Making perfect loops with Excel

[Azu]

I still don't really get it but, is it possible to do corkscrews?

[Kamahl]

to be honest, i dont understand how to use this...

i guess i'll be doing loops the old way.

[Azu]

You need to explain more or a video or something.

[rickets007]

Well, entering the parameters is pretty straightforward so I think you may be having trouble exporting the data. You need to select everything in yellow on the left. You will see that each line is one object and there are always 96 lines. If you enter in a smaller number in the '# of pieces' field you only need to select the lines of code up to and including that number. Then paste all this into a text editor. The file will contain many tab spaces you need to convert the tab spaces to regular spaces. This can be done with the replace feature. You can not type a tab space so you will have to highlight a tab space and copy/paste into the find field. Once the tab spaces have been converted to regular spaces you may add the code to your map file.

[Hedning]

Sure they are, they are perfect loops! I recommend you to try that map.

The 2 maps I posted are testing maps of repeating loops to let you guys see that there can be driven on it and to let you guys know how to let it repeat, I don't think I can help Rickets007 about how to improve the program as I don't know anything about programming

This is usefull and it saves me time

Thanks Rickets007 and I wish you good luck on improving it with someone who knows about programming

The loop is too hard to make.

Looks nice but hard to make.

Edit: did my own spiral with that prog.

If I do the spiral smaller I could save objects and build one really long spiral.

[Azu]

Finally! I got it to work!!!!!

[LR-yoyo]

OMFG !

Wow, incredible. Good work rickets007.

Want to play one of those maps, upload it in lw .

See ya

[rickets007]

Here is an example map with two loops.

Double Loop Map

[Hedning]

Alright, I have added a '# of loops' parameter. You can also control the direction of the loop (right or left handed) by making the offset negative.

But I want it in another angle.

Now I can have <--- and ---> if you get what i mean. Right and left handed.

But I want it in another angle, is taht possible?

[rickets007]

Alright, I will try to work out the trig for rotating the spiral. It might take a while because I have been smoking pot all day and I'm really high.

[Hedning]

Haha.

Good =)

[rickets007]

I think I got it.

I am now going to work on optimizing the spread sheet. I will release the newest version within a few hours.

[Hedning]

Great =)

This will really help me when i'm building maps like Going-Down.

And if you got time maybe you can figure out how to angle them like a spiral.

[rickets007]

I finished the spread sheet.

MTA Loop Generator

Here is a screen shot of a loop with the following parameters:

radius = 30

# of pieces = 96

Offset = 60

# of loops = 2

Rotation = 22 degrees

[Azu]

Making do spirals would be nice!

[rickets007]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean. Like if you made a larger offset and rotated the entrance and exit 90 degrees?

[Ransom]

Wrong section> moved to help section stickies

[Hedning]

I'm not sure exactly what you mean. Like if you made a larger offset and rotated the entrance and exit 90 degrees?

Like this http://img84.imageshack.us/my.php?image=3zb1.jpg

[iam2noob4u]

this is cool ... to bad i can't open excel sheets on the comp im on... will have to wait untill i can use the pc im normally on...

[rickets007]

Hedning, I see what you mean. That, however, would best be done by a separate program. I might look into making one sometime.

[rickets007]

I have done some thinking about the spirals.

In the Unites States engineers use the term 'superelevation' to describe the angle a banked corner makes with flat ground. It looks like your super elevation in the picture is about 45 degrees.

There are two ways to deal with the transition from flat ground to the spirals superelevation.

1. Make the spiral have a constant superelevation and add separate transitional sections at the ends.

2. Make the superelevation start at zero and gradually increase until the middle of the spiral and then gradually decrease until the exit. This is similar to how I designed the loop generator so that the entrance and exit are strait.

[rickets007]

Here is what I have so far

The entrance and exit create a problem. They require a convex road surface. This can not be created using flat pieces. Any ideas?

[Kamahl]

check the entrance and exit, is something like that possible?

[rickets007]

do you have a better picture

maybe closer up?

[Kamahl]

got a better idea

download the map so you can get all the pics you want

http://center.mtasa.com/?p=race&r=4638

BTW, dont expect it to be perfect cause everything is hand made.