Conditional Visibility

[aerogator]

Hey guys, I've been thinking about conditional visibility because of a model I'm working on, and wondered if it would be possible to make an entire model visible/invisible? Reason being, you could have a bunch of a/c parked in hangers that would become visible only when time for taxi-out and take off, hence not wasting computing power. (Of course this is all based on whether the computer still draws the invisible part, which I don't know ) I know we all like to see a lot of parked aircraft, but I also know, especially with GA airports, there are a lot more aircraft there than you can see.

This all may not even be necessary or even possible but I thought it might be worth discussion.

[Weescotty]

You could try using the TIMEOFDAY XML option perhaps.

Of course all parts would need to be tied to a single poly/part that has the condition applied to it.

[Firebird]

Just for info sake, wouldn't an object still be rendered even if its invisible?

I realise that Jake is asking about the feasibility of something, rather than the narrow question I am asking. I am just curious about the answer.

[aerogator]

wouldn't an object still be rendered even if its invisible?

Actually, thats the crux of this whole premise. Does anyone know the answer?

[RipPipPip]

My vote is that invisible parts (or model itself) is NOT rendered when it's invisible.
As simple as that

PS. Here's an argument:
this is the reason why M$ did c_wheelwell hierarchy variable, which is built-in.
You attach every central gear part to this variable and they all disappear when the gear is up - not to be rendered during all the flight!

[aerogator]

this is the reason why M$ did c_wheelwell hierarchy variable, which is built-in

Could you elaborate on that oh "Holder Of All Knowledge" . I have never heard of this. Where might I find some more info?

[Dark Morelia]

I've been told they don't use any extra resources, and some testing seems to confirm this.
I'm hoping it's true anyway :p

[Weescotty]

c_wheelwell, l_wheelwell and r_wheelwell are built in names for parts, the same as c_gear, l_gear and r_gear.

You get to them the same way as you usually get part names, but choose "Visibilty" in the drop down menu.

They are not rendered when the gear is up.

[aerogator]

so I link all parts that I don't want to be rendered when the gear is up to the c_, l_, r_wheelwell(s)? Do I just make the before-mentioned wheelwell parts the parent part?

Thanks,

[Weescotty]

so I link all parts that I don't want to be rendered when the gear is up to the c_, l_, r_wheelwell(s)? Do I just make the before-mentioned wheelwell parts the parent part?

Thanks,

Yup, just make the parts childs of the wheewell parts.

[RipPipPip]

...you can use other custom part as a parent part as well.
That one custom parent part may have custom visibilty XML condition attached.