File handling & Task/batch automation

[flyhalf]

If you are handling large amounts of files during a scenery development (like I am currently), it gets tedious making small changes and loading FS each time to see the result.

I use a batch file to convert folders of psd to bmp - as do others. This is very helpful.

I also "associate" in Windows a double click on an xml file runs BGLcomp.exe Handy for compiling, as even a drag a drop gets tedious.

Can anyone else think of any time saving shortcuts? -- For instance, quite often I am working on one texture sheet at a time and only change small things and need to see the result in FS. Running the batch file on the entire folder gets a bit tedious, as does dragging the single psd onto imagetool, converting to dxt3, adding mipmaps and saving out to bmp and then running FSX.

 

[hcornea]

Associate a double-click to .x files (scenery developers only perhaps) to point to X2Mdl.exe

Double-click assigned for .mdl files to open them in Arno's Modelconverter X for previewing

Range of Shortcuts to Imagetool, using the various CLI options

eg: Create a Shortcut to Imagetool, and select Properties
add: -dxt5 -mips -dds (after the " marks in the command)
Rename this shortcut as Imagetool DXT5

You can drop multiple files onto the shortcut at once ... and if you look at the array of CLI switches available it is extraordinary what you can do.

Edit your default paths in gmax.ini to point to your current project location.

Create shortcuts in your source texture directory that point to your FSX dds texture directory.

 

[flyhalf]

That's very good info, I knew there were better ways of doing these things.




..

 

[hcornea]

Forgot my favourite

Create a .bat file to update the Object Library you are working on, and copy it to your Scenery Folder.

The batch shortcut can be placed on your desktop ... so you can instantly update the library you are working on, after adjusting (re-exporting) a mdl

"D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\BGL Compiler SDK\BglComp.exe" "Y:\Model Files\{model library name here}.xml"

xcopy "Y:\Model Files\{model library name here}.bgl" "D:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\[scenery path here}"

 

[OZ_JOHN]

The Aussie boys great tips guys any chace of some examples of these tips as to see how they do their magic,Cheers Max great work lately and OZ_X scenery speaks for itself......

 

[hcornea]

Here's a sample of how the dxt5 dds conversion would work.

Note you would need to edit this shortcut to point to your install of Imagetool.exe in the FSX SDK

You can select multiple files and drop them all onto this shortcut at once and watch them convert in front of your eyes.

To bring up the options doubleclick the shortcut (ie open without a file)

 

[OZ_JOHN]

Many Thanks works a treat...........

 

[JRobinson]

I use a Textpad macro to do my groundpoly tweaks. It makes all the necessary changes to the .asm file, the only thing I do manually is change the layer number. I just use the "replace all" function to tweak the _0.asm files. After that I have a batch file that compiles all my layers with BGLC9 and sends the finished .bgl(s) to my scenery folder. If I'm only modifying one layer, "20" for example, I comment out the commands for all the other layers so I'm not continually compiling layers that haven't been modified.

I have Bglcomp in my "send to" menu and also "Send to > [active scenery folder]" for moving the .bgl after Bglcomp compiles it. I also have a "Send to > [active Texture folder]" for moving .bmps after exporting from PS and processing through Imagetool or DXTBmp. I have a shortcut to "Previous flight" (it's an FS9 thing) in my main .psd working folder (because that's where the most time is spent by far) to quickly start the sim after making an edit.

I have placed copies of Imagetool and nconvert.exe in my system32 folder so I can use either of those apps from a command line without need to place a copy of either excecutable into the working folder first. I use nconvert from a command line or batch file for automating some image conversion task or another almost every day.

Finally I have a batch file that I doubleclick a couple times a day that uses xcopy to make a backup of any changed files in the entire project onto an external hard drive. This step has saved my butt more than once .

EDIT: Another really handy thing I use is the "CmdHere PowerToy for Windows XP". You can right click a folder in Windows Explorer and choose "Open Command Window Here" from the menu. Pops open a command window without need to do any 'CD'-ing. Don't know if there's a similar tool for Vista and Win 7, if not I guess I'll stick with XP forever .

Jim

 

[Heretic]

A shortcut to the Modeling SDK's "bin" folder in your project directory comes in handy when doing aircraft.

Also, with Window's "Open With..." feature, one can assign Imagetool as one of the programs of choice for opening image file. Windows Vista and 7 in particular make this pretty easy.

Assigning key combinations for refreshing the aircraft and scenery is also an essential task for every developer.



P.S: This thread should be stickied (and given a name like "Workflow improvement tips" or so)

 

[LCSims]

My "trick" only works in FSX, as FS9 requires a restart for any changes to be shown. I have two Test folders for scenery work. Start FSX with ONE of the folders active, say Test1. Make changes to an AFCAD-type file or other type, compile and copy to Test2. Hit the scenery library, deactivate Test1 and activate Test2, hit OK and see changes in FSX. This also allows me to go back to the inactive folder and remove any file(s) that have been replaced. Continual process, make changes to a BGL file, copy to the inactive Test(x) folder, and so it goes/ Round and round in circles!

But it beats having to shut FS down and restart every single time.

 

[BASys]

Hi Folks

EDIT: Another really handy thing I use is the "CmdHere PowerToy for Windows XP".
You can right click a folder in Windows Explorer and choose "Open Command Window Here" from the menu.
Pops open a command window without need to do any 'CD'-ing.

Don't know if there's a similar tool for Vista and Win 7,

Jim -
Don't know about Vista,
but its already built-in to Windows 7.

In explorer/filemanager -
SHIFT+RIGHT_CLICK on a foldername,
the context-menu will now include a "Open Command Window Here" option.



There's also some tips in the Wiki at - SDK - Tools - Command Line - Environment Variables (FSX/A)



HTH
ATB
Paul

 

[hcornea]

Work on a laptop and a main machine, or swap files in a team?

When starting a new project:
Map an (obscure letter) Network Drive to your project file location on your main machine
Map the drive on the Laptop using the same drive letter
Under Windows7, rightclick and select "Always available offline"

Your Laptop can now take your files with you, preserving links to textures within the project - so you can work on the move! Make sure you "touch" the folder whilst connected to the Network, or right-click Sync centre on your Laptop's task bar.

Similarly, another member of the team can set up the same drive letter, and a (directory structure intact) set of files can be sent.

Note: ALWAYS use the drive mapped drive letter in the path when setting up materials and files within you project, so the paths will work.

For older versions of Windows, a similar effect can be achieved using Microsoft Sync Toy.

 

[OZ_JOHN]

Pure magic Ian great tips here from all and yes MODS this should be stickied.....