Predefined camera position and angle

[kronenblatt]

Is there a way to mod (maybe as shortcut key) the camera to change to a predefined position, zoom, and angle? (Unless there's already such a feature in vanilla?)

I'm thinking about using it for making exactly the same screenshots. (Maybe with different hotkeys for different map sizes.)

[rbodleyscott]

I think you could do this by modifying the parameters in the /DATA/MAPVIEW.TXT file. (But keep a backup of the original!)

[Paul59]

Is there a way to mod (maybe as shortcut key) the camera to change to a predefined position, zoom, and angle? (Unless there's already such a feature in vanilla?)

I'm thinking about using it for making exactly the same screenshots. (Maybe with different hotkeys for different map sizes.)

This post discusses how to do it; modding the MAPVIEW.txt;

https://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewto ... 92&t=79690

But, as Richard said, make sure you make a copy of the original file first!

[kronenblatt]

Is there a way to mod (maybe as shortcut key) the camera to change to a predefined position, zoom, and angle? (Unless there's already such a feature in vanilla?)

I'm thinking about using it for making exactly the same screenshots. (Maybe with different hotkeys for different map sizes.)

This post discusses how to do it; modding the MAPVIEW.txt;

https://www.slitherine.com/forum/viewto ... 92&t=79690

But, as Richard said, make sure you make a copy of the original file first!

I sure d-n will. Thanks Paul!

[kronenblatt]

I think you could do this by modifying the parameters in the /DATA/MAPVIEW.TXT file. (But keep a backup of the original!)

Thanks to you as well, Richard! (Didn't see your post until now, sorry.)

This is a good post too:

Thought I'd repost this here.

Editing Data/Mapview.txt to change camera zoom and rotational limits.

PITCH - starting pitch? 90 is looking straight down.
PITCHLIMIT - a number of degrees you can rotate either side of the original starting pitch. Higher the number the great ther range you can move.
ZOOM - starting zoom level
ZOOMLIMIT - the value either side of the starting that you can zoom. works ame as pitch limit. (Confused .. seems redundant)
ZOOMINLIMIT - kind of speaks for itself. Smaller the number the closer you can zoom in . Speaking from the point of view of the artist .. if you can see pixels you're too close.
ROTATE - I think this is the starting heading of the camera (though it seems to be the opposite of what I'd expect)
FOV - Higher values give you a fish eye effect and can make you sick. Especially after strong coffee. 30-50 is ok Lower values can maybe, possibly, sometimes .. improve performance . . at least thats how it seems on my machine.

Your Mapview.txt might look something like this.
(Anything after // is ignored and we often use them to store values for later use so the values here might be of some use.)

PITCH 45
PITCHLIMIT 15 // 25
ZOOM 400
ZOOMLIMIT 1200 // 500
ZOOMINLIMIT 200 // 50
ROTATE 30
FOV 30

Where I'd then assume the three parameters to mess with are:

PITCH
ZOOM
ROTATE

But a question: in case I want to link a certain hotkey to this, don't I do that in the keys file instead? And how do I make a generic (global?) mod out of it: do I really need to change files in vanilla? Can't I instead make a separate mod folder that overwrite vanilla files when the game reads the mod?

[Paul59]

But a question: in case I want to link a certain hotkey to this, don't I do that in the keys file instead? And how do I make a generic (global?) mod out of it: do I really need to change files in vanilla? Can't I instead make a separate mod folder that overwrite vanilla files when the game reads the mod?

The Global Mod system is a bit hit and miss with the files it will work with. I have just tried setting up my modded MAPVIEW.txt as a Global Mod and it would not work. The only way I know is to edit the vanilla files MAPVIEW.txt, but I always keep the original file safe in case I have to go back to it.

I don't know anything about linking a hotkey, or if that is even possible.

[kronenblatt]

But a question: in case I want to link a certain hotkey to this, don't I do that in the keys file instead? And how do I make a generic (global?) mod out of it: do I really need to change files in vanilla? Can't I instead make a separate mod folder that overwrite vanilla files when the game reads the mod?

The Global Mod system is a bit hit and miss with the files it will work with. I have just tried setting up my modded MAPVIEW.txt as a Global Mod and it would not work. The only way I know is to edit the vanilla files MAPVIEW.txt, but I always keep the original file safe in case I have to go back to it.

I don't know anything about linking a hotkey, or if that is even possible.

There's a file, keys.bsf, in data/battle/scripts/ that is referred to in first post of this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=492&t=80109

That I set my hopes upon. But maybe it's not that simple?

[rbodleyscott]

But a question: in case I want to link a certain hotkey to this, don't I do that in the keys file instead? And how do I make a generic (global?) mod out of it: do I really need to change files in vanilla? Can't I instead make a separate mod folder that overwrite vanilla files when the game reads the mod?

The Global Mod system is a bit hit and miss with the files it will work with. I have just tried setting up my modded MAPVIEW.txt as a Global Mod and it would not work. The only way I know is to edit the vanilla files MAPVIEW.txt, but I always keep the original file safe in case I have to go back to it.

I don't know anything about linking a hotkey, or if that is even possible.

There's a file, keys.bsf, in data/battle/scripts/ that is referred to in first post of this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=492&t=80109

That I set my hopes upon. But maybe it's not that simple?

That script is only polled when a unit is selected, which limits its usefulness for scripting hot keys.

[kronenblatt]

The Global Mod system is a bit hit and miss with the files it will work with. I have just tried setting up my modded MAPVIEW.txt as a Global Mod and it would not work. The only way I know is to edit the vanilla files MAPVIEW.txt, but I always keep the original file safe in case I have to go back to it.

I don't know anything about linking a hotkey, or if that is even possible.

There's a file, keys.bsf, in data/battle/scripts/ that is referred to in first post of this thread:

viewtopic.php?f=492&t=80109

That I set my hopes upon. But maybe it's not that simple?

That script is only polled when a unit is selected, which limits its usefulness for scripting hot keys.

No probs that a unit needs to be selected. And could then that file be modded with an additional key (say 9) and using information from mapview.txt?

Code: Select all

if ( key == 58 )
{
PITCH 30
ZOOM 600
ROTATE 90
}

[kronenblatt]

Actually I found this one, which is what precisely what I'm after, more or less.

the X hotkey, of course!

If you press X in the normal battlefield view, you get an extreme zoom-out, a strategic overview map of sorts...

But I'm still interested in the answer to my question since it gives me more flexibility. Not that I expect others to do the modding for me: it's just that maybe the overall hazzle of making this global mod for a slim chance of success will just take too long to find out...

Or maybe this X hotkey can be modded?

[rbodleyscott]

Or maybe this X hotkey can be modded?

I think it is hard-coded in the engine, so probably not.

[rbodleyscott]

And could then that file be modded with an additional key (say 9) and using information from mapview.txt?

Code: Select all

if ( key == 58 )
{
PITCH 30
ZOOM 600
ROTATE 90
}

No, that would not work. Those are not valid script commands.

There is a SetZoom(zoom) function, but I don't think there are script functions for camera pitch or rotation.

[kronenblatt]

And could then that file be modded with an additional key (say 9) and using information from mapview.txt?

Code: Select all

if ( key == 58 )
{
PITCH 30
ZOOM 600
ROTATE 90
}

No, that would not work. Those are not valid script commands.

There is a SetZoom(zoom) function, but I don't think there are script functions for camera pitch or rotation.

Ok, thanks for input Richard. Where could I find info about whether there are SetPitch and SetRotation functions as well?

[rbodleyscott]

Where could I find info about whether there are SetPitch and SetRotation functions as well?

There aren't.

See BattleScript.txt in /Documents/My Games/FEILDOFGLORY2/AUTODOCs for the full list of script functions.

[kronenblatt]

Where could I find info about whether there are SetPitch and SetRotation functions as well?

There aren't.

See BattleScript.txt in /Documents/My Games/FEILDOFGLORY2/AUTODOCs for the full list of script functions.

Thanks Richard: then I know. The X key will work just fine then.