How to make a Tree-Patch-Library
Date: 2009-03-12
Author: Mafi

Create the graphics you need for your patch-library, using a graphics editor, saving them in separate files as 16-bit TARGA graphics.

Launch 5CC. Use menubar item "Edit>Select/Edit tree shadow patch...".

You will get a new window. The functionality of this window is described in the 5CC-manual beginning on page 43. The window you will see is divided into three sections: 
- left hand the list of already loaded patches (single patches are stored into the the program's preferences file and need graphics stored in single TARGA files on your HD) and the list of already loaded libraries. Contents of the libraries will be loaded only when the library is expanded.
- center area: the terrain data editor for the actual selected patch.
- right hand library manipulation commands and additional library settings of the actual selected library.


Now as an example: 
- creating a new, empty library: goto right hand sie of the window, press button "Create library". You will get a new, blue labeled entry on the left hand sied named "new library". Goto the left hand side and select THIS library. You will see that the editor area changes: you will see the library default logo.

- adding a new patch into this new library: goto left hand side and expand the new library (PC: press the "+" icon on the left side of the entry; Mac: click on it's triangle). Now goto the button with the "+" and the green bar on it in the button area just below the list of entries in the left hand side of the window. Press this button to add a patch to the library. You will see a new entry named "new patch" in the expanded library. And you will see the "has been changed"-marking within the line of the selected new library (a green pencil).

- changing the new patch - GRAPHICS: select the patch in the left hand side of the window. You will see the center editor area will went black: no graphics are peresent currently. So import a graphic of your own: goto the popup menu labeled "Image:" (actually showing the entry "no image") below the black editor area. Select from this popupmenu the entry "external TARGA file". A window will show up which will let you select an external graphics file. Select one of your graphics (size 200x200 pixels or less). And you will see the graphic in the editor area. Simple! 
- changing the new patch - DATA: first define the size of the data patch! Use the popupmenues below the editor area labeled "Width" and "Height". Then change the terrain datas of your patch: place the terrain data using the pencil tool button below the editor area: the window "Terrain" will popup once you are pressing the pencil button. Select the desired terrain there and place the data on the editor.
- changing the new patch - HOTPOINT: use the button with the purple cross to get the hotpoint-placement-tool. Place the hotpoint WITHIN the defined data patch area. Please remember: data patch area can have different size than the graphics, but both, data patch and graphic will always have top left edge as placement offset unless the hotpoint is placed elsewhere.

Okay, so far, so good. Now:
- saving such a new library to disk: select the library within the left hand side of the window. Again you will see it's logo in the editor area. Goto the right hand side of the window and press the button "Save library as...", give it a new name and press "Save" and it will be written to disk, containing the graphics and the datas of it's patches. You will then see that it's name within the left hand side of the window will change into the filename. Now you can quit and relaunch 5CC to see the effect:

after relaunch of 5CC the new library will be listed within the window "Trees", but it's contents will stay invisible/unloaded until the library is expanded = loaded. To make the library "auto-expanded on program start", select the library on the left hand side of the window and then check the checkbox on the right hand side of the window labeled "Library load on startup".

For me it works, because I'm the program's author. Perhaps it is too much at the same time for someone using the old style with tree patches only placed in the Preferences file.

I hope this short text helps a little bit. If not, just ask.

Cheers
Mafi

