it moves' to install the 'layerfloater'. it shows up when i go to the resource menu, i add it, save it, save the project and then restart, but layer floater and it doesn't appear as an addon when i click the 'info' button. but every time i check resources in the menu, it is there.
any help would be appreciated.
it's annoying to struggle with something that at least seems this simple.
#17
07/23/2008 (8:28 pm)
Having the same problem as Anthony...
#18
Executing C:/~development~/ToadTrip_Project/Zompocalypse_Project/zompocalypse/branches/optimize/resources/layerFloater/scripts/sceneLayerFloater.ed.cs.
resources/layerFloater/resourceDatabase.cs (18): Unknown command addMenuItem.
Object LevelBuilderMenu(1649) LevelBuilderMenu -> BehaviorComponent -> DynamicConsoleMethodComponent -> SimComponent -> SimObject
resources/layerFloater/resourceDatabase.cs (19): Unknown command addMenuItem.
Object LevelBuilderMenu(1649) LevelBuilderMenu -> BehaviorComponent -> DynamicConsoleMethodComponent -> SimComponent -> SimObject
% Game Resources : Loaded Resource layerFloater
Looking into it.
08/01/2008 (12:51 am)
Check the TGB log, I have this:Executing C:/~development~/ToadTrip_Project/Zompocalypse_Project/zompocalypse/branches/optimize/resources/layerFloater/scripts/sceneLayerFloater.ed.cs.
resources/layerFloater/resourceDatabase.cs (18): Unknown command addMenuItem.
Object LevelBuilderMenu(1649) LevelBuilderMenu -> BehaviorComponent -> DynamicConsoleMethodComponent -> SimComponent -> SimObject
resources/layerFloater/resourceDatabase.cs (19): Unknown command addMenuItem.
Object LevelBuilderMenu(1649) LevelBuilderMenu -> BehaviorComponent -> DynamicConsoleMethodComponent -> SimComponent -> SimObject
% Game Resources : Loaded Resource layerFloater
Looking into it.
Torque 3D Owner Jacopo De Luca
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