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AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Essential flight simulator tools, by Martin Gossmann
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AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by gsnde »

I will make an update to the AI Aircraft Editor so that you can run a one-click validation on a given aircraft folder. Like said in the other thread this is the rule set I plan to work with. The example below shows a valid configuration with 13 variations and 3 models. The report will be given as a text file which opens in your text editor.

Code: Select all

28.01.2013 13:33:12 - Report for "F:\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Simobjects\AI\NBAI FA-18 Hornets"
*******************************************************************************************************************

Variations: 13
All variations unique: passed
Textures found in folder: 13
Textures found = used: yes
All textures unique: passed
Models found = used: passed
  --> HORNET_WET.mdl: 4
  --> HORNET_DRY.mdl: 5
  --> HORNET_FERRY.mdl: 4
Airfile found = used: passed
  --> Hornet_ai.air
The example below shows a messed up configuration with 7 variations and 2 models.

Code: Select all

28.01.2013 14:33:12 - Report for "F:\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\Simobjects\AI\NBAI FA-18 Hornets"
*******************************************************************************************************************

Variations: 7
All variations unique: failed
   --> [aircraft.0], [[aircraft.3] = "703362 Blue"
Textures found in folder: 6
Textures found = used: no
   --> [aircraft.2] = texture "703361_green" not found in folder 
   --> texture "703369_yellow" found in folder but not used in config
All textures unique: failed
   --> [aircraft.0], [[aircraft.3] = "703362_blue"
Models found = used: failed
  --> HORNET_WET.mdl: 4
  --> HORNET_DRY.mdl: 3
  --> HORNET_FERRY.mdl: 0
Airfile found = used: failed
  --> Hornet_ai.air found in folder but not used in config
  --> Hornetai.air used in config but not found in folder
Do you think that this will do?

Jim's suggestion to check for missing textures by analyzing the model file is noted, but will be a separate update.
Cheers,
Martin
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by delbydoo »

That will be a valuable function Martin; I like using ACA2005 but get fed up with it sometimes when I have everything loaded. The AI Editor loads in a second and this will be helpful to make a check on any newly-installed packages. Thanks mate.
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by jimrodger »

As Daryl said, and thanks for thinking about my idea.

Jim
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by campbeme »

Yes, I use ACA2005 also and it does take along time to load up, so this update is great news.
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by gsnde »

The analyze functionality is built in and is working lightning fast.

The positive *all-okay* report is done. I am still fine-tuning and testing the error report logic so that it tells you exactly what to correct.
This should be completed pretty soon. I like to have a short beta test here before the official release - who likes to test the tool?
Cheers,
Martin
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by delbydoo »

I'm off all this week - I'll give it a shot for FS9 people :D
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by Joecoastie »

I'll give it a go for the FSXers.
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by gsnde »

Okay, here is the first draft. Analyze is happening for

[fltsim.x] sections unique and correctly numbered
Title unique
Textures found
Textures unique
Unused Textures in folder
Models found
Unused Models in folder

Air file analyze reporting is missing.

Here you can download a Zip with the executable, just replace the one in your installation. If you don't have an AIAE Installation, make sure to install the current version from my download center first.

You run the report via menu Tools -> Validate aircraft. Things you should test:

make texture and model folder inaccessible by renaming them
add additional texture and model folder
break the sequence of [fltsim.x]
duplicate titles and textures


Let me hear what you think.
Cheers,
Martin
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by delbydoo »

Hi Martin,
Don't know if this is a glitch or not but.....
I did a quick test on an aircraft I knew didn't use all models it came with. It uses the following:

Model
Model.1
Model.2
Model.3

and does not use

Model.4
Model.5

When I ran the verify check, the report came back:

29/01/2013 23:32:57 - Report for "c:\program files\microsoft games\fs2004 retro\aircraft\virtavia f-4 phantom ii pack 1\"
**************************************************************************************************************************

[fltsim.x] sections: 4
[fltsim.x] title unique: passed
[fltsim.x] sections numbering: passed
_____________________________________________________________
Textures found in folder: 4
Textures unused in folder: ..\texture
Textures missing in folder: 0
Textures used not unique: 0
_____________________________________________________________
Models found in folder: 6
Models unused in folder: ..\model, ..\model.4, ..\model.5
Models missing in folder: 0
_____________________________________________________________


Am I assuming correctly that the above report says that the first MODEL is not being used?

Here is the cfg entry:

[fltsim.0]
title=Virtavia F-4J Phantom II VF-114
sim=Phantom II
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=
kb_checklists=Phantom_check
kb_reference=
ui_manufacturer=Virtavia
ui_type=F-4 Phantom II
ui_variation=01. F-4J VF114
description=© Virtavia 2011\n\nThe truly venerable F-4 Phantom is one of the most prolific jet aircraft of the 20th century. A total of 5,195 of the type were built, 127 by Mitsubishi, when production completely ceased in 1979. The prototype was first flown on May 27, 1958 and held great promise in a variety of roles. The aircraft was so appealing that the USAF signed up for the type as well. Phantoms set many world records during their prime, and many remain in service throughout the world.
atc_id_color=0x00000000
visual_damage=0
atc_heavy=0
atc_id=Linefield
atc_airline=
atc_flight_number=00
atc_id_font=Verdana,-11,1,600,0


I have checked visually that the first model is physically being used in flightsim and it is.
Cheers
Daryl
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by gsnde »

delbydoo wrote:Hi Martin,
Don't know if this is a glitch or not but.....
No, Daryl, that is not a glitch. This sounds like a bug to me... :smt003
Looks like I did not consider that a folder named "texture" or "model" is valid, too. I will correct this in the evening. Aside from that - anything you miss? Reports are okay?
Cheers,
Martin
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by Firebird »

Martin,
As luck would have it i was installing JY's F-111's yesterday, along with Mark's schemes and so I used it to check the folder.
The folder has 389 aircraft in it. It got an error Run-time error '67' Too many files and closed when I hit OK.

Anybody that combines folders, like myself is going to hit this limit fairly easily. Like Peter van der Veen did with ACA2005 you may have to either remove the limit or up it, depending upon how you coded it.
Steve
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by gsnde »

Thanks, Steve, will fix that this evening as well.
Cheers,
Martin
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by gsnde »

Okay, please re-download and check if the bugs you have reported are gone. I have tested with the large German Tornado package with 200 aircraft sections and can't trigger the open file error now, Steve. The error was not caused by the mass of items anyway but by stupid me not closing a file handle in one procedure... :smt005

The bugs Daryl has found with the default model and texture folder are also fixed.
Cheers,
Martin
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by Firebird »

Martin,
My simple tests do prove that the too many error has disappeared, at least for 350+ aircraft.

Two things I did notice that my personal preference would like altered.
Firstly, and more complicated would be to have an options panel where you could select/deselect some options. Examples of this would be 'Textures unused in folder' and 'Textures used not unique', however I understand that all you are doing is a report rather than making something too complicated. If it becomes too much off an overhead then please ignore my preference.
Secondly, If you find some issues, such as 'Textures used not unique' could you list them one per line. Apart from making the report look more professional it would also make it easier for the user to decipher if there are a lot of issues.

Hope that makes sense.
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by delbydoo »

Thanks Martin, I will have another play tonight.
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by gsnde »

Firebird wrote:Martin,
My simple tests do prove that the too many error has disappeared, at least for 350+ aircraft.

Two things I did notice that my personal preference would like altered.
Firstly, and more complicated would be to have an options panel where you could select/deselect some options. Examples of this would be 'Textures unused in folder' and 'Textures used not unique', however I understand that all you are doing is a report rather than making something too complicated. If it becomes too much off an overhead then please ignore my preference.
Secondly, If you find some issues, such as 'Textures used not unique' could you list them one per line. Apart from making the report look more professional it would also make it easier for the user to decipher if there are a lot of issues.

Hope that makes sense.
Hi Steve,

I am already coding that listed items will be presented one below the other - I guess that will be ready for test by tomorrow.

As for the options... Since there are so few things that are reported, I guess I don't want to dive into the hassle of making them optional right now. And because it has no performance impact and the information is kind of relevant for every clean aircraft folder I hope that does not bother you too much?
Cheers,
Martin
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by gsnde »

Please re-download to see the changed reporting with one line below each other.
I am currently recoding the unique check for titles and textures, all other checks should give 100% results now.
Cheers,
Martin
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by gsnde »

Okay, this is how the report looks now:

Code: Select all

30.01.2013 23:05:12 -  Report for "c:\path\testalongstringhere\ai_f-111f_s_27fw_cc\ai f-111f's 27fw cc\ai f-111f's test\"
*************************************************************************************************************************

[fltsim.x] sections:               3
[fltsim.x] title unique:           failed
[fltsim.x] title not unique:       "JYAI_702362  Y 27FW Cannon AFB CC" --> fltsim.0
                                   "JYAI_702362  Y 27FW Cannon AFB CC" --> fltsim.1
                                   "JYAI_702362  Y 27FW Cannon AFB CC" --> fltsim.3
[fltsim.x] sections numbering:     failed (doublettes will cause title unique errors above)
[fltsim.x] sections misnumbered:   [fltsim.3]
____________________________________________________________
Textures found in folder:          2
Textures unused in folder:         0
Textures missing in folder:        0
Textures used not unique:          "702363  R" --> fltsim.1
                                   "702363  R" --> fltsim.3
____________________________________________________________
Models found in folder:            2
Models unused in folder:           0
Models missing in folder:          0
____________________________________________________________
Airfiles found in folder:          2
Airfiles unused in folder:         ..\jyai_f-111_aardvark_ai_onlycopy.air
                                   ..\jyai_f-111_aardvark_ai_onlymiss.air
Airfiles missing in folder:        fltsim.0 -->  ..\jyai_f-111_aardvark_ai_only.air
                                   fltsim.1 -->  ..\jyai_f-111_aardvark_ai_only.air
                                   fltsim.3 -->  ..\jyai_f-111_aardvark_ai_only.air
Any comments about things missing, badly presented etc? Please mind that the version that generates this report is not yet downloadable.
Cheers,
Martin
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by Joecoastie »

Martin;

I've been keeping up with the updates using FSX and so far every thing works as advertised.
Actually it has helped quiet a bit as I accidentally erased almost all of my FSX AI aircraft :oops:
and my user aircraft with another program.
Have been working diligently replacing them. Thank goodness I have not been using FSX as long as FS9.
I didn't have near as many aircraft "operational".

Joe
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Re: AI Aircraft Editor - planned update

Post by gsnde »

Oh that is bad, Joe - sorry to hear this. Maybe a word of warning which program can cause such a major disaster?
The idea that one of my programs would cause such a result is a nightmare for me and I am trying hard to make that impossible.

Yes, to proof the result of adding repaints from various sources to your installation is the other area where AIAE should be helpful. This is where a missing model, the wrong airfile name or a messed up sequencing can make you wonder why AI is not working or your aircraft is not visible in the FS selection.

Anything you like to suggest for the analysis?
Cheers,
Martin
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