DrawInfo

DrawInfo allows clients to render the mesh object more efficiently through LODs (Levels of Detail). Many associate drawinfo with the ability to create moving objects in a map.

Code

The code must be added to the mesh object.

drawInfo dlist # display list for all material sets decorative # older clients with not see this mesh angvel <degrees/sec> # rotation about initial Z axis extents <minX> <minY> <minZ> <maxX> <maxY> <maxZ> sphere <x> <y> <z> <radiusSquared> corner <v> <n> <t> (repeatable) vertex 0.0 0.0 0.0 (repeatable) normal 0.0 0.0 0.0 (repeatable) texcoord 0.0 0.0 (repeatable) lod (repeatable) lengthPerPixel <value> matref <name> (repeatable) dlist # display list for this material set sphere <x> <y> <z> <radiusSquared> points 0 (repeatable) lines 0 1 (repeatable) lineloop 0 1 (repeatable) linestrip 0 1 (repeatable) tris 0 1 2 (repeatable) tristrip 0 1 2 (repeatable) trifan 0 1 2 (repeatable) quads 0 1 2 3 (repeatable) quadstrip 0 1 2 3 (repeatable) polygon 0 1 2 (repeatable) end # matref end # lod end # drawInfo

Valid parameters for drawinfo are: <properties> dlist=requests that the client use display lists to render the object (recommended for meshes that are not overly complicated) decorative=disables drawInfo in older clients angvel=causes the mesh object to spin at the given rate in degrees per second extents=the minimum and maximum x, y, and z point of the mesh to be drawn. This helps with rendering efficiency, meshes whose extents are outside of the point of view will not be drawn. sphere=an imaginary sphere that encompasses all x, y, and z coordinates. Similar to extents, this helps increase rendering efficiency. vertex=if defined within the drawInfo section, the vertices, normals, and texcoords will be used instead of those defined in the mesh corner=(required)a point defined by a vertex, normal, and a texcoord lod=(required)sections that determines which faces/points will be rendered from specific distances (lengthPerPixel) lengthPerPixel=(required)distance from which the points will be rendered, 0 is close, .3 is about as far away as is needed matref=(required)material to use for the faces that follow it. points=description lines=description lineloop=description linestrip=description tris=index numbers of corners that create triangles tristrip=series of points that form a chain of triangles. trifan= a series of points that create triangles that fan out from a single point. That point, usually in the center, is placed first in the series. Trifans are used only in pyramid and cone-shaped meshes. quads=points that create 4-sided mesh planes quadstrip=series of points that create a chain of 4-sided planes. Similarly to tristrips, the series zig-zags between the points, starting in the counter-clockwise direction. polygon=same as quads except for planes of more than 4 sides. </properties>

Appearance

DrawInfo is only applied to existing mesh objects. If you look closely in Louman's Mystic Valley, shrubbery and trees will change in appearance slightly when viewed from about 200 units away.

Editor Support

DrawInfo support has been added to obj to bzw converters: Modeltool (available through SVN) and php-dIMachine.

History

DrawInfo was added (by trepan) in BZFlag version 2.0.4 and is rarely used for anything other than experimental and proof-of-concept maps. Notable exceptions to this are trees in Louman's "Mystic Valley" and "Churchyard" maps, and a more recent practical use of moving drawinfo in Planet MoFo's halloween passion map. Following the creation of tools to generate drawinfo from .obj files, it is getting more frequent use by more experienced map makers.