My suggestions and questions.

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My suggestions and questions. // Feature suggestions

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Post by spacekdet // Jul 25, 2008, 10:01am

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I'll start a thread here and add to it as I go.


Bring back the Dropdown Object List in the Object Info box. The LE is an exercise in frustration to use just to select an object. An alphabetical listing of all objects in the scene is much easier to deal with than a huge field of identical little boxes in random order.
I'd like a return of the ability to change display options on a scene-wide basis. By this, I mean the 'Render All -->All Always in Boxes' range that objects are displayed as. A poly-heavy, highly textured scene should have some way to simplify the display and ease navigation. I've had 4 hours of torture today just trying to move a local light into position, even in wireframe display it's unacceptably jerky.
New small view 3D windows should start in the simplest, fastest state, i.e. Wireframe, and not fully shaded. Or, bring back the ability to choose what state you want prior to opening them.
Layers? Are they hiding somewhere in Workspace or are these gone too?
Why is shadow casting toggle on lights not in the light property panel? While it's nice that I can type in a number to change the "AttQuadratic,1" parameter, I see no way to turn on/off shadows.
(Lord knows I've been itching to tweak the "AttQuadratic, 1" parameter for so long it's really a relief to finally find it.:rolleyes:)... However, I think I'd use the shadow on/off switch a bit more often so am curious as to why it's not front and center in the light property panel. Now that I mention it...just where the heck did they hide it, anyway?
Libraries. I'm not even going to go there yet. Once bitten, twice shy (http://forums1.caligari.com/truespace/showthread.php?t=3122) and I don't want to spoil my good mood quite yet.I'm just getting warmed up.

Post by RAYMAN // Jul 25, 2008, 12:33pm

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Hi !

Your not the first !

http://forums1.caligari.com/truespace/showpost.php?p=44523&postcount=97

Did that help ?:D

Peter

Post by Jack Edwards // Jul 25, 2008, 12:42pm

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Keep it coming Space, this is great feedback for the devs. :banana:

Addressing a few of your points:
1. Scene view is now available with 7.6 (but I do miss the object drop down in the info panel)
2. A render as bounding boxes option would be very useful for lower end computers and for poly heavy scenes. You'll find that object grouping or encapsulation slows it down a lot more than polygons though.
3. A good compromise might be to open the new window in the same state as the previously opened window.
4. Hopefully we'll get layers implemented in Workspace side soon.
5. Shadow toggles are a limitation of the Bridge. This problem will go away when Model side and the Bridge are removed.
6. :D Creating a new Library place allows you to store your projects in a directory structure separate from TrueSpace's directory structure. This is very useful since then you don't have to migrate any libraries when you install a new version.

Post by Délé // Jul 25, 2008, 12:46pm

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Did you see the new Scene View window spacekdet? Makes finding objects much easier IMO. Plus you can right click on any object/node in the Scene View and select "Browse in LE" and it will go right to that level in the LE. ;)

Post by Steinie // Jul 25, 2008, 12:49pm

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Plus you can rename each object in the Object Info Window.

Why not in the Scene View Window?

Post by Electric Jim // Jul 25, 2008, 8:33pm

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Thanks for the notice about the Scene View window, guys! I can see that it will be VERY useful. (An organized hierarchical list was precisely one of the features I was hoping for, in this release. Though it would be nice to be able to use it to re-arrange hierarchy, too.) :)


But I still don't see a built-in Unencapsulate tool, do I? (Or am I missing it, somewhere?) I guess I'll have to install into tS7.6 the script object that lets us do this without going to the Model side. (I know it's not a huge issue -- particularly considering that the upgrade is free and all -- but it does disappoint me. Given that this is such a fundamental bit of functionality, I was hoping it would be there, this time around. Ah well, such is life...) :o

Post by Tiles // Jul 25, 2008, 9:58pm

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Why not in the Scene View Window?


Does. Click at the item in question to select it, rest a short moment, and click again. The name will become editable. Then simply rename it and hit enter :)


Scene View has become my most important window, and has its place right besides the stack.

Post by spacekdet // Jul 27, 2008, 7:59pm

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A suggestion:

When using hotkeys for Move, Rotate, or Scale, the toolbar in it's default state only shows the Move icon and whether it is activated or not.
13528

Say I hit the Rotate hotkey; I'd like the rotate icon to show in the place of the move icon in the toolbar to indicate that it's now the activated mode.

This would tell you at a glance what mode you were in.

Without being able to see all three tools, it's a guess.

I realize I could see them if I ripped them out into their own expanded toolbar, but that defeats the purpose of keeping them tucked into a flyout.

Post by noko // Jul 27, 2008, 9:22pm

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Scene view will open any panel up in stack view as well if stack view Panel tab is selected. So for changing settings on objects and other stuff like network it is virtaully a one click access gateway.

Post by Igor K Handel // Jul 28, 2008, 12:07am

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Having messed about with a load of skeleton, joint, and lock settings, I have now no idea of all the various default settings for skeleton related tools.

Unless I have missed something I have no way to quickly revert TS to resetting the values of ONLY these tools. (correct me if I am wrong.. it will save me having to set ALL the tools back to default JUST to get the skeleton related ones sorted). EDIT Hmm having just gone back to find a reset ALL tools to default I can't find this option?

It would be very useful to have a revert to default settings option for this toolset

IK

Post by Tiles // Jul 28, 2008, 1:06am

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Hmm. I know how you feel. The new bones were a book with seven seals for me when i first touched them. And i am not new to animation. Locks? Handler? What? Gave me a hard time until i figured the basics out :)


First, don't panic. When everything else fails you can still pose your skeleton joint by joint using the dynapose tool and the upcoming widget when you select the joint. Just make sure that you have ticked to show Object navigation widget.


Handles and locks are not a this big problem once you find out how to make them work local. Just experiment a bit. It can nevertheless give you a hard time to find an useful IK rig, dependand of how much control you need :)


As told, i know how you feel. On the other hand, i don't understand your question about resetting skeleton settings here. There are not this much values in the skeleton tools. Mainly appearance settings.


With what exactly are you in trouble? Weightpaint values? Those are dependand of how you need them. You mostly have to change them to your needs while weighting. Or do you mean the Character editor? Well, same here. I change them to my needs when i need it.


When everything else fails, then there is indeed the Reset to default context button.

Post by Igor K Handel // Jul 28, 2008, 3:00am

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Cheers for the reply Tiles


The settings I am talking about are for instance the various heal options, even all the various color settings relating to the various skeleton tools. things like the default state of use global locks, lock children, animate as soft, joint placement, centre, ground or surface...etc etc All these options have a default state,, but how to easily get it back, I currently haven't found an obvious way.


I'm not complaining at all , just trying to confirm that there is no EASY way to revert to default for specific toolsets,and if not can we please have this option at some point as it would be very useful when things go pear shaped.


Admittedly this position is probably due to users like me trying to work out the best options for any given task and how all those options work, both by themselves, but also in combination with other tool options)


As an example How does having global locks on change things if the lock children children is also on or what if its off whats the effect... etc With enough experimenting to see how it all works you get to where I am... which is with probably not a single default setting left intact, and through my own fault no blatently obvious way to sort it out SIMPLY. LOL all my own doing I know, but hey I'm there now so am probing how to sort it, not just for now, or for me but for no doubt the many that at sometime will go through the same thing


Incidently when I went back to "hit the reset button" I can't actually find one for workspace side.. just held Ctrl key to start TS with default options (I think this sorts most defaults but to be honest I am not 100% sure on that)


Perhaps the answer is to delete the default.ctx file and start again, but ideally I don't want to lose other settings I have changed. I'm open to any advice.


Not being up to speed on the actual working structure in TS gives problems. I am not entirely sure as to how say deleting default.ctx and getting a new one generated, relates to say windows keys xml or how the Ctrl start TS effects or whether it even permanently alters any other scripts. Do these various components have ANY interaction, are changes permanent and scripted in somewhere... I really don't know.


All the best

IK

Post by stan // Jul 28, 2008, 4:10am

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don't know if this will help or if this is what you are looking for, but you can reset most panel values to original setting with a right click over the panel item them . a reset option appears.

Post by Igor K Handel // Jul 28, 2008, 4:58am

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Nice 1 Stan!!


That worked. So make that super dooper moderator :D


It seems each setting needs right mouse clicked seperately to reset to default, which is actually an added bonus as it lets the user pick and chose specific settings ONLY to reset to default.


I never knew about right mouse clicking over a menu, in fact I don't remember even seeing it mentioned in the manual, though I guess I may have overlooked it, must be getting old.


As an aside I don't know if it's a design oversight or just a feature, but right mouse clicking over any menu relating to colours and hitting reset, defaults all colours to white rather than to the "out of the box" colors... No big deal but thought I'd mention it. The build skeleton tool options have a reset option for the joint placing, but oddly no option exists to reset the default angles. Again no big deal but thought I'd mention it incase it's just a minor ommision.


Anyway a big thanks for that.... much appreciated. I will stop going in circles now lol... Well for a bit anyway :)


Yours

IK

Post by stan // Jul 28, 2008, 5:17am

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glad it helped.

thats makes two old folks..:) I know more around here too..lol


for reset to default or deleting the default.ctx and restarting TS, that brings back original content.
if you have custom toolbars and window layouts they need to be saved in WS layout library or when you reset they will be lost. after a reset you just reload your layout.

if you have many custom scripts working in system area like I do, you must make copies of default.ctx so if trouble arises you just close TS exchange out the default.ctx for a copy of your saved backup, renamed default.ctx, then when you reopen TS it will be like it was the last time you saved a backup.ctx

Post by spacekdet // Jul 28, 2008, 7:32am

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Get shadowcasting controls for lights moved into the panel, not hidden deep inside the LE.

Come on, guys, this stuff is basic and should be automagically accessible when the light is created, or selected.

I'm not going to count the clicks it takes to do this now, but it used to and should only take one.

I know the eggheads just love that LE to death, but let's concentrate on workflow.

Post by Igor K Handel // Jul 28, 2008, 12:45pm

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Aha so thats where the shadowcasting options are ... Was looking in vain for them earlier lol


Ik

Post by spacekdet // Jul 28, 2008, 4:27pm

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I see now after poking around some more that some of the lights have this (an enable shadowcasting ticbox) in the panel, and some do not.

Is there a reason for this or is this due to the WIPpy nature of the program?

Post by Jack Edwards // Jul 28, 2008, 5:11pm

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It's a limitation of the Bridge and should be readily resolved when Model side is removed.

In the short term, setting light values for some light types is still quickest done in Model side. :(

Post by spacekdet // Jul 29, 2008, 7:57pm

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Another suggestion:

Pimp My Libraries!

Allow: Display/Listing of items by name, and date.

A box of books ( or objects, or textures, etc ) isn't a 'Library'...it's just a jumble until you can organize them by name or by date...It is called a Library, right?

Browsing via standard Windows file pickers, in addition to the icon/thumbnail method in place now. Also very handy for texture browsing-I'm a fan of giant texture folders and so waiting for thumbnails to load isn't my favorite pastime. I find it much easier if I have a sortable text file picker.

Unless I'm missing something obvious and we can already do this.

Post by Jack Edwards // Jul 29, 2008, 8:06pm

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Well... if you have Vista you can already do this...
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.
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it's called Windows Explorer. :p

:D

Post by TheLion36 // Jul 29, 2008, 11:35pm

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My suggestions so far:

- The global button bar is very confusing, the whole point of the bar is to have tools that can be used in both Model and WorkSpace, but most of its buttons only have an effect in WorkSpace (Camera Move, Camera Scale, Camera Rotate, Scale, Rotate, Translate, All of the View buttons, All of the Primitives and all of the Light Objects)... Since almost none of the functions work cross-view it would be nice to attach the bar to one of the views of the users chosing so it isn't always visible... All you can do now is turn it off.


- The New UV Mapping functions are not much different from the old ones and still produce pretty poor UV results, I never understood why a program like Ultimate Unwrap 3D can produce an unfolded cube UV Map and TrueSpace can in the best case scenario produce 6 rectangles on top of eachother. Sure the new UV Editor can split them up so they don't overlap but in 6.6 you could do the exact same thing by just moving the bounding box around. And 6 rectangles next to eachother isn't a very nice UV Map for a cube, if you place a new cube in the scene and check its UV Map its perfect but once you reapply the UV Map it looks completely different.


- The new Material Editor is way to complex... Don't get me wrong I like the new features where you can tinker your own shaders but its not very user friendly. It would be nice to be just be able to pick from default shaders like in the past and apply them instead of first having to compile one of several bricks and link them together. Then if you want to go into the advanced bit you can pick something like Custom Shader or even make 2 different "dialogs" call one Material Editor and the other Material Builder or something like that.

Post by spacekdet // Jul 30, 2008, 6:55pm

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Well... if you have Vista you can already do this...
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it's called Windows Explorer. :p

:D

I think you're missing my point.
I'm saying that the Libraries can be improved, and giving some suggestions to further that goal. Load a few hundred textures into one of those little Library windows and then try to quickly and efficiently find the one you want using just thumbnails..
Go ahead, I'll wait.
When I figure out how to point a Library at an existing texture folder, I'll try it too.

In 6.6 I can right click a file input box and get standard Windows file pickers. If I left click, I get a tS Library browser with thumbnails.

My preference is usually the standard file picker, just because I am able to sort the files by name and date. If I could do this sorting inside the tS Library, without having Explorer running, wouldn't that be better?

So far in 7.6, all I seem to get are pre-loaded thumbs in a predetermined directory...and no obvious way to navigate from the Material Editor or a Library to where my existing textures are.

A room full of books without the Dewey Decimal System is not a Library. Without some way to sort or organize it, it's just a big container.

The Libraries as they stand now have serious ease of use issues.

Post by Jack Edwards // Jul 30, 2008, 7:03pm

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I agree with you Space. Having that functionality built into trueSpace would be great. And the slow loading for textures is a major pain. Just though I'd be snarky and poke some fun at the expense of all the "Vista sucks" crowd etc. ;)

Post by spacekdet // Aug 1, 2008, 10:06am

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Allow hotkeys for Save Scene, Save As Scene, Save Object, etc. in Workspace.

Post by spacekdet // Aug 1, 2008, 10:07am

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Allow the use of a texture for a background in Workspace.

Post by Jack Edwards // Aug 1, 2008, 6:06pm

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Even better would be able to set different background for different views, like top, side, front, etc. ;)
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