Atlas2 Terrain Creation Dialog V2.2

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The atlas2 terrain dialog consists of script files and an updated version of atlasInstance2.cpp.

Installation of the script files: Create a new directory "NX" in "example/common/ui". Unzip atlas2nx.zip and copy the files into this new directory. Open "examples/common/client/canvas.cs" in an editor and add exec("~/ui/NX/NXinit.cs"); just after the "Common GUI's" exec statements.

C Code Update: The script code passes a variable number of arguments to atlasGenerateBlenderTerrain() depending on the number of textures used. Currently atlas blender can only use up to four textures although this may change. The modified code includes a simple routine to count the number of real textures and set argc accordingly. The following code is in atlasConsoleGenerator.cpp. Add the bolded code lines as shown below.

[b]S32 verifyArgc(S32 argc, const char **argv);[/b]

ConsoleFunction(atlasGenerateBlenderTerrain, bool, 5, 20, "(outFile, inGeometryFile, inOpacityFile, inLightmapFile, virtualTexSize, sourceImage0, sourceImage1, sourceImage2, ..., sourceImageN)")
{
   .
   .
   .
   acc->setEntry("virtualTexSize", argv[5]);
   Con::printf("      - Virtual texture size is %d", virtTexSize);

   // How many source images are specified?
   [b]argc = verifyArgc(argc, argv);		//verify real texture count and set argc accordingly[/b]
   S32 numSrcImages = argc - 6;
   Con::printf("      - Found %d source images specified.", numSrcImages);

   acc->setEntry("sourceImageCount", avar("%d", numSrcImages));
   .
   .
   .
}
[b]
S32 verifyArgc(S32 argc, const char *argv[])
{
	S32 nCount = 0;
	for(int i=6 ; i<argc ; i++)
		if(strlen(argv[i]) != 0) nCount++;
	return nCount+6;
}
[/b]

Instructions:

The dialog consists of five panes: Geometry, TQT, Textures, Blender, Unique and Paths. During calculations progress and error messages are shown in the winconsole window (the dos window that opens when you start TGEA). The functions performed on each pane is explained below:

Geometry: A two step process is used to create the geometry atlas file. First the raw input file is converted to .chu and second the .chu is converted to .atlas. The atlas functions used for these conversions are generateChunkFileFromRaw16 and importOldAtlasChu. Necessary information is provided in several text edit boxes. Buttons with the ellipses "..." will open a file browsing drop down to assist in locating files. Output filenames will be automatically created based on the input files. Output filenames can be changed. The default is to append "_geo" as part of the geometry atlas file created using this pane. Specify heightmap size, square size, error metric and tree depth in the text boxes at the bottom of the pane for CHU creation. These parameters are not required to convert the CHU to Atlas.

TQT: Used for Atlas1 terrains. No changes to the original version.

TxFromTiles: Generates texture atlas files using atlasGenerateTextureTOCFromTiles. This pane has the following applications: Unique: import texture tiles to atlas. Blender: import lightmap and opacity maps to atlas. Both jpeg and png formats are accepted and must be specified using the checkboxes.

Blender Textures: Clicking the "Texture" button opens a pane to import terrain textures used to create Blender terrains. Select jpeg or png and then click add and then browse to find the desired file. Textures are passed to Atlas2 in the order shown in the dialog.

Blender Terrain Creation: Clicking the "Blender" button opens a pane to create Blender terrains. Any atlas files created during the current session will be present in the correct location. Browse for any missing files using the ellipses "..." button. Textures must be defined before generating the blender atlas file using the "Texture" pane.

Unique Terrain Creation: Clicking the "Unique" button opens a pane to create Unique terrains. When used during a single session the geometry atlas and texture jpeg will already be shown in the proper places. Create the texture atlas using "TxFromTiles".

Paths: This pane shows the directories that the dialog will use to load the various files on the panes discussed above. Use the ellipses buttons to browse for the desired directory and select "Load". Once all directories are saved use the "Save" button to save the changes. Saved changes will be loaded each time the dialog is started. To return to the defaults use the "Default" button.


To launch the dialog hit "Ctrl-F12".

V2.2 Changes: Fix file dialog to start in proper directories, add capability to save modified directories and load defaults.