Here is the latest beta for ARive: 3.2

Features:

• Final GUI-design

• Better use of conventions in interaction

Bug-Fixes:

• Scaling now works properly
• Models scale from Z: 0 units and upwards from marker plane.
• Transform-bounding is disabled
• Lights and maps are no longer messed up by rescaling
• Clipping planes are disabled, to enable large models as shown in Field-Day posts.

Download ARive Beta 3.2 here!

SCALE

My little test-group have been experienceing a lot of scaling problems when exporting from 3Dmax;
My GUI made it possible to rescale models quite easily before launch, but this was too hasselsome.
One of the main features I’ve gotten requests for is a verifiable 1:1 scaling.
-This by both architects and industrial design students.

After searching a bit on the osgART forum, I found out that the problem was this line:

modelScale.makeScale(sizeModel/bound.radius(),sizeModel/bound.radius(),sizeModel/bound.radius());

Apparently it makes the scale relative to a bounding-sphere, that has a variable size depending on the extents of the modelspace before export.

By reducing the sizeModel/bound.radius to sizeModel/100, i now have perfect scaleing in percentage, as long as the model is exported in units. Preferably set to mm.

TRANSLATION

In the same post on the osgART forum’ a user was also having another problem I’ve been experienceing.

When I export models in 1:1, no matter where in the grid they are placed, they do not always stay in their exported positions on the z-plane.

Turns out, once again this was due to the bounding-box;

modelTranslate.makeTranslate(-bound.center());

This automatically centered the model on the unitTransform in ARive. Since the center of a model is not at the level of the plane, the entire model is translated down -making rescaling difficult, since for every step in %-scaling, one had to move the model (seemingly on hunch) up or down the Z-axis.
The solution was to do the translation as follows:

modelTranslate.makeTranslate(-bound.center.x(), -bound.center.y(), 0);

Now everything should work out fine, and all objects should scale “upwards” from their base on the marker, making it easy to i.e. scale a building whithout seeing it move downward through the groundplane.

GUI

More bugs have been fixed, and the whole thing should run a bit smoother.

Also a lot of input I’ve got from VisKom has been implemented better (OK/CANCEL-button conventions et.c.)

NOTE: THIS ONLY APPLIES TO BETA_3, IF YOU ARE USING RC_1, THIS IS NO LONGER NECESSARY!

Version: ARive beta 3
Problem: Application crashes when I click “Run”.

Reason: The installer does not set up the desktop and start-menu shortcuts properly.

In depth: Drivers and other dependancies are not found, because ARive looks for them in the wrong folder.

Status: Quick-fix, will be resolved in next release.

Fix:

Do this for both shortcuts; both on your desktop and start menu.

1. Right click on your shortcut, and chose “Properties”.

2. As shown in the image below, fill in the field called “Start in:” with the path to where ARive is installed.

3. Click OK, and enjoy!

Fill in the path to where you installed ARive as shown in the example to the left.