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No entities in win32 MPV

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2016-04-22
2016-05-04
  • george graham

    george graham - 2016-04-22

    Hi, I'm new to CIGI image generation and am trying to learn using Hemu3 and MPV-2.2.0-win32 on a Windows XP desktop. I've installed everything including the St Louis dataset and everything works fine except I don't see any entities ( or big red triangles). The mpv command window shows 'adding a new entity imp' text for my entities and they appear in the list when I press 'e'. The entities seem to be in mpv because I can attach views to them and move them around the scene. I've made sure that they are in the field of view for own ship, but they are just not displayed.

    Does anybody have any suggestions please.

     
    • Bill

      Bill - 2016-04-25

      George,

       Are you perhaps only using Entity Type zero (0)? Entity type zero is a special entity reserved for the Ownship and it has no geometry.
      

      -Bill-

      From: george graham [mailto:georgegraham53@users.sf.net]
      Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 5:09 PM
      To: [cigi:discussion]
      Subject: [cigi:discussion] No entities in win32 MPV

      Hi, I'm new to CIGI image generation and am trying to learn using Hemu3 and MPV-2.2.0-win32 on a Windows XP desktop. I've installed everything including the St Louis dataset and everything works fine except I don't see any entities ( or big red triangles). The mpv command window shows 'adding a new entity imp' text for my entities and they appear in the list when I press 'e'. The entities seem to be in mpv because I can attach views to them and move them around the scene. I've made sure that they are in the field of view for own ship, but they are just not displayed.

      Does anybody have any suggestions please.


      No entities in win32 MPVhttps://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/thread/1538159a/?limit=25#bd99


      Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/

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      • george graham

        george graham - 2016-04-26

        Bill,
        Thanks for the reply. I am using entity 0 and entity 1 with the same result. It seems odd to me that even if I rename the Models directory there is no complaint from the mpv application. Almost like whatever renders the models is not running. Any other suggestions?

         
        • Bill

          Bill - 2016-04-26

          George,

           When you say, "entity 0 and entity 1" are you referring to Entity ID 0 and 1, or Entity Type 0 and 1?
          
           If you take a look at the ICD (I'm using version 3.3 in this example) you will find in the Entity Control data packet two parameters one is Entity ID and the other is Entity Type. You can think of these as:
          

          Entity ID represents a Dynamic Coordinate System (DCS). The CIGI ICD description is, "This parameter specifies the entity to which this packet is applied. A value of zero (0) corresponds to the Ownship."

          Entity Type represents the geometry (body type) that will be bound to the Entity ID DCS. The CIGI ICD description is, "This parameter specifies the type for the entity. A value of zero (0) indicates a "null" type with no associated geometry. Such an entity might be used to represent the Ownship or a floating camera.
          When changing entity types, the Host should first delete the entity by setting the Entity State parameter to Deactivate (2) and then recreate the entity and any children during a subsequent frame.

          If the specified type is undefined, the data packet will be disregarded."

          So If you are sending an Entity Type of zero (0) you are requesting, "A value of zero (0) indicates a "null" type with no associated geometry. Such an entity might be used to represent the Ownship or a floating camera."

          If you are sending an Entity Type that the MVP is not aware of, i.e. undefined then, " If the specified type is undefined, the data packet will be disregarded."

          I suspect the former case (Entity Type = 0) as you have said you can associate a view to the entity and it will fly.

          -Bill-

          From: george graham [mailto:georgegraham53@users.sf.net]
          Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2016 7:12 AM
          To: [cigi:discussion]
          Subject: [cigi:discussion] Re: No entities in win32 MPV

          Bill,
          Thanks for the reply. I am using entity 0 and entity 1 with the same result. It seems odd to me that even if I rename the Models directory there is no complaint from the mpv application. Almost like whatever renders the models is not running. Any other suggestions?


          No entities in win32 MPVhttps://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/thread/1538159a/?limit=25#bd99/b9fe/4a95


          Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/

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          • george graham

            george graham - 2016-04-27

            When I say Entity, I mean Entity ID. Basically what I do is I start up MPV and Hemu, The MPV displays the terrain. I add the Own Ship entity (I've tried Type 0 and Type 118). The view shifts to that for the entity position. If I then add Entity 1 with Type 118 and set its position to be on a bearing 000 and range (I've tried 30 -300m). Using the Hemu capture facility I can see the Entity Control message being sent with the correct Entity ID, Entity Type and position, but nothing is rendered in the mpv display. I've tried with different entity types for Own Ship and Entity 1 with the same result. The entity types are defined in the MPV entities and entityvisuals def files and the file paths defined in entityvisuals.

             
            • Bill

              Bill - 2016-04-27

              George,

               Thanks for the additional information. It seems like you have covered most of the diagnostic bases.
              
               There must be at least one left. The one that will remedy the problem.  :)
              
               There is one step in the process that I have been assuming is being automatically done because you said, "The view shifts to that for the entity position." This would indicate that there is a view that the MPV understands and it is associating that view to the Ownship. If the ICD is followed strictly that association should be made over the interface by sending a view control command to associate the view to the entity. However, many IG's do this silently for you. I'll ask the MPV developer if this is automatic in the MPV.
              
               Meanwhile perhaps you can try sending a view control to associate the view with the entity. I am assuming that the MPV has created one that can be used because you are seeing a scene. The trick will be what view ID was created within the MPV, if any. You will need this information to associate the view to the entity. As an example I have attached a small script that positions an Ownship in Chicago and then associates a view to the Ownship entity. You will have to change the coordinates of the Ownship entity to be in STL if that is the area you are working in. Have you used the scripting utility yet? If not I can help you with it.
              

              -Bill-

              From: george graham [mailto:georgegraham53@users.sf.net]
              Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 4:29 AM
              To: [cigi:discussion]
              Subject: [cigi:discussion] Re: No entities in win32 MPV

              When I say Entity, I mean Entity ID. Basically what I do is I start up MPV and Hemu, The MPV displays the terrain. I add the Own Ship entity (I've tried Type 0 and Type 118). The view shifts to that for the entity position. If I then add Entity 1 with Type 118 and set its position to be on a bearing 000 and range (I've tried 30 -300m). Using the Hemu capture facility I can see the Entity Control message being sent with the correct Entity ID, Entity Type and position, but nothing is rendered in the mpv display. I've tried with different entity types for Own Ship and Entity 1 with the same result. The entity types are defined in the MPV entities and entityvisuals def files and the file paths defined in entityvisuals.


              No entities in win32 MPVhttps://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/thread/1538159a/?limit=25#bd99/b9fe/4a95/7248/ac31


              Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/

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              • george graham

                george graham - 2016-04-27

                Thanks again for the input. When I have created the two entities (0 and 1), I have attached a view to each of them and flown them around using the Hemu joystick, I set different positions for each entity and the view shifts accordingly. So I think they are established in MPV, just not being rendered.

                 
                • Bill

                  Bill - 2016-04-27

                  OK, a couple more thoughts...

                  1. I expect you have already checked this, but the geometry files for the entities you are trying to use exist in the path designated in the MPV configuration file? i.e. the .flt file(s)?

                  2. Is the Alpha for the entity set to zero (0) perhaps? That would make the geometry invisible. Alpha in the entity control data packet should be 255 to make an entity fully visible.

                  From: george graham [mailto:georgegraham53@users.sf.net]
                  Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 10:22 AM
                  To: [cigi:discussion]
                  Subject: [cigi:discussion] Re: No entities in win32 MPV

                  Thanks again for the input. When I have created the two entities (0 and 1), I have attached a view to each of them and flown them around using the Hemu joystick, I set different positions for each entity and the view shifts accordingly. So I think they are established in MPV, just not being rendered.


                  No entities in win32 MPVhttps://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/thread/1538159a/?limit=25#bd99/b9fe/4a95/7248/ac31/8104/a3bb


                  Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/

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                  • george graham

                    george graham - 2016-04-28

                    Alpha is set to 255. I have tried changing the value but no effect.
                    I've tried all sorts of different path specifications but with no success. I concluded that as the terrain is being displayed the path is probably ok.

                     
                    • Bill

                      Bill - 2016-04-29

                      George,

                        Sorry I didn't response yesterday.
                      
                       I'm afraid I am running out of ideas at the moment. If something comes to mind I'll let you know.
                      

                      -Bill-

                      From: george graham [mailto:georgegraham53@users.sf.net]
                      Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2016 4:45 AM
                      To: [cigi:discussion]
                      Subject: [cigi:discussion] Re: No entities in win32 MPV

                      Alpha is set to 255. I have tried changing the value but no effect.
                      I've tried all sorts of different path specifications but with no success. I concluded that as the terrain is being displayed the path is probably ok.


                      No entities in win32 MPVhttps://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/thread/1538159a/?limit=25#bd99/b9fe/4a95/7248/ac31/8104/a3bb/25a1/ecb0


                      Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/

                      To unsubscribe from further messages, please visit https://sourceforge.net/auth/subscriptions/

                       
                      • george graham

                        george graham - 2016-04-30

                        Ok thanks for the help so far. One thing I have noticed is that mpv reports that some plugins are added implicitly. The instructions for the plugin.def file are a little ambiguous. Do you know a source for a working copy with plugins in the optimum order. I don't know why it should be different to the one included in the package, but I'm getting desparate now. Also is there any way of knowing whether the entity rendering plugins are running, ie do they write any message to the console like the terrain renderer does.

                         
                        • Bill

                          Bill - 2016-05-02

                          Hi George,

                           I'll check with the developer.
                          

                          -Bill-

                          From: george graham [mailto:georgegraham53@users.sf.net]
                          Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2016 3:49 AM
                          To: [cigi:discussion]
                          Subject: [cigi:discussion] Re: No entities in win32 MPV

                          Ok thanks for the help so far. One thing I have noticed is that mpv reports that some plugins are added implicitly. The instructions for the plugin.def file are a little ambiguous. Do you know a source for a working copy with plugins in the optimum order. I don't know why it should be different to the one included in the package, but I'm getting desparate now. Also is there any way of knowing whether the entity rendering plugins are running, ie do they write any message to the console like the terrain renderer does.


                          No entities in win32 MPVhttps://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/thread/1538159a/?limit=25#bd99/b9fe/4a95/7248/ac31/8104/a3bb/25a1/ecb0/2045/96ad


                          Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/

                          To unsubscribe from further messages, please visit https://sourceforge.net/auth/subscriptions/

                           
                        • Bill

                          Bill - 2016-05-03

                          George,

                          I have solicited some help from another CIGI person here....

                          The MPV does add curtain plugins automatically. When a plugin is specified in the "plugins.def" definition file, it informs the kernel about any plugins upon which it is dependent. When the plugins from the "plugins.def" definition file are loaded, the kernel takes the listed plugin dependencies and loads any of the plugins that are not already loaded. The "plugins.def" definition file that is packaged with the win32 MPV package should already be in the order that the plugins should be loaded.

                          If a plugin does not load and run, the kernel generally prints a message and exits.

                          Make sure PluginRenderEntsOSG and PluginRenderEntsModelFileOSG are NOT commented out in the "plugins.def" definition file.

                          Also make sure the "entities.def" definition file is being loaded. (The kernel will print a message listing the definition files being loaded a short time after printing the message specifying which plugins have been loaded.)

                          -Bill-

                          From: george graham [mailto:georgegraham53@users.sf.net]
                          Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2016 3:49 AM
                          To: [cigi:discussion]
                          Subject: [cigi:discussion] Re: No entities in win32 MPV

                          Ok thanks for the help so far. One thing I have noticed is that mpv reports that some plugins are added implicitly. The instructions for the plugin.def file are a little ambiguous. Do you know a source for a working copy with plugins in the optimum order. I don't know why it should be different to the one included in the package, but I'm getting desparate now. Also is there any way of knowing whether the entity rendering plugins are running, ie do they write any message to the console like the terrain renderer does.


                          No entities in win32 MPVhttps://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/thread/1538159a/?limit=25#bd99/b9fe/4a95/7248/ac31/8104/a3bb/25a1/ecb0/2045/96ad


                          Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/

                          To unsubscribe from further messages, please visit https://sourceforge.net/auth/subscriptions/

                           
                        • Bill

                          Bill - 2016-05-03

                          George,

                           We have a request...
                          

                          "It would be helpful if George could send us his configuration files. They may be really old configuration files, or possibly a combination of new and old files. Mentioning files like "entityvisuals.def", which is the old (MPV 1.x) configuration file and is not used any more is suspicious."

                           So can you send us the configuration files you are using?
                          

                          -Bill-

                          From: george graham [mailto:georgegraham53@users.sf.net]
                          Sent: Saturday, April 30, 2016 3:49 AM
                          To: [cigi:discussion]
                          Subject: [cigi:discussion] Re: No entities in win32 MPV

                          Ok thanks for the help so far. One thing I have noticed is that mpv reports that some plugins are added implicitly. The instructions for the plugin.def file are a little ambiguous. Do you know a source for a working copy with plugins in the optimum order. I don't know why it should be different to the one included in the package, but I'm getting desparate now. Also is there any way of knowing whether the entity rendering plugins are running, ie do they write any message to the console like the terrain renderer does.


                          No entities in win32 MPVhttps://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/thread/1538159a/?limit=25#bd99/b9fe/4a95/7248/ac31/8104/a3bb/25a1/ecb0/2045/96ad


                          Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/

                          To unsubscribe from further messages, please visit https://sourceforge.net/auth/subscriptions/

                           
                          • george graham

                            george graham - 2016-05-04

                            Sorry missed this until you prompted me. Please see attached.

                             
                          • george graham

                            george graham - 2016-05-04

                            Sorry missed this until you prompted me. Please see attached.

                             
            • Bill

              Bill - 2016-05-03

              Hi George,

               I have been discussing your problem here and I'm drawn back to the Entity Type again. The CIGI ICD says that if an undefined entity type is used the IG (MVP) should ignore the command and it should not establish an entity. Clearly this is not the case when using the MVP. I believe the MVP should put out a red pyramid, which you have explained you do not see either. What entity type does the 118 represent? F-15, F-16, A-10, etc.? This is just a question of curiously at the moment. I do not know of any specific problem with any specific entity geometry.
              

              Thanks,
              -Bill-

              From: george graham [mailto:georgegraham53@users.sf.net]
              Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2016 4:29 AM
              To: [cigi:discussion]
              Subject: [cigi:discussion] Re: No entities in win32 MPV

              When I say Entity, I mean Entity ID. Basically what I do is I start up MPV and Hemu, The MPV displays the terrain. I add the Own Ship entity (I've tried Type 0 and Type 118). The view shifts to that for the entity position. If I then add Entity 1 with Type 118 and set its position to be on a bearing 000 and range (I've tried 30 -300m). Using the Hemu capture facility I can see the Entity Control message being sent with the correct Entity ID, Entity Type and position, but nothing is rendered in the mpv display. I've tried with different entity types for Own Ship and Entity 1 with the same result. The entity types are defined in the MPV entities and entityvisuals def files and the file paths defined in entityvisuals.


              No entities in win32 MPVhttps://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/thread/1538159a/?limit=25#bd99/b9fe/4a95/7248/ac31


              Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/

              To unsubscribe from further messages, please visit https://sourceforge.net/auth/subscriptions/

               
              • george graham

                george graham - 2016-05-03

                Entity Type 118 is the F18C from mpv_content_2006-01-11.
                By way of an experiment, I modified the Hemu entities file in the 'default' folder to send Entity Type 119 (not defined in MPV) instead of 118. The entity was accepted by MPV at bearing 000 distance 100 relative to Own Ship (EntityNodeManager::addedEntity...) but nothing was displayed.
                I notice that the models forming the terrain (buschstadium etc) are displayed fine.
                Hope that is some help.

                 
                • Bill

                  Bill - 2016-05-03

                  George,

                  Terrain models are handled differently that "entities" so I am not surprised to hear that. The problem you are describing is particular to entities, i.e. models that can be driven in position and orientation via the Entity Control data packet.

                  Did you see my second post about sending your configuration file?

                  -Bill-

                  From: george graham [mailto:georgegraham53@users.sf.net]
                  Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2016 4:19 PM
                  To: [cigi:discussion]
                  Subject: [cigi:discussion] Re: No entities in win32 MPV

                  Entity Type 118 is the F18C from mpv_content_2006-01-11.
                  By way of an experiment, I modified the Hemu entities file in the 'default' folder to send Entity Type 119 (not defined in MPV) instead of 118. The entity was accepted by MPV at bearing 000 distance 100 relative to Own Ship (EntityNodeManager::addedEntity...) but nothing was displayed.
                  I notice that the models forming the terrain (buschstadium etc) are displayed fine.
                  Hope that is some help.


                  No entities in win32 MPVhttps://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/thread/1538159a/?limit=25#bd99/b9fe/4a95/7248/ac31/3ca8/2aad


                  Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/

                  To unsubscribe from further messages, please visit https://sourceforge.net/auth/subscriptions/

                   
    • Bill

      Bill - 2016-05-04

      George,

       This is what I have heard back from the MPV developer...
      

      "It is as I suspected. George is using old config files. His entities.def and entityVisuals.def are from an old MPV release (1.x).

      I seem to recall that we may have bundled some MPV config files with the HE at some point. Maybe that's how George obtained the old config files.

      The config files for old MPVs do not work with new MPVs. The structure has changed, especially for entities.

      I recommend that George start over for his config files. He should download and extract a fresh copy of MPV 2.2.0 for Windows, and use that. He'll have to modify the paths in entities.def and databaseinfo.def to point to where ever he installed his models and terrain."

       Please try this and hopefully you will get a better result.
      

      -Bill-

      From: george graham [mailto:georgegraham53@users.sf.net]
      Sent: Friday, April 22, 2016 5:09 PM
      To: [cigi:discussion]
      Subject: [cigi:discussion] No entities in win32 MPV

      Hi, I'm new to CIGI image generation and am trying to learn using Hemu3 and MPV-2.2.0-win32 on a Windows XP desktop. I've installed everything including the St Louis dataset and everything works fine except I don't see any entities ( or big red triangles). The mpv command window shows 'adding a new entity imp' text for my entities and they appear in the list when I press 'e'. The entities seem to be in mpv because I can attach views to them and move them around the scene. I've made sure that they are in the field of view for own ship, but they are just not displayed.

      Does anybody have any suggestions please.


      No entities in win32 MPVhttps://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/thread/1538159a/?limit=25#bd99


      Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/

      To unsubscribe from further messages, please visit https://sourceforge.net/auth/subscriptions/

       
      • george graham

        george graham - 2016-05-04

        It all becomes clear now. I downloaded the 'mpv content' to get the database, updated Hemu with the HE3-def-files and MPV with the MPV-def-files. Didn't notice that the original MPV def files already had everything needed. I've reverted back to the published config set and everything seems fine.
        I am so sorry to have wasted you time Bill. Thank you for all your help and thank you to your contact who spotted my problem. I feel quite stupid now....

         
        • Bill

          Bill - 2016-05-04

          George,

           I don't feel this was a waste of time. Good cooperation for a good result.
          
           I'm glad that you can move forward now.
          

          -Bill-

          From: george graham [mailto:georgegraham53@users.sf.net]
          Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2016 4:04 PM
          To: [cigi:discussion]
          Subject: [cigi:discussion] Re: No entities in win32 MPV

          It all becomes clear now. I downloaded the 'mpv content' to get the database, updated Hemu with the HE3-def-files and MPV with the MPV-def-files. Didn't notice that the original MPV def files already had everything needed. I've reverted back to the published config set and everything seems fine.
          I am so sorry to have wasted you time Bill. Thank you for all your help and thank you to your contact who spotted my problem. I feel quite stupid now....


          No entities in win32 MPVhttps://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/thread/1538159a/?limit=25#bd99/7c3b/69b9


          Sent from sourceforge.net because you indicated interest in https://sourceforge.net/p/cigi/discussion/121251/

          To unsubscribe from further messages, please visit https://sourceforge.net/auth/subscriptions/

           

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