SPACECRAFT3.DLL ADVANCED CONCEPTS
By José Pablo Luna Sánchez. 2008

WARNING!!
This is a tutorial for advanced users.
If you are new to Orbiter addon making, it is better to start creating surface bases and editing scenarios.
I also made some other more basic tutorials on Spacecraft.dll.

Vinka's Spacecraft is an addon that allows you to create a flyable mesh.
This tutorial assumes that you already master the following:

• Basic Spacecraft.dll parameters.
• Edition of files (like scenarios or surface bases)
• Mesh Wizard, and concepts on meshes.
• Concepts on vectors

REQUIRED TOOLS

To follow this tutorial you need

• Orbiter 2006 (you may download it from www.orbitersim.com for free)
• Vinka's Spacecraft3.dll addon (spacecraft3_060302.zip and spacecraft3_2006-P1.zip) from http://users.swing.be/vinka/
• Mesh Wizard (OMW19B.zip from www.orbithangar.com)
• Notepad

UNDERSTANDING FILE STRUCTURE

When you build your addon, you must not forget to add any file.
You have the following directories that may contain files you need to add to your addon.

Scenario files make references to your craft and it causes it to be created when you load Orbiter.

Spacecraft.cfg and spacecraft3.dll are files that come with Vinka's addon.
They allow your mesh to be flyable, once you create an ini file that contains all the necessary data spacecraft.dll needs to configure your vessel and make it tick.

Meshes are the 3D models in Orbiter's native MSH format.
Meshes may refer to textures in DDS format.
Mesh names are indicated in the ini file.

Ini file is a text file you can edit with notepad.

So basically when you make your addon, you must make:

• INI file
• Meshes
• Textures (unless you use stock Orbiter textures)
• Sample scenarios containing your craft

Many addon makers prefer to include spacecraft3 addon in their addon.
But be sure to include the whole pack and read the terms and conditions stated by Vinka.

The previous diagram shows the physical distribution of files inside Orbiter.
This diagram shows the logical (not physical) distribution of files.
By logical I mean the hierarchy of files (logical dependency) for different types of orbiter addons.

UNDERSTANDING INI FILE STRUCTURE

An INI file is a script file composed by several sections

• [TEXTURE_LIST] Contains a list of textures that are used for engine flames
• [PARTICLESTREAM_n] Contains parameters to generate particles for fire (LTYPE=EMISSIVE) or smoke (LTYPE=DIFFUSE).
  It is useful for visuals only.
• [CONFIG] Contains information about
  • Mesh
  • Engine power
  • Engine particles
  • General craft aerodynamics data
  • Other
• [AERODYNAMICS] Contains specific data on control surfaces
• [SOUND] Sounds that are to be used by the craft
• [VC] Virtual cockpit data
• [ROBOTIC_ARM] Refers to a robotic arm used to manipulate payloads.
• [LANDING_GEAR] Refers to characteristics of the landing gear.
• [DOCK_n] Docking port location and orientation
• [PAYLOAD_n] Refers to payloads being carried by your craft.
• [PARENT_ATTACH_n] and [CHILD_ATTACH_n] Refers to location and orientation of attachment points.
  Parent attachments can be attached to child attachments.
• [EX_MAIN_n] , [EX_RETRO_n] , [EX_HOVER_n] and [EX_ATT_n] Refers to location of engines (main, retro, hover, attitude), used for visual purposes
• [ANIM_SEQ_n] and [ANIM_COMP_n] Refers to animations.

If you want more information, you may like to read Spacecraft.pdf that is located in the Add-on Docs directory (if you have Vinka's Spacecraft3.dll installed).