Cache File-based Particles Emitter (Legacy)

This topic relates to Points Cache Emitter (Legacy).

Cache Particles Emitter

The file-based Cache Particles Emitter is an emitter based on data from a static (cache) file. The cache file supported by this emitter is referred to as Type A.

• You can use code to specify the height beyond which certain particles do not render.

• You can use code to skip N particles during rendering, so that they render less.

• This particles emitter is represented in 3DSMax by a dummy object whose user buffer presents a $ParticlesEmitter structure.

• When exported, the particles emitter is no longer a dummy. It becomes a node so that it inherits the transformations, animations, and links that the dummy had.

• The particles emitter dummy is treated like a normal dummy. It can be linked to other nodes and also animated.

• The particles emitter name is the same as the dummy.

Code example

This is an example of the particles emitter.

$ParticlesEmitter

{

szType = CacheFileA

szParticlesCacheFilePath = ./gamedata/particles_vapore.tmp

szTexture = vapor_01.png

fEmissiveMul = 1.0

szShaderType = AlphaBlend

fSize = 0.19

fFPS = 15

bStart = true

}

Cache format example: Type A

This is an example of the particles emitter based on data from a static file.

frame(u) ID(u) posX(f) posY(f) posZ(f) deltaScaleX(f) deltaScaleY(f) twist(f) r(u) g(u) b(u) opacity(f) spriteNum(u)

2 0 -12.67646122 3.90410161 -14.6661644 0 0 0 223 234 250 0.1360709667 0

2 1 -12.44581795 3.887379885 -15.74604893 0 0 0 224 235 252 0.1274991035 0

2 2 -12.43440342 3.8419981 -14.90223122 0 0 0 223 234 251 0.09352967888 0

2 3 -12.86241055 3.826370478 -13.25389099 0 0 0 225 236 252 0.05631077662 0

3 0 -12.67844391 3.924879074 -14.6483717 0.01 0.01 0 217 228 245 0.2749598324 0

3 1 -12.44779778 3.911845922 -15.74622059 0.01 0.01 0 220 231 248 0.2663879991 0

3 2 -12.43646908 3.861691952 -14.88315678 0.01 0.01 0 215 226 243 0.2324185669 0

3 3 -12.86490822 3.84436059 -13.23953438 0.01 0.01 0 216 228 245 0.1951996535 0

3 4 -13.78118134 3.792950153 -14.93882084 0 0 0 223 234 250 0.085318923 0

3 5 -13.26960754 3.912521362 -15.20303154 0 0 0 228 239 255 0.006743132137 0

Notes: u=unsigned integer, f=float

Parameters

szType

• CacheFileA

szParticlesCacheFilePath

• Path to the cache file containing the particles.

szTexture

• Filename of the texture used to draw the particles.

fEmissiveMul

• Value used for the HDR

• Default: 1

szShaderType

• Shader type applied to the particles:

  • AlphaBlend

  • AlphaAdd

fSize

• Size of each particle.

fSize

• FPS of cache playback.

bStart

• Automatically starts the particles.