Camera mod...Closer radar screen tweek

[Canonicus]

I've found the solution to getting a closer view of the radar screens...and it doesn't involve using a magnifying glass!
Here it is...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open the cameras_dat. using Mini Tweaker...scroll down and find the "RadioRoom_Radar" listing...

Find the "CameraParams AngularAngle" value and change it to "60" - (this changes the a-scope view)

Also, right below, there's the "RadioRoom_Radar_Ascope" listing...

Find the "CameraParams AngularAngle" value and change it to "50" - (this changes the PPI view)


IMPORTANT!....Remember to remove the COPY of cameras_dat. from the library file before viewing.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(NOTE): You will need to make a slight adjustment in the camera angle when you first go to the PPI screen. The good news is that once you get the camera positioned where you like it, it will stay put for the remainder of your SH4 session....unless you pan the camera.
UPDATE: If you want the camera to remain fixed on the radar screen, and not move, see post #14 for instructions

(NOTE: I'm not sure why the names of the listings are switched...dev's work in mysterious ways, you know.)
(NOTE: The above values were tested at a resolution of 1280X960 ....so they may need to be adjusted to get a good view....depending on the in-game screen resolution you're using.)


These changes not only get you much closer ,especially in the PPI radar view, but graphics are clearer and easier to read too. Also, if any modder wants to include this in thier work, thats fine.... all I ask is that you give me some credit.

Thanks! &Enjoy! :up:

[ReallyDedPoet]

Nice, saw that you were working on this in Mraahs' Radar thread:up:

RDP

[Bear]

Canonics, Did you make this into a quick mod or is this the same information that I already screwed up? If it works for you then it had to be something I did wrong. Like I said I am no good with numbers. :damn:

[Canonicus]

Yes...this is the same info found in Mraah's radar thread.....

I thought it would be good to let the info stand on its own.


As to why you are unable to make it work, I really don't have an answer.

[Bear]

My ex-wife could tell you why I couldn't get it to work (I'm an idiot), but then again that's one of the reasons she is an ex-wife.

I will go back to square one and follow your directions again. Like I say, it must have been something I did the first time. I will DL U-Bones file again also. Thank You.

[Redwine]

My ex-wife could tell you why I couldn't get it to work (I'm an idiot), but then again that's one of the reasons she is an ex-wife.

I will go back to square one and follow your directions again. Like I say, it must have been something I did the first time. I will DL U-Bones file again also. Thank You.

Hi Bear... go to the other topic and watch... i upload the screen shots to manually edit values without use MiniTweaker... very simple and easy.

May be you found this way more easy... :up:

[dean_acheson]

has anyone incorporated this into a mod yet?

[panthercules]

I switched my resolution up to 1280x960 to take advantage of LukeFF's great find on having the recognition manual open back up to the page you were viewing (see this thread: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?p=565405&posted=1#post565405 ), and then found that my view was too far away from the radar screen again - after some experimentation, I wound up using a value of 40 for these AngularAngle settings, and it worked great for me at 1280x960.

Still have a problem that I mentioned in some other camera or radar thread and never saw an answer - when I first go to the radar screen, the view is tilted up too high and I always have to click and move the view to tilt down to where I can see the scope and use the buttons - is there some parameter(s) that can be tweaked in cameras.dat or somewhere else that can make it so the radar station will open up at the correct angle (tilted down so scope and buttons are all accessible)? I've experimented some with a few things but I have no clue what I'm doing and have had no luck so far - anybody got any ideas or solution to this?

The screenshots below will show you what I'm talking about (these were taken before the PPI mod and AngularAngle changes, but you can still get the idea as far as the tilt thing goes):

Current opening view:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y96/Cladean/SH4RadarScopeRFB1.jpg


Desired opening view:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y96/Cladean/SH4RadarScopedesired.jpg

[Mraah]

Don't forget...

Anvart tweaked the Cameras.dat file and released his change on June 3rd. This dat file is what I'm using now since my earlier attempts at tweaking the camera were unsuccessful.

After I installed his Cameras tweak I had to turn my cpu totally off and back on again to make it work because it appeared the old camera data was still in memory. I know that sounds strange but it was the only way I found to get the camera to reset.

I'm using a 1920x1200 rez screen and his tweak works for me.

Anvarts cameras tweak ....
http://files.filefront.com/Sh4+Cameras+dat7z/;7682154;;/fileinfo.html

Mraah

[panthercules]

Don't forget...

Anvart tweaked the Cameras.dat file and released his change on June 3rd. This dat file is what I'm using now since my earlier attempts at tweaking the camera were unsuccessful.

After I installed his Cameras tweak I had to turn my cpu totally off and back on again to make it work because it appeared the old camera data was still in memory. I know that sounds strange but it was the only way I found to get the camera to reset.

I'm using a 1920x1200 rez screen and his tweak works for me.

Anvarts cameras tweak ....
http://files.filefront.com/Sh4+Cameras+dat7z/;7682154;;/fileinfo.html

Mraah

Great! thanks for pointing this out - I'd missed this one - didn't realize it also fixed the opening view tilt problem. Loaded it up and it looks great, as the shot below shows:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y96/Cladean/SH4-anvartsradarscreenanglefix.jpg

I haven't had a chance to inspect all the changes to see what it was about Anvart's tweaks that fixed this problem, but it works just fine at 1280x960 too - great job guys :up:

BTW - I used JSGME to install the cameras.dat file for my tests, and I haven't seen a problem with having to restart my computer or having the game not recognize the changes (unless I've forgotten to get rid of the "copy of" file).

[edit] PS - I noticed that screenshot still had you pretty far away from the screen, so I later changed the AngularAngle setting for the radar room in Anvart's file from 75 to 65, and it works great - get's you really up close and personal with the scope screen yet still leaves all the buttons/knobs usable (at least at 1280x960 anyway).

[Mraah]

BTW - I used JSGME to install the cameras.dat file for my tests, and I haven't seen a problem with having to restart my computer or having the game not recognize the changes (unless I've forgotten to get rid of the "copy of" file).


Ahhh, the "copy of" problem. That would explain why I didn't see any change when I tweaked it via Canonicus' instructions. I learn something new every day in this forum!

mraah

[Canonicus]

I like the fact that Anvart found a way to get the camera to be in the proper postion when you first go to the screen...... That's a minor adjustment though and you would have to make changes anyway if you panned the camera. Takes all of a few seconds.
(Note: There is a way to make the camera fix on the screen and not move...if anyone is interested.)

I think the angle to the PPI screen is a little too shallow for my tastes and Anvart's stock mod doesn't get you close enough...I prefer a more heads down angle, (like the stock view), and to be a bit closer.

Please don't take my observations as a cut on Anvart's efforts..he's done some nice mods...I use a few myself. :yep:

[Mraah]

I like the fact that Anvart found a way to get the camera to be in the proper postion when you first go to the screen...... That's a minor adjustment though and you would have to make changes anyway if you panned the camera. Takes all of a few seconds.
(Note: There is a way to make the camera fix on the screen and not move...if anyone is interested.)

Yes Please!!!:up:
Your ideas are great! I'm glad someone is taking it a step further.
When are you going to release a mod? :stare:


I think the angle to the PPI screen is a little too shallow for my tastes and Anvart's stock mod doesn't get you close enough...I prefer a more heads down angle, (like the stock view), and to be a bit closer.
Please don't take my observations as a cut on Anvart's efforts..he's done some nice mods...I use a few myself. :yep:

No cut taken.:) . His mod gets the ball rolling for more great tweaks!

You know, I have a few ideas ....

1. An A-Scope view that sits between the two scopes?

So we won't have to pan when zoomed in fully ... maybe ;

2. Radar Sweep ON/OFF menu button
3. Range Selector menu button

I'm not a button tweaker, so I have no clue.

Mraah

EDIT : Better yet ... a pullout menu with above buttons?

[Canonicus]

Thanks for the nice words, Mraah..... I try to help, if I can. :yep:

As far as making the camera fixed on the radar screen and not move....
Here's the particulars for that mod....
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Open Camera_dat via MiniTweeker and go to RadioRoom_Radar_Ascope

Look for AxisRotation Angles Min / Max

You'll see TWO sets... The upper set are the values controlling range, in degrees, for vertical motion.
The lower set are the values controlling range, in degrees, for horizontal motion.

We're going to adjust those values.

Change the upper set to read ..... Min (-15) .... Max (-14.999)

Now....change the lower set to read ..... Min (-0.001) ... Max (0.001)

NOTE: Stock values are -35/20 for the upper set and -90/90 for the lower set, just in case you wish to change back.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Using these modified values, (which were used to tweek Anvart's Camera mod ) the camera will open on the PPI radar screen in a fixed position and will not move.

You can , of course make adjustments to those values if needed, depending on the screen resolution used, ( this was sucessfully tested at 1280X960)

NOTE: Dont forget to remove the COPY of the Camera_dat from the library file before viewing.

[LukeFF]

Using these modified values, (which were used to tweek Anvart's Camera mod ) the camera will open on the PPI radar screen in a fixed position and will not move.

You can , of course make adjustments to those values if needed, depending on the screen resolution used, ( this was sucessfully tested at 1280X960)

Could you please post a screenshot of Anvart's RadioRoom_Radar_AScope settings as seen in SH3 Tweaker? I loaded up his camera file and, compared to mine, didn't see anything different in my settings as compared to his. Duuno, might be I just missed a settting in that section. :doh:

[Canonicus]

LukeFF...not quite sure what posting a screenshot would accomplish considering its the same file that you have.

And your right....when I compared the two files I could find nothing different accept what I already changed to the AngularAngle to get the closer view. (Anvart doesn't touch that value )

I suspect that Anvart is making use of some other program (Hex Editor?),to accomplish the changes in his mod.

[LukeFF]

I suspect that Anvart is making use of some other program (Hex Editor?),to accomplish the changes in his mod.

That's what I figured. Hopefully Anvart will step in here and help clear up the confusion. :ping:

[panthercules]

I like the fact that Anvart found a way to get the camera to be in the proper postion when you first go to the screen...... That's a minor adjustment though and you would have to make changes anyway if you panned the camera. Takes all of a few seconds.
(Note: There is a way to make the camera fix on the screen and not move...if anyone is interested.)

I think the angle to the PPI screen is a little too shallow for my tastes and Anvart's stock mod doesn't get you close enough...I prefer a more heads down angle, (like the stock view), and to be a bit closer.

Please don't take my observations as a cut on Anvart's efforts..he's done some nice mods...I use a few myself. :yep:

Check my post above - I thought the view with Anvart's file was a little too far out as well, so I changed the AngularAngle from his (stock) 75 to 65, and it did the trick for me - see screenshot below at 65 and compare to the one in the post above that was at 75:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y96/Cladean/SH4-Anvartsradarviewatangularangle6.jpg

That was at 1280x960 resolution. I could probably have gone a bit closer, but I wanted to make sure I could still use the knobs at the bottom - 50 was way too close for me, but maybe 60 or so might work.

[panthercules]

Setting AngularAngle to 60 with Anvart's tweaked file worked well too - see below:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y96/Cladean/SH4-Anvartsradarviewatangularang-1.jpg

Also, below are screenshots of the radar settings for the stock 1.4 file and Anvart's tweaked file, so you can compare the differences:

Stock 1.4 cameras.dat:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y96/Cladean/SH4-stockcameras.jpg

Anvart's tweaked cameras.dat (after I changed AngularAngle to 60):

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y96/Cladean/SH4-Anvartstweakedcameras.jpg

Hmmm - interesting - I don't see any differences here - must be somewhere else. Will keep looking. [edit - the Ascope screens were the same too - haven't found where these changes were made :hmm: ]

[Canonicus]

I'm a little perplexed myself....looks like Anvart hasn't made any changes to the Camera file, yet his mod does what it does, regardless.

How can there be visible changes and those changes not be reflected in the values found in the only dat file that effects the view of the Radar screen? :hmm:

The changes he's made come from some other program....or there's another file his mod is using.

Would be interesting to know what that might be. Perhaps Anvart will share his secret?.....

Or... like the question... "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? "......the world, ( or the SH4 modding community, in this case), may never know.:cry:

[TaggedYa]

While updating the cameras.dat tweak file to work with 1.4 I found a bug in the cameras.dat file. The section that is labeled Radioroom Radar doesn't effect the PPI, it effects the A scope. The section labled Radioroom Radar_AScope effects the PPI. The 1.2 tweak file just used the labels from withing the file and thus perpetuated the bug.

The reason you all couldn't see the changes that were made was they were mislabeled. You weren't actually looking at the changed areas.