Trouble positioning and viewing children items.

[roinuj]

Hi Guys,

I'm having some weird problems with adding children items and re-positioning them and then viewing the changes. I never had this problem when I created and added child items on my Ex-CN Zebra pack.

I've created a couple child items to create some logo decals to add to a re-skin. I can see the decals in the Asset Viewer when I created and exported them, no problem. I can add them to the rail vehicle asset and see them in the default location when I have the x,y,z, coordinates set to 0,0,0 but after I change the position coordinates in the blueprint matrix, when I reload and review the asset on my repaint route its not updating the view at all. They seem to be stuck.

I'm viewing in game on a repaint route I created. I created a scenario for each asset I'm editing so I can load what I'm working on. I did get it to move once but when I tried to fine tune the coordinates, it went back to the default location. I've tried clearing the cache when I restart the game but its not moving the children items at all.

Like I said, I had no problem with it with the Ex-CN Zebra pack I did. I could easily adjust and fine tune the coordinated and move the item around and simply reload my repaint route/scenario and see the changes. Shouldn't be a big deal but now its not working.



Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks

[PapaXpress]

Did you make sure they are checked off in the object browser? If you make a new folder to place the files in then you need to enable it.

[roinuj]

Thanks PapaXpress, I actually placed the child files in the asset directory so its shouldn't be a problem. The thing is they do load, I can see them with the asset but when I re-position them in the blueprint, it seems its not taking the edits and won't render with the new coordinates.

[PapaXpress]

AH YES. I ran into this the other night. I had to shut down RW completely and remove the blueprint files and restart. I am not sure which step did the trick (removing the blueprint was not enough) but I got it to work. Normally all I need to is restart the scenario.

[roinuj]

Thanks PapaXpress. You know, now that I think about it, the one time I did see the child item repositioned was when I made the edit change, closed RW Tools and the restarted RW. I'll give that a try and see if that does anything.

[Machinist]

@Papa, when working with new blueprint "files" you don't need to shut down RW completely and restart, you can clear cache whilst still in game just before (re)load the scenario.

@roinuj, AFAIK you don't need to close RW Tools in order to "see" matrix's changes (I mean when editing an existing file). The file you are editing is bin or xml? Once I was having problems because I use to edit bin files and save with CTRL+S, but at that time I was working in a *xml file. CTRL+S doesn't work when editing xml files, I thought I was saving the changes in the xml but in fact I was not. Just a thought.

Maybe this helps to understand how cache files works, and when and how you need (or have) to clear them:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5428

[PapaXpress]

@Papa, when working with new blueprint "files" you don't need to shut down RW completely and restart, you can clear cache whilst still in game just before (re)load the scenario.

Yes, I understand this. This happened to be one case where it was the only solution to the problem.

[roinuj]

I tired adjusting another asset I had with children items that I added and was able to easily move the child with RWTools and view it in RW by only reloading the scenario so its not my set up. I tried loading the new child into an existing asset and similar goofy things happened. Couldn't get it to move and the orientation was messed up. Leads me to believe I may have done something wrong in the creation of the item. Strange thing is when I create the asset, it loads into the Asset viewer in the game and looks exactly as I expected it.

I think I'll go back to square one and recreate the model and try again. At least it gives me a chance to learn more about 3DC.

[PapaXpress]

I doubt it is the model itself. After my first battle with the child object it started to behave properly again.

[roinuj]

We'll the child model a dead simple model, a surface for a decal. Can't be any simpler. I'm copying the blueprint code like I did in the past. When I added to the child in one asset it sticks under the railcar in what appears to be the origin. In the other asset I tested it on, it sticks out of the back end of the long hood at a 45 degree angle. In both cases, the child x,y,z coordinates are set to 0,0,0 which is why I thought maybe I messed up the coordinates in the model (but I really don't think so)?

I'm clearly making a mistake somewhere in the blueprint edit. Maybe I should just take a break and go drive a train and let my head clear. Its driving me nuts, especially because it should be a simple mod.

[PapaXpress]

Not sure what to tell you. I've made my share of decals and have not had any problems.

[harryadkins]

Sure do wish one of you guys would produce a simple tutorial on making child items, such as a decal.

[PapaXpress]

In 3DC drop a cube. Scale it so you have one side the size you need. Next, remove all the faces you are not using (usually all but one you scaled). Then use the TrainDecal.fx in the Rail Sin slot. Finally ally you texture.

If I get some time I will get some screen shots.

Now if you are using this for number or parts on rolling stock you need to prefix decal_ to the group name.

[roinuj]

Well I'm not sure what happened or why but I was able to get this mystery fixed.

By chance I decided to try one of the repaint assets with the child movement problem on another route. When I did, the asset rendered the child object re-positioned. So I created a new dummy paint route and created a new scenario with the repaint asset and everything worked. Piece of cake to move the child assets around and re-position. For whatever reason, my initial paint route was causing the problem? Not sure why but the only thing I did was recreat it using another template instead of default.

Anyways, I'm back on track with my project. Thanks PapaXpress and others for trying to help me isolate the problem.

With regards to a tutorial, I think it would be very helpful for those wishing to modify their assets. I know we are all busy with not nearly enough time in the day but if I can be of any help in a collaboration to put together a comprehensive tutorial, I'd be happy to help. Just PM me.

Off to the decal shop.....

[Kali]

I've taken to positioning child objects in the 3d editor instead of messing with the position matrix, although that does tend to limit the usefulness of reusable things like portable lights. You can combine multiple children into one object that way though.

The decal_ material name - I assume 3dc gets it's material name from the group? :shrug: - prefix is needed if you want your new model to alpha-blend it's edges with the old one, irrespective of what you're going to do with it.