Making installing add-ons easier?

[Redfish]

Hello,

i've been spending a lot of time downloading from the motherload but it's taking a whole lot of work to get everything in the right directory. So now my question is, could the ones who make add-ons just include the directories as they would be needed to install in the celestia dir in the zip archive?

This way you'd only have to put in <yourcelestiafolder> when extracting. Instead of going to the directories the creators made in the archive and happen to extract always. And putting a text file in it with this goes here and this goes there.

So ideally(some ppl already do this) you'd get a zip archive with some dirs(models,textures,extras) etc.

BTW how do I install normal maps?

[Bob Hegwood]

Redfish,

What zip-extraction tool are you using? Most of the add-ons I've
gotten from the MotherLode already contain the appropriate paths
in the zip file. A good zip/un-zip program will simply allow you to
un-zip all files to the included directories.

The reame.txt files are usually placed within the zip files only for
clarification. Sorry, at least that has been my experience with the
add-ons that I've downloaded.

Take care, Bob

[Redfish]

Hi Bob,

I don't know how many add-ons you installed. But on the majority of the textures i'm adding at the moment to my celestia i get exotic directories. Especially the nebulae. I believe i haven't had any zip file that had a division in directories.

Usually the virtual texture add-ons have levelX dirs in the zip files, which is fine, that way I can place the files correctly instantly.

I'm using winrar btw.

[Bob Hegwood]

i get exotic directories. Especially the nebulae.
I'm using winrar btw.

Exotic directories? Maybe I should download a few more deep-space objects?

At any rate, I understand what you're trying to say, and you make a good point.
Add-on creators really should try to make the installation as easy as possible,
so I agree with you. I try to do this when I can, but sometimes, the way
my directories are set up may not conform to someone else's idea of what
the perfect setup should be. Some people like to place *all* textures/models
in a separate extras directory, and I've found that THAT seems to work nicely.


In other cases, the an extras directory setup simply doesn't work for me.
Just depends on the add-on. At any rate, you make a good point.

Thanks very much, Bob

[selden]

Redfish,

A NormalMap is an alternative to a BumpMap.

If you're using an AltSurface to define your surface texture options, it could look something like this:

Code: Select all

AltSurface "BlueMarble" "Sol/Earth" {
   Texture "BlueMarble.*"
    NormalMap "EarthNormal.*"
    SpecularTexture "EarthSpec.*"
}


Does this help?

[alphap1us]

Also we at the motherlode are trying to develop a complete set of instructions about how to package add-ons for easy installation. Keep watching the forum for more info about this.

Cheers,
Joe

[Redfish]

Selden,

thank you for your help. I had a feeling it worked like that but I couldn't find any example in the ssc file so wasn't sure.

alphap1us,

i'll keep following the progress on the motherlode. Would love to see an easy way of installing all the beautiful updates celestia can offer.

Cheers,

Redfish