TCLights v2.4 (Siren/Strobe Program)

[[TC]»Elmo«]

TCLights v2.4
tc-g.uk/TCLights

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Note: If you need to use versions of LFS before 0.7E, please use TCLights v2.3.1 (see below)

TCLights v2.4 Contains Support for LFS 0.7E
This version is unfinished, but I've given it a full release to get the new lights functions widely available.
There will likely be more Beta versions of TCLights as I develop further: tc-g.uk/TCLightsBeta
More documentation for the new features will be added to this post over the coming days.

Changelog (Click to View)

Changelog:

--- v2.4 :: changes since v2.3 ---

Support for LFS 0.7E (D50+)

Bindable controls for the new lights:

• Headlights Cycle: Renamed from the old "Headlights" so existing binds will use this. Works like shift+3 in LFS.
• Sidelights
• Dipped Beam
• Full Beam
• Flash
• Front Fog
• Rear Fog
• Extra Light
  

Light sequence uses Full/High Beam

New flashing light patterns for use with Fog/Extra lights

To select a different pattern, open TC Lights configuration and click Select Lights Mode
Click the mode name to show a description.
Currently, there are two other options that affect flashing lights behaviour, they are duplicated in Lights Mode options screen for convenience.

I have also updated the RB4 T5 RESCUE and FZ5 V8 SAFETYCAR mods to support the new lighting patterns, where the left and right sides of the lightbar will flash alternately. More mod updates to follow.
They both also have an Extra light:
The Rescue/Amber config has a green lightbar centre, used for racing, with potential to use when a Medic on CityDriving
The Police/Blue config has "cruise lights"


Internal Changes / Fixes:
Target generic Windows 10 instead of specific SDK.
Fix: Slow connect/reconnect because of timeout
Fixed update check server & rewritten update check.

Notes for Mod Makers:
If you have left/right lightbar/flashing lights, please use l_ffog and l_rfog for the two sides
The extra light can also be used on its own, or in combination with fog lights.
Stop using indicators for flashing lights if possible.
You can now have up to 4 mappings per l_* name in each configuration.

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Features

• Multiplayer friendly flashing pattern using headlights
• Uses LFS built-in slow (wail) and fast (yelp) sirens
• Also supports Horn4 (bullhorn) & Horn5 (piercer)
• All siren/horn functions can be operated by a single button. Optional dedicated bullhorn button.
• Full controller support.
  Multiple keyboard/mouse/controller buttons/POVs can be bound to functions. (Currently limited to 10 per function).
  Use the command /o tcl config in-game to change/add to controls.
  Bindable functions:
  Flashing Lights
  Horn/Siren
  Bullhorn
  Headlights Cycle
  Hazards
  Left Indicator
  Right Indicator
  Sidelights
  Dipped Beam
  Full Beam
  Flash
  Front Fog
  Rear Fog
  Extra Light
• Full Indicator Support.
  No need for indicator scripts anymore!
• Multiple control modes for lights/sirens
• Multiple Lights/Siren behaviours for different server roles
• In-game Config UI
  Use the command /o tcl config in-game to load the menus.
• Heads-Up Display
  Small, simple HUD showing current TC Lights activity:
  
  
  Click the TCLights logo to open config (saves typing the command)
  

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Download & Installation

Download TC Lights v2.4
Unzip TCLights.exe to your LFS folder

You may need to install/update the VC++ Runtime.

Download TC Lights v2.3.1 for LFS 0.6N to 0.7D49

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Updated Siren Pack

Optionally, but highly recommended:

Download our siren pack, designed for TCLights v2 and our new siren rules

See the Downloads page for alternatives.

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How to Use

Default controls:
Siren key: PageUp
Lights key: PageDown

Type /o tcl config in game to configure controls and other options.
You can also configure by clicking the [TC] Lights logo if the HUD is enabled.


- Lights -

Flashing lights are toggled on and off by pressing the Lights key.

Indicators and Hazard lights can be used at any time using their respective keys.

• Press the key again to cancel.
• If Use Hazards with Flashing Lights option is enabled, indicators will override the flashing hazards pattern untill cancelled.

Headlights are cycled by pressing the Headlights key.

• If headlights were on when flashing lights are activated, they will remain on after flashing lights are deactivated, provided [TC] Lights was originally used to turn the headlights on.
• Bind additional buttons to select specific headlights, fog lights and the extra light
  

- Sirens -

The different siren sounds are triggered by combinations of the following presses of the siren key:

• Tap (short press): A normal press of the button.
• Long press: Press the button for more than ~200ms.
• Hold: Press and hold the button.
• Double-tap: Two short presses of the key close together.
• Double (tap then long press): A tap followed by a long press close together.
  

Siren Modes

There are multiple modes with different behaviours.

Auto: Automatically uses one of the below modes depending on your nickname.
Emergency: Full flashing lights & sirens.
TOW: No sirens, "Use Hazards in light pattern" is enforced.
Race/Civilian: No flashing lights/sirens. Standard lights only.


Siren Behaviour in Emergency Modes

In all Emergency modes:

• Tap to turn siren on.
• Double-tap to turn siren off.
• When siren is on, tap to change to the next siren in the main cycle.
• When siren is off, hold to sound the standard horn
• When piercer is active:
  
  • Tap to switch back to a normal siren
  • The piercer will be automatically disabled after 5 seconds

Emergency modes:

Wail↔Yelp Cycle (1-key, Default): Hold for bullhorn. Double (short -> long) for piercer. (Same as TCLights v2.0)
Wail↔Yelp Cycle + BullHorn A (2-key): Dedicated bullhorn key, hold siren for piercer
Wail↔Yelp Cycle + BullHorn B (2-key): Dedicated bullhorn key, tap->long-press siren for piercer
Wail→Yelp→Piercer Cycle (1-key): Piercer in main cycle. Hold siren for bullhorn
Wail→Yelp→Piercer Cycle + Bullhorn (2-key): Piercer in main cycle. Dedicated bullhorn key


- Options -

Use Hazards with Flashing Lights:

If enabled, hazard lights will be used as part of the flashing lights pattern, synced with the headlights. Indicators will override hazards until you turn them off, so you can make others aware of your intentions.

Flash faster for Yelp siren:

If the Yelp (fast) siren is running, the lights will flash at double speed.

Turn on lights with siren:

Flashing lights will be enabled when you turn on the siren. Lights *will not* turn off when siren is turned off.

Flash Headlights with Horn:

If flashing lights and headlights are off, "Flash" (high beam) will be on whenever horn or bullhorn is pressed.

Bullhorn interrupts siren:

Bullhorn will turn off main siren when active (always has to override piercer, regardless of this setting)

Ignore controls when in text entry dialogs:

TCLights will ignore all controller input whenever LFS reports that a text entry dialog is open - mostly useful when using keyboard button binds.

Allow input when LFS window is inactive:

Allows TCLights to be used when LFS' similar option is enabled and LFS is not in focus.

Show HUD:

Small, simple HUD showing current TC Lights activity

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Demo




Setting up TCLights v2.x (doesn't include menus/config)

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Known Issues/Limitations:

• When the config menus are open, buttons *will* conflict with other local InSim applications that also use buttons. This won't affect normal operation, as buttons are only used when the config is open - temporarily close other local InSim apps if this causes issues.
• Some menus will probably do weird things if you bind too many controls.
• It is possible to bind the same button to multiple functions/the same function several times.
• If you have two or more of the same controller, functions will be bound to *all* instances of that controller model. There is no reliable way to distinguish between instances of the same controller across reboots/re-plugs. This will not be a problem if you have two TH8 shifters in different modes, as the buttons are different, however it will affect some others.
• The mouse cursur will always display when the HUD is enabled due to the clickable button, which may annoy some mouse users. Future versions will hide the mouse cursur while moving, similar to the CityDriving buttons.
  

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Bug Reporting

First, please check:

• You're running at least LFS 0.7E (0.6N for TCLights v2.3.1)
• TCLights.exe is in your LFS directory (or you're running from a shortcut with "start in" set to your LFS directory)
• You start LFS before running TCLights
• Ensure you do not run any of LFS or TCLights as administrator and you have permissions to modify the LFS directory. (Do not install LFS in C:\Program Files)

If you still have problems with TCLights, please give a clear, detailed description of exactly what's happening. A screenshot of the TCLights window is usually helpful.

If TCLights can't connect, please include the contents of your "lfs/data/script/autoexec.lfs" file (and any other scripts /run from autoexec.lfs).

Also include:

• Type of PC (PC, Laptop etc)
• Make/model of PC (if not custom built)
• PC hardware specifications
• Windows version, including 32/64bit
• What controller you use
• How you're turning on TCLights(keyboard/profiler setting etc)
• What other programs, if any, you are using that communicates with LFS
• What, if any, profilers/macro key software do you have installed. Include controller, keyboard & mouse profilers, also things like autohotkey.