Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: The Fugitive on July 27, 2025, 12:50:16 PM

Title: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: The Fugitive on July 27, 2025, 12:50:16 PM
Film viewer issue, the picture below is what I get often. hash marks in the terrain (circle) water tile showing under a raised town tile. Fields do the same thing as well as the new bridges. I have one film I was viewing where there were trees in the air and the mountain/cliff range they were suppose to be on was missing.

(https://i.postimg.cc/tgC32XJy/film-issues.jpg)

Now sometimes I can restart the film viewer and it clears for a film or two. Other times it takes a reboot to clear it, and that only lasts for a bit.

The thing thats works the best though is to upload the film to a file hosting site like "filemail.com" and save the file as a link. Open a new browser window and download the film using the link. Playing that film is perfect from that download AND the original. No artifacts, no tiles out of place nothing.

My question is Why?
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: Animl-AW on July 27, 2025, 01:09:50 PM
I've seen the same thing or similar. For some reason the tile isn't loading in a specific area. Run the film a different time and it's ok, run it again it's missing. Intermittent on my end. Not sure uploading and down loading would change that.

Talking blind, it seems various changes have effected the FV, many things happen now that didn't 1-2 yrs ago....for me.

While I don't have any answers, that's a very interesting observation, if in fact your method changes something.  On my end it only happens in certain areas of the terrain. If something new was edited in it may be causing issues. it COULD be every clone field/base could have the same issue.

Me thinks this is an HT question, in the coding, but FV doesn't seem to be a priority.

Feels like the request for that file may not be loading to memory all the time, or something similar, like in an old setting/script, is canceling it out.
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: JimmyD3 on July 27, 2025, 01:42:10 PM
Fugitive, does seem to happen to specific maps?
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: The Fugitive on July 27, 2025, 01:47:11 PM
It seems to me that its a "z" position problem. Why that would change/ be corrected by uploading/downloading the film, I dont know. I certainly havent any idea on how the the game is coaded, but that is what it seem to be to me. The other thing, is I run both the DX9 version and the film viewer in XP 3 compatibility mode. It seems to help, but it might be my imagination.

Fugitive, does seem to happen to specific maps?

Not that I notice. I did think to start keeping track just in case. We'll see.
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: Animl-AW on July 27, 2025, 02:08:33 PM
It only happens in FV.
Its possible fv isn’t reading data the exact same as in game. I only suspect it happens when something changes, but not transferred to the viewer.

Just guessing, but an example of clearing a function/container in mem

The script calls to load:
fThisTile = “water1”
Clearing from mem
fThisTile =“”

OR fThisTile is loaded with fThisTile = “wrongfile”

This could happen in a table where function fThisTile could be loaded more than once.
I’m just making up names. Totally just guessing. I have no clue if I’m close.

Many ways this can happen, why I’d refer to HT.

Edit: I consider the FV as a important as the game, as this is how we promote it.
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: The Fugitive on July 27, 2025, 02:55:56 PM
I think "water" is under everything. When you make a new map it is all water. Then you add the land over it then adjust elevation after that. In the picture that shows the water under the tile, I think, is ok, other than the water tile is missing some layers (no 3D). Now is the terrain at the wrong height (Z) and the town tile IS at the right height, or the other way around? And why is it only messed up in the film viewer?

I agree that the film viewer is kinda important. I spend a lot of time going through films. I film everything. I also welcome, and have received films from others. Im always looking for something I can build a video around. I hope its something that can be fixed. <crosses fingers>
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: eddiek on July 27, 2025, 03:25:39 PM

After reading this, I have a question about the terrains IN GAME.
I've noticed on some maps the terrain flickers and seems semi-transparent.  Mainly the shore batteries and the hill they are situated upon.
Some terrains, I can zero in on the SB and hit it with just a few minor adjustments, on others, like the ETO map that was up yesterday, I can score hit after hit on what appears on my end to be the actual emplacement itself, with no effect, I shift fire up or down even a few yards and my rounds will land short, or seem to go over the SB and impact on the slope on the other side.........but the hit flash effects are the same.
This was from the 8' guns on the cruiser.  I can usually take down a SB in just a few salvos, but yesterday was more noticeable than ever.  I use the "A,W,S,D" keys for fine tuning my range, and there was no finding the correct range.
Not trying to hijack a thread, but I saw one of our map makers was involved and decided to ask here.
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: RichardDarkwood on July 27, 2025, 05:12:46 PM
This happens in DCS when you're loading into a mission. You will be sitting surrounded by water until the terrain loads in.
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: Animl-AW on July 27, 2025, 05:47:49 PM
I have misread this. I ASSUME, the water is the first layer, everything else covers the water?

In FV many planes on take-off and gvs tend to levitate a few to several ft off the terrain depending on terrain alt. A GV will touch ground as elevation changes, sometime go underground in a hill.

What places it in proper alt may be misfiring.

Sorry to mislead.

Glad it only happens in fv.

Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: JimmyD3 on July 27, 2025, 05:52:54 PM
After reading this, I have a question about the terrains IN GAME.
I've noticed on some maps the terrain flickers and seems semi-transparent.  Mainly the shore batteries and the hill they are situated upon.
Some terrains, I can zero in on the SB and hit it with just a few minor adjustments, on others, like the ETO map that was up yesterday, I can score hit after hit on what appears on my end to be the actual emplacement itself, with no effect, I shift fire up or down even a few yards and my rounds will land short, or seem to go over the SB and impact on the slope on the other side.........but the hit flash effects are the same.
This was from the 8' guns on the cruiser.  I can usually take down a SB in just a few salvos, but yesterday was more noticeable than ever.  I use the "A,W,S,D" keys for fine tuning my range, and there was no finding the correct range.
Not trying to hijack a thread, but I saw one of our map makers was involved and decided to ask here.

 eddiek ETOMA is one of my first maps. Seems I remember a another player mentioning that, I will investigate and see if I can figure it out and fix it. It may have something to so with the slope of the hill/mountain/terrain it is on. Thanks for the heads up.  :salute
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: eddiek on July 28, 2025, 12:37:59 PM
eddiek ETOMA is one of my first maps. Seems I remember a another player mentioning that, I will investigate and see if I can figure it out and fix it. It may have something to so with the slope of the hill/mountain/terrain it is on. Thanks for the heads up.  :salute
I found a thread in the Bugs forum, seems similar in nature.
I can check out the issue and see if I can replicate it offline and film things if that helps.
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: JimmyD3 on July 28, 2025, 08:49:59 PM
That would be a big help. I have started taking a BB around the map, testing each shore Battery to make sure I can kill it. So far all have passed. Takes a while so it maybe a week or so before I get them all tested.  :aok
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: eddiek on July 28, 2025, 09:35:54 PM

Will do, sir.
Since the issue I noticed happened with the 8” cruiser guns, I will work on that aspect.
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: JimmyD3 on July 29, 2025, 06:57:02 AM
I am sure  you know this eddiek, but if you go to Arena Setup and select Environment, it will allow you to Jump the Task group to the first way point. Just keep creating creating new way points to walk it to where you want to be. :rock
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: The Fugitive on July 29, 2025, 07:29:58 AM
OK, back to the film viewer issue        :neener:

Has anyone else come across a film with the issues in the picture and tried my fix of uploading/downloading it to see if it fixed it? Curious to know if its a fix, or just how my computer is doing it.
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: Animl-AW on July 29, 2025, 09:16:06 AM
OK, back to the film viewer issue        :neener:

Has anyone else come across a film with the issues in the picture and tried my fix of uploading/downloading it to see if it fixed it? Curious to know if its a fix, or just how my computer is doing it.

I could be wrong, according to some I always am, but,…

I’m failing to understand how upload and DL could have that effect, IF it is. Basically, its the same as copying a file and pasting it to another folder. If you do that with a pic, it doesn’t come back with dots on it. So quite baffled.

I have seen, in FV, both levitating, underground objects and tiles, and very specific tiles missing.

In my BoB video I could not use any scene that showed terrain over a specific port because that land tile was missing. That did not come and go. Same thing with GVs buried in a hill. This is FV only.

That said, I have copied and pasted a file to another folder and the copy gets corrupt, OR didn’t like running from that folder. Never took time to figure it out.

I do remember an issue that required opening the file from within FV instead of dbl clicking it (file association).

I also know that some things not right if fast forwarding to another time in the file, some things like FX don’t fire, voice backs up and it plays everything you past up in FF.

A file with any ship or base gun will crash.

I SUSPECT certain changes in game do not transfer to FV. Could be the order scripts run, may be difference in scripts if dbl clicked or open from within. If the is a button script it MAY be bypassed if dbl clicked. We’re guessing.

We no longer get cockpits of other planes.

I again suspect correct elevation data is missing or wrong for that tile placement. Opening another time or way a script table gets corrected. Why I say which script runs last >?<

Again, baffled how copying/upload a file changes it. Does it matter which OS is running? Shouldn’t

Something tells me the FV hasn’t seen work since it was made. Guessing.

HT has a pattern of making rounds on Weds, hopefully he chimes in. Something tells me it may require a phone call. I’m not so sure he wants to touch FV, it may open a can of worms. It would be helpful for promotions tho.
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: Devil 505 on July 29, 2025, 10:00:13 AM
We no longer get cockpits of other planes.

Do my mean the interior textures like the player's plane? You need to be in the player's plane cockpit view and then you can jump to another player's plane and see the proper interior. if you jump to another player in external view and then switch to internal, you'll get a smudgy mess.

We have never had the ability to see another player's gauge readings or their gunsight. Nor have we ever had their head movements.
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: Animl-AW on July 29, 2025, 10:56:55 AM
Do my mean the interior textures like the player's plane? You need to be in the player's plane cockpit view and then you can jump to another player's plane and see the proper interior. if you jump to another player in external view and then switch to internal, you'll get a smudgy mess.

We have never had the ability to see another player's gauge readings or their gunsight. Nor have we ever had their head movements.

I’ll have to experiment with what you said. I could have sworn in earlier days, the beginning, we could see gauges working in other planes. The failure may be my memory. I did take 12-14 yr break so ya, memory could be corrected.

Making Bob i did notice something similar to what you stated in 111s clear, not clear, depending how you get there.

I just think this issue requires HT.

Different approaches could reorganize which script runs last and how the data populates a table, if used.

Center point seems to be elevations, and how its acquired. Still, totally guessing. But my past programming tends to make that my first target to confirm. Process of elimination.
Title: Re: QUESTION for Hitech, or any one else
Post by: Animl-AW on July 29, 2025, 11:07:03 AM
Now I’m wondering, in thus case, if its using the elevation of last prior placed base tile.
Mi should shut it, because I’m flying blind.