SDSX Requirements

This is the requirements document for the future Scenery Design Suite X (SDSX) tool. For discussions about this tool, please use the SDSX forum.

SECOND DRAFT DESCRIPTION FOR NEW SCENERY DESIGN TOOL

Draft Version 0.2 (Sept 30, 2006)

Working Name

• Scenery Design Studio X [SDSX]

Program License

• Freeware

Developer

• FSDevelopers.com

Introduction

This is a new Scenery Design Tool for use with FSX. It is being developed on a co-operative basis by members of FSDevelopers.com.

It is expected to be a multi phase development and this description covers Phase 1. Future extensions such as adding new scenery elements should be possible via plug-in technology. These would include land class, mesh etc

Objective

To develop a Scenery Design Tool with the ability to:

• read FS9 and FSX XML based scenery BGLs
• enable users to view, modify and create FSX scenery in a graphical environment using drag and drop techniques.
• handle all existing FS9 and FSX XML based objects and effects
• create 'compound objects' such as fence lines, area fills and so on.
• display background images
• display background geographical information (road, rail, coastlines, elevation data etc) either by reading from the Sim or from GIS data Sources.
• compile and deploy FSX scenery bgls.
• provide analysis tools related to scenery
• manage object libraries
• operate in either a stand alone mode or in client/server mode for co-operative working with design teams
• be flexible in design so that new objects, simple or compound can be added without the need to change or re-compile the base program. These should be addable by using plug-in components
• Allow teaking of 3D objects
  • Automatically create LoD
  • Seasonal texture (can be part of general texture tweaks supporting renaming, adding or removing night maps etc).
  • Convert polygons to ground polygons (FS2002 style or FSX ground textures now resolution can be OK)
  • Add or remove shadows from parts of an object

Target Audience

• The tool should be usable by a wide range of users from casual to scenery design teams.
• It should also be usuable by AI Traffic Designers.

Target Sim

• FSX

Input Formats

• FS9 and FSX bgl and mdl
• Shape Files
• GIS Data

Output Formats

• The program needs to be able to generate FSX Scenery BGL Files
• It may also generate XML or other format output if required and useful

Data Storage Formats

• To be agreed

User Interface

• In this phase it will provide a 2D top down GUI using the Visual Studio IDE as a model

Scenery objects/elements in toolboxes with drag and drop to the work area objects parameters using property lists. A 3D interface would be expected as part of a later phase

Tools, Design Standards, etc.

Design Philosophy/Patterns

• Microsoft Smart Client Factory based Client
• Separation of GUI from Data using the Model View Presenter (MVP) Pattern
• Observer Pattern for interaction between objects
• Extensions to the program for new/additional scenery object types via plug ins which will require an SDK. It should also be possible to add new compiler/decompiler options via plug-ins

Tools

• IDE – minimum C# Express
• Standards - FXCop
• Documentation - ??
• Testing - ??

Design Platform

• dotNet 2.0 or 3.0

Operating System

• minimum requirements – XP SP2 Home Edition

Primary Design Language

• C# although plug-in modules and self contained parts of the program could be created in any CLR compliant language and compiled to dlls (i.e must be managed)

Display handled by (choice of GDI+, DirectX, OpenGL OR WPF)

Design Standards

• Microsoft Standards as embodied in FXCop - rules to be defined

Components

• managed NET libraries
• avoid using COM based