AloViewer 0.7 released

[Mike.nl]

I was going to wait until I had finished rewriting the viewer, and call that 0.7, but it seemed worthwhile to release what I have now, just because it's got some neat features, and people kept asking about it after screenshots

 

Get it from one of these mirrors:

• http://alpha1.dyns.net/eaw/
  
• http://alpha1.dyndns.info/eaw/
  
• http://mikedev.everythingeaw.com/

 

To sum up the changes and new features:

• It now searches Forces of Corruption's path for textures and shaders as well.
  
• A simple log. When it can't find textures, or cannot load or compile shaders, it will tell you why.
  
• Background color. Tired of that everlasting blackness? You're not alone.
  
• File history. The last 9 opened files are remembered and displayed in the file menu.
  
• A nature panel. Similar to the one in the map editor (only slightly more compact), this panel allows you to play with the lighting and wind.
  
• Shadows. It now renders the shadows of units, assuming they have a shadow mesh, of course. Some visual artifacts may still occur.
  
• Better render order. No more light sabers behind bodies and such. It's not perfect, but a whole lot better then what it used to be.
  
• Billboarding. It will properly align meshes according to their billboard values. To see a nice example of this, open up a skybox, zoom out, and watch the sun as you change the "Sun" light on the nature tab.
  
• Bone coordinate systems. At every bone, there is now a small coordinate system that will allow you to determine in what way the bone is pointing. The colors for the axis are the same as 3dsmax's (x=red, y=green, z=blue).
  
• Optional ground plane. What good are shadows if you can't see them? The ground plane is fixed at z=0, so it's not as useful for space ships. Be sure to change the background color, otherwise you won't see it.
  
• Better DirectX initialization code. If it didn't run before, maybe it will now.

 

So, grab a copy, and let me know what you think.

[MonkeyBiz]

w00t! Awesome work. I'm definitely going to test this when I get home.

 

Now all we need are new mod tools for FoC

[1upD]

Yes!

 

Now I can actually see! Even SARC Squad!

 

One problem: The sun settings often blur the textures. Can I turn the sun off?

Edited November 22, 2006 by 1upD

[jedi_consulor]

Thanks - I'm downloading it now 

[swfan654]

wow, works really well..

 

that bug where my ships wouldnt show up is gone, they are actually visible...

[Mike.nl]

One problem: The sun settings often blur the textures. Can I turn the sun off?

 

Sure, but can you see in the dark? ;D

 

Those lighting values are all the aloviewer uses to light the models. You can drop the intensity to zero, or the color to black, which in effect disables the light. But then it gets dark quickly.

[jedi_consulor]

Works great Mike - thanks for those additions we asked for

[Lord_of_the_Sith]

Thx alot Mike.

[Droid803]

All ihave have to say is:

 

:o :o

[1upD]

Sure, but can you see in the dark? ;D

 

Those lighting values are all the aloviewer uses to light the models. You can drop the intensity to zero, or the color to black, which in effect disables the light. But then it gets dark quickly.

I did that, then changed the ambient color to dark dark grey. It worked.

thanks

[Logan Felipe]

I downloaded it, but can't find a .exe in the folder...

(help!)

[Mike.nl]

Are you sure you got the right thing?

Just to be sure, here's the link: http://alpha1.dyns.net/eaw/downloads/aloviewer-0.7.zip

 

It should contain two files: AloViewer.exe and libexpat.dll.

If it doesn't contain those, then what does it contain?

[Logan Felipe]

Are you sure you got the right thing?

Just to be sure, here's the link: http://alpha1.dyns.net/eaw/downloads/aloviewer-0.7.zip

 

It should contain two files: AloViewer.exe and libexpat.dll.

If it doesn't contain those, then what does it contain?

It contained a folder titled "aloviewer-0.7". the folder contains a mess of files, but no .exe.

 

Oddly enough, when I downloaded it from http://alpha1.dyns.net/eaw/downloads/aloviewer-0.7.zip, it worked perfectly.

 

At first I downloaded it from the other site. The .RAR document was titled "aloviewer-0.7-src". This time, the title was "aloviewer-0.7".

There may be a problem with that download source...

 

Thanks for your help!

[Mike.nl]

At first I downloaded it from the other site. The .RAR document was titled "aloviewer-0.7-src". This time, the title was "aloviewer-0.7".

There may be a problem with that download source...

 

Yeah I figured as much. You got the source code of the program (which is on my site as well btw), not the final program itself.

So just remember, always get it from the 'official' place: my site http://alpha1.dyns.net/eaw/

If and when there's a new version, that's the first place it's online.