Changing Forest Region 'S' files?

[GreatLocoChase]

Some time ago,
I thought I read about a way
to assign NEW SHAPES to the Forest Regions.

Was I hallucinating,
or am I correct?

Thanks,

Zoë Topper
Design Team Manager
Western and Atlantic 1862 project
GreatLocoChase@aim.com
ICQ: 260-189-049
Yahoo Messenger: WARR_1862_project
http://hawkdawg.com/MSTS/rts/wa/wa_1862.htm

[charlie]

I don't think that you can assign a new shape. It's always a hard coded cruciform...
http://steam4me.railpage.org.au/trainsim/tutorials/forests.html

regards,
charlie

[GreatLocoChase]

Charlie,

Yes, maybe so...,
but I know it's possible
to alter the phrasing in the HARD CODING.

The wording "TENDER COAL"
has been successfully altered to read "TENDER WOOD"
by changing the wording in a 'String FIle'.

I was hoping that the same was doable
with a Forest Region.

Maybe yes..., maybe no?

Zoë Topper
Design Team Manager
Western and Atlantic 1862 project
GreatLocoChase@aim.com
ICQ: 260-189-049
Yahoo Messenger: WARR_1862_project
http://hawkdawg.com/MSTS/rts/wa/wa_1862.htm

[GreatNortherner]

Hi!

No, you were not hallucinating! I asked the same question a wile ago and Lukas (Swissie) wrote me this reply, which I will copy/paste here again, I hope he does not mind.

Cheers!
Michael

The following text is by Lukas (Swissie). Highlighting by me.
================================================== ================

> Edit: PS, I know my trees are too tall. (Essex shot). As they were all "planted" using forest definitions, I cannot do anything about it other than changing their textures - actually I might do this eventually.

Well, actually you can. First of all, for new forest regions, adjust the settings in your forest.dat. Example:

Forest ( "WhateverTree" "WhateverTree.ace" 16.0f 18.0f 0.9f 1.1f)

The first two figures refer to base width and height of the tree (i.e. its size in all three dimensions), and the third and fourth figure figure are ultipliiers for the size, defining the scaling factor for the smallest and tallest trees within one forest region.

I don't quite understand why many forest.dat files call for this ridiculous 0.9 and 1.1 multiplier, resulting in all trees looking about the same size.

Forest ( "WhateverTree" "WhateverTree.ace" 12.0f 14.0f 0.5f 2.0f)

makes much more sense too me...

Now for changing the dimensions of already installed forest regions:

The following info in the .w files refers to the tree size and scaling factors:

Forest (
TreeTexture ( WhateverTree.ace )
ScaleRange ( 0.9 1.1 )
Area ( 243.875 421.75 )
Population ( 134 )
TreeSize ( 16 18 )
...

Instead of adjusting them manually (which would be acceptable for a short route, I've done so occasionally), you could find programs out there that let you search and alter all instances of a certain tree texture in all .w files. I know Otto recently refered to an Unicode editor that would allow you to do that with a few clicks, but I must admit I've forgotten the name of the program. {EDIT: The program refered to is the CONTEXT editor (freeware)} Otherwise, I do think that RouteRiter also has some button about making adjustments to forest regions, but I don't know whether you can also adjust the scaling factor and sizes, or whether it just allows you to switch textures...

Hope that helps!

Cheers, Lukas a.k.a Swissie

=============================================

[charlie]

All of that's true, but it still can't accomplish what Zoë asked, to change out the shape file. I think we're stuck with the cruciform...

regards,
charlie

EDIT: But maybe Lucas' writup is what Zoë wants anyway. :)

[GreatLocoChase]

Lukas. interesting information,
useful, too,
but not quite my question.

I want to 'replace' the SHAPE
the forest regions uses
to apply the texture to.

Rather then the standard 'X' shape used for all forests,
I want to use one shaped more like an umbrella.

Zoë Topper
Design Team Manager
Western and Atlantic 1862 project
GreatLocoChase@aim.com
ICQ: 260-189-049
Yahoo Messenger: WARR_1862_project
http://hawkdawg.com/MSTS/rts/wa/wa_1862.htm

[GreatLocoChase]

One of you HARD CODE Nerds (the kindest meaning),
muct know where to find this DATA?

Zoë Topper
Design Team Manager
Western and Atlantic 1862 project
GreatLocoChase@aim.com
ICQ: 260-189-049
Yahoo Messenger: WARR_1862_project
http://hawkdawg.com/MSTS/rts/wa/wa_1862.htmnow where to find this data?

[charlie]

Ask George, the BIN guy. I would believe that it's in train.exe, but couldn't possibly be sure...

regards,
charlie