====== L3DT release 2.4b ======

Released on the 18th of October, 2006 ([[bundynews>l3dt:ann:v2.4b|see announcement]])

===== Changes =====

==== Algorithms ====
  * High-res attributes map.
  * High-res normals maps, with pre-baked bump-maps.

==== User interface ====
  * Added export button to toolbar.
  * Added link to users' forum in help menu.
  * Improved the speed of the 2D-rendering code.
  * Improved the image overlay rendering speed.
  * Replace mouse centre mode with drag/pan mode.
  * Added warning to light mapping wizard to prevent bump-mapping on both TN and LM.
  * Added warning to texture wizard when light map doesn't exist.
  * Added warning to light mapping wizard when water map doesn't exist (re: water effects).
  * Added warning to light mapping wizard whe attributes map doesn't exist (re: bump mapping).
  * Added warning to normal mapping wizard whe attributes map doesn't exist (re: bump mapping).
  * Left-align text in open wizards (inc. import).
  * Made 'apply to all' in DM pencil work with selected area.
  * Removed 'apply to all' from edit DM pixel box, which duplicates option in DM pencil.

==== Plugins ====
  * Enabled file load/save via plugins (inc. mosaics)
  * Build plugins for:
    * [[l3dt:formats:specs:hff|HFF]].
    * [[l3dt:formats:specs:dmf|DMF]].
    * HTF.
    * X.
    * PGM.
    * BMP/JPEG/PNG (via FreeImage).
  * Added extension manager.

==== Optimisations ====

  * Reduced RAM usage during water map flooding by making aux water map always a mosaic (saves up to 8 bytes / map pixel).
  * Reduced HDD usage by writing temp maps to a shared temp folder.

==== Bug fixes ====
  * Fixed the [[l3dt:buglist:mousedrag|mouse-drag bug]].
  * Fixed the [[l3dt:buglist:crazy_hf_display|crazy rendering problem]].
  * Fixed region refresh after manual flood.
  * Fixed bug in non-erosion design/inflate routune (produced 2x larger heghtfield). 
  * Fixed bug in automation wizard for generating blank design maps. 
  * Fixed clearing of display when map is closed.  
  * [[http://www.bundysoft.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=1703#1703|Fixed these bugs]].
  * Fixed initialisation of walkthrough for new users of L3DT Pro.  
  * Fixed mysterious un-checking of items in the automation wizard (no items selected by default).  
  * Fixed calc wizard options when importing HF from file. 
  * Fixed climate handling in AM wizard ([[http://www.bundysoft.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=1766#1766|as reported here]].)
  * Make combo boxes in DM pencil drop-lists.
  * Fixed crash on import HF.
  * Made climate editor assume path and extension when not given by user.
  * Fixed behaviour of renderer on large buffer sizes.
  * Prevent crash when no climates are present.
  * Fixed file overlay.
  * Fixed alpha map generation when climates / attributes map are changed.
  * Fixed AM DoneFlag in calc wizard.
  * Fixed duplicate panes in calc wizard (when options are selected & de-selected out of order). 
  * Fixed 'dou...' typo in some wizard warnings.
  * Added startup warning when plugins are disabled.
  * Ensure file format 'active' flags aren't changed on DM/HF import.
  * Fixed AM coordinate bounds for non-square mosaics.
  * Set horiz scale for alpha maps.
  * Allowed AM/HF < TX/HF in texture gen (using GenMapPro).
  * Catch OnOK/OnCancel in CommonCtrl_dlg when a child window.
  * Fixed enable/disable of climate combo in AM wizard for imported DM projects.
  * Fixed selection of climate in DM edit pixel (wrong index).
  * Made rand offset different for different temperate climates.
  * Fixed handling of global mosaic scales in load routine.
  * Added hack for map types in mosaics, for legacy L3DTVi2 support (in 'local.file.legacy.mosaictypehack').
  * Made HF scale validation nicer in DM size wizard.
  * Fixed handling of mosaic scales in HFF plugin when a tile was legitimately empty (happened with delta map).
  * Fixed detection of application path (checks cmdline, then cwd).
  * Fixed command-line parsing (loading projects, loading mosaics, import heightfields, or running batches, depending on file exension).
  * Re-enable texture/light map export. 
  * Expanded the error message when running a batch file from the command line in Standard (it said "sorry" in previous versions.) 
  * Made format list in alpha maps export work with all formats in list (so as to support Atlas when ready).

==== Documentation ====

  * Updated the userguide.
  * Completed the basic [[bundywiki>tutorials:l3dt:newclimate|climate tutorial]].

==== Other ====
  * Expanded event logging in //log.txt// file.
  * Added uninstaller link in Windows Add/Remove programs.
  * Added option in installer to associate L3DT with PROJ, MMF, HFF, BT and TER files.
  * Disabled main window menus until activation is OK and plugins are loaded.
  * Determine application session ID.
  * Add restart function.
  * Improvements to the activation system, including server authentication option for GarageGames.


===== Special thanks =====

I would like to thank the following users for their dilligent bug finding and reporting, and for having patience with me while I fixed those bugs (and occasionally made new ones):

  * [[user>trollfiddler]]
  * [[user>mauronen]]
  * [[user>DeathTwister]]
  * [[user>Ch3rokee]]
  * [[user>dennis]]
  * Jeff W.
  * (in no particular order)

Without their help this version would be a steaming pile of ... ahh ... malfunctioning code. Many thanks!