*********************************
FS2000/2 TREES OBJECT LIBRARY
Release 3 - Updated Version
---------------------------------
by
Gerrish Gray
September 2002
*********************************
This is my complete FS2000 Trees Library, updated and re-issued as a single
package. It contains two main parts in four zip files:-
* THE LIBRARY (SCENERY.ZIP, FS2000.ZIP and FS2002.ZIP) - This part is
needed by users of any scenery that states that it needs "Gerrish's
Trees Library".
* THE SCENERY DEVELOPERS' KIT (SDK.ZIP) - An updated SDK for scenery
designers with the required documentation and improved API macros.
The update is fully compatible with FS2000, CFS2 and FS2002. All existing
sceneries that use the Trees Library are supported, and the revised SDK enables
the creation of new sceneries for FS2002 that should have better frame rates than
those created with the earlier FS2000 SDK. It replaces ALL previous archives for
both the Library and the SDK.
NOTE: Please don't get this confused with my series of Autogen tree replacements
designed to improve the default trees in the FS2002 landscape, available in the
separate downloads GTL_AGEN.ZIP, MSTREES.ZIP, and MSTREES2.ZIP.
INSTALLING (OR RE-INSTALLING) THE LIBRARY
=========================================
1. TURN OUT THE OLD!
----------------
If you have previously installed any copies of the library, please delete
them all.
Look for, and remove, scenery BGL's called trees_0.bgl and/or trees_02.bgl
from ANY ..\scenery folder. It is safe and correct to delete these without
making any backup - the new trees_0.bgl file will replace them and work
correctly with all sceneries. Duplicate copies in local folders for
individual sceneries are NOT required and should not be present.
Then look for texture files called tree_*.bmp and conifer_*.bmp in all
..\texture folders. If, and only if, the names are in the following list of
65 textures, delete them, but be careful NOT to delete any textures with
similar names, but not actually in this list :-
- conifer_broad.bmp conifer_broad_hw.bmp
- conifer_canopy.bmp conifer_canopy_hw.bmp
- conifer_column.bmp conifer_column_hw.bmp
- conifer_conic.bmp conifer_conic_hw.bmp
- conifer_irreg.bmp conifer_irreg_hw.bmp
- conifer_oval.bmp conifer_oval_hw.bmp
- conifer_round.bmp conifer_round_hw.bmp
- conifer_vase.bmp conifer_vase_hw.bmp
- conifer_weep.bmp conifer_weep_hw.bmp
- tree_broad.bmp tree_broad_fa.bmp tree_broad_hw.bmp
tree_broad_sp.bmp tree_broad_wi.bmp
- tree_canopy.bmp tree_canopy_fa.bmp tree_canopy_hw.bmp
tree_canopy_sp.bmp tree_canopy_wi.bmp
- tree_column.bmp tree_column_fa.bmp tree_column_hw.bmp
tree_column_sp.bmp tree_column_wi.bmp
- tree_conic.bmp tree_conic_fa.bmp tree_conic_hw.bmp
tree_conic_sp.bmp tree_conic_wi.bmp
- tree_irreg.bmp tree_irreg_fa.bmp tree_irreg_hw.bmp
tree_irreg_sp.bmp tree_irreg_wi.bmp
- tree_oval.bmp tree_oval_fa.bmp tree_oval_hw.bmp
tree_oval_sp.bmp tree_oval_wi.bmp
- tree_palmate.bmp tree_pinnate.bmp
- tree_round.bmp tree_round_fa.bmp tree_round_hw.bmp
tree_round_sp.bmp tree_round_wi.bmp
- tree_vase.bmp tree_vase_fa.bmp tree_vase_hw.bmp
tree_vase_sp.bmp tree_vase_wi.bmp
- tree_weep.bmp tree_weep_fa.bmp tree_weep_hw.bmp
tree_weep_sp.bmp tree_weep_wi.bmp
Note that it is best to delete all duplicate copies that third-party scenery
authors have incorrectly asked you to install in 'local' ..\texture folders
for two reasons
(a) They waste memory when FS is running and cause slower frame rates - FS
does not recognise them as being the same texture as the copy in the
main ..\texture folder, and will therefore load the various 'local'
copies into memory as you move from one scenery area to another,
wasting time and memory. (This is true of all shared 'stock' textures
- it is always best to have just one shared copy in the main ..\texture
folder).
(b) Having unnecessary duplicate copies in 'local' ..\texture folders also
makes it difficult when updates are required.
2. BRING IN THE NEW!
----------------
Unzip the contents of the file SCENERY.ZIP into your main \scenery
folder. This installs a single file called trees_0.bgl that contains all
the tree objects. The same file works correctly with either FS2000 or
FS2002.
Now, if you are using FS2000, unzip the contents of FS2000.ZIP into your
main \texture folder, or if you are using FS2002 unzip FS2002.ZIP
instead and put its contents in the main \texture folder. Either
will install the 65 tree_*.bmp and conifer_*.bmp files. The FS2000 versions
can actually be used with either Flight Simulator version, whereas the
improved FS2002 versions use the DirectX compressed DXT1 format and are not
compatible with the older FS2000. Incidentally, the newer textures not
only look better, they should also give a small improvement in frame rates.
Note that no entry is required in the Scenery Library database
(scenery.cfg).
Because the library uses 'section 10' objects, the trees will automatically
be found by any scenery that uses them. If you are using FS2000 and
previously installed an older version of the library, you may have put it
in a special folder within the \scenedb structure, with its own
entry in scenery.cfg. This is fine for FS2000, and you could put the
replacements there too if you wish, but this method of installation does
NOT work satisfactorily with FS2002, which seems to have a different method
for finding textures associated with library files, and may display the
trees as untextured white "boards" if the texture bitmaps are not found the
main fs2002\texture folder.
THE SDK (SCENERY DEVELOPERS KIT)
================================
You only need this part if you are a scenery developer and want to design your
own sceneries using the Trees Library. You don't need it if all you plan to do
is fly in sceneries made by others, and enjoy the glories of these good-looking
trees which they have included for your enjoyment.
If you are a scenery designer, unzip the contents of SDK.ZIP. Put the document
files and the JPEG anywhere convenient, and do a further unzip operation on the
included file API.ZIP to put the API macros into your usual API folder
(overwriting any previous copies you may have). Please note that I no longer
supply macros in the .SCM format for ASD, as that product is now obsolescent and
gives rise to too many problems when using modern macros (although you are
welcome to convert the .API macros to .SCM format for yourself if you wish).
COPYRIGHT
=========
The Trees Library and its SDK and are both released as FREEWARE.
Copyright (C) 2000-2002 G Gray. All Rights Reserved
You are permitted to use the library and textures with any scenery that requires
them.
You may also redistribute the package free of any charge or gain as a single
unaltered archive accompanied by an acknowledgement of the author's copyright
(a copy of this file will suffice), for use with Freeware or Public Domain
scenery or for the creation thereof.
You may NOT use, distribute, or otherwise reproduce this package, or any part
thereof for commercial gain or profit unless expressly licensed by the author to
do so.
Commercial or shareware scenery authors are hereby EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN from
using or distributing this library or any part thereof without first obtaining a
LICENCE for such use or distribution from the author. Any enquiries should be
sent by e-mail in the first instance to the author as below. A reasonable offer
of payment, proportional to the financial gain to be made from such use or
distribution, will normally be expected.
REGISTRATION
============
Although not compulsory, I am always appreciative of all users who register with
me by sending me a simple e-mail, whether they have any particular queries or
not. I maintain a mailing list of all interested parties and try to keep
everyone up-to-date on the latest developments. From time to time, I release
intermediate updates or beta copies for testing to the people on this list, but
don't upload them as downloads from the internet - so if you want to
participate, make sure that you register!
I also appreciate all feedback and suggestions, and am happy to answer your
queries on problems or questions arising from the use of my packages or
associated scenery design topics.
My e-mail address for Flightsim-related topics is
gerrish@flightsims.co.uk
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
================
I won't laboriously list all those wonderful companies and individuals who
provide us with our Flight-Simming hobby and the tools to enjoy it, but you all
know who you are - thanks guys!
I do however want to say a special thankyou to those operators of internet
library sites who provide the facilites for us to share our work with fellow
hobbyists free of charge. The libraries I regularly use, and upload my own stuff
to, are
www.SurClaro.com
www.SurClaro
www.flightsims.co.uk
www.fsfreeware.com
www.
www.simnation.net (a new site at the time of writing - just getting going)
www.simviation.com
www..com
www.totheroof.com
One or two of these sites offer an improved service if you pay them a small
annual charge, but these payments are entirely voluntary and their services are
otherwise just as free as everyone else's.
I also sometimes allow my stuff to be used on magazine cover CD's, or other low-
cost CD's that seek to distribute freeware to members of the public unable to
download it from the internet - although I would appreciate a request first,
please, if you want to do this sort of thing.
- 0 - 0 - 0 -
So, happy Flight-Simming everyone, and I'll be looking forward to hearing from
you whether you like my trees or not!
