Question Simple animation on Lua (auto & managed)

[Thunder Chicken]

This is what I was reffering to as "lua help" (and theAPI), more than a little vague sometimes, and no mention of MATPROP.LIGHT, where did you get that?

MatProp (C++ API) is described in the API_Reference. The syntax is slightly different but they work the same way. You can also search the Lua code on the Orbiter GitHub repository for 'MATPROP.' I created an issue about the lack of MATPROP documentation in the lua help there, but the information is available in the code base.

 

[Buck Rogers]

Thanks, found it. No criticism meant btw, your work on lua has already been a great inspiration and documentation is always difficult.
It can all look a bit like Arcane Lore to the uninitiated Padawan.
At least now I know that my syxtax is correct- for some reason it still ignores the diffuse alpha value?

I think I might have bitten off more than I can chew (at least for the moment) as regards the auto level, everything else is working ok so I'll go for a first release.
Also are there any examples of XRSound implementation with lua? or where do I find it in the DG lua code?

 

[Gondos]

None of the original vessels use XRSound but I added an autopilot sound as an example for the Atlantis Shuttle.
You can look here : https://github.com/orbitersim/orbit...tersdk/samples/Lua/Atlantis/Src/APMFD.lua#L24 for initialization and here : https://github.com/orbitersim/orbit...ersdk/samples/Lua/Atlantis/Src/APMFD.lua#L339 for playing a sound.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Setmaterial works, but only color, it ignores the alpha!

Use set_materialex. I seem to recall I ran into this issue as well, but forget why it was a problem. @Gondos may have more insight as he put me onto it.

I couldn't find a way to change a mesh group visibilty either?

You can set the mesh visibility with vi:set_mesh_visibility_mode(mesh, MESHVIS flags)

And this mysterious extra power value? I take it that's specular power?

I haven't sorted that out either.

 

[Buck Rogers]

None of the original vessels use XRSound but I added an autopilot sound as an example for the Atlantis Shuttle.
You can look here : https://github.com/orbitersim/orbit...tersdk/samples/Lua/Atlantis/Src/APMFD.lua#L24 for initialization and here : https://github.com/orbitersim/orbit...ersdk/samples/Lua/Atlantis/Src/APMFD.lua#L339 for playing a sound.

Thanks, I'll take a look, thought I might have had a case of code blindness.

Use set_materialex. I seem to recall I ran into this issue as well, but forget why it was a problem. @Gondos may have more insight as he put me onto it.

Sorry, I meant set_materialex too, I can maybe find a workaround, the warning lights are a little too bright in the off state momentarily.

You can set the mesh visibility with vi:set_mesh_visibility_mode(mesh, MESHVIS flags)

Can one also set msh GROUP visibility too? Couldn't quite decipher that (I think the .msh files have a flag for no render).
I've just seen your thread for GRP_EDIT, I'll see what I can find.

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Thanks, I'll take a look, thought I might have had a case of code blindness.

Sorry, I meant set_materialex too, I can maybe find a workaround, the warning lights are a little too bright in the off state momentarily.

I am not sure what problem you are having with setting the alpha channel. I can make the R-4 disappear by setting alpha to 0:

color = {r=0.306406,g=0.953185,b=0.850856,a=0.000000}

I set the colors in this function:

function set_pretty.helicopter_color()

    if color ~= nil then
    
        if hdevmesh0 ~= nil then

            oapi.set_materialex(hdevmesh0, 3, MATPROP.DIFFUSE, color)
            oapi.set_materialex(hdevmesh0, 3, MATPROP.AMBIENT, color)
            oapi.set_materialex(hdevmesh0, 3, MATPROP.SPECULAR, color)

        end

        if hdevmesh1 ~= nil then

            oapi.set_materialex(hdevmesh1, 0, MATPROP.DIFFUSE, color)
            oapi.set_materialex(hdevmesh1, 0, MATPROP.AMBIENT, color)
            oapi.set_materialex(hdevmesh1, 0, MATPROP.SPECULAR, color)

        end
        
    end

end

Are you making a development mesh in clbk_visualcreated? If you are trying to manipulate the base mesh it won't work. You are manipulating the copy of the mesh that is loaded into Orbiter:

function clbk_visualcreated(vis, refcount)

    hdevmesh0 = vi:get_devmesh(vis,0)
    hdevmesh1 = vi:get_devmesh(vis,1)

    set_pretty.clear_windows() --control inner window reflections
    set_pretty.cabin_lights()
    set_pretty.cockpit_glow()
    set_pretty.helicopter_color()

end

Can one also set msh GROUP visibility too? Couldn't quite decipher that (I think the .msh files have a flag for no render).
I've just seen your thread for GRP_EDIT, I'll see what I can find.

I don't believe there is a way to alter the visibility of a particular mesh group aside from setting the alpha channel to 0. Alternatively, you might want to separate that meshgroup into a separate mesh file and load it and set its visibility separately.

 

[Buck Rogers]

I am not sure what problem you are having with setting the alpha channel. I can make the R-4 disappear by setting alpha to 0:

color = {r=0.306406,g=0.953185,b=0.850856,a=0.000000}
I set the colors in this function:

function set_pretty.helicopter_color() if color ~= nil then if hdevmesh0 ~= nil then oapi.set_materialex(hdevmesh0, 3, MATPROP.DIFFUSE, color) oapi.set_materialex(hdevmesh0, 3, MATPROP.AMBIENT, color) oapi.set_materialex(hdevmesh0, 3, MATPROP.SPECULAR, color) end if hdevmesh1 ~= nil then oapi.set_materialex(hdevmesh1, 0, MATPROP.DIFFUSE, color) oapi.set_materialex(hdevmesh1, 0, MATPROP.AMBIENT, color) oapi.set_materialex(hdevmesh1, 0, MATPROP.SPECULAR, color) end end end
Are you making a development mesh in clbk_visualcreated? If you are trying to manipulate the base mesh it won't work. You are manipulating the copy of the mesh that is loaded into Orbiter:

function clbk_visualcreated(vis, refcount) hdevmesh0 = vi:get_devmesh(vis,0) hdevmesh1 = vi:get_devmesh(vis,1) set_pretty.clear_windows() --control inner window reflections set_pretty.cabin_lights() set_pretty.cockpit_glow() set_pretty.helicopter_color() end
I don't believe there is a way to alter the visibility of a particular mesh group aside from setting the alpha channel to 0. Alternatively, you might want to separate that meshgroup into a separate mesh file and load it and set its visibility separately.

Thanks, so Diffuse alpha would be the way to do it.
I'll try again

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Thanks, so Diffuse alpha would be the way to do it.
I'll try again

Note that I am setting diffuse, ambient, and specular colors to the same rgba color with a = 0.

 

[Buck Rogers]

Note that I am setting diffuse, ambient, and specular colors to the same rgba color with a = 0.

I did notice that in the Orbiter API only Diffuse has an alpha value, maybe different in lua? I could change the color just not the alpha, will experiment further and post back.

 

[misha.physics]

I would like to try making simple gear animations on Lua, namely assign a key to revert rotation direction between "gear up" and "gear down". I already know how to create a cyclic infinitive animation (rotation of solar panels of a satellite), and how to assign a key to enable/disable a spotlight on an astrounaut helmet.

Maybe anyone has a simple template. Lua code for DG looks too difficult for me.

 

[misha.physics]

Oh, sorry. I just remembered there's a HST.lua code that includes key activations for some animations. So I can learn it.

 

[misha.physics]

I need some help with gear animation. In a mesh file the gears are up and gear doors are closed. I have working Lua script for one of my previous add-on where the gears are down and gear doors are open. What the minimal and simple changes can I do in order after launch a scenario to get "gears down" and "gear doors open"?

FrontDoorRear =
{
  type = 'rotation',
  mesh = 0,
  grp = {14,15},
  ref = {x=0.0003,y=-0.7170,z=3.35},
  axis = {x=1,y=0,z=0},
  angle = 110*RAD
}

-- Gear animation parameters

GearAnimationSpeed = 0.3

GearOpen=0
GearClosed=1
GearOpening=2
GearClosing=3

GearStatus = GearOpen
GearState = 0

-- CLBK SETCLASSCAPS FUNCTION

function clbk_setclasscaps(cfg)
  
 -- Gears animation

  FrontDoorRearComponent = oapi.create_animationcomponent(FrontDoorRear)
  GearAnimation = vi:create_animation(0)
  vi:add_animationcomponent(GearAnimation, 0, 1, FrontDoorRearComponent)

end

-- Reverse function for gear animation

local function revert_status(status)
  if status == GearOpen or status == GearOpening then
    return GearClosing
  else
    return GearOpening
  end
end

-- Function for gear animations

function clbk_poststep(simt, simdt, mjd)

    if GearStatus >= GearOpening then 
    local da = simdt * GearAnimationSpeed
        if GearStatus == GearOpening then
        if GearState > 0.0 then
        GearState = math.max(0.0, GearState - da)
            else
        GearStatus = GearOpen
      end
        else
            if GearState < 1.0 then
        GearState = math.min(1.0, GearState + da)
            else
        GearStatus = GearClosed
      end 
    end
    vi:set_animation(GearAnimation, GearState)
  end
end

-- Key for gear animation

function clbk_consumebufferedkey(key, down, kstate)
  if oapi.keydown(kstate, OAPI_KEY.G) then
    GearStatus = revert_status(GearStatus)   
  end
end

I see a solution: release gears in game and save a scenario, but it requires to save the gear status in the scenario file, but I don't know how to implement it yet, although it would be better.

 

[misha.physics]

Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot again there's the beautiful HST.lua example with needed for me feature. It certainly should help me.

 

[misha.physics]

It works now as needed.

 

[misha.physics]

I would like to implement simple infinite, but managed animation for a propeller. I have the code for infinite propeller rotation:

  -- Propeller animation
 
  T = 0.33333

  propeller =
  {
    type = 'rotation',
    mesh = 0,
    grp = {19,20,21},
    ref = {x=0, y=-0.010465, z=3.8782},
    axis = {x=0, y=0, z=1},
    angle = 2*PI
  }

  create_anim_propeller = oapi.create_animationcomponent(propeller)
  anim_propeller = vi:create_animation(0)
  vi:add_animationcomponent(anim_propeller, 0, 1, create_anim_propeller)

And I have a code for light switching:

-- Key for propeller switching

PropellerSwitch = true

function clbk_consumebufferedkey(key, down, kstate)
  if oapi.keydown(kstate, OAPI_KEY.E) then

    if PropellerSwitch == false then
    PropellerSwitch = true
    else PropellerSwitch = false
    end

    PropellerSwitch.active = LightSwitch
  end   
end

I understand the code for light switching is not compatible with animation, so I need a simple example how to implement enabling/disabling (by pressing a key) infinite propeller rotation.

 

[Gondos]

I would like to implement simple infinite, but managed animation for a propeller. I have the code for infinite propeller rotation:

  -- Propeller animation
 
  T = 0.33333

  propeller =
  {
    type = 'rotation',
    mesh = 0,
    grp = {19,20,21},
    ref = {x=0, y=-0.010465, z=3.8782},
    axis = {x=0, y=0, z=1},
    angle = 2*PI
  }

  create_anim_propeller = oapi.create_animationcomponent(propeller)
  anim_propeller = vi:create_animation(0)
  vi:add_animationcomponent(anim_propeller, 0, 1, create_anim_propeller)

And I have a code for light switching:

-- Key for propeller switching

PropellerSwitch = true

function clbk_consumebufferedkey(key, down, kstate)
  if oapi.keydown(kstate, OAPI_KEY.E) then

    if PropellerSwitch == false then
    PropellerSwitch = true
    else PropellerSwitch = false
    end

    PropellerSwitch.active = LightSwitch
  end  
end

I understand the code for light switching is not compatible with animation, so I need a simple example how to implement enabling/disabling (by pressing a key) infinite propeller rotation.

Why not condition using vi:set_animation on your toggle switch ?

 

[misha.physics]

Thanks. I just ask ChatGPT about it, and honestly I didn't expect, but it gave me a working code:

-- Propeller animation
 
  T = 0.33333

  propeller =
  {
    type = 'rotation',
    mesh = 0,
    grp = {19,20,21},
    ref = {x=0, y=-0.010465, z=3.8782},
    axis = {x=0, y=0, z=1},
    angle = 2*PI
  }

  create_anim_propeller = oapi.create_animationcomponent(propeller)
  anim_propeller = vi:create_animation(0)
  vi:add_animationcomponent(anim_propeller, 0, 1, create_anim_propeller)

  PropellerOn = false
      
function clbk_consumebufferedkey(key, down, kstate)   
  if oapi.keydown(kstate, OAPI_KEY.E) then
    PropellerOn = not PropellerOn
  end     
end

function clbk_poststep(simt)
  if PropellerOn then
    anim_propeller_level = (simt/T) % 1
    vi:set_animation(anim_propeller, anim_propeller_level)
  else
    vi:set_animation(anim_propeller, 0)
  end
end

I just made several small changes. It really works.