GroundMaker beta3, build10 for FS2000
| beta test versions / Homepage: http://www.groundmaker.org | (c)2000 Vincent Koch |
Update for beta3, build4
This download will upgrade GroundMaker to beta3, build 9. This update requires a full installation of beta3, build 4 (click here for download or go to homepage). SCASM v 2.5 or higher is needed to compile the scenery to BGL format.
Following files are added/changed to last update:
- GroundMaker.exe
- B737-400 macro
- New textures
GroundMaker is in beta test stage. Although it is more stable now, there are still bugs, inconsistencies and problems.
Installation
- Unzip into the GroundMaker directory. When asked for overwriting, click 'Yes'.
Bugs fixed/ Changes
- Many small bug fixes.
- ILS frequency bug removed
- Exporting of tree lines improved
- New line types added: taxiway centerline with automatic night light effects (line settings dialog)
- B737-400 macro added. This macro features multiple levels of complexity and thus doesn't kill frame rates in FS.
- Forest and taxiway sign tools added.
- OpenGL support (not fully implemented)
- Support for 8-bit raw (r8) and extended format (transparency) textures.
- Improved help.
IMPORTANT!
GroundMaker still contains bugs. It is strongly recommended not to use for any serious scenery project since there is no 100% guarantee that the file format will remain unaltered. The file format has proven to be very reliable, so a final file format can be expected soon. Note for international users who have been using beta versions older than build 6: this update cannot open files made with those versions. This is because GroundMaker stored decimal values using the local decimal separator ("." or ","). To keep GroundMaker files standardized however, the "." has been chosen as the separator in the file format. This does not concern US users where "." is the separator by default...
Known bugs (build 10)
This release of GroundMaker is still incomplete. Some features are disabled for now. Don't be surprised if you experience crashes. Don't use this release for a serious scenery project. Here is a list of what doesn't work:
- Blank area around the drawing area: this is normal. It is there to test the clipping algorithms.
- Point reduction and texture levels: these will be added when the main features work well. They require highly complex algorithms. Implementing them right now would make bug detection more difficult. The export code already writes the visibility tests needed for multiple levels of complexity into the SCASM text file but the exported shapes are not optimized yet.
- Not all texture formats are recognized by the texture browse dialog. Only opens 8-bit and 24-bit bitmaps.
- 3D objects for VORs, NDBs and ILS's do not show in FS.
- Help is incomplete.
- Some international users in Eastern Europe and the Middle-East get ActiveX error when launching GroundMaker. This is a serious bug that will take some time to be fixed.
- OpenGL rendering not fully implemented.
Note
There are still some bugs. Please report bugs and inconsistencies to webmaster@groundmaker.org...
Check out groundmaker.org for updates...
Disclaimer:
All utilities and files are provided as-is without a warranty of any sort. No responsibility will be taken for any direct or consequential damages arising from the use of this software. This software is released as freeware and cannot be used for commercial purposes. This beta version cannot be uploaded without permission of the author.