Importing terrain files?

Andy · 9th January 2021, 12:14 PM

The length of the red line will be the same as the y-size of the selection if you select one of the (lower) vertices in the upper tile, and another which is in line with the bottom end of the red line.

Tomkat · 9th January 2021, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy

The length of the red line will be the same as the y-size of the selection if you select one of the (lower) vertices in the upper tile, and another which is in line with the bottom end of the red line.

But, what if there is no vertex in line with the bottom end of the red line? (I added the red line in photoshop, so I would have no actual visual reference in AC3D.) Also, keep in mind that the bottom of the red line might be in a "valley" so my view of it is blocked from all sides. What I thought MIGHT work was...

1. draw a line straight down from the bottom vertex with a length that takes it THROUGH one of the mesh terrain "tiles."
2. Find some way to "intersect" or "knife" so that a vertex appears where the line goes through the tile.

However, I can't find anything that will work for step 2.

Tomkat · 9th January 2021, 01:16 PM

I basically need to know where this line pierces the tile (for any line thru any location on the tile)... do you know of any way to do that? Booleans don't seem to work with lines, only polygons.

Also, is there any way to select 2 vertices then and have AC3D automatically create a line between them? This seems like it should be a simple task, but I can't seem to find a way.

Andy · 9th January 2021, 03:03 PM

You can use a rectangle/plane with the Object->Boolean->knife functions. That may be a way to create a vertex in the right location.

To make a line from two vertices, select both, Vertex->Create-ordered-surface (that will make a two vertex polygon, an invalid polygon shown in blue) then press Set-surface-type->Line (in the bottom left of the control panel). That will turn it into a valid line.

Tomkat · 13th January 2021, 09:45 PM

That doesn't seem to work, because the boolean function doesn't like the "line."
I really wish there was a way to do it... because it's very tedious and time-consuming to select the lower vertex of the vertical line and manually drag it to where it appears to be sitting "on" the mesh.

Andy · 14th January 2021, 05:33 AM

Don't use a line, use a very narrow rectangle. Here, the left side shows before, the right after a Boolean->Knife-and-cut-away - with the lowest vertex selected (so you can read the location).

Tomkat · 15th January 2021, 08:08 AM

I'm afraid that would be even MORE time consuming, and wouldn't give me the precision I need.

9th January 2021, 12:14 PM	#1
Andy Administrator Professional user Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,565	Re: Importing terrain files? The length of the red line will be the same as the y-size of the selection if you select one of the (lower) vertices in the upper tile, and another which is in line with the bottom end of the red line.

9th January 2021, 01:16 PM	#3
Tomkat Member Expert member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 79	Re: Importing terrain files? I basically need to know where this line pierces the tile (for any line thru any location on the tile)... do you know of any way to do that? Booleans don't seem to work with lines, only polygons. Also, is there any way to select 2 vertices then and have AC3D automatically create a line between them? This seems like it should be a simple task, but I can't seem to find a way. Last edited by Tomkat; 9th January 2021 at 01:23 PM.

9th January 2021, 03:03 PM	#4
Andy Administrator Professional user Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,565	Re: Importing terrain files? You can use a rectangle/plane with the Object->Boolean->knife functions. That may be a way to create a vertex in the right location. To make a line from two vertices, select both, Vertex->Create-ordered-surface (that will make a two vertex polygon, an invalid polygon shown in blue) then press Set-surface-type->Line (in the bottom left of the control panel). That will turn it into a valid line.

13th January 2021, 09:45 PM	#5
Tomkat Member Expert member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 79	Re: Importing terrain files? That doesn't seem to work, because the boolean function doesn't like the "line." I really wish there was a way to do it... because it's very tedious and time-consuming to select the lower vertex of the vertical line and manually drag it to where it appears to be sitting "on" the mesh.

14th January 2021, 05:33 AM	#6
Andy Administrator Professional user Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 4,565	Re: Importing terrain files? Don't use a line, use a very narrow rectangle. Here, the left side shows before, the right after a Boolean->Knife-and-cut-away - with the lowest vertex selected (so you can read the location). Attached Images Last edited by Andy; 14th January 2021 at 05:36 AM.

15th January 2021, 08:08 AM	#7
Tomkat Member Expert member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 79	Re: Importing terrain files? I'm afraid that would be even MORE time consuming, and wouldn't give me the precision I need.