Dynamic View Distance Script

[Skelt 10]

Having a bit of trouble getting this to work. Is it missing a config or something? I was trying to call it from the init.sqf.

<A working mp compatible script version of this would be pretty sexy> I find myself to be rather anti-pbo.

Thanks.

dynamic_viewdistance.sqf

// Script to smoothly scale the viewdistance according to fps and whether scope is used.
// Should help stabilise FPS too.
// TPW 20110122

// Variables
tpw_vmin = _this select 1; // minimum draw distance
tpw_vmax = _this select 2; // maximum draw distance
tpw_fmin = _this select 3; // max framerate
tpw_fmax = _this select 4; // min framerate
tpw_avtime = _this select 5; // how often to adjust viewdistance (sec) ~10
_zoomed = "n"; // start off not zoomed in
_zf = 1.5; // zoom factor to increase viewdistance by when scope used 

// Adjust view distance per map
if (worldname in ["zargabad","chernarus"]) then {tpw_vmin = (0.75 * tpw_vmin)}; // allow for worse performance on these maps
if (worldname in ["thirsk","torabora","isoladicapraia","isladuala","utes","mb_manaisland","shapur_baf","desert_e","provinggrounds_pmc"]) then {tpw_vmin = (1.5 * tpw_vmin);tpw_vmax = (1.5 * tpw_vmax)}; // allow for better performance on these maps
tpw_steps = (tpw_vmax-tpw_vmin)/(tpw_fmax-tpw_fmin);

// Background process to determine average fps over tpw_avtime seconds and adjust view distance accordingly
tpw_lastfps = tpw_fmin;
[] spawn {while {alive player} do {
_sum = 0; for "_c" from 1 to tpw_avtime do {_sum = (_sum + diag_fps);sleep 1}; tpw_avfps = floor (_sum/tpw_avtime); // Average fps over tpw_avtime sec
_buffps = (tpw_avfps + tpw_lastfps)/2; // should stop huge oscillations in viewdistance
_mfactor = (_buffps - tpw_fmin); if (_mfactor < 0) then {_mfactor = 0};
tpw_vdist = floor (tpw_vmin + (tpw_steps*_mfactor)); // will linearly scale viewdistance from tpw_fmin = tpw_vmin to tpw_fmax = tpw_vmax 
tpw_lastfps = tpw_avfps;
};
};

// Initial viewdistance 
_oldvdist = tpw_vmin;
setviewdistance tpw_vmin;
sleep (tpw_avtime * 1.5 ); // free up CPU for other init stuff and wait for 1st run through background process

// Adjust viewdistance when zooming/unzooming scopes
while {alive player } do {
_vdist = tpw_vdist;
if ((cameraView == "GUNNER") and (_zoomed == "y")) then {_vdist = (_vdist * _zf)};
if ((cameraView == "GUNNER") and (_zoomed == "n")) then {_vdist = (_vdist * _zf); _zoomed="y"};
if ((cameraView == "INTERNAL") and (_zoomed == "y")) then {_zoomed="n"};

// Smoothly change viewdistance - if it has changed since last time
if (_vdist != _oldvdist) then 
{_inc = ((_vdist - _oldvdist)/10); // setviewdistance increments 1/10
_vdist = _oldvdist;
for "_i" from 1 to 10 do {_vdist = (_vdist + _inc); setviewdistance _vdist};
};
_oldvdist = _vdist;

//Debugging output
hintsilent format ["av fps:%1, vd:%2",tpw_avfps,_vdist];

sleep 1;
};

[twirly 11]

Just had a quick look.... and can see something right away.

Shouldn't it be like this?... instead of what you have.

tpw_vmin = _this select [color="Red"]0[/color]; // minimum draw distance
tpw_vmax = _this select [color="Red"]1[/color]; // maximum draw distance
tpw_fmin = _this select [color="Red"]2[/color]; // max framerate
tpw_fmax = _this select [color="Red"]3[/color]; // min framerate
tpw_avtime = _this select [color="Red"]4[/color]; // how often to adjust viewdistance (sec) ~10

There might be other errors of course!

[Skelt 10]

Thanks for the reply, yeah my issue is with the array too.. I don't see where any of those variables are defined (minimum draw / max draw ect) so I'm thinking this script requires a config.cpp or something where those values are determined. So I'm thinking this is part of a pbo =/.

But I only know the basics of scripting so I'm unsure how to complete this to make it work. Only reason I'd like a script version rather then the DVD (Dynamic View Distance Addon) is to save the clients an added download - if we can script this functionality into the map, we should do so.

Thanks again for the reply.

-Bones

[tpw 2315]

Hi Skelt et al

Sorry I haven't had a lot of time or enthusiasm for scripting and Arma2 in general over the last few months - separating from wife will do that to a bloke.

It's been quite a while since I worked on the script and my sqf is a bit rusty! Please PM me and I can sort you out with a script version rather than a PBO version.

[Skelt 10]

Sounds great pm sent, and to anyone else whom reads this, we will keep this post open for discussion on this topic.

[tpw 2315]

I have to laugh, when I originally came up with this script I was bombarded with requests to make a PBO version!

So I dusted off the SQF cobwebs and had a look. For starters, you need the latest version of the script, see below.

Save the script wherever you want (eg your_arma_directory\scripts\dynamic_view_distance.sqf)

Put this in the init field of your player

nul = [this, 200,1800,4000,20,40,5,1.5,1.5,1] execVM "scripts\dynamic_view_distance.sqf";

An explanation of the numbers, which will be passed to the script:

200; // The minimum viewdistance which will be used

1800; // The preferred viewdistance which will be used. Viewdistance will go higher than this if the fps is higher than preferred.

4000; // Viewdistance will never go higher than this.

20; // View distance will be lowered to minimum for frame rates any lower than this

40; // A realistic setting for a preferred framerate you know your system can handle

5; // Time over which the framerate is averaged. In seconds. Must be > 1

1.5; // The factor to increase the viewdistance by when using scopes/binoculars. Set to 1 for no increase

1.5; // The factor to increase the viewdistance by when flying aircraft. Set to 1 for no increase

0; // 0 - no debugging info. 1 - Displays average framerate and viewdistance. Useful for establishing optimum settings for your system.

Feel free to change these to your taste!

// Script to smoothly scale the viewdistance according to fps and whether scope is used or in aircraft.
// Should help stabilise FPS too.
// Huge thanks to Das Attorney for help with the addon version of this script
// Thanks to TommyC81 for SMA help
// v1.04 TPW 20110205

// Variables
dvd_vmin = _this select 1; // minimum draw distance
dvd_vpref = _this select 2; // preferred draw distance
dvd_vmax = _this select 3; // maximum draw distance
dvd_fmin = _this select 4; // min framerate
dvd_fpref = _this select 5; // preferred framerate
dvd_avtime = _this select 6; // how often to adjust viewdistance (sec) ~10
dvd_zf = _this select 7; // zoom factor to increase viewdistance by when scope used 
dvd_azf = _this select 8; // zoom factor to increase viewdistance by when in aircraft 
dvd_debug = _this select 9; // debugging output 
_zoomed = "n"; // start off not zoomed in
dvd = 1;

//Set up
_airmax = dvd_vmax * dvd_azf;
hintsilent "Dynamic View Distance 1.04 Active";
dvd_avtime = floor dvd_avtime; 
if (dvd_avtime < 1) then {dvd_avtime = 1};
dvd_steps = (dvd_vpref-dvd_vmin)/(dvd_fpref-dvd_fmin);
sma_array = [dvd_fpref,dvd_fpref,dvd_fpref,dvd_fpref,dvd_fpref];
dvd_avfps = dvd_fpref;
dvd_fprefmin = dvd_fpref - dvd_fpref/10;
dvd_fprefmax = dvd_fpref + dvd_fpref/10;

// Background process to determine simple moving average (SMA) fps over 5 intervals and adjust view distance accordingly
dvd_lastfps = dvd_fmin;
[] spawn {while {dvd > 0} do {
_fps = diag_fps; 
dvd_avfps = dvd_avfps - ((sma_array select 4) / 5) + (_fps / 5);
sma_array = [_fps] + sma_array; sma_array resize 5;
_mfactor = dvd_avfps - dvd_fmin; if (_mfactor < 0) then {_mfactor = 0};
dvd_vdist = floor (dvd_vmin + (dvd_steps*_mfactor)); 
if (dvd_vdist > dvd_vmax) then {dvd_vdist = dvd_vmax};
sleep dvd_avtime;
};
};

// Initial viewdistance 
_oldvdist = dvd_vpref;
setviewdistance dvd_vpref;

// Adjust viewdistance when zooming/unzooming scopes
while {dvd > 0 } do {
_vdist = dvd_vdist;
if ((dvd_avfps > dvd_fprefmin) && (dvd_avfps < dvd_fprefmax)) then {_vdist = dvd_vpref};
if ((cameraView == "GUNNER") and (_zoomed == "y")) then {_vdist = (_vdist * dvd_zf); if (_vdist > dvd_vmax) then {_vdist = dvd_vmax};};
if ((cameraView == "GUNNER") and (_zoomed == "n")) then {_vdist = (_vdist * dvd_zf); if (_vdist > dvd_vmax) then {_vdist = dvd_vmax};_zoomed="y"};
if ((cameraView == "INTERNAL") and (_zoomed == "y")) then {_zoomed="n"};

if (vehicle player iskindof "air") then {_vdist = (_vdist * dvd_azf); if (_vdist > _airmax) then {_vdist = _airmax};};

// Smoothly change viewdistance - if it has changed since last time
if (_vdist != _oldvdist) then 
{_inc = ((_vdist - _oldvdist)/10); // setviewdistance increments 1/10
_vdist = _oldvdist;
for "_i" from 1 to 10 do {_vdist = (_vdist + _inc); setviewdistance _vdist};
};
_oldvdist = _vdist;

//Debugging output
if (dvd_debug == 1) then {hintsilent format ["av fps:%1, vd:%2",floor dvd_avfps,floor _vdist];};

sleep 1;
};

Good luck!

[Skelt 10]

Scripts seem to scare some people, myself on the other hand, embrace them.

This is awesome, thanks.

ED: Tested::: Works wonderfully! FPS have never been better. (The game rarely runs choppy for me maxed at 100% 3d Resolution - and I have noticed an improvement over that!!)

Edited October 3, 2011 by Skelt