Using L3DT maps within GLScene project.

[jasonf]

I want to make a really large terrain using L3DT and to be able to use it within GLScene.. is this possible without lots of code?

[Brainer]

This should be useful:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/bl8i81

[jasonf]

Excellent thanks

I'm going to get the PRO version of L3DT so I can produce really large maps.

Hopefully, this code will get me started.

[Brainer]

I suppose it will, but the terrain loading process is rather slow if you plan to use it for a game. I'd suggest you to speed it up a little. In my opinion, it'd be nice if it was loaded by several threads and each of them loaded a different part of the map. This might be interesting for you:

[pascal]
{************************************************* ******************************
Force© http://fp.cba.pl
ForceSmallMap
TForceSmallMap - Struktura zawieraj¬±ca szczeg??¬?owe dane o wycinku ¬?wiata, mo¬øe ¬?adowa?¶ swoje dane za pomoc¬± watku
Lipiec 2007
************************************************** *****************************}
unit ForceSmallMap;

interface

uses
Classes, Windows, SysUtils ;

type
// Rekord mapy
TForceMapRecord = record
Image : integer;
Typ : integer;
end;
PForceMapRecord = ^TForceMapRecord;

TForceMapArray = array of array of TForceMapRecord;
TForceSmallMap = record
private
FCells : TForceMapArray;
FWidth : integer;
FHeight : integer;
public
Loaded : pinteger;
property Cells : TForceMapArray read FCells write FCells;
property Width : integer read FWidth;
property Height : integer read FHeight;

constructor Create(Width : integer; Height : integer);
procedure Finalize();

procedure SetSize(Width,Height : integer);inline;
function StaticLoadFromFile(FileName : string):integer;
function ThreadLoadFromFile(FileName : string):integer;
function StaticSaveToFile(FileName : string):integer;
end;
PForceSmallMap = ^TForceSmallMap;



implementation

type
TThreadNameInfo = record
FType: LongWord; // must be 0x1000
FName: PChar; // pointer to name (in user address space)
FThreadID: LongWord; // thread ID (-1 indicates caller thread)
FFlags: LongWord; // reserved for future use, must be zero
end;

TForceMapLoader = class(TThread)
private
procedure SetName;
procedure LoadFromFile();
protected
FSmallMap : PForceSmallMap;
FFileName : string;
procedure Execute; override;
end;
PForceMapLoader = ^TForceMapLoader;

procedure TForceMapLoader.SetName;
var
ThreadNameInfo: TThreadNameInfo;
begin
ThreadNameInfo.FType := $1000;
ThreadNameInfo.FName := 'TForceMapLoader';
ThreadNameInfo.FThreadID := $FFFFFFFF;
ThreadNameInfo.FFlags := 0;

try
RaiseException( $406D1388, 0, sizeof(ThreadNameInfo) div sizeof(LongWord), @ThreadNameInfo );
except
end;
end;

procedure TForceMapLoader.Execute;
begin
SetName;
LoadFromFile();
end;

procedure TForceMapLoader.LoadFromFile();
begin
// £adowany
FSmallMap^.Loaded^ := 1;
FSmallMap^.StaticLoadFromFile(FFileName);
// Za¬?adowany
FSmallMap^.Loaded^ := 2;
end;

constructor TForceSmallMap.Create(Width : integer; Height : integer);
begin
SetSize(Width,Height);
end;

procedure TForceSmallMap.Finalize();
begin
SetSize(0,0);
end;

procedure TForceSmallMap.SetSize(Width,Height : integer);
begin
FWidth := Width;
FHeight := Height;
SetLength(FCells,Width,Height);
end;

function TForceSmallMap.StaticLoadFromFile(FileName : string):integer;
var
F : File;
Res : integer;
i: Integer;
j: Integer;
begin
AssignFile(F,FileName);
try
Reset(F,1);
BlockRead(F,FWidth,4,Res);
if Res <> 4 then
begin
Result := -1;
CloseFile(F);
Exit;
end;
BlockRead(F,FHeight,4,Res);
if Res <4> 0) and (FHeight > 0) then
for i := 0 to FWidth - 1 do
for j := 0 to FHeight - 1 do
begin
BlockRead(F,FCells[i,j],sizeof(TForceMapRecord),Res);
if Res <> sizeof(TForceMapRecord) then
begin
Result := -1;
CloseFile(F);
Exit;
end;
end;
except on E: Exception do
begin
Result := -2;
CloseFile(F);
Exit;
end;
end;
Loaded^ := 2;
CloseFile(F);
Result := 0;
end;

function TForceSmallMap.ThreadLoadFromFile(FileName : string):integer;
var
W : TForceMapLoader;
begin
W := TForceMapLoader.Create(false);
W.FSmallMap := @self;
W.FFileName := FileName;
W.FreeOnTerminate := True;
W.Resume;
Result := 0;
end;

function TForceSmallMap.StaticSaveToFile(FileName : string):integer;
var
F : File;
Res : integer;
i: Integer;
j: Integer;
begin
AssignFile(F,FileName);
try
Rewrite(F,1);
BlockWrite(F,FWidth,4,Res);
if Res <> 4 then
begin
Result := -1;
CloseFile(F);
Exit;
end;
BlockWrite(F,FHeight,4,Res);
if Res <4> 0) and (FHeight > 0) then
for i := 0 to FWidth - 1 do
for j := 0 to FHeight - 1 do
begin
BlockWrite(F,FCells[i,j],sizeof(TForceMapRecord),Res);
if Res <> sizeof(TForceMapRecord) then
begin
Result := -1;
CloseFile(F);
Exit;
end;
end;
except on E: Exception do
begin
Result := -2;
CloseFile(F);
Exit;
end;
end;
CloseFile(F);
Result := 0;
end;

end.
[/pascal]

It's only a suggestion, though.

[jasonf]

I did find this on my travels...

http://www.dave.serveusers.com/article.php?sid=22

It's by the same guy responsible for the oxNewton GLScene.

[Brainer]

EDIT
Yeah, sorry for that. Indeed he's scary - he looks like a soldier!

[jasonf]

Are you sure he wants that on an open forum like this?.. I've seen his picture on his site.. he looks a little scary :twisted:

I've joined the forum there so I'll chat to him using that. Thanks for the link, however I'd edit your post to remove that email address if you're not sure he'd like it public.