This chapter explains the very first step in creating a climate in L3DT. Subsequent chapters will deal with the more complicated problems of creating land types, managing complex climates, setting materials, etc.
Anyway, without further ado:
Open the climate manager window using the 'Resources→Climates→Climate manager…' menu option:
To create the new climate, either double-click on the '« create new »' option in the climate list, or else click on the 'Create' button. This will open the climate editor window:
The first field in the climate editor dialog is climate name. This name must be non-zero in length, unique (i.e. not the same as any other extant climates), and must not contain any of the following characters:
All the settings of your climates are stored in XML-based climate files, which have the extension of '.cli.xml'. The name of the climate file is set in the file name text-field, or by using the '…' browse button.
All climates must be located within the climate resources path, which is:
Win7 / Vista | C:\Users\[username]\L3DT\Resources\[L3DT version]\Climates\ |
---|---|
WinXP / 2000 | C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\L3DT\Resources\[L3DT version]\Climates\ |
If you wish to share climates, it's a good idea to put your name in the Author name field, so that we all know who made what.
The Display colour is the colour used to represent this climate in the design map display (see display guide). This is purely aesthetics, and has no further influence on anything whatsoever.
The Global Params button allows you to modify some parameters of all land types in the climate in one fell swoop. Normally you do not need to use this option, but the curious can read all about it on the algorithms page.
The Author's notes option allows you to enter a short description of your climate, which is nice if you are going to share your climates with other users.
Here is an example, taken from the 'temperate24-basic' climate:
These notes are available for reading wherever the user is expected to select a climate, via a 'notes' button (e.g. in the design map parameters wizard).