Automatic switching on and off the aquarium lighting

Air · 01-22-2010, 10:11 AM

Hello, help with why the version 3, there is no automatic switching on and off the aquarium lighting?

Jim Sachs · 01-22-2010, 10:49 AM

True, no auto lights yet.

Air · 01-22-2010, 01:57 PM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

True, no auto lights yet.

Will there be future auto lights?

Jim Sachs · 01-22-2010, 10:16 PM

I have planned on it.

Air · 01-24-2010, 09:40 AM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs:

I have planned on it.

When can we expect?

feldon34 · 01-24-2010, 10:01 AM

October, but the year is unknown.

jleslie · 01-24-2010, 11:14 AM

As is the version string :-)
Oh, sorry, strings :-)
(I know, I know...)

Jim Sachs · 01-24-2010, 11:16 AM

All I can say is that it is planned, high on the list, and I'll get to it when I'm able. I've learned not to discuss things which are keeping me from working full-time on the Aquarium, at least not within this Forum. The last time I did so resulted in someone wishing me a horrible death.

feldon34 · 01-24-2010, 11:31 AM

That person is now banned from the forum.

The day you are unable to discuss what is going on in your life, is the day I have failed as a forum administrator.

Jim Sachs · 01-24-2010, 11:45 AM

You've always done a fantastic job of policing the Forum, Morgan. But even though these psychos are immediately banned, they are still walking around out there, causing me to worry about the safety of myself and my family. I can see the headlines now, "The Screensaver Murders!"

A further note about automatic lighting - Many people assume that since versions 1.0 to 2.6 have had auto-lights, that it would be simple for me to put it into MA3. Not so. MA3 is a complete rewrite of the program. Every single feature has to be put back in individually, often in a wildy different way from the original. MA2.6 used the DirectX Lighting Model, which means that I just needed to set up lights, (Ambient, Directional, Spot, etc.), set the color and intensity for each, turn them on, and they would illuminate the objects in the tank. MA3 uses Shaders for all effects, including "lighting". Shaders are extremely powerful, but very difficult to use (at least for me).

mrtew · 01-26-2010, 11:27 PM

I don't even care about automatic lights now that I found out about the arrow keys that control the lights!!! Maybe that's only on the Mac version but wow it's nice to be able to turn off the background lights although it looks even cooler with the foreground lights off and the back on! Jim I'm so impressed with how nice the whole thing looks. It's just Fantatstic!!! (now hurry up with some freaky crab or something :-)

Nicki · 01-27-2010, 11:43 AM

Is Jim joking or did that really happen? If so, that's just awful.

feldon34 · 01-27-2010, 12:13 PM

It didn't make Snopes.com, but yes it really happened.

Someone was personally insulted that Jim purchased a motorcycle to tinker with, instead of delivering his perfect Marine Aquarium 3 right then and there.

______________________________
I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy.

Jim Sachs · 01-27-2010, 03:41 PM

If it's any consolation, I haven't had time to do any restoration on the motorcycle in months.

01-22-2010, 10:11 AM	#1
Air Registered Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4	Automatic switching on and off the aquarium lighting Hello, help with why the version 3, there is no automatic switching on and off the aquarium lighting?

01-22-2010, 10:49 AM	#2
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	True, no auto lights yet. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

01-22-2010, 10:16 PM	#4
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	I have planned on it. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

01-24-2010, 10:01 AM	#6
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	October, but the year is unknown. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

01-24-2010, 11:16 AM	#8
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	All I can say is that it is planned, high on the list, and I'll get to it when I'm able. I've learned not to discuss things which are keeping me from working full-time on the Aquarium, at least not within this Forum. The last time I did so resulted in someone wishing me a horrible death. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

01-22-2010, 01:57 PM	#3
Air Registered Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4	Originally posted by Jim Sachs: True, no auto lights yet. Will there be future auto lights?

01-24-2010, 09:40 AM	#5
Air Registered Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 4	Originally posted by Jim Sachs: I have planned on it. When can we expect?

01-24-2010, 11:14 AM	#7
jleslie Engineer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,279	As is the version string :-) Oh, sorry, strings :-) (I know, I know...)

01-24-2010, 11:31 AM	#9
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	That person is now banned from the forum. The day you are unable to discuss what is going on in your life, is the day I have failed as a forum administrator. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

01-24-2010, 11:45 AM	#10
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	You've always done a fantastic job of policing the Forum, Morgan. But even though these psychos are immediately banned, they are still walking around out there, causing me to worry about the safety of myself and my family. I can see the headlines now, "The Screensaver Murders!" A further note about automatic lighting - Many people assume that since versions 1.0 to 2.6 have had auto-lights, that it would be simple for me to put it into MA3. Not so. MA3 is a complete rewrite of the program. Every single feature has to be put back in individually, often in a wildy different way from the original. MA2.6 used the DirectX Lighting Model, which means that I just needed to set up lights, (Ambient, Directional, Spot, etc.), set the color and intensity for each, turn them on, and they would illuminate the objects in the tank. MA3 uses Shaders for all effects, including "lighting". Shaders are extremely powerful, but very difficult to use (at least for me). Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

01-26-2010, 11:27 PM	#11
mrtew Registered Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: michigan Posts: 109	I don't even care about automatic lights now that I found out about the arrow keys that control the lights!!! Maybe that's only on the Mac version but wow it's nice to be able to turn off the background lights although it looks even cooler with the foreground lights off and the back on! Jim I'm so impressed with how nice the whole thing looks. It's just Fantatstic!!! (now hurry up with some freaky crab or something :-) mrtew

01-27-2010, 11:43 AM	#12
Nicki Sugar Plum Fairy Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,267	Is Jim joking or did that really happen? If so, that's just awful. Run you clever boy. And remember...

01-27-2010, 12:13 PM	#13
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	It didn't make Snopes.com, but yes it really happened. Someone was personally insulted that Jim purchased a motorcycle to tinker with, instead of delivering his perfect Marine Aquarium 3 right then and there. ______________________________ I carry a gun because a cop is too heavy.

01-27-2010, 03:41 PM	#14
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	If it's any consolation, I haven't had time to do any restoration on the motorcycle in months. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium