Overview
2022-02-14T05:24:00Z Updated.
In Giants Editor (GE) when placing objects like trees and buildings etc, there are some special objects you do not want to save into the TERRAIN.i3d file, these are the placeables.xml object place holders, cameras, splines and other even simple transformgroups that help you with editing.
I call them PMC_Helpers both in GE and in PMC_Helpers.I3D filename. You should call them whatever you feel comfortable with.
How Does It Work
First I create a new directory to my terrain project maps/ dir called Exclude.For.Release/ which is used for the PMC_Helpers.i3d and other files storage for example satellite image plane i3d/dds files.
PMC_Helpers is only for GE editing, do not save them into in-game use. To export select PMC_Helpers, use File -> Export Selection, browse to <TERRAIN>\maps\Exclude.For.Release\PMC_Helpers\ and save as PMC_Helpers.i3d
Before saving final terrain for testing or release, delete GE transformgroup PMC_Helpers and save TERRAIN.i3d
Once you are back at editing, start GE, if you need PMC_Helpers, do File -> Import -> Exclude.For.Release\PMC_Helpers\PMC_Helpers.i3d
Transformgroup Organization
Saved transformgroup names in TERRAIN.i3d for in-game use:
Fields is field definitions
Buildings is all GE hard coded buildings and related objects
Forests is sub groups for each individual group of trees
Utility_Poles is sub groups for each individual group / line of poles
Wind_Turbines with possible sub groups
High_Voltage_Poles but this could be merged with utility poles I guess, they are essentially the same thing
PMC_Helpers transformGroups organization so its same for every terrain I ever create:
- PMC_Center, 0,100,0 - PMC_North_West, -3000,100,-3000 - PMC_North_East - PMC_South_West - PMC_South_East - Selling_Points - TEMPLATE_COPY_PASTE_BUILDINGS - Giants_mapUS - CBJ_Red - CBJ_Tan - CBJ_White - Road_Splines - Field_Entrances - Intersections - 6_Meters - 8_Meters - Asphalt - 6_Meters - 8_Meters - Dirt_Gravel - 6_Meters - 8_Meters - Forest_Splines - Utility_Pole_Splines - Wind_Turbines - Farm_Bin_Silos - Player_Farms - Creek_Bed_Splines
Its funny though that this organization evolves quite a bit from month to month when I get new editing ideas, for example at the time of writing this I don't use "Player_Farms" anymore, its now called root "Placeables" transformgroup and then I have sub groups like "New.Farmer" and then all the different player farms or AI owned farms (are there a difference?) are just called "Location-01", "Location-02" etc as many as I need :)
So these transformgroup names arent set in stone, there is no "rule" for them, whatever you like is the best, for you :)
I like to keep master list of PMC_Helpers transformgroup names actually in an empty template PMC_Helpers.i3d file which I can import into all new terrains I'm creating. Now obviously if you only do one single terrain in your life then such templates have no use for you.