Similar features to other VFX browsers: browse VFXs and AOEs, filter by pre-defined or user-defined keyword. However it hopefully offers some unique features, namely: it is potentially hak friendly and future-proof (will read a 2DA until a null label is found); it can filter on column 2 which is the shape (AOE) or type (VFX) column; and of course it is TileMagic friendly. As ever I welcome any constructive feedback or suggestions and I hope you find it useful.
Posted by Sethan at 2010-05-12 07:06:08 Voted 10.00 on 05/12/10
You know, I've been using this for years, and never voted. Shame on me. Still as current and useful as the day it was written. _________________________ PW Story server Narfell - Since 2002
Posted by J.E. McKellar at 2009-05-27 20:50:49 Voted 10.00 on 05/27/09
Very useful, much more fun that staring at 2DA files and guessing.
Posted by sporaxis at 2007-12-11 17:53:09 Voted 10.00 on 12/11/07
Simply Excellent. After reviewing tile magic and vfx, I found SJ's website, which led me to this. _________________________
Sporaxis
"Smashing other peoples bits together to make a better world"
blog: Link
Posted by Sir_Elric at 2007-08-04 08:32:33 Voted 10.00 on 08/04/07
Another quality package. _________________________ City of Melnibone
ausnwn.dyndns.org:5121
Posted by Ghostdreamer at 2007-03-01 01:05:25 Voted 10.00 on 03/01/07
Works exactly as advertised, flawless execution and easy to use for anyone. A builders dream of seeing visual effects in action before using them in a module. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Ghost
Posted by bluepowder at 2006-03-16 03:27:03 Voted 10.00 on 03/16/06
Hey sunjammer, I had already read about your VFX Browser but I only downloaded it today - it's awesome, I luvd it! I was having a hard time finding the proper effects for my module, but I figured them out in a minute after browsing with your tool. _________________________ I'm a prof. composer/sound designer. Link to my myspace
Posted by Ophidios at 2005-10-18 14:39:59 Voted 9.75 on 10/18/05
Heya SJ.
Just posting a comment about the browser because for one, I like it. And for two, it's so irritating when people constantly DL stuff and never vote.
You do some fine work, my good man.
Posted by Slygar at 2005-04-10 07:31:00 Voted 10.00 on 04/09/05
1) add the hak to the Browser module as you would for any other module, or
2) extract the visualeffects.2da and/or vfx_persistent.2da from the and place it/them in your override directory.
If you choose #2 remember to delete the files once you have finished browsing otherwise they will effect all your modules.
There are also a couple of points to note when using custom 2DAs:
1) the browser treats a blank label as the end of the file so if the author has used **** in the label column for padded lined all subsequent entries will be ignored. This shouldn't be a problem as most people use PADDING in such circumstnaces.
2) if you are looking for a small result set in a big 2DA there is a fair chance you will TMI. This is because of the hardcoded limit imposed by BioWare which means the Browser can only examine about 600 entries between matches.
Should a search TMI try making your criteria more general or try navigating in the opposite direction (i.e. if you know the effect is in the custom content (i.e. above 750) it makes sense to start by navigating backwards.Sunjammer
Code Monkey _________________________ Sunjammer
Code Monkey
1) add the hak to the Browser module as you would for any other module, or
2) extract the visualeffects.2da and/or vfx_persistent.2da from the and place it/them in your override directory.
If you choose #2 remember to delete the files once you have finished browsing otherwise they will effect all your modules.
There are also a couple of points to note when using custom 2DAs:
1) the browser treats a blank label as the end of the file so if the author has used **** in the label column for padded lined all subsequent entries will be ignored. This shouldn't be a problem as most people use PADDING in such circumstnaces.
2) if you are looking for a small result set in a big 2DA there is a fair chance you will TMI. This is because of the hardcoded limit imposed by BioWare which means the Browser can only examine about 600 entries between matches.
Should a search TMI try making your criteria more general or try navigating in the opposite direction (i.e. if you know the effect is in the custom content (i.e. above 750) it makes sense to start by navigating backwards.Sunjammer
Code Monkey _________________________ Sunjammer
Code Monkey
Posted by Slygar at 2005-04-09 21:32:38 Voted 10.00 on 04/09/05
handy dandy!
Posted by Slygar at 2005-04-09 21:32:00 Voted 10.00 on 04/09/05
sorry if I'm a fool to ask, but how do I make this read a hak..? just wonderin :)
Posted by gert ( 172.216.xxx.xxx ) at 2005-02-14 07:45:00
hey sunjammer are you still working on hcr? if not who is and why isnt it posted to the vault? cheers and great work by the way mate.
A few minor changes and fixes to improve the quality of Browsing.
v1.04 Changes
- fixed various minor cosmetic issues
- fixed an issue where VFX_COM_UNLOAD_MODEL was unloading the dummy's model for some users
- added a "Browser Repeat" control to repeat the last effect viewed
- added a "filter by number" option
- added a basic FAQ to the menu
Unfortunately not. There is an "unload model" effect that sneaked past my exceptions list. It does pretty much as the name implies and as a result there is no model/nodes for the subsequent effects to be displayed on. I have a couple of things on my To Do list for v1.04 so I will get a new version out over the weekend.
Posted by Dajan ( 64.122.xxx.xxx ) at 2005-02-03 13:46:00
One thing I noticed...under FNF (I think) the vfx to make the NPC dissapear...once you do that you cannot get the npc to reappear...and susequently you cannot see any other of the vfx affecting the npc...you literally have to exit and reneter to start over again, and you can't skip it, so basically I cannot see all of the other vfx (or most of) after the dissapearing one.
I am glad you like it: now lets sort out this wee problem ...
Unfortunately there is no easy way to know the constant assigned to the VFX in the 2DA. The VFX Browser reports the "name" of the VFX (the label it has been given in the 2DA) and more often as not it is the same same/similar to the constant.
However in some cases the constant is only defined in an include file (such as the TileMagic constants in x2_inc_toollib) rather than nwscript and in other cases there is no constant defined at all.
However the VFX Browser also reports the line number (often called the "magic" number) and this is all you really need.Sunjammer
Code Monkey _________________________ Sunjammer
Code Monkey
Posted by Elvisman2001 ( 69.241.xxx.xxx ) at 2005-01-23 15:59:00
Well, I think this is a wonderful tool... but I cant figure out how to use the VFX it lists. I assume what is reading out in the dialogue box is the constant i need to use in the game for the effect? However, if I use VFX_FNF_TELEPORT_OUT for instance, it tells me that its an undefined variable. Is there some kind of include file that I need to be using?
Posted by Juha at 2004-12-10 17:26:59 Voted 10.00 on 12/10/04
Thanks for the suggestion Juha - unfortunately the animations tend to come with annoying sound effects so not much use for a developer aid. I think after a couple of hundred clanks people would be putting me on their hit lists!
v1.03 Changes
- made viewing a single match more friendly
- fixed a couple of typos in the conversation
- fixed the AOE pre-defined filters
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at 2010-05-12 07:06:08
at 2007-08-04 08:32:33
at 2004-12-10 17:26:59
