Using Geoscape3d

There are two distinct areas in Geoscape3d:

• The Terrain Editor

This is the area where the user can alter the heightmap and therefore build and remove terrain.

• The Texture Settings

This is the where the user may alter the settings that affect the overall texture that sits on the terrian.

 

Basics

Geoscape3d allows you to use either grid units or "real" units to enter values for the tools.  You will see widgets on the toolbar that look like this: 

The "g" stands for grid units. These are the heightmap working units, so 1 grid unit = 1 pixel.

The "h" stands for height units.  These are the height working uints.

The "m" stands for "metres", although Geoscape3d allows you to enter scales for how wide, or high, 1 pixel is, so essentially it is more of a "real world" unit that the user can specify.  This could be useful if you want to model in your own units. Please see the settings dialog for more information on setting the real world scales..

 

Standard Data Entry

Geoscape3d uses a standard data entry component. 

 

  

 

There are several ways to set the data value:

 

• Type the value directly into the box
• Use the up / down arrows to increment / decrement the current value by a fixed amount
• Click on the little blue value bar directly underneath the edit box and buttons.  This bar shows the percentage of the current value against the full range of values that can be entered into the component.
• Use the end down arrow to show an interactive slider control that allows the user to specify a percentage of the full range of the component

 

The component may have a maximum and minimum range that stops you entering a value that is larger / smaller than allowable.  In this case, the value will change back to the last known good value after a short period. 

 

The component may also have a convenience range, which sets a range smaller than the allowable range.  This is so that the sliders do not offer a large range to the user, but instead move between a generally used and narrower set of values.  If a value is typed in above / below that of the convenience range, the sliders will adapt to the new value range and show the current position within that range.