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Howto:Place 3D objects with the UFO: Difference between revisions
Howto:Place 3D objects with the UFO (view source)
Revision as of 11:37, 27 April 2013
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The [[UFO from the 'White Project' of the UNESCO|UFO]] aircraft is a superb tool for placing a new (or old) 3D object at any arbitrary location in the scenery with just a few clicks of the mouse. Placing objects in the scenery is a really easy way to contribute to the [[FlightGear]] project. It does not require any programming knowledge, and you can contribute something valuable in just a few minutes. | The [[UFO from the 'White Project' of the UNESCO|UFO]] aircraft is a superb tool for placing a new (or old) 3D object at any arbitrary location in the scenery with just a few clicks of the mouse. Placing objects in the scenery is a really easy way to contribute to the [[FlightGear]] project. It does not require any programming knowledge, and you can contribute something valuable in just a few minutes. | ||
This article gives an overview of placing, editing and saving objects using the UFO. You can get a list of flying controls and editing commands by pressing the ? | This article gives an overview of placing, editing and saving objects using the UFO. You can get a list of flying controls and editing commands by pressing the {{key press|?}} key while flying the UFO. | ||
== Choosing your object == | == Choosing your object == | ||
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=== Creating your own models === | === Creating your own models === | ||
Alternatively you can create your own models. You should save it in a subdirectory of your [[$FG_ROOT]] folder. Two options seem reasonable, although others are possible as well: | Alternatively you can create your own models. You should save it in a subdirectory of your [[$FG_ROOT]] folder. Two options seem reasonable, although others are possible as well: | ||
* Shared model, not unique to a single objects (for example a wind turbine): save it in a subdirectory of <tt>[[$FG_ROOT]]/Models/</tt>. That is the standard directory where the UFO will go when you press the space bar. | * Shared model, not unique to a single objects (for example a wind turbine): save it in a subdirectory of <tt>[[$FG_ROOT]]/Models/</tt>. That is the standard directory where the UFO will go when you press the space bar {{Key press|Space}}. | ||
* Static model, unique object (like the Eiffel Tower): save it in the respective subdirectory of the Scenery folder, e.g. <tt>[[$FG_ROOT]]/Scenery/Objects/w130n30/w123n37</tt>. To browse objects anywhere on your computer, press | * Static model, unique object (like the Eiffel Tower): save it in the respective subdirectory of the Scenery folder, e.g. <tt>[[$FG_ROOT]]/Scenery/Objects/w130n30/w123n37</tt>. To browse objects anywhere on your computer, press {{key press|L}} when using the UFO. | ||
When creating your own object, make sure it is the correct size. In [[Blender]], units are meters. Note that you should be careful about using Google Earth, due to restrictions in their license that might prevent submitting your work to the FlightGear database. See [http://flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3356 here] and [http://flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3415 here]. | When creating your own object, make sure it is the correct size. In [[Blender]], units are meters. Note that you should be careful about using Google Earth, due to restrictions in their license that might prevent submitting your work to the FlightGear database. See [http://flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3356 here] and [http://flightgear.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3415 here]. | ||
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[[File:Placing_objects_with_UFO_html_5fa8d7b1.jpg|400px]] | [[File:Placing_objects_with_UFO_html_5fa8d7b1.jpg|400px]] | ||
Let's say we want to position the catii-iii.xml object at the end of a taxiway. We stop the UFO just above this intersection and press the space key. A Select Model window will open up where the contents of the <tt>[[$FG_ROOT]]/Models/</tt> directory will be shown (or press | Let's say we want to position the catii-iii.xml object at the end of a taxiway. We stop the UFO just above this intersection and press the space key. A Select Model window will open up where the contents of the <tt>[[$FG_ROOT]]/Models/</tt> directory will be shown (or press {{key press|Shift}}+{{key press|L}} and you can go to any desired directory). Select your preferred model from this list, then close the window. The selected model path/name will be displayed in green text at the bottom left of the FlightGear screen. | ||
[[File:Placing_objects_with_UFO_html_m184fb381.jpg|400px]] | [[File:Placing_objects_with_UFO_html_m184fb381.jpg|400px]] | ||
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Fly closer to the ground with the UFO, so that you can see it better. | Fly closer to the ground with the UFO, so that you can see it better. | ||
Now press | Now press {{key press|Tab}} (or {{key press|Ctrl}}+{{key press|I}}), and use the resulting sliders to adjust the latitude/longitude/elevation/heading of the model. NB: "Pitch" and "roll" will not be saved, so using them might be fun, but won't help eventually. | ||
[[File:Placing_objects_with_UFO_html_439816e9.jpg|400px]] | [[File:Placing_objects_with_UFO_html_439816e9.jpg|400px]] | ||
See the [[UFO from the 'White Project' of the UNESCO]] page for more information on the UFO command keys and exported file locations, or press ? while in FlightGear. | See the [[UFO from the 'White Project' of the UNESCO]] page for more information on the UFO command keys and exported file locations, or press {{key press|?}} while in FlightGear. | ||
=== Deleting objects === | === Deleting objects === | ||
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You want to delete an object that is already saved in the corresponding .stg file and you don't know where it is: | You want to delete an object that is already saved in the corresponding .stg file and you don't know where it is: | ||
: You don't know the filename: The model you want to delete is probably a shared model. You find it in the [http://scenemodels.flightgear.org/ scenery database]. Now you know the model's file name (e.g. [http://scenemodels.flightgear.org/modeledit.php?id=45 generic_skyscraper_01.ac] or [http://scenemodels.flightgear.org/modeledit.php?id=537 Office26x22.xml]). | : You don't know the filename: The model you want to delete is probably a shared model. You find it in the [http://scenemodels.flightgear.org/ scenery database]. Now you know the model's file name (e.g. [http://scenemodels.flightgear.org/modeledit.php?id=45 generic_skyscraper_01.ac] or [http://scenemodels.flightgear.org/modeledit.php?id=537 Office26x22.xml]). | ||
: You still need to know where you find it. Place any model on that building and press | : You still need to know where you find it. Place any model on that building and press {{key press|D}} to know in which file you find it (see [[#Exporting the result|Exporting the result]] below). If there are several objects of that type and you want to delete only one of them, find the one closest to the coordinates of your model placed on top. | ||
: Open the .stg file, delete the whole model entry (see [[#Exporting the result|Exporting the result]] below). Done. | : Open the .stg file, delete the whole model entry (see [[#Exporting the result|Exporting the result]] below). Done. | ||
== Exporting the result == | == Exporting the result == | ||
Now that the model is correctly positioned, press the | Now that the model is correctly positioned, press the {{key press|D}} key to dump the model position data to the terminal. A few lines will be printed on the console, providing the necessary orientation data. | ||
[[File:Placing_objects_with_UFO_html_m4cf0cbf7.jpg]] | [[File:Placing_objects_with_UFO_html_m4cf0cbf7.jpg]] | ||
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=== Saving to XML === | === Saving to XML === | ||
Alternatively, if you press the | Alternatively, if you press the {{key press|E}} key while developing scenery with UFO, FlightGear will generate a xml file with the dump of your current work in an "ufo-model-export.xml" file under [[$FG_HOME]]. | ||
=== Loading the XML file as part of FlightGear scenery === | === Loading the XML file as part of FlightGear scenery === | ||