Vista_Writer V1.0 Feb 1992 by Mike Leach What is it ? VISTA_WRITER is a script editor for VistaPro the scenery generator program from VRLI. It's aim is to allow you to edit animation scripts created within VistaPro. Why ? Because the script editing facilities are nonexistent within VistaPro, and although VRLI produce a "proper" script editor it costs almost half as much as VistaPro does when many of the facilities should have been included in the first place. Vista_Writer is written in AMOS Basic (well done Francois Lionet), and compiled with (guess what ?) the Amos Compiler (great stuff). What should be included ? Vista_Writer The executable program Vista_Writer.Amos The source code Blank.pic A blank main screen to add your landscapes to Arrowhead.IFF An example of a complete landscape and screen Vista.script An example script file (nothing special), Vista_Writer.doc This document file. A word about landscapes In VistaPro the landscape picture comes from a DEM file. I don't have access to this file format, so my landscapes are IFF brushes pasted onto the Blank.IFF file. These brushes can be obtained by either snapshoting the VistaPro screen with a landscape loaded, then using a paint program to cut the landscape portion out or utilities like PicSaver (by Preben Nielsen) which allow portions of a screen to be cut out and saved to a file. Creating a new landscape file To create a new landscape.IFF file, cut a brush of the required landscape so it has 1 pixel of blue surrounding it. Now load in the Blank.IFF file and paste this brush using the markers provided. The 1 pixel of blue must fit exactly into the apex of the markers at all four positions. If you are happy, erase the markers and save the picture as "suitablename.IFF" Vista Writer is run from the workbench in the usual manner. After the Amos copyright sprite you will see the main screen. The only gadgets available at this time are "NEW" and "QUIT". Selecting QUIT ( shift Q) allows you to leave the program, you must press escape if you are sure or the Right Mouse button to abort. Selecting NEW (n/N) brings up a file requester for the landscape of your choice. Once loaded, the file requester reappears to load a script file. You MUST select something, preferably a script file. The script is now displayed over the landscape, with the current frame (frame 1) highlighted. The various parameters for the current frame are also displayed in VistaPro value format. Once loaded and displayed each frame can be adjusted in all directions either by using the ADJUST ARROWS or by clicking directly on the landscape area with the Left Mouse button. All adjustments affect the current frame only. Gadgets REDRAW (Shift R) Clears the display, then redraws each frame position, pausing between each frame to allow the user to follow the script. Redraw is not affected by the status of the lock gadgets. ADJUST ARROWS (cursor keys for X & Y, keypad 2 & 8 for Z) Alter the position, height, bank, heading and pitch of the current frame. all displays are updated to show the new position or angle. The X, Y, Z and current frame number can also be entered directly by clicking on the displayed value, entering the new value and pressing return. FRAME NUMBER ARROWS (- & +) Allow you to step through the script to reach the required frame. The required frame can also be entered directly. LOCK (X Y Z B H P) (x,y,z & b,h,p) These lock the selected axis to the current value. If you now step through the frames any locked values will be passed to the new current frame. While a lock is activated, the particular value cannot be adjusted. These locks are taken off by re- selection. ADD FRAME (a) Inserts a new frame between the current frame and the next. This new frame becomes the current frame, the X Y Z B H and P values are adjusted to the halfway position between frames unless the frame is being added to the end of the script when only the X & Y values are adjusted . DEL FRAME (Del key) Deletes the current frame. SAVE (Shift S) Saves the current script using the file requester. The original file name is automatically used and this will overwrite the original file unless changed. NEW (Shift N) Allows a new landscape and script to be loaded, if you are all ready working on a script, you are given the chance to abort the NEW by pressing the Right Mouse button. QUIT (Shift Q) Quits the program, you are given the chance to abort the QUIT by pressing the Right Mouse button. Keyboard usage Help is available within the program by pressing the HELP key. This info covers the use of the keyboard to duplicate the mouse controlled functions. General Display The Display shows the values for the current frame X, Y and Z coordinates, bank, heading and pitch in VistaPro format. The bank and pitch graphic show the current angle of bank/pitch, with a white line showing a positive angle and a black line for negative ones. ie if the pitch line is black, the camera (plane) is nose down. For bank, black lines indicate the camera (plane) with left side (wing) down and right side (wing) up. The heading graphic shows the camera in the centre of the circle, looking along the line, again a black line indicates negative values. Limitations As the landscape is only an .IFF file, there is no height (Z axis) information available the displayed Z value comes from the script file. The program is currently limited to animations of 99 frames or less. Not for any particular reason other than it seems a reasonable amount. If anyone wishes this 99 frame limit to be raised, send return P & P with the limit you require to the address below. Public Domain I retain full copyright over the program and all included files, however please feel free to distribute it (provided all the files remain together and unaltered) within the Public Domain. Any and all copyrighted names are acknowledged. It would be nice if anybody who finds this program useful would take the trouble to write with any comments, bouquets or brickbats, bugs etc to :- M P Leach 2 Court-34 Rowner Estate Gosport Hants PO13 8EG.