To my wife: My thumbs ain't working. Her reply: Cause ya on that computer too much!

[(Boosty)]

Well, she is partially right, but I could use some thumbs enlightenment-if you please.

I recently downloaded two massive libraries: FS2004 EZ-Object Libraries (ezoliv33.zip), and Rwy12 Objects (rwy12_1.zip). They both had self extracting installers, and they put them both in my Addons Folder, as expected. I opened up ADEs Object Library Manager and successfully added the folders. During the installation, of these, there seemed to be many objects that were not found or were otherwise omitted. The omissions do not concern me, so much, as hundreds were installed, anyway.

My issue is the basic problem of not being to view the thumbnails of RWY12 and EZ Objects that were just placed into my ADE libraries.

I realize RW12 and EZ Object Libraries are designed for those applications, but I am hoping that some manipulation/conversions of the files would create the required files for ADE thumbnail viewing. For example, in ADE Thumbs require a longcharacteridentifier.bmp, to reside in its Thumbs folder to show a specific thum for an object. The RW12 folder (downloaded) has a .XML file with text that contains a long list of similarly coded .bmps that are apparently for this purpose as well. Please see the pic, below.

Observation: Several packages from Sidney Schwartz come with prepared folders for RWY12, ADEX9, and Sbuilder. What does he do to convert these?

I would think these conversions could be rather easily overcome, but please know that I am NOT looking for a detailed “how to" reply , just maybe some common-knowledge facts, and direction.

Thanks, in Advance…
(Boosty) GaryG



“"Your seat cushions can be used for flotation, and in the event of an emergency water landing, please take them with our compliments." –United Airlines’ “Friendly Skies” campaign

[Jim Robinson]

ModelConverterX has an "Object report" function that will generate an .html page with thumbnail images. These thumbnail images just happen to work in ADE. Using "ExtraObjects.bgl" as an example, start MCX and drag ExtraObjects.BGL into the MCX window. Keep the MCX window small as this affects the size of the exported thumbs. Click the object report button and tell MCX where to save the report (just use a temp folder somewhere). The thumbs can be found in a subfolder of that temp folder once finished. Make a new folder in "Airport Design Editor 9x\FS9\Thumbs" named "ExtraObjects.bgl" and move/copy the thumbnails into that folder.

It's not perfect, MCX won't always get the best snapshots, in fact some of them may be looking at the backside of one-sided objects in which case you'll see nothing at all, but this is the best way I know of to automate thumbnail generation.

Jim

[(Boosty)]

Thanks Jim,

I will give this a try. It's gotta work better than the alternative.
I don't understand why the essential "thumb" is so hard to come by (for ADE)?

Thanks for coming to my rescue, again.
Sincerely,

[(Boosty)]

Way to go, Jim!
Yes sir, that does work just as you described. I created a set of .jpgs from a single .bgl file!
Of course, there are ALOT of .bgl files...that initiates another question: Is it possible to consolidate, or merge several object .bgl files?
Larger libraries would make scrolling through objects much easier in ADE, right?

[Jim Robinson]

Pretty slick, no?

Is it possible to consolidate, or merge several object .bgl files?

It is technically possible but you'd have a "duplicate GUID nightmare" on your hands unless you assigned a new GUID to each object. Also you'd need special permissions from each of the authors whose objects you've used to redistribute them in another form, you'd have to keep track of what you used, etc. It would ultimately take more effort to consolidate them all into a single library than it would take to generate thumbs for each individual .bgl anyway.

Jim

[(Boosty)]

Pretty slick, no?

It is technically possible but you'd have a "duplicate GUID nightmare" on your hands-Jim

Pretty slick, yes!

As far as the merging bgls idea…dealing with duplicate GUID’s, author permissions, tracking…ugh, I’d rather eat my own toe.
So, in terms of “thumb-friendliness”, the bgl libraries I now have are as good as they come (“out of the box”), right? Hmm.
Maybe I will just macro the method you taught me to create all the thumbs at once…well, this dilemma should keep me busy for awhile.

Thanks again, Jim. You’re the best.
(Boosty)GaryG

[Jim Robinson]

Hmmm... Macro? That sounds like fun, how would you do that? I use Textpad macros all the time to automate processes in text files. Comes in particularly handy when you're working with batch files made from huge directory listings, but I'm not sure how a person would apply that to creating thumbs unless MCX had some command line functionality that we don't know about?

Years ago someone pointed me to an app called "Auto IT" that you could supposedly automate tasks with by recording clicks and keys in different programs. It was a bit complicated for me at the time, I never got it to do anything useful, but then I didn't try very hard. Might be worth a look if it still exists?

Jim

[(Boosty)]

Hmmm... Macro? That sounds like fun, how would you do that?...Years ago someone pointed me to an app called "Auto IT" that you could supposedly automate tasks with by recording clicks and keys in different programs.-Jim

Exactly! You have a broad knowledge base, my man! I use a program called Macro Express. I does exactly what you desscribed. It has a "global" function, that runs in all programs, and it practically has unlimited "macro" abilities-click, copy, paste, repeating loops, variable execution speed. It's very useful-your imagination is the limit with this thing. I used it for years-to the amazement of the onlookers, it looked like keyboard mind control! Yea, it really is fun watching that macro humm after it gets going. Not too difficult to get started with, it works sort of like a recorder-press the record button, do your thing, stop recording, then name the macro and assign a keyboard shortcut. Afterward, just press the keyboard shortcut you assigned anytime you want it to run, and off it goes- I love it (as much as I should love a software utility).

For this particular macro, I would start with MCX and a folder of bgl files open on a relatively uncluttered desktop, and save that desktop layout (this is important, because if the folder positions later change, the cursor will be off and the "click" will miss). My macro will need to alternately select .bgl files to be dropped into MCX for processing/saving into another folder. Hmm. The challenge may be...how to select the next file in a list with a repeating macro that always goes to spot x for the next file. Hmm. If copying then dragging to an intermediary folder doesnt do it, I would try cut/paste/copy to one-then paste it into MCX-anything that temporarily removes it, so my "process" list increments up one file (for the next run). Does that sound like something?
(Boosty) GaryG

[Jim Robinson]

Well, you could do a DOS dir on your .bgl folder to a .txt file, that'd give you a list of all .bgls that need thumbs. Then maybe your macro could open the text file, cut the first line out of it (the filename of the first .bgl in the list), save and close. Then it could start MCX, click "Import" and paste the filename to open it. Then... Hell, with the filename still on the clipboard you could maybe even use it to make a new folder in "Airport Design Editor 9x\FS9\Thumbs" and copy the processed images there before stopping the macro? Then you could just use your keyboard shortcut for each .bgl, or, if it's like Textpad you could choose "repeat to end of file" and it'd keep going until the last filename had been cut from the text file.

To do the "dir", just open a command window in your .bgl folder (Shift+ right click > "Open command window here" on Win7) and paste something like this:

dir /b *.bgl > bgl_list.txt

and press enter. Look for "bgl_list.txt" in the folder when it finishes.

Here's one I just did on mine in like .03 seconds:

206B.BGL
500D.BGL
add_balloons.BGL
add_birds.BGL
add_dwag_hangers.BGL
add_dwag_signs.BGL
add_hw_livestock.BGL
add_hw_shipping_containers.BGL
add_lenshanger_1.bgl
add_lenshanger_2.bgl
add_lenshanger_3.bgl
add_SeevKahn.BGL
add_SeevKahn_Humans.BGL
add_SeevKahn_Trees.BGL
add_S_Kahn_B747.BGL
add_Todd_Lucas_Objects.BGL
add_Todd_Lucas_Tents.BGL
ag_tree_lib.BGL
Barrels.bgl
bhamtransmissionlines.bgl
CalClassic_Core_Library.BGL
Cars.bgl
Chopper Pads.BGL
Chopper trailers 2.BGL
Chopper Trailers.BGL
ESDG_HangerKit.bgl
ExtraObjects.BGL
ExtraObjects_demo.bgl
ExtraObjects_demo_A16N.bgl
ExtraObjects_demo_FS9.BGL
FenceLib.BGL
FlyTampaStaticAircraft_lib.bgl
Ford Transit Collection.bgl
fs9_custom_buildings_ss_1.bgl
GA-Hangers_lib.bgl
GmaxShips1.BGL
gw_people.BGL
jetwaybn.bgl
jetwaygy.bgl
jetwaywh.bgl
JonPatch_objects_1.bgl
JonPatch_objects_2.bgl
MaintenancePlatforms.BGL
Objects01a_lib_bgl.bgl
Objects01_lib.bgl
Pallets.bgl
PowerLines.bgl
RAFOpertationBuildingsLibFS9.BGL
RampLight_Library.bgl

Potential problem already though, ExtraObjects_demo.bgl, ExtraObjects_demo_A16N.bgl, and ExtraObjects_demo_FS9.BGL aren't library .bgls so MCX would probably choke on them. Hmmm...



Jim

[(Boosty)]

Yes, I would not be surprised if Macro Express had those abilities. Unfortunately, I don't think I do! lol
I've alwaysed used it in a more strictly "keyboard/mouse mimicing" capacity. This method is pure visualization, and can be irritating (when anything goes wrong, and it will). however, with some patience...
I have peeled off at least a few hundered .jpgs last night with a configuration like those pictured (had to babysit the macro, alot, though)-but was kind of fun.
Given, my current talents, I may have to labor through it in this way.

Thanks alot, Jim, you'r a sharp dude!

(Boosty) GaryG