Celestia Forums

.
"Lua Edu Tools / Lua Universal Tools Add-ons" about addons managed by the Lua Edu Tools GUI or Lua Universal Tools.

1. Collection of addons in the graphical interface Lua_Edu_Tools_1.2beta8, see attachment
1.1. README.txt file dated 02.02.2010. By Vincent Giangiulio

Spoiler

********************************************************
* LUA EDU 1.2 TOOLS FOR CELESTIA 1.6
* (c) 2009
* Vincent Giangiulio <vince.gian@free.fr>
* Hank Ramsey
********************************************************

--------------------------------------------------------
WHAT ARE THE LUA EDU TOOLS ?
--------------------------------------------------------
The 'Lua Edu Tools' is an addon for Celestia 1.6 that provides :
- A Graphical Interface that simplifies access to the main commands in order to allow students
and non-confirmed users to run Celestia in complete autonomy.
- New features that are not available in Celestia 1.6: compass, InfoText/Image, distance markers, etc...

The Graphical Interface includes the following components:
> Simulation Date and Time in the system locale format, Timescale slider, Time/Date setting option;
> Ambient Light slider;
> Magnitude slider;
> Galaxy Light Gain slider;
> Render Options setting option;
> Navigation buttons: Go to Sun; Go to Selection; Follow Selection; Sync Orbit; Track Selection;
> Solar System browser which classifies objects according to their type (planets, moons, asteroids, ...);
> FOV slider;
> Addon Visibility setting option;
> Information Text overlay (infoText), and Image overlay with diaporama (infoImage);
> Celestial Coordinates : Equatorial, Ecliptic and Galactic;
> Distance markers:
- distance square-markers are displayed in the observer's plane and centered on screen;
- distance circle-markers are displayed in the ecliptic plane and centered on the current selection;
> Magnification option for an educational visualization of our Solar System (objects in magnified size);
> Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram;
> Keplerian parameters (dynamically computed);
> Virtual Pad for an easy control of pitch and yaw motion.
> Compass: (you can click on the compass to change its position on screen)
- Planetarium/Navigation mode buttons;
- Longitude/Latitude or Azimuth/Elevation (click to switch);

The 'Custom Goto' command, accessible by [Shift]+[G], moves the camera to the current selection
and makes it fit the screen. The travelling duration of the 'Custom Goto' command can be set in the
configuration file (cf section: 'HOW TO CUSTOMIZE THE LUA EDU TOOLS ?').

--------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO INSTALL THE LUA EDU TOOLS ?
--------------------------------------------------------
1- Unzip and paste the 'lua_edu_tools' folder in your 'extras' folder.
2- Paste the 'luahookinit.lua' file in your Celestia root folder.
3- Add this line to your celestia.cfg file :
Configuration
{
LuaHook "luahookinit.lua" # <-- Line to add
...

The Lua Edu Tools 1.2 are for use with Celestia 1.6:
http://www.shatters.net/celestia/download.html

--------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO USE THE LUA EDU TOOLS ?
--------------------------------------------------------
- Once the Lua Edu Tools are installed, the Graphical Interface is automatically displayed
each time you run Celestia.
- You can enable/disable the Lua Edu Tools either by clicking on the right hand side of the
toolbox or by pressing [Shift]+[i].
- All the standard features of Celestia, like the keyboard controls, remain active even
when the Graphical Interface is on.

--------------------------------------------------------
HOW TO CUSTOMIZE THE LUA EDU TOOLS ?
--------------------------------------------------------
- The Lua Edu Tools are easily customizable via the 'config.lua file'. There you can define
your own set of elements that you want to include in the Tool Box, and choose whether
the Lua Edu Tools are displayed or not each time Celestia starts. You can also set your
own parameters such as the language, the time zone, the colors of elements of the Graphical
Interface, the default position of the compass...
The 'config.lua' file can be edited using a simple text editor (Notepad, ...).

- The Lua Edu Tools are already available in several languages: "de" (German), "en" (English),
"fr" (French), "it" (Italian), "ko" (Korean), "nl" (Dutch), "ru" (Russian), "sv" (Swedish).
On Windows and Linux, the system locale language ('lang') is automatically detected.
On Mac, you can set your local language by editing the 'language' entry in the 'config.lua' file.
A translated version of this readme.txt file can be found in each 'lang' folder
present in the 'locale' folder.

- To add your own Information text, edit the 'infos/infoText.lua' file, or the
'locale/lang/infoText_lang.lua' file that corresponds to your language.
> Simply add the following line(s) for each object:
Name_of_object = [[ infoText ]];
Note: Use ["Name of object"] if the name contains any spaces.

- To add your own Information images, edit the 'infos/infoImage.lua' file.
Several image files can be used for the same object (diaporama).
> Simply add the following lines for each object:
Name_of_object = { "image_filename_1"; "image_filename_2"; ... }
Note: Use ["Name of object"] if the name contains spaces.
Then, place your image files into the 'images' folder.

- You can display your own set of stars in the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram.
The files containing the list of star names should be placed in the infos/' folder
and named as 'HR_stars_1.lua', 'HR_stars_2.lua', ...
You can use the existing 'HR_stars_1.lua' file as an example.

- You can include your own addon to the 'Addon Visibility' option. To do so, you need to create a
Lua file on the same model as the 'adds/Political_Borders/Political_Borders.lua' file, and place
it in the 'adds' folder. Then, just add the name of your Lua file into the 'adds' list in 'config.lua'.
The name displayed in the 'Addon Visibility' window will be the same as the name of your Lua file,
except that underscores '_' will be replaced by spaces ' '.
The Lua file contains a table which can include the following values:
> objects = { string:object1path, string:object2path, ... }
Defines the list of objects whose visibility will be enabled/disabled.
> labelcolor = {number:red, number:green, number:blue, number:alpha}
Defines the color of the addon labels. The name of the addon will be then displayed using
this same color in the 'Addon Visibility' window.
> locationtype = string:location_type
Defines the type of location that will be enabled/disabled simultaneously with the objects visibility.
List of all location types: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Celestia/SSC_File#Type_.22string.22
> script = string:scriptfilename
Defines the filename of the script that is run whenever the addon is enabled via the checkbox.
The script path is relative to the addon's directory.

--------------------------------------------------------
CONTRIBUTING TO THE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE LUA EDU TOOLS:
--------------------------------------------------------
- You can translate the Lua Edu Tools in your own language (lang) by creating the following files:
> 'locale/lang/lang.lua'
> 'locale/lang/infoText_lang.lua'
> 'locale/lang/images/compass_lang.png'
You can use the 'locale/fr/fr.lua', 'locale/fr/infoText_fr.lua', and 'locale/fr/images/compass_fr.png' files
as examples. A 'compass.psd file' containing all the layers is provided in the 'images' folder.
Please, don't forget to translate this 'readme.txt' file too.
Then, please send your translated files to <vince.gian@free.fr> so that they can be included into the
official release of the Lua Edu Tools. Thanks !

Note: You can edit any of the .lua files using your favorite text editor (Notepad, ...).
You can use Notepad2 if you need to add text with accentuated characters,
or characters from Russian, Green, Cyrillic, ... alphabets:
1- Download Notepad2 at: http://www.flos-freeware.ch/notepad2.html
2- Open the .lua file within Notepad2: File > Open...
3- Choose UTF-8 encoding: File > Encoding > UTF-8
4- Edit the file by adding your own text, and save it: File > Save

--------------------------------------------------------
CREDITS:
--------------------------------------------------------
- The Lua Edu Tools can be freely used/copied/modified/distributed for non-commercial activities.
Please keep a copy of the original version of this 'readme.txt' file within your 'lua_edu_tools' folder.

- You must contact the author <vince.gian@free.fr> if you want to use the original or a modified version
of the Lua Edu Tools for any commercial activity.

- All images except compass.png and compass_lang.png are courtesy of NASA [www.nasa.gov]

- Thanks to all the translators for their contribution on the internationalization of the Lua Edu Tools:
DE: Ulrich Dickmann aka Adirondack <celestia-deutsch@gmx.net>
KO: Seung-Bum Lee <blcktgr73@gmail.com>
RU: Sergey Leonov <leserg@ua.fm>
SV: Anders Pamdal <anders@pamdal.se>

- Special thanks to Martin (Cham) and ElChristou for their help and precious contribution to this project.
Thanks to Massimo (Fenerit), and all testers for their very helpful reports.
Big thanks to Ken (Jedi) for his contribution on the coding of the distance circle markers.

@+
Vincent

1.2. Finding a collection of addons - .. \ extras \ lua_edu_tools \ adds \
1.3. The composition of the collection of add-ons, a total of 9 add-ons (extract from config.lua from 07.02.2010):

1.4. Structure:

Attention. The name of the folder, the * .lua file and the name of the position in the config.lua (adds = partition) must be identical.
1.5. Example of lua-file for addon Asteroid_Belt:

.
2. Collection of addons in the upgrade of the graphical interface Lua_Edu_Tools_Addons_v1, see the attachment
2.1. Read-me.txt file from 02/05/2010. By Frank Gregorio

Spoiler

Read-me file for Lua Edu Tools Addons, version 1.2 beta 7 or later:
I have assembled and optimized several excellent Earth Science and Astronomy addons for use with Lua Edu Tools, beta 7 or later. The addons were created primarily from the gifted Celestia designer Cham (Martin Charest) and from Vincent Giangiulio and Fenerit. In modifying these addons for use in Lua Tools, I have positioned them in the Lua addon list, optimized their text colors so as not to compete with each other, added locations, created required lua files and edited some existing ones to turn on or turn off specific location labels, etc.

The biggest effort went into separating the addons so that they work independently. For example, toggle on the earthquakes addon and it will display alone. Toggle on the volcanoes addon and it too will now display only volcanoes. Combine them with oceans and seas, tectonic plates, political boundaries, etc., and you have more control of what displays and what does not, when a particular addon is activated.

I also converted several addons for use within Lua tools.

Most of these addons replace/augment addons already provided as part of Vincent's Lua Edu Tools beta 7 download.

Celestia 1.6.0 is required to use some of these addons.

The following are the addons present in this zip compilation:

1. Asteroid Belt - From Lua Edu Tools - Created by Martin Charest (Cham) and Vincent Giangiulio
It shows the Asteroid Belt as a hazy band of white dots between Mars and Jupiter that orbit the sun. In this version, the belt is not visible until you toggle it on.
Note: Replaces Asteroid Belt, which is included in Lua Edu Tools

2. Atmospheric Compositions - Created by Fenerit, minor edit by Frank Gregorio
It places an information display around the outside of the sun, and the nine original planets, plus Titan, showing the % mass of the elements in the atmosphere of each object
Note: Replaces Atmospheric Composition, which is included in Lua Edu Tools

3. Earth Cities - A combination of world capitals from the Celestia default data file, and primary cities on Earth. World capitals are displayed in green. Other cities are displayed in orange

4. Earth Features - A set of locations created by Frank Gregorio showing some of the major geographic features on Earth, such as Mt. Everest, Mt. McKinley, the Grand Canyon, the Pyramids, etc. Easily edited to add new locations as you wish.

5. Large Scale Universe - From Lua Edu Tools - Created by Martin Charest and Vincent Giangiulio, minor edit by Frank Gregorio - displays a mesh of large scale structure of the universe
Note: Replaces Large Scale Universe, which is included in Lua Edu Tools

6. Hubble Classification - Created by Martin Charest, script by Marco Klunder
Displays the Hubble classifications of galaxy types, as a huge billboard in space. A short script is included that takes you in front of it.

7. Galactic Center - Created by Martin Charest (no changes made)
Displays the center of the Milky Way with a massive black hole and surrounding stars

8. Habitable Zone - Created by Martin Charest (no changes made)
Places a purple band of haze around that location in the solar system where the conditions for life appear suitable (water can exist as a liquid at least some of the year)

9. Impact Craters - From Lua Edu Tools - Created by Martin Charest and Vincent Giangiulio, minor editing by Frank Gregorio
Combines locations for meteorite impact sites on Earth with craters on the moon
Note: Replaces Meteorite Impacts, which is included in Lua Edu Tools

10. Near Stars - Created by Martin Charest, minor edit by Frank Gregorio
Displays the stars within 15 LY to Earth as highlighted and labeled markers, with 3D lines from the sun to each star and a polar grid plane showing their positions

11. Plate Motions - Created by Fenerit, minor edit by Frank Gregorio
Shows arrows and colors highlighting the movement of the tectonic plates. If you also select the Lua Addons Tectonic Plates, Earth Volcanoes and Earthquakes, you can combine four concepts regarding continental movements at the same time.

12. Tectonic Plates - Created by Martin Charest, edited by Frank Gregorio
Highlights the borders of the tectonic plates on Earth, individually labeled

13. Oceans, Seas and Coasts - Created by Martin Charest, edited by Frank Gregorio
Highlights the world's oceans and most of its seas, with all oceans and seas labeled in green, coastlines outlined in blue and all countries labeled in lavender
Note: Replaces World Coastlines, which is included in Lua Edu Tools

14. Political Borders - Created by Martin Charest, minor edit by Frank Gregorio
Toggles a bright outline of all country borders, labeled with each country's name
Note: Replaces Political Borders, which is included in Lua Edu Tools

15. Earth Volcanoes - From Lua Edu Tools - Created by Martin Charest, minor edit by Frank Gregorio
Lists the location of Earth's volcanoes, with markers. Particularly useful with Tectonic Plates addon.
Note: Replaces Earth Volcanoes, which is included in Lua Edu Tools

16. Earthquakes - Created by Martin Charest, edited by Frank Gregorio
Shows the location and date of Earth's historic earthquakes, highlighted by small crosses. Particularly useful with Tectonic Plates addon.

17. Magnetic Field - Created by Martin Charest, edited by Frank Gregorio
Displays the Magnetic Field lines around Earth, along with a glowing aurora on the North and South Poles.

18. Dying sun – Based on educational addon by Frank Gregorio, modified by Martin Charest and Vincent Giangiulio – no change made
A scripted journey into the future to see our sun swell to a red giant and engulf the inner planets

19. Celestia ship Cockpit – Created by Vincent Giangiulio and Frank Gregorio
Adds a new button to the Lua Edu Toolkit to toggle on a view of the interior of the space shuttle cockpit. Your view of space is through its transparent window. Provides a neat effect for those who like to imagine themselves flying through Celestia space in their own hyperdrive spaceship.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To use these addons in Lua Edu Tools, first unzip the file to any convenient location. Open the Lua Edu Tools beta 7 folder that you already have, and save the existing config.lua file that you have to another location. Also drag the addons folder out of Lua Tools and save to any convenient location.

Then, drag the new config.lua file included with this addon into the Lua Edu Tools folder/directory, and drag the entire addons folder into the same directory. Finally, drag the tools, images and utils folders provided with this addon into the main Lua Edu Tools directory. The tools folder contains a new file, and an edit to the addsbox.lua file (to add the cockpit button). Allow it to overwrite the existing addsbox.lua file. The images folder contains an additional file for the cockpit. The utils folder contains an edit to the toolsBox,lua file. Allow it to overwrite the existing file.

Once installed, launch Celestia and activate Lua Edu Tools, if not already running. To activate tools, press the [Shift+I] keys.

Then, left-click on the “Set Addon Visibility” menu button, and a new menu will appear, listing the 18 addons. Notice the slider in that menu to display more addons. Left-click in the check boxes to turn on an addon. Uncheck the boxes to turn them off. Several addons can be activated at once. Remember that those addons pertaining to Earth will not be noticed until you center Earth in the screen.

To experience the new Cockpit feature, check the “Cockpit” box in the lower right toolkit menu. An image of the cockpit of the Space Shuttle will appear. Uncheck the box to turn it off.

You’re ready to go.

Enjoy and thanks to Martin and Vincent for their excellent professional addons for education, and to Marco Klunder for his script of the Hubble Classifications.

Frank Gregorio
January 2010

Note: It is very valuable that this file contains the names of the add-ons creators.
Paragraph number 3 indicates the source of information without specifying the name of the creator.
2.2. Finding a collection of addons - ..\extras\lua_edu_tools\adds\
2.3. The composition of the collection of add-ons, a total of 18 add-ons (extract from config.lua from 08.02.2010):


Note: Celestia ship Cockpit - integrated into GUI with tool quality.
2.4. Addons creators:
The authors (co-authors) of add-ons are indicated in the Lua_Edu_Tools_Addons_v1 file, except for item 3. Earth cities

.
3. Collection of addons in the graphical interface Lua_Edu_Tools_v1.2_beta9_with_Addon_pack_ru, see attachment

Note. On the international forum there is no information about version v1.2_beta9.
The question is where did it come from?
I discovered it in the Project "Celestia Origin", release dated December 30, 2017.
The preamble of the file ReadMe_ru.txt dated 08.16.2012 says:

In the version Lua_Edu_Tools_v1.2_beta9 there is an author's version of the file README.txt from 04/16/2010.
This file is identical to the file of the author's version of the file README.txt dated 02.02.2010.
The difference between these versions in two lines:
In the version dated 02.02.2010:

In the version dated 16.04.2010:

3.1. File ReadMe_ru.txt (Section "ADDITIONS ...") from 16.08.2012 (translated into English)


Note 1.
From the above list position number 30 is implemented as a tool, the remaining 29 positions as addons.
See the "adds =" section of the file config.lua from 14.08.2012:

Note 2.
File ReadMe_ru.txt from 08/16/2012. is identical to the ReadMe_ru.txt file dated April 28, 2009, except for the following additional information:

Note 3.
The GUI Lua_Edu_Tools_1.2beta9 was part of the Celestia Extended Pack v1.1 build (August 2012).
See: http://doutdess.info/celestia-extended-pack-v11-rus-2012-torrent-170685
The release summary states the differences between Lua Edu Tools v1.2 beta9 and version 1.2 beta8:
* Optimized LUA code for Celestia version v1.6.1. (files fovBox.lua, renderBox.lua, toolBox.lua).

.
4. Collection of addons in the GUI Lua Universal Tools v3.0 (16.05.2016), see attachment.



4.1. Number of addons = 32, including:

• addons of Lua_Edu_Tools_v1.2_beta9_with_Addon_pack_ru = 29
• new addons = 3, including:
  
  • "Space_Lift",
  • "Fiction_Objects",
  • "Solar_System_by_Size",

.
5. Collection of addons in the GUI Lua Universal Tools v4.0 (01.09.2016)
5.1. Number of addons = 34, including:

• addons from Lua Universal Tools v3.0 = 32
• new addons = 2, including:
  
  • Realistic_Milky_Way, see attachment
  • Kuiper_Belt, see attachment

.
6. Collection of addons in the GUI Lua Universal Tools v5.0 (14.12.2017)
6.1. Number of addons = 28, including:

• addons from Lua Universal Tools v4.0 = 34
• excluded addons = -6, including:
  
  • Meteorite_Impacts
  • Impact_Craters
  • Earth_Features
  • Earth_Volcanoes
  • Earthquakes
  • Earth_Cities

Note. Excluded add-ons are integrated into the new renderLocs tool:

7. Collection of addons in the GUI Lua Universal Tools v5.0 beta2 (31.12.2018)
7.1. Number of addons = 36, including:

• addons from Lua Universal Tools v5.0 = 28
• addons from Celestia Origin v.7 = 8 (marked with red squares)

7.2. Comparison of the collection of addons in Celestia Origin v.7 and in Lua Universal Tools v4.0:



Note. Addons marked with #1 are different versions, addons #2, #3, #4 have differences in name.

7.3 List of new addons (see attachment):