Surface Base Constructor (The Improved SBW)

[GXE3]

A New Surface Base Editor

Introduction (Skip this if you want)

Hello Everyone. I was heavily reluctant in creating this thread, but I decided to anyway for purposes that will be clear after reading this. I am currently in the process of creating an improved, commercial - quality version of the SBW. This new surface base editor will be known as the Surface Base Constructor and is being developed with java technology. Nine months ago, I attempted to create the program and failed due to the fact that I learning the bare minimum of java only a while before that. After having exploring the Java SE language in depth, I started creating the program again and so far everything has been progressing smoothly.

The reason I was reluctant in creating this topic was because, 9 months ago when I attempted to create the program, many people overwhelmed me and I didn't possess extensize programming knowledge. Also, I wanted to do this project at my own pace and let it be a suprise to the community. At the same time, I want this program to contain features that will benefit and accomidate the community. I wrote this topic because I realized that in order to create the best surface base editor, I need the opinions of the community.

The Surface Base Constructor!

I mentioned above that the program would be created using Java technology. If anyone has experience with java, feel free to pitch in and donate some code. When I have completed the boring code, I will start creating the GUI and I will need some beta testers for that.*

Please Reply to this topic with comments or requests to this new Surface Base Editor.
Cheers *​

 

[ar81]

I am sure it will be great.
What people considers impossible is impossible in their minds.
Many impossibles were achieved by those who did not know that it was impossible.

 

[Sherrif of Nottingham]

I am sure it will be great.
What people considers impossible is impossible in their minds.
Many impossibles were achieved by those who did not know that it was impossible.

Think flying...

Anyway, is the GUI going to be nice and graphical? I like nice and graphical...

 

[GXE3]

That depends on what you define as graphical. If you are referring to base rendering in the program, it will be a blue print layout, like the SBW's, until I figure out how to use Java 3d. If your talking about the actual GUI, It will be very nice with quality images.

Hope I answered your question.

Does anybody have any requests for this program? I want this thing to satisfy the needs of all surface base developers.

 

[tgep]

Can you incorperate a tool that lets you make sure all your buildings are mapped to the surface ? I hate flying thru runways .....

 

[TSPenguin]

You mean like the option orbiter provides in the config file? Yeah, that one is pretty usefull

 

[James.Denholm]

Drag - Drop (as in, dragging buildings from a menu on the side to the main workspace) would be nice IMO, but not necessary...

Good luck with this.

 

[Sherrif of Nottingham]

I really would like to have a preview of the building as I place it in (no 3D stuff required) but for placing and seeing the base in the program 2D Blu-print is all right by me. Drag-n-drop is always a nice addition.

 

[GXE3]

TGEP:
That's an easy problem to solve...I think. Isn't there a boolean config tag that says "MapObjectsToSphere" which can be set to either true or false? I think so.

James.Denholm:
This is a feature that I really want to implement. I really have no idea how I'm going to do it, but the java tutorial has a whole section on how to do "drag and drop". I have no doubt that I will figure it out.

Sherrif of Nottingham:
Good suggestion. The only problem that comes to mind is figuring out how to map an image on to a shape, but I think I've read about doing that somewhere. I eventually do plan to add 3d to the program, but not on the 1st release.

Myself:
Several personal features that I'm adding are:
1. Taxiways.
2. Custom Objects (A user defined group of objects that form an even more complex object. The user will then be able to place that complex object without having to repeatedly copy it building blocks EX. a lamp)
3. Distribution packager (User is able to package groups of surface bases into a ZIP file with an editable readme file).
4. Base Config Editor
5. Stabler user interface

 

[James.Denholm]

Sounds rather ambitious. I assume you've programmed in Java before?

 

[GXE3]

I've been programming in java for 4 years. It took me 2 just to get a hang of the language's structure and syntax. It has been 9 months since I decided to make the Surface Base Constructor and failed at the orbiter.dansteph forums. During those months I have been steady at work and I feel pretty confident.

 

[wehaveaproblem]

This will be a geat addon. I used to use SBW, but stopped after a while because it couldn't handle custom meshes smoothly (it's great for default blocks etc). The current base I'm developing is populated mostly with custom meshes, so it becomes a bit of a pain. So my first request is that it can manupulate and handle multiple custom meshes without a problem.

Also, the placement of buildings and their perfect alignment is key, relevant to the surface tiles. atm I have to use a trial and error method for the most part. So, secondly, For your app to be a real worthwhile tool, it has to be able to map the buildings to the surface tiles accurately. So that when you boot up the game everything looks exactly as it does in the app. This sounds obvious, but it's something that is a little tricky to do well with orbiter.

Good luck with this.
WHAP

 

[GXE3]

I took a little break from the project to install kubuntu linux on my computer. In about a week's time, I will be submitting a jar file for people to test.

 

[ar81]

So, secondly, For your app to be a real worthwhile tool, it has to be able to map the buildings to the surface tiles accurately. So that when you boot up the game everything looks exactly as it does in the app. This sounds obvious, but it's something that is a little tricky to do well with orbiter.

Good luck with this.
WHAP

That's why tiles are not in the main display.
As you get closer to poles tiles get deformed.
I considered that in SBW, but by then I was just practicing coding, and doing something I had not done before, so you may see why it is not really so easy to use.

SBW was not supposed to exist. I planned to make a calculator only, but Alysimia city grew bigger than I could control.