PMC Editing Wiki

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====== ArmA 3 Terrain Builder ======

Random info collected about Terrain Builder.


====== LandGrid reference exceeded the range ======

Error (note the values are unique to your terrain):
<code>
{error} LandGrid reference exceeded the range [1023, 1023], it is [2046, 2046]
</code>
This error is because your texture layer size is too small.

Mapframe properties -> samplers -> texture layer. The **texture layer value must be minimum of 4 x cell size!**

For example if your cell size is 10 then use 40m texture layer size or if its 25m, then instead of 50m use 100m texture layer size.

Remember that every time you change texture layer, you have to generate layers from processing tab.


====== Too many objects in grid rectangle 1023,1023 ======

**ErrorMessage: Too many objects in grid rectangle 1023,1023**

One cause for this crash is that your road shape file has vertices / roads beyond the terrain builder mapframe range, aka outside the game world coordinates.

Fix it by, well fixing your roads, cut them again on global mapper, QGIS or manually in terrain builder (oh please no) to make sure they are all inside the terrain area.


====== Import Objects Template Library Error ======

Error:
<code>
TxTImport - Wrong file format or source template not found.
</code>
It means you do not have template library for the object(s) you are trying to import. Always keep your template library's and terrain processor object / template names in sync.

If you create your own terrain builder object library's and copy paste the object / template names into terrain processor, you always know that they are matching.

You can track down the missing template name by importing objects to new layer, RMB layer -> show info. If it's 150 objects for example, open the text file you are trying to import, line 151 is the missing object.


====== Error: Bad texel mapping for surface mask image ======

Error:
<code>
Layers generation - Bad texel mapping for surface mask image (468.75x468.75).
</code>
Means your satellite texture/mask resolution is different what you write in Mapframe properties -> samplers -> Satellite/Surface (mask) source images. Make sure the resolution is the same as in your images.


====== Objects Count ======

How to check objects count. Go to layers manager and select objects tab, then RMB click layer which has your objects and choose Show info. This dialog shows you how many objects that layer contains. There is no "count all objects" feature to my knowledge, so you have to repeat this to every object layer and count totals yourself.

Second method is to save export your terrain to WRP in which time terrain builder shows statistics of the save, including objects count.

Third method is that if you already have WRP saved, you could use Eliteness open it and it shows you the object count. However this works only if your WRP is exported recently and obviously have Eliteness installed.


====== 8192 Heightmap ======

We have had various results creating 8192 heightmap terrain builder project. Sometimes terrain builder freezes just after creating the project, sometimes you can get it done in one go, it seems to vary according to terrain builders mood and other voodoo magic :)

Here is few tips from our experiences.

Wilbur lat/lon heightmap txt format did not import, terrain builder got stuck at the initial importing phase. It did not freeze, but was just sitting there 0% CPU use and nothing happened for long time. When you create L3DT exported ASCII Grid ASC file, it imports fine.

This guide assumes you know your way around terrain builder and you have [[arma3:terrain:ultimate-terrain-tutorial|created at least one terrain]].

  - create empty project, use default 512 grid, setup layers.cfg etc basic stuff
  - save and exit terrain builder (yes, I know, voodoo magic)
  - reload project, change grid to 8192 and rebuild terrain
  - import heightmap
  - rebuild terrain, notice there are some stutter after you have imported and rebuild terrain, dont panic.
  - import mask
  - import texture
  - generate layers
  - convert layers png to paa
  - binarize
Its very voodoo magic like said, these steps might be totally unnecessary for you or maybe they are the key how you can create 8192 project, who knows.

When you are working with 8192 heightmap project **save often**, trust me terrain builder is very eager to freeze with this amount of data, especially when you bring in high resolution satellite images. Saving often saves (no pun intended) you so much time.


====== ASCII Grid ASC Heightmap ======

When you export heightmap from L3DT in ASC format it comes out with header like this:
<code>
ncols         8192
nrows         8192
xllcorner     0.000000
yllcorner     0.000000
cellsize      10.000000
NODATA_value  -9999
</code>
This format is acceptable to terrain builder even though it uses the easting 200000 and northing 0, these 0.0 values are acceptable.


====== Heightmap Roughness ======

If your heightmap is extremely rough with huge elevation changes / mountains in short distances etc, then buldozer and binarize most likely will just freeze.

Buldozer will freeze or spend endless time on "Extruding hills and valleys" part and binarize just freezes on 25% CPU usage.

Do not create too crazy elevations, such terrains might look nice in some 3d preview like in L3DT 3D mode etc, but they aren't usable in arma3. The rough elevations might not look odd on terrain builder scene view heightmap shown, so to our experience there is no way to clearly tell from the heightmap 2D, you just have to learn that by experience and obviously if you see very rough mountains in like L3DT 3D view that is a sign.

If you suspect your buldozer / binarize freezing or endless processing is caused by this, make a temporary very **very** bland and smooth heightmap just to test it out.

**Binarize freeze detection**

How binarize freeze can be detected from windows task manager:
  - At start it runs 25% CPU usage and memory usage increasing
  - Within about 30sec CPU usage drops and goes back up again with memory usage increasing
If this doesnt happen, it just stays 25% with constant memory; it has frozen.


====== Save Buldozer Heightmap Edits ======

How to save your edits from buldozer into the actual heightmap so that they are not lost.

File -> export -> terrain, which saves to ASC, then you import the ASC right back in and mapframe properties -> processing -> rebuild terrain.

Now your buldozer edits are saved to your heightmap .ASC file for good. It is important to note that if you rebuild terrain after editing with buldozer without the export phase, you **lose all the edits** so be careful with that.


====== Shape Files ======

Shape files are stored in this directory:
<code>
Source\TerrainBuilder\<project_name>.Shapes\
</code>

You can copy these shape files between your terrain builder projects just by copying the files to another projects directory. Of course the shapes must fit into the copied projects dimensions otherwise it wont work. Also there is perhaps very little use to copy them over, but its good knowledge if you happen to have the need for that.

If you delete your shape layers and after restarting terrain builder they are back, then you can fix this by going to shapes directory and deleting the .tv4s files which you want to be gone.


====== Stutter, Freezes ======

With large projects you can get heavy stutter and freezes. While this is no solution to the problem because its kind of chicken and the egg syndrome... but if you disable views like mapframe, terrain elevations, objects satellite... you prevent all the stutters and freezes.

But like said, its not a real solution because if you disable / hide all views, how can you edit anything!? hehe.

However this is important to know for example if you edit only objects and don't need for example satellite image layers, then of course you should disable / hide those to free up resources. Or perhaps you mass place objects with terrain processor and import those, then its good to have all views disabled.


====== Export Shapes as Images ======

Terrain Builder has a feature in the export menu that lets you export shapes as imagery. If you select all the shapes / polylines you desire to have painted into your masks, assign them a surface material and then go to the "Export shapes as imagery" option in the menu it will export them as an image (using the color defined for that surface type) that you can use to overlay onto your other masks, to aid in painting those.

To assign surface material, use RMB on the shapes layer to bring up the material list.

Go to layers manager -> shapes tab, RMB layer you want to export and select surface type (class names come from layers.cfg).

File -> export -> shapes to imagery, tick export png and browse to a file, tick crop by active mapframe, click OK to export.


====== Satellite Mask ======

If you don't have satellite mask created by other tools like L3DT or perhaps made by yourself in image editor (photoshop / gimp), you can create basic satellite mask (surface mask) in terrain builder.

Create shapes according to vegetation, place forests etc stuff which require different mask type.

RMB shape layer and choose surface mask to be used with this layers shapes.

Then you can export satellite mask image with these surface colors. Use file -> export -> shapes to imagery.


====== Import - Zone of Imported Data ======

Importing terrain ASC source. If you get error:
<code>
Import - Zone of imported data was not detected. Data cannot be imported.
</code>
It probably means that you have PRJ file with wrong UTM zone, I believe it can be fixed by simply deleting the .PRJ file (not sure about this, if you have more accurate info, please share).

<code>
Import - Zone of imported data is too far from the project reference zone. Data cannot be imported.
</code>
Happens when your ASC header xllcorner / yllcorner values are far off from 200,000 / 0.


====== Delete Stacked Objects ======

If your terrain has objects stacked on top of each other at same coordinates (bad idea), you can use tools -> run object diagnostics to remove these duplicate objects.

If you want to run the operation on multiple items on the list (if there is many) don't hit ok but select next one and select operation and so on.

Right click on object in template library has select all that selects all that type objects in the selected layer.

Object properties, there is absolute height and relative height.


====== Import Satellite Images ======

When you have multiple satellite texture / mask images to import, for example if you split them into tiles, you can import multiple at one go by SHIFT-LMB selecting.


====== Object Pitch, Roll, Yaw, Scale Randomization ======

You can set random pitch, roll, yaw and scale to objects from template properties -> template -> template randomization.

Usually this is only done for vegetation objects like rocks, bushes and trees because man made objects like houses would not look nice if terrain builder randomizes their "alignment".

YAW is the one most people want to use, its object rotation (yaw == rotation).

Pitch is to "tilt" the object forwards and backwards.

Roll is to "tilt" the object left and right.

Scale is what gives size to the object.


====== Satellite Tiles ======

Satellite tiles are the small PAA files in your data\layers\ directory.

^ Satellite Image Resolution ^ Satellite Tile Resolution ^ Tiles ^ File Name Range ^
| 40960 | 1024 | 1849 | _00 to _04 |
| 71680 | 2048 | 1849 | _00 to _04 |
| 81920 | 1024 | 7396 | _00 to _08 |
| 102400 | 1024 | 16384 | _00 to _12 |


====== Project Manager Error ======

If you get error:
<code>
Project manager - Cannot find lib <path>!
</code>
It means that you previously had source\TerrainBuilder\TemplateLibs\ directory and files but now its missing.


====== Importing Objects ======

Old arma2 era visitor 3 import / export file format works with two changes. First you cannot have path to the p3d name, second you have to add that 200,000 easting to the coordinate. Also obviously you must have template library to match the objects you're going to import.

Works:
<code>
"t_populusb2s_ep1";201969.000000;181.000000;0.000000;140.000000;
</code>

Does not work:
<code>
"ca\plants_e\tree\t_populusb2s_ep1";1969.000000;181.000000;0.000000;140.000000;
</code>


====== Template Library ======

P3D object references are kept in templates. Template libraries are .TML files which are XML text files.

When you add template libraries and it asks name, this is FILENAME or some cases directory, so **do not use spaces or special characters**.

On initial creation of a new template library the filename is created according to the name given to it, but on later project saves these file names are lower cased automatically (whether you like it or not).

PMC has provided full template libraries for download, see [[arma3:terrain:terrain-builder-templatelibs|Terrain Builder TemplateLibs]].

**Deleting Objects from TemplateLibs**

Don't do it. Deleting whole template libraries with large number of objects takes very //very// long time. Unless you want to wait over half an hour do not delete objects like this.


====== Directories and Files ======

Your project should be located in <myAddon>\Source\TerrainBuilder\ directory.

Dialogs_new.vdat - unknown ???\\
<projectName>.tv4p - main project file\\
<projectName>_001.v4d - Layers manager -> rasters, each in individual _001, _002 etc filename numbering

There are sub dirs called:\\
<projectName>.**Cache** - unknown ???\\
<projectName>.**Layers** - Objects layers\\
<projectName>.**Shapes** - Shapes layers

Cache is unknown. Layers is your layers manager -> Objects each in individual file. Shapes is all your layers manager -> shapes each in individual file.

Objects layers are saved as .tv4l files.

Shape layers are saves as .tv4s files.

When you save your project, it appears to save all files, even those that has not been modified, for example shape layers are saved as filename.ext.TMP temporary file name during saving.

If you delete objects/shapes layer and restart terrain builder but the same layer still comes back to haunt you, then go to into the correct directory (either .layers or .shapes) and delete the filename which has your layer name in it but **be careful not to delete the wrong file!**

It is not good idea to delete terrain builder project like rasters .v4d files, you'll run into all sorts of buggy behavior when you continue to use that project. You can however delete layers / shapes files if they start to haunt you by re-appearing.

When you import heightmap, satellite texture or satellite mask terrain builder will add them into its project files (rasters in the GUI), you can delete the source satellite / heightmap files as they are no longer required. Obviously you need to keep your editable satellite image sources, but for example if you "save as" from photoshop PSB file or export from global mapper, those BMP's are temporary and can be deleted.

You can copy projectName.Layers and projectName.Shapes directories from other projects when terrain builder is not running, on the next startup the files are loaded and ready to use.


====== Rebuild Terrain Greyed Out ======

My terrain builder mapframes -> processing -> rebuild terrain, button is grayed out what can I do!?

If terrain builder wont let you rebuild terrain (button grayed out), then go to mapframes -> samplers -> satellite/surface (mask) tiles, and change it to something else, then you can rebuild terrain again. Don't forget to switch tiles size back to the proper size after rebuilding terrain.


====== Keypoints ======

**Keypoints are location names and can be found at class names{} in config.cpp**

See also [[arma2:terrain:class_names|ArmA 2 class names]], [[arma2:terrain:custom-keypoints-cfglocationtypes|ArmA 2 Custom keypoints]], [[arma3:terrain:config.cpp#location_names|ArmA 3 Terrain Config Names]], [[https://manuals.bisimulations.com/vbs2/2-00/devref/Default.htm#VisitorNG/Keypoints.htm|VBS manual, visitor 4 keypoints]].

**Setup terrain builder for keypoint editing**

Activate keypoints dialog, window -> key points, you see it appear close to layers manager (assuming you're using default layout).

**Add Keypoints**

Select add keypoints icon / button active from the main menu, from menu drop-down keypoints -> add keypoint or from keypoints dialog. Then just click on the map and keypoint is created. Press and hold LMB to drag a box, then release LMB and keypoint with this size is created, otherwise if you use single LMB click it creates some 1km sized box instead.

You can see the keypoint info appear in keypoints dialog.

Stop adding keypoints by selecting the add keypoints icon/button again, deselecting it.

**Select Keypoint**

When you select keypoint name from the keypoints dialog, scene view will snap into that location.

**Delete Keypoints**

Select keypoint and click the delete keypoint icon / button. This feature has no confirmation dialog, so be careful when clicking close to this button, its recommended to use add keypoints icon / button from main menu when adding keypoints, to avoid accidental deletions :)

If you use delete all keypoints icon / button, terrain builder doesn't register this as "edited", you can exit without it warning you about saving changes.

You can avoid this by doing some action that register as "edited" in terrain builder, like clicking on layers manager some raster layer, then save button activates in menu. Or you can simply click save as button, but that asks you to choose the file name. Note; deleting single keypoint works fine.

**Edit Keypoint**

Double LMB click keypoint name from the keypoints dialog to open keypoints properties dialog. This is the same as selection properties dialog.

**Export Keypoints for config.cpp**

When you export your WRP, the keypoint class names info is saved into <filename>.HPP file next to your <filename>.WRP file.

This keypoints hpp file is overwritten every time you export your WRP ! Do not edit this file as all your edits will be lost!


====== Elevation Editing ======

You can edit heightmap / elevations either from buldozer or terrain builder, this guide is for terrain builder use.

Click "crossed hammers" icon / button in main tool bar or choose terrain -> edit terrain from the menu.

Now you see terrain properties dialog and heightmap (grid) dots in your terrain. Remember to zoom in close so you can see the real individual elevation grid points instead of their "displayed sum".

**Select Elevation Point(s)**

Use LMB drag a box around the elevation point(s) you want to edit. If you chose only one you can edit it directly, or if you chose multiple you can edit all of them at once, but be careful when editing multiple elevation points.

**Set Elevation**

To set elevation for specific value, like leveling out airfield or other surface which must be totally even, use "user elevation" property.

Select elevation points, then use terrain properties -> action -> user elevation, set the elevation value you want to use and click OK.

**Updating Scene View / Properties**

Scene view or terrain properties does not automatically update when you edit elevations. You have to unselect and select the edit terrain crossed hammers icon / button to update (it keeps the elevation point selections oddly enough).

**Heightmap View**

Elevation of -0.42 still shown as green (land).

Elevation of -0.84 shown as blue (water).


====== Buldozer Object Selecting Not Working ======

When you are in buldozer and attempt to select object by LMB clicking it or dragging a box around it, the select arrow disappears after you release LMB, why? It is because layers manager you have wrong object layer selected. Select the layer where your object is and then you can buldozer select it.

Buldozer also does this if the object has "absolute height" turned on.


====== Deleting Layers ======

**Deleting object layers with objects in them**

Do not run buldozer when you delete object layers, it might crash terrain builder.

Please save the project before deleting object layers with objects in them. If you want to import new set of objects, delete the previous object layer, save project, close project and restart terrain builder. This way you can be sure there are no lingering issues from the previous objects in terrain builders memory etc.

If you need to delete whole object layers in the layer manager, you can just go to MyTerrain\source\TerrainBuilder\MyTerrain.Layers\ directory and delete the TV4L files directly (when terrain builder is not running).

The next time you start terrain builder and load this project, the object layers are gone.


====== Changing Path Breaks Project ======

Moved to [[arma3:tools:terrain-builder-known-bugs|Terrain Builder known bugs]] page.



====== Move Object To Another Layer ======

**Howto move objects from one layer to another in terrain builder.**

Lets say you have all your objects like trees, rocks and buildings dumped into "Default" layer and you want to move them to other layers, organize them better.

In layers manager create new layers for these names "Trees", "Rocks" and "Buildings".

Select Default layer.

From library manager on first tree object type template, RMB -> select all objects. Now the properties dialog appears, in there use the layer drop-down to choose Trees layer. Then the dialog disappears and all these object template objects have been moved to Trees layer.

Repeat this for each of the template library object templates (each for rocks and buildings too). Yeah its a nuisance to do this, but there is no automated way to do multiple object templates at once.

Once done, your layers manager -> objects -> default should list 0 objects but trees, rocks and buildings populated with objects.

Tip from Cosmo in discord: If you already have several layers and objects, another option is via "export object" where you can select "active layer", then select the object-classes you wanna extract. Do so and extract them into a text-file and re-import them the new desired layer. (Don't forget to delete the old objects from the old layers).

**Moving Objects Takes A Long Time**

When you select object from library manager, then RMB -> select objects, it will take very long time for objects like 230,000 or so, processing time is like one minute or more.

As the objects are finally selected and you use the layer drop-down, this move from layer to another takes again very long time for high object count.

It is highly recommended that you use other means to move objects between layers.


====== Heightmap Resize ======

Terrain builder can be used to resize your heightmap.

Important note: this method does not "add details" to your heightmap, but your terrain looks smoother because the increased amount of heightmap grid points. If you want you can then add more details to your terrain with your favorite terrain heightmap editor, its just important to realize the details wont appear there by magic heh.

Increasing the heightmap grid size but still maintaining compatibility with terrain + objects is tricky, meaning you don't want your objects floating in the air or buried in the ground. Lets say you have 256 x 256 grid heightmap and 50 meter cell size coming to 12.8km terrain, now if you want to increase the heightmap grid and decrease cell size therefore making terrain more detailed and smooth, divide the cell size by two every time you multiply heightmap, like this:

**Heightmap original 256, cell original 50:**
^ Heightmap New ^ Cell New ^
| 512| 25 |
| 1024 | 12.5 |
| 2048 | 6.25 |
| 4096 | 3.125 |

In our 256 example size, if you want to increase heightmap to 1024 you would drop cell size from 50 -> 25 -> 12.5 which would still keep same 12.8km terrain size, objects would remain in their proper location and heightmap would be "transformed" smoothly in place just adding more grid points for details.

**VERY IMPORTANT:** you must export and delete special objects (like bridges, harbor or others which are aligned other than their normal align to ground elevations) with absolute elevations before resizing your heightmap, otherwise these special objects will move along with the heightmap. After you've done the resizing you can import them back into terrain builder using absolute elevation mode.

Normal objects like bushes, rocks, trees etc and normal buildings are fine with this resize using their relative elevation modes in terrain builder and remain on their original place.

HOWTO increase your existing terrains heightmap grid size in terrain builder:
  - mapframe properties -> samplers, edit terrain sampler grid size (heightmap) from 256 to 1024
  - edit cell size from 50 to 12.5 when your texture layer will update automatically but check that its about 4x the cell size anyways
  - import your 256 x 256 grid heightmap .asc even though you already had it imported
  - rebuild terrain from the mapframe properties -> processing tab
  - delete the imported heightmap.asc raster (not necessary but always good thing to do)
  - delete existing layers dir, grid file and generate layers (because heightmap/cell specs have changed)
And you're all done, if you want you can export your terrain back out to ASC file now for backup purposes.


====== Vertices for Buildings ======

Buildings / houses object placement idea by Ice.

Vertices or points for buildings is one method to place randomly chosen building objects into precise spots on a terrain. This is done with shape files in terrain builder and terrain processor.

Create new shape layer for your vertices/points, place one point for one building. You can make several layers like small village houses and big city buildings etc.

Use these shape files then in terrain processor and create "Point: With Rotation" task.


====== Windows 10 Compatibility ======

Are you using Windows 10 and terrain builder is freezing randomly, acting up or plain and simple locking up?

With win10 you must use **XP SP3 mode** when running terrain builder.

Note: if you use XP SP 3 mode, you also have to run the P: drive setup bat file as normal user and once as admin.


====== Objects Alignment ======

Are objects with absolute or relative height?
  * All objects in terrain builder and visitor 3 are stored with relative height
  * All objects in both exported and binarized WRP use Above Sea Level

Relative is always the same height above terrain surface no matter if terrain elevation changes, absolute is precise above sea level elevation which do not care what height the terrain is.

When buldozer is running you can switch each placed objects elevation mode from template library properties when selecting the object(s).


====== Align Objects to Ground ======

To align floating (or buried) objects to the ground properly you have to set the relative elevation to zero.

Drag a box around the objects and set relative elevation to zero.

If you have huge number of objects, export them and edit the .txt file directly (currently there is no tool to automate this), then import objects txt file back into terrain builder.


====== Select Too Many Objects ======

When you select a very large number of objects, de-selecting them becomes a problem as it takes a really long time. When I selected 3.7 million objects in Default layer and then de-selected them (clicking empty spot in sceneview) terrain builder was in frozen state for over two hours before I had enough and just killed terrainbuilder process.

Do not select huge number of objects at once.


====== Join Polylines ======

Terrain builder to join two polylines, you need to use magnet tool. Just select magnet tool and move one vertice close enough to another and they snap together. Once you snap them, you right click line and select join.


====== Objects Export File Format ======

**Terrain builder** object export / import text file format:
<code>
"banana_1";200456.296875;1032.300049;250.000000;69.000000;96.000000;1.000000;5.686351;

1 - P3D/Template Library name
2 - X coordinate
3 - Y coordinate
4 - Yaw (ie rotation)
5 - Pitch
6 - Roll
7 - Scale
8 - Elevation
</code>

**Terrain processor** uses directX transform matrix:
<code>
objects
-0.296639    0    1.052037    0    1.093059    0    -1.052037    0    -0.296639    215834.627782    0    50739.795978    0    t_prunuss2s_ep1
end objects
</code>


====== Invalid Triangulation Polygon ======

**CPolygonalArea::UpdateGeometry() - Skipped shape: invalid triangulation (triangle 1.6 fails). (polygon_18)**

You can fix this error in global mapper by just loading and saving the shapefile, or in terrain builder by using menu shapes -> find by name, then select the polygon in the error, use action drop-down of "show and select", click OK, then the polygon in question is selected now just hit delete key to delete it.

Definiton for bad polygon; can for example be one where lines between vertices cross at some point.


====== Vertice Selection With Shape ======

Terrain builder can select terrain heightmap vertices contained in a shape file area.

Draw a shape, RMB click it and choose select contained terrain vertices.

Do not create very large shape because selecting the vertices in that contained area takes forever. Yeah I guess it takes the same time to select four different smaller shapes one by one than one huge, but terrain builder is on "Not Responding" mode when it selects those so if you can avoid extensive time being like this, its worth doing. Besides its a bit easier to create and manage smaller shapes than one gigantic one.

See also [[arma3:tools:terrain-builder-known-bugs#shape_vertice_selection|shape vertice selection works only once per terrain builder start]].


====== Misc ======

Miscellaneous info bits, oneliners even.

  * Terrain builder does not require steam client to run (however buldozer does).

  * When you import satellite texture, it will delete the existing png files in layers/ directory. Previously in arma2 visitor3 did not delete nothing, in fact it skipped the png's if they existed and only created those that were missing (or broken).

  * Save your project to <addon>\source\TerrainBuilder\ directory to maintain neat and orderly directory structure. Terrain builder creates a lot of project files in the save-root dir.

  * Mapframe properties -> Output root folder, this directory cannot have "-" character in the name.

  * See [[arma3:terrain:terrain-builder-mini-tutorial|ArmA 3 Terrain Builder Mini Tutorial]] for very basic use.

  * [[arma3:terrain:buldozer-controls-keyboard-shortcuts|Buldozer Controls Keyboard Shortcuts]] related to terrain editing used with Terrain Builder.

  * You can split up your satellite images to lets say [[arma3:terrain:import-satellite-in-smaller-tiles|four parts and import them one by one]] offsetting the northing/easting values.

  * When you export from xcam, select absolute. Then in TB do file import -> objects and select absolute there as well. Don't drag and drop your file into TB, as I think it defaults to relative height.

  * Buldozer use, if your terrain has hardcore elevations very rough stuff, buldozer might freeze on "extruding hills and valleys" part. Same goes for binarize which just freezes (no progress) if you're trying to binarize such terrain elevations.

  * When you make changes in buldozer don't use "rebuild terrain" as it will rebuild the terrain from your source heightfield and you will lose the changes you did in buldozer, you only need to save project and export WRP.

  * Highest elevation has been confirmed 8848 meters. Ice from arma discord said he made mount everest terrain which worked fine. Helicopter (little bird) could not climb to that altitude but cars worked there just fine.

  * Import -> Maps is how you import arma2 WRP and PEW files. PEW has the proper template library colors (not sure about icon shapes?), WRP just imports as blue or black. PEW/WRP import is as-is, objects are aligned properly.

  * If you have very large terrain possibly with large number of objects, think twice before previewing it on buldozer as it takes forever to start.

  * When you generate layers, you must have layers manager the correct layers visible. If they are hidden terrain builder generates white satellite texture tiles. You can usually detect this right away as the satellite map processing (step 1) is very quick.

  * If you get "Area tool - couldn't use 'add area' the target layer is locked." warning dialog when LMB clicking on scene view, it means you have layer manager -> shapes, some shape selected. Select shapes -> default area, layer and the dialog disappears.

  * source\terrainbuilder\<project>_000.v4d numbered files are layer manager -> raster layers. if you remove raster layers and add new ones, then they get incremented number in file name like _002, _003 etc.

  * source\terrainbuilder\<project>.layers\ directory contains object layers.

  * If you have a shape selected and press D while in Buldozer it will delete the shape!

  * If your ground detail texture is missing (bad layers.cfg etc?) then in-game area around camera/player is all black.

  * If you import heightmap that is in wrong coordinates for example 0/0 which is default L3DT ASC export coordinates, then you cannot fix the .ASC header and refresh from source because terrain builder does not refresh the coordinates, just the elevation data. In such case you have to adjust the coordinates from the properties dialog.

  * WRP file can have only 32k rvmat indexes, otherwise it fails.

  * Remember to delete logs from time to time, you are never going to check them out so all they do is take space. <SteamRoot>\SteamApps\common\Arma 3 Tools\TerrainBuilder\Logs\

  * MapLegend.png is included in: <SteamRoot>\SteamApps\common\Arma 3 Tools\TerrainBuilder\img\map\

  * terrain builder can only do 16 x 16 grid heightmap, if you import PEW with 8 x 8 grid it will show blank drop-down for the heightmap size selection. This is for those arma2 ported terrains where visitor 3 could do 8 x 8 grid heightmaps.


====== Export Imagery ======

Howto export satellite texture / mask out of terrain builder.

File -> export -> imagery, when you open the dialog OK button is grayed out until you file browse for export surface mask and tick it.

If you tick export satellite texture OK button gets grayed out. If you click project extent, terrain builder goes to (Not responding) freeze mode.

File -> export -> EMF, seems to work ok. You insert the resolution you want to export and EMF file is exported.

Note: exporting EMF gives a blank texture if buldozer is running.


====== Processing Dialog On Top ======

Terrain builder has nasty habit of opening "processing please wait" type of dialog and it will stay on top across other programs you are running, for example if you switch to email client or browser you still have this dialog on top in the middle of the screen annoying you.


====== Buldozer and Deleting Objects ======

Do not delete objects when buldozer is running, if you trying to do so terrain builder will warn you. Listen to this warning, do not keep buldozer running while proceeding to delete the objects, you most likely get a terrain builder and/or buldozer crash.


====== Locked Objects Layer and Heightmap Import ======

If you think by locking objects layer you can import new heightmap and keep object alignment, you are wrong. Relative elevation objects will get aligned relative to the new heightmap upon import no matter if you lock the layer.
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