Model Config

Description

The model configuration file (model cfg for short) is the interface between a (P3D) model and the program.
It is a look-up table which is processed during the binarization process, to tell the program what the various sections of the model are, which skeleton it uses and how it is animated.

This system is more flexible than the one previously used, because all the information is stored for the model and not for the object class in the main configuration file. This means that several object classes can use the same model and don't have to define the animations for this model seperately.

A goal of the system is to seperate the configuration of models into a designer and an artist part.
This is done by the introduction of a class AnimationSources in the main configuration file (the designer part) and the continuing use of the class Animations in the model cfg (the artist part).

Most models will be able to inherit definitions from basic definitions on higher levels in the data hierarchy. An example hierarchy is described and illustrated below.

p:\ofp2\vehicles\model.cfg - Defines a class Default.
p:\ofp2\vehicles\land\wheeled\model.cfg - Defines a class Car.
p:\ofp2\vehicles\land\wheeled\landrover\model.cfg - Defines a class LandRover.

p:\ofp2\vehicles\land\wheeled\landrover\lr6x6_3 - In the model is a property config=LandRover (this feature is not implemented and may never be).
p:\ofp2\vehicles\land\wheeled\landrover\lr6x6_mg240 - Has a LR6x6_MG240.cfg, which inherits from class LandRover and adds definitions for a turret.

Notes

At this stage the file is parsed during the binarization of a model and animations can be played in the program with user actions. Eventually they can be previewed using the Buldozer viewer.

The model cfg follows a set of naming conventions. There can be several model cfg files, named by default model.cfg, named after the folder name or named after a specific model. In the case that both a model.cfg and <foldername>.cfg are present, only the latter is parsed. The <modelname>.cfg is parsed alongside of the other model cfg files and therefore the model can be seen as an additional level in the hierarchy.

When we have an example folder called humr with a model called hmmwv.p3d, we can use the following names: model.cfg or humr.cfg and next to that a hmmwv.cfg.

In the future a model may support a named property called config, which tells the model which class in the model cfg to use. There is some doubt whether this feature will be implemented though.

There are model cfg files that do not relate directly to a specific model, but are used for the generic base class definitions, such as class Default.

The functionality of the animations has been extended, allowing to do in scripting what was done before using RTM animations. In addition, animation controllers were introduced, which allow for the control of different animations at the same time. This opens up possibilities like having several turrets on a tank.

The model cfg and main configuration file (where classes cfgModels, cfgSkeletons and Animations were previously defined) operate together to smooth the change from the old to the new system. When a model cfg and the main configuration file both define the same model, the model cfg takes precedence.

Segments

cfgModels

This segment defines all properties of each model. The class names correspond to the model name.
Here you define which sections the model has, which skeleton it uses and its animations.

//Declare base classes
class CarAnimations 
{
   class IndicatorSpeed;
};

class CfgModels
{
   class Car; //Declare base class.

   class Vodnik: Car 
   {
      sectionsInherit = "Car"; //Inherit all sections from class Car.
                               //Add new section.
      sections[] =
      {
         "section1"
      };
      skeletonName = "Vodnik"; //Use the Vodnik skeleton.
		
      class Animations: CarAnimations //Inherit from generic animations.
      {
         class IndicatorSpeed: IndicatorSpeed //Redefine the maximum value
         {                                    //for the speed indicator.
            maxValue = 40;
         };
      };
   };
};

cfgSkeletons

This segment defines the skeleton for the model and the bones that it uses.

class CfgSkeletons 
{ 
   class Car; //Define base class.

   class Vodnik: Car
   {
      skeletonInherit = "Car"; //Inherit all bones from class Car.
      skeletonBones[] =        //Add two new bones. The movement
      {                        //of bone2 is linked to bone1.
         "bone1", ""
         "bone2", "bone1"
      };
   };
};

Animations

This segment is part of class cfgModels and defines all animations used by the model.

class Animations 
{
   class FrontWheelR
   {
      type = "rotationX"; //The type of animation.
      source = "wheel";   //The controller that provides input.
      selection = "pravy predni"; //The name of the skeleton bone used.
      axis = "";                  //The name of the axis in the model.
      memory = true; //Is the axis defined in the memory level of the
                     //model or not?
      sourceAddress = "loop"; //Does the animation loop or not?
      minValue = 0; //The minimum value of the motion range.
                    //i.e. The controller input when animation phase is 0.
      maxValue = 1; //The maximum value of the motion range.
                    //i.e. The controller input when animation phase is 1.
      angle0 = 0;   //The starting angle of this animation, where the
                    //animation phase is 0.
      angle1 = "rad -360"; //The ending angle of this animation,
   };                      //where the animation phase is 1.
};

Animation sources

These are the controllers that provide the input for the animation phase of the animations. These controllers are defined in the animation class using the source parameter. It's also possible to define custom controllers in the main configuration file, using class AnimationSources.

Controller names marked by * are freely defined by vehicle turret configs. The values here show the names commonly used for ArmA vehicles.

Name	Description	Simulation Classes
altBaro	The baro altitude.	Aircraft
altRadar	The radar altitude.	Aircraft
gear	The vehicle's gear.	Aircraft
horizonBank	The banking angle of the vehicle.	Aircraft
horizonDive	The diving angle of the vehicle.	Aircraft
vertSpeed	The vertical speed.	Aircraft
aileron	The main aileron control surfaces.	Airplane
aileronB	The bottom speed brake as opening ailerons.	Airplane
aileronT	The top speed brake as opening ailerons.	Airplane
aoa	The Angle Of Attack.	Airplane
elevator	The elevators.	Airplane
flap	The flaps.	Airplane
rotor	The rotors.	Airplane
rudder	The rudder.	Airplane
speedBrake	The speed brake.	Airplane
direction	The orientation of the vehicle.	Any
fuel	The fuel level.	Any
oil	IndicatorOilTemp	?
gmeter	The G-forces.	Any
rpm	The rpm of the vehicle. Used in rpm indicators.	Any
speed	The speed of the vehicle. Used in speed indicators.	Any
time	Timer-based input.	Any
clockHour	The current time in hours.	Any (including e.g. Weapon)
clockMinute	The current time in minutes. Derived from clockHour.	Any (including e.g. Weapon)
clockSecond	The current time in seconds. Moves discreetly every second and independently from clockHour.	Any (including e.g. Weapon)
damage	Current damage level (0=healthy, 1=destroyed)	Any
user	User defined (script driven) animation	Any
pedals	The pedals.	Bicycle
damper	The suspension of the vehicle. Currently only works with type translationY.	Car, Tank, Aircraft, Motorcycle
FrontDamper	The suspension of the front wheels of the vehicle.	Car?
BackDamper	The suspension of the back wheels of the vehicle.	Car?
drivingWheel	The orientation of the steering wheel. Used for the steering wheel and steered wheels.	Car, Ship, Motorcycle
*mainGun	The main gun.	Car, Tank, Helicopter, Ship
*mainTurret	The main turret.	Car, Tank, Helicopter, Ship
wheel	Normal wheels that turn based on moving forward.	Car, Airplane, Motorcycle
noseWheelTurn		Airplane
compassArrow	The arrow.	Compass
compassCover	The cover.	Compass
compassPointer	The pointer.	Compass
rotorH	The 'horizontal' rotor.	Helicopter
rotorV	The 'vertical' rotor.	Helicopter
rotorHDive	Tilt of the 'horizontal' rotor.	Helicopter
rotorVDive	Tilt of the 'vertical' rotor.	Helicopter
support	The support stand.	Motorcycle
*hatchCommander	The commander hatch.	Tank
hatchDriver	The driver hatch.	Tank
*hatchGunner	The gunner hatch.	Tank
*obsGun	The observer or commander gun.	Tank
*obsTurret	The observer or commander turret.	Tank
reload	The movement when reloading.	Weapon
revolving	The movement when firing.	Weapon
turretDir	The orientation of the turret.	Tank
wheelL	The left track wheels.	Tank
wheelR	The right track wheels.	Tank
scudLauncher	Phase of scudlaunch	Scud

Animation types

This table outlines the Animation Types you can use for an animation class.

Type	Description
rotation	Circular motion.
rotationX	Idem, but locked to the X axis.
rotationY	Idem, but locked to the Y axis.
rotationZ	Idem, but locked to the Z axis.
translation	Motion along one axis.
translationX	Idem, but locked to the X axis.
translationY	Idem, but locked to the Y axis.
translationZ	Idem, but locked to the Z axis.
hide	Hide once given threshold is reached

Animation Properties

This table outlines the properties (or entries) that each defined animation class expects to be present based on the animation type that is specified.

Eg. If you specify a an animation type of 'rotationX' you must specify the animation properties 'angle0' and 'angle1'.

Property	Description	Animation Type
source	Controller used for input.	Any
selection	Skeleton bone.	Any
axis	Model axis.	Any
begin	Starting point of an oriented model axis. This can be used in combination with end instead of axis.	Any
end	Ending point of an oriented model axis. This can be used in combination with begin instead of axis.	Any
memory	Optional (default is true). Axis in memory level or not?	Any
animPeriod	Time in seconds for one animation cycle. Only used by custom controllers.	Any
minValue	Minimum value of the motion range. i.e. Controller input when the animation phase is 0.	Any
maxValue	Maxmimum value of the motion range. i.e. Controller input when the animation phase is 1.	Any
minPhase	Minimum phase of the animation.i.e. Animation phase when the controller value is 0.	Any
maxPhase	Maxmimum value of the motion range.i.e. Animation phase when the controller value is 1.	Any
sourceAddress	Does the animation loop or not? This can be any of three different values: clamp (default), loop or mirror.	Any
angle0	Starting angle of this animation, where the animation phase is 0.	Rotations
angle1	Ending angle of this animation, where the animation phase is 1.	Rotations
offset0	Starting offset of this animation, where the animation phase is 1.	Translations
offset1	Ending offset of this animation, where the animation phase is 1.	Translations
hideValue	Threshold for hiding	Hide

AnimationSources

This is not part of the model cfg, but part of the main configuration file. This class allows you to define new user controllers or modify selected properties of existing controllers.

Defining custom controllers makes it possible to use one custom controller for several different animations. If an animation does not define the source parameter, the program looks for a custom controller defined in this class with the same name.

It is also possible to override an existing controller using this class, but be extremely careful in this case. The custom controller will hide the original one, leaving the latter inaccessible. Overriding is done using the :: notation in the source parameter as can be seen in the third example.

class AnimationSources
{
   class MachineGun
   {
      source = "reload"; //The controller used for the definition of
                         //this controller.
      weapon = MachineGun25W; //In the specific case of using the reload
   };                         //controller, the weapon class name.
};

class AnimationSources
{
   //Used by animations called Door1, which don't define the source
   //parameter or by animations that define source = Door1;.
   class Door1 
   {
      source = "user"; //The controller is defined as a user animation.
      animPeriod = 1;  //The animation period used for this controller.
      initPhase=1;     //Initial phase when object is created.
   };
};

class AnimationSources
{
   class wheel
   {
      source = "::wheel"; //Overriding the existing wheel controller.
   };
};

Example

You can find a howto for the CfgModels (a working attack helicopter) here as well as a howto on cfgModels & cfgSkeletons with additional description and examples here.