Documentation/Frequently Asked Questions

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Contents 1 General 1.1 How to create a clean template for the game? 1.2 How to do something? 1.3 My Resource Editor/Map Editor crashes - now what? 1.4 Where can I learn C#? 2 Resource Editor 2.1 Why can't I edit the resource item in resource list? 3 Map Editor 3.1 Why i cannot see my new Entity Type in the Map Editor? 3.2 How can I turn off ambient light? 3.3 How i can create grass?

General

How to create a clean template for the game?

If you need to ask this question, then you probably aren't familiar enough with the engine. We recommend checking out the demos and building on top of the existing classes - and when you get more familiar with the framework, you will know how to delete unnecessary code.

How to do something?

It all boils down to this:

• Read this wiki. Read them twice and play with the classes as you go on.
• Go through all the demo maps (play them) to see what kind of features are already in the engine - this will help you become more familiar with NeoAxis's capabilities. Go through all of them, no matter what kind of game you are making.
• Use the forum search to find information. Many problems have already been solved, and the less developers has to respond the same questions over and over, the faster the engine gets developed.

The best way to learn the engine is to read everything there is, learn from the existing demos, search forums and simply proceed coding.

My Resource Editor/Map Editor crashes - now what?

In roughly 110% of cases, it's because you deleted something that you shouldn't have. Don't do that. Restore the stuff you deleted, and make sure you test as you go. For example, if you delete rabbit.type from the game, TEST IT RIGHT AWAY. If you delete 100 files and test after that, it's really difficult to tell what's causing the problem. Instead, delete one file - and test right away. That way you can see which stuff affects what.

Please don't start saying that you "want to have a clean template". It's much easier to simply start building on top of the existing classes. After all, when a new version of NeoAxis engine appears, you don't need to clean your game template again if you just stick with the existing code and build on top of that. And when you get more experience with NeoAxis, you will know how to get rid of unnecessary stuff.

Where can I learn C#?

Check out these:

• This website Learn C# and game programming gives plenty of information about how to use C#.
• Another useful site is csharpfriends.com (thanks Brandimer for finding this)
• tlbox.com - some C# tutorials (thanks again Brandimer).
• FunctionX.com - See these direct links: link 1 and [url=http://functionx.com/csharp1/index.htm ]link 2[/url] (thanks dodongoxp!)

Microsoft's website (I couldn't find good direct link though) and the Visual C# 2005 software's help files can be worth reading.

Some book recommendations (picked from this thread)

• Herbert Shildt's books
• "C# and Game Programming - A Beginner's Guide" (2nd Ed) by Salvatore A. Buono.
• "Build a Program Now!" (for learning Visual C# 2005)

C# resources:

• csharp-source.net (thanks Brandimer)

Resource Editor

Why can't I edit the resource item in resource list?

You have to double click a resource item to enter edit mode.(Or right click then select "edit"). Please note that not all resource type support edit mode.

Map Editor

Why i cannot see my new Entity Type in the Map Editor?

Set AllowEditorCreate to true for your type in the Resource Editor.

How can I turn off ambient light?

In the map editor, check "Map" on the hierarchy panel and set the "AmbientLight" property to "0 0 0".

How i can create grass?

By means DecorativeObjectManager.type.