Timed visibility code

[Xpand]

Hi again!
I wanted to make an object disappear after say 5 seconds after I clicked on a switch!

Is a simple visibility code enough for this or there's more to it?

Thanks!

 

[tgibson]

You save the current time into an L: variable. Then check when the current time < your L: variable + 5 minutes. When this is true, activate your visibility code. If not possible in model XML code, create a gauge to do it.

Hope this helps,

 

[n4gix]

In the mouse click section:

(E:LOCAL TIME, seconds) 5 + (>L:MyTimer,enum)

In the <Visible> section:

(L:MyTimer,enum) (E:LOCAL TIME, seconds) &lt;

 

[Xpand]

Thanks! This is going to be very helpful to make dropable external tanks!

 

[lionheart]

Dang.... Smart idea.

 

[delivery guy]

If you want to keep from having more gauge draws you can simply have
the tanks last animation keyframe move the tank to an area hidden in the
aircraft. i use this method to keep it simple and less draws!

Gives the exact same result....

DG

 

[Xpand]

True, the problem is that the plane has no spaces for the droptanks to hide!!

 

[Chuck Jodry VJPL]

While said with tounge in cheek one might opt to put a bone on each side of the tank and flatten it in the last frame so it can fit in the smallest of spaces.

Or not ...

 

[delivery guy]

Which mean bones animation!!! i had to read that twice to get what you were
saying Chuck...But i would stay with a visibility because bones can run into trouble with high poly parts and cause more draw than the visibility gauge would!

DG

 

[Xpand]

BTW, how can I make the animation only run once? Can I add an "enum" variable to the switch and make it change from "x" to "y" when you press the button while the animation only runs when the enum is exactly "x"?

 

[tgibson]

Yes, add another L: variable that goes from 0 to 1 when the tanks are dropped. Then make a condition of dropping that the L: variable = 0.

 

[Xpand]

There's an issue: When I click the button the object disappears and then reapears after the 5 seconds. I wanted it to disappear after 5 secs. I've tried everything. If I put &gt instead of the &lt the object doesn't even appear. I tried to make a diference between the custom var and FS time var and make the condition work only when that difference is smaller than 5 secs, but no luck...

 

[tgibson]

Try > instead of &gt;

Hope this helps,

 

[n4gix]

There's an issue: When I click the button the object disappears and then reapears after the 5 seconds. I wanted it to disappear after 5 secs. I've tried everything. If I put &gt instead of the &lt the object doesn't even appear. I tried to make a diference between the custom var and FS time var and make the condition work only when that difference is smaller than 5 secs, but no luck...

I'd have to see your actual script. Who knows what might possibly be bass-ackwards!

Lord knows I've managed to screw up "simple stuff" more than once myself...

 

[Xpand]

<Animation name="droptank_switch" guid="548aabdb-2431-4e3f-9a17-0636ac2a8185" type="Sim" typeParam="AutoPlay" length="100" typeParam2="droptank_switch" />



<PartInfo>
<Name>droptank_switch</Name>
<AnimLength>50</AnimLength>  
<Animation>
<Parameter>
<Code>
        (L:drop, bool) 50 *
</Code>

</Parameter>

</Animation>
<MouseRect>
      <Cursor>Hand</Cursor>
         <TooltipText>Drop external fuel tanks</TooltipText>
         <CallbackCode>
              	(L:drop,bool) ! (&gt;L:drop,bool)
		(E:LOCAL TIME, seconds) 2 + (>L:droptime,enum)
	</CallbackCode>
</MouseRect>
</PartInfo>

//tank visiblity

 <PartInfo>
    <Name>tank_vis</Name>
    <Visibility>
      <Parameter>
        <Code>
        (L:droptime,enum) (E:LOCAL TIME, seconds) &lt;

	</Code>
      </Parameter>
    </Visibility>
  </PartInfo>

//Drop animation

<Animation name="tankdrop" guid="19e0cea3-a2c7-4a4c-b6bd-8aba05a5fca4" type="Sim" typeParam="AutoPlay" length="100" typeParam2="tankdrop" />

<PartInfo>
    <Name>tankdrop</Name>
   <AnimLength>100</AnimLength>  
<Animation>
<Parameter>
<Code>
(L:drop,bool)
if{ 100 }
els{ 0 }
</Code>
<Lag>50</Lag>
</Parameter>
</Animation>
</PartInfo>

The weird thing is, when I use the code like that, the tanks are visible before I press the button. Turn invisible after I press it and then come back to sight 2 secons later...

 

[n4gix]

You need to add the (L:drop,bool) condition to the script:

<PartInfo>
  <Name>tank_vis</Name>
  <Visibility>
    <Parameter>
      <Code>
        (L:drop,bool) !
        if{ 1 }
        els{ 
          (L:droptime,enum) (E:LOCAL TIME, seconds) &lt;
          if{ 1 }
          els{ 0 }
          }
      </Code>
    </Parameter>
  </Visibility>
</PartInfo>

 

[Xpand]

Ah, ok, thanks!
Didn't know that was necessary since I made it only for the animation...

 

[lionheart]

Thats cool. So putting in the if 1 then 'animation' then if 1, then zero, will cause it to not function again.

Nice....!

 

[Xpand]

I worked for me!

 

[n4gix]

Thats cool. So putting in the if 1 then 'animation' then if 1, then zero, will cause it to not function again.

Nice....!

<Visibility> scripts always evaluate to either 1 or 0 (TRUE or FALSE).

If TRUE, then the part will be seen; else it is hidden from view.

If you evaluate the script I provided, the part will only be visible when both conditions are true:

1. the switch (L:drop, bool) equals 1 (i.e., is TRUE)
and
2. the timer remains TRUE

otherwise (else) the <Visibility> returns zero (0).