Add custom vehicle to editor

[zaphodbeeblebrox 10]

I have done some retextures of the Ghost Hawk as a precursor to porting some vehicles that are missing into Arma 3.

For my first experiment, I used an existing addon as a template for how to do config.cpp, etc. I installed the addon, Arma 3 can see it in Options > Expansions, and it's checked and enabled.

However, in the editor, if I go to BLUFOR or Empty either one (which it should show in BLUFOR) the Vehicle is not in the list. Is it possible to add a created vehicle to this list? How do you do it?

[mrflay 4]

Verify that scope is set to public in your vehicle class.

class cfgVehicles {
 ...
 class YourGhostHawk: ExistingGhostHawk {
   scope = 2; // 0=private, 1=protected, 2=public
   ...
 }
 ...
}

[zaphodbeeblebrox 10]

Verify that scope is set to public in your vehicle class.

class cfgVehicles {
 ...
 class YourGhostHawk: ExistingGhostHawk {
   scope = 2; // 0=private, 1=protected, 2=public
   ...
 }
 ...
}

Thanks. I just took a look in my code, though, and scope = 2 is in there.

#define _ARMA_

enum {
destructengine = 2,
destructdefault = 6,
destructwreck = 7,
destructtree = 3,
destructtent = 4,
stabilizedinaxisx = 1,
stabilizedinaxesxyz = 4,
stabilizedinaxisy = 2,
stabilizedinaxesboth = 3,
destructno = 0,
stabilizedinaxesnone = 0,
destructman = 5,
destructbuilding = 1
};

class CfgPatches
{
class ZB_MedEvac
{
	units[] = {};
	weapons[] = {};
	requiredVersion = 1;
	requiredAddons[] = {};
};
};

class CfgVehicles {
class B_Heli_Transport_01_F;

class ZB_B_Heli_MedEvac_01_F : B_Heli_Transport_01_F {
	author = "Zaphod Beeblebrox";
	_generalMacro = "B_Heli_Transport_01_base_F";
	vehicleClass = "Support";
	faction = "BLU_F";
	crew = "B_Helipilot_F";
	typicalCargo[] = {};
	side = 1;
	scope = 2;
	attendant = 1;

	picture = "\A3\air_f_beta\Heli_Transport_01\Data\UI\Heli_Transport_01_base_CA.paa";
	icon = "\A3\air_f_beta\Heli_Transport_01\Data\UI\Map_Heli_Transport_01_base_CA.paa";
	threat[] = {0.0,0.0,0.0};

	class TransportItems
	{
		class _xx_FirstAidKit
		{
			name = "FirstAidKit";
			count = 20;
		};

		class _xx_Medikit
		{
			name = "Medikit";
			count = 2;
		};
	};

	hiddenSelectionsTextures[] = {"zb_medevac\addons\data\heli_medevac_01_ext_co.paa","zb_medevac\addons\data\heli_medevac_01_ext02_co.paa"};
};
};

Above is the code. It's just a STS24 MedEvac reskin. As you can see, scope = 2 is in there. Addon is loaded and recognized.

I tried adding "ZB_MedEvac" to addOns[] and addOnsAuto[] in mission.sqm, which returned an error that I could not play/edit this mission because it depended on something that was deleted.

Any further ideas?

[mrflay 4]

Any further ideas?

It ends up in the Support category in the editor (not Air).

Maybe change the vehicleClass to "Air" and add a displayName.

displayName = "My Ghost Hawk";
vehicleClass = "Air";

Or remove vehiclClass completely, so it will inherit from parent class (B_Heli_Transport_01_F).

[zaphodbeeblebrox 10]

I can also go into the Editor and do a Game Logic or a Debug Console with the code:

_null = "ZB_B_Heli_MedEvac_01_F" createVehicle (position player);

And it does nothing.

---------- Post added at 22:08 ---------- Previous post was at 22:07 ----------

I checked both the support under BLURFOR/NATO and then I changed it to vehicleClass = "Air", re-PBO'd it, put it back in the addon folder, and still nothing in the list.

---------- Post added at 22:11 ---------- Previous post was at 22:08 ----------

It ends up in the Support category in the editor (not Air).

Maybe change the vehicleClass to "Air" and add a displayName.

displayName = "My Ghost Hawk";
vehicleClass = "Air";

Or remove vehiclClass completely, so it will inherit from parent class (B_Heli_Transport_01_F).

Oh, you're right, though, I have no displayName. Let me try that.

---------- Post added at 22:18 ---------- Previous post was at 22:11 ----------

Still no dice. Set displayName, commented out vehicleClass...still nothing in the editor.

---------- Post added at 22:19 ---------- Previous post was at 22:18 ----------

This is so frustrating, and I have a feeling it's something stupid.

---------- Post added at 22:24 ---------- Previous post was at 22:19 ----------

Let me recap the whole process.

I create a folder, @zb_medevac, with a directory named zb_medevac inside of it.

I put in it, addons directory. Inside of addons is a data directory.

The two .paa files for my textures are in the data directory.

There is a config.cpp file in the addons directory. (not binary yet)

I used PBO Manager to turn zb_medevac into zb_medevac.pbo.

So now I have @zb_medevac in D:/SteamLibrary/SteamApps/common/Arma 3, with zb_medevac.pbo inside of it.

In zb_medevac.pbo, addons is the directory directly under it, and the tree looks correct.

What could be wrong?

[mrflay 4]

I create a folder, @zb_medevac, with a directory named zb_medevac inside of it.

I put in it, addons directory. Inside of addons is a data directory.

The two .paa files for my textures are in the data directory.

There is a config.cpp file in the addons directory. (not binary yet)

I used PBO Manager to turn zb_medevac into zb_medevac.pbo.

So now I have @zb_medevac in D:/SteamLibrary/SteamApps/common/Arma 3, with zb_medevac.pbo inside of it.

In zb_medevac.pbo, addons is the directory directly under it, and the tree looks correct.

This is how the source directory structure should look:

zb_medvac/config.cpp
zb_medvac/data/heli_medevac_01_ext_co.paa
zb_medvac/data/heli_medevac_01_ext02_co.paa

PBO zb_medvac directory and put the zb_medvac.pbo in C:\Users\{your username here}\Documents\Arma 3\@zb_medvac\addons directory.

If you look inside the zb_medvac.pbo, it should look like this:

config.cpp (or config.bin)
$PBOPREFIX$
data/heli_medevac_01_ext_co.paa
data/heli_medevac_01_ext02_co.paa

The $PBOPREFIX$ should contain the single line:

zb_medvac

Launch Arma 3 with -mod=@zb_medvac argument.

Also, you need to remove "addons" from the texture path in your config.cpp.

hiddenSelectionsTextures[] = {"zb_medevac\data\heli_medevac_01_ext_co.paa","zb_medevac\data\heli_medevac_01_ext02_co.paa"};

[x3kj 1247]

class CfgPatches
{
   class ZB_MedEvac
   {
       units[] = {};
       weapons[] = {};
       requiredVersion = 1;
       requiredAddons[] = {};
   };
}; 

I thought you have to list your new classes in there if you add stuff to the game, or is that for another purpose?

Edit:

Sample says this

/*	Addon description	*/
class CfgPatches {
// Avoid confusing users by keeping class name match the PBO name and path.
class Test_Tank_01 {
	// List addons defining config classes you want to use, define new vehicles available in editor and weapon classes
	requiredAddons[] = {"A3_Armor_F_Beta"};
	units[] = {"O_Test_Tank_01"};
	weapons[] = {};
};
};

So i assume it's a must, at least the units[]=etc

[mrflay 4]

class CfgPatches
{
   class ZB_MedEvac
   {
       units[] = {};
       weapons[] = {};
       requiredVersion = 1;
       requiredAddons[] = {};
   };
}; 

I thought you have to list your new classes in there if you add stuff to the game, or is that for another purpose?

It's not strictly required (but a good practice). The units/vehicles will be displayed in the editor even those fields are empty.

[zaphodbeeblebrox 10]

I have solved this, by the way. I will be doing a little more tinkering, then posting the steps I took to resolve here when I'm freed up (at work) in case others come across this thread.

[StaticDET5 1]

Post your fix!