[TC] Lights Beta (v2.4.b.2 for LFS 0.7D50+)

[[TC]»Elmo«]

I will be putting some beta versions of TCLights here for public testing.
These will primarily be used for incompatible LFS features (like the new lights in LFS 7D50) or final testing before a wider release.

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Latest beta version: 2.4.b.2

Old test versions will be blacklisted and you will be forced to upgrade to either the latest stable or beta version.

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Please see the release version thread for main info. Most of that still applies, differences are in the changelog below.

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Changelog:

--- v2.4.b.2 :: changes since v2.4.b.1 ---

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 - let me know if I can improve the descriptions wording.
Currently, there are two other options that affect flashing lights behaviour, they are duplicated in Lights Mode options screen for convenience.

I have also created a test version of the RB4 T5 called RB4 GT T5 D50TEST (id: 87E3BD). It is aliased to RB5 on TC.
Its D50 configurations are designed for the Fog lights are lightbar mode, where the left and right sides of the lightbar will flash alternately.
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"


--- v2.4.b.1 :: changes since v2.4.b.0 ---
Fix: Version check

--- v2.4.b.0 :: changes since v2.3 ---

Basic support for LFS 0.7D50+

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
  

The new bindings mean extra stuff in the config file.
Old TCLights versions should be able to read the config saved by the beta, but the old version will remove any bindings from the newer version.
Please backup your TCLights.cfg file

Light sequence uses Full/High Beam

Internal Changes / Fixes:
Target generic Windows 10 instead of specific SDK. This *shouldn't* cause any issues. Please post if you need a newer version of the VC++ Runtime than TCLights v2.3 needed.
Fix: Slow connect/reconnect because of timeout
Fixed update check server & rewritten update check. Please check for errors when TCLights starts up

Notes for Mod Makers:
I intend to get some new flashing light patterns implemented ASAP that use the new lights instead of abusing indicators.
If you have left/right lightbar/flashing lights, please use l_ffog and l_rfog for the two sides.
There will be various modes for l_extra so go ham.

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No doubt there will be bugs/breakages, so:

Bug Reporting

First, please check:

• You're running at least LFS 0.7D50
• 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.

[[TC]►Luke™◄]

Awesome work Elmo as usual. Can I make one request please? When you select the siren cycles, Horn 5 (the piercer type siren) only stays on for a few seconds then revert back to the fast siren. Would it be possible to have an option where it stays on and you manually change it back? I've found a few times in chases of 3+ cops where I'm needing to use a lot of Horn 5 just to differentiate myself from others because everyone is using The two siren tones, and it's a pain to keep pressing the siren button.

Cheers

[[TC]►Ras◄]

(2023-11-26 13:40)Luke™ Wrote:  Awesome work Elmo as usual. Can I make one request please? When you select the siren cycles, Horn 5 (the piercer type siren) only stays on for a few seconds then revert back to the fast siren. Would it be possible to have an option where it stays on and you manually change it back? I've found a few times in chases of 3+ cops where I'm needing to use a lot of Horn 5 just to differentiate myself from others because everyone is using The two siren tones, and it's a pain to keep pressing the siren button.

Cheers

I second this. Nice updates!

[Josh]

I understand you have made HORN5 momentary to fit the fit the rules regarding short use but I'd also love to see a manual HORN5 option.

I'd also like the addition of lighting modes; Rear Reds, Full Emergency.

[Ho4Hou_KoT]

Is there any way to use ffog and rfog lights for strobes, instead of turn indicators?

[[TC]»Elmo«]

(2023-12-03 01:00)Ho4Hou_KoT Wrote:  Is there any way to use ffog and rfog lights for strobes, instead of turn indicators?

That's the plan when I get time

[LordJaguar]

Hi,
I have experienced an issue with the application while using the latest D52 patch release:
TCL boots as normal, though it connects, then disconnects, and then connects again as shown in the log on the cmd:

Connecting to LFS on port 29999...
LFS Host Version: 0.7D52 S3, InSim Supported Version: 9. Upgrading to v9
LFS Connection Closed.
Connecting to LFS on port 29999...
LFS Host Version: 0.7D52 S3, InSim Version: 9

It does this on every start up. I check all the settings and they are all normal. The issue i have is the key binds I have set to turn on sirens and lights do not work with D52. The key binds are set in /o tcl cfg but they do nothing when pressed. I restarted and did all the troubleshooting I can, but i cannot seem to find the cause of the issue. Reporting this here, thanks for your time.

[[TC]»Elmo«]

(2023-12-05 17:40)LordJaguar Wrote:  Hi,
I have experienced an issue with the application while using the latest D52 patch release:
TCL boots as normal, though it connects, then disconnects, and then connects again as shown in the log on the cmd:

Connecting to LFS on port 29999...
LFS Host Version: 0.7D52 S3, InSim Supported Version: 9. Upgrading to v9
LFS Connection Closed.
Connecting to LFS on port 29999...
LFS Host Version: 0.7D52 S3, InSim Version: 9

It does this on every start up. I check all the settings and they are all normal. The issue i have is the key binds I have set to turn on sirens and lights do not work with D52. The key binds are set in /o tcl cfg but they do nothing when pressed. I restarted and did all the troubleshooting I can, but i cannot seem to find the cause of the issue. Reporting this here, thanks for your time.

This is normal since InSim v9 was a major change.
To be compatible with older versions of LFS, it starts up in v8 mode. If it detects LFS supports at least v9, it will reconnect. It can't default to v9 because of the way the packets work.

[[TC]»Elmo«]

--- v2.4.b.2 :: changes since v2.4.b.1 ---

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 - let me know if I can improve the descriptions wording.
Currently, there are two other options that affect flashing lights behaviour, they are duplicated in Lights Mode options screen for convenience.

I have also created a test version of the RB4 T5 called RB4 GT T5 D50TEST (id: 87E3BD). It is aliased to RB5 on TC.
Its D50 configurations are designed for the Fog lights are lightbar mode, where the left and right sides of the lightbar will flash alternately.
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"

[Carlos06]

hi sir

would it be possible to disable the full beams in the lightbar setting?
so that they don't flash all the time
sometimes, in some strobe configurations, I'd like the full beams not to flash and only the fog lights and extra lights to work

[Matt]

Would it be possible to have an alternating left and right indicator option over hazards for lights?

Just as on certain vehicles (N5 for example), the lightbar just strobes full blue rather than being sided.

[[TC]»Elmo«]

(2023-12-16 02:11)Carlos06 Wrote:  would it be possible to disable the full beams in the lightbar setting?
so that they don't flash all the time
sometimes, in some strobe configurations, I'd like the full beams not to flash and only the fog lights and extra lights to work

I'll see about adding that as an option.

There are a lot of possibilities for light patterns, I need to look into some ways of making them not get out of hand.

(2023-12-16 21:04)Matt Wrote:  Would it be possible to have an alternating left and right indicator option over hazards for lights?

Just as on certain vehicles (N5 for example), the lightbar just strobes full blue rather than being sided.

TC Lights will not use indicators in light patterns, as they should be used for actually indicating (It's useful to let other drivers know where you're intending to go - note, it's also against CityDriving rules to use indicators in the light pattern).
Hazards were only ever used in lightbars as a dirty hack as there was no other option.

Now Fog + Extra are in LFS (you're welcome ), it's up to mod makers to update their mods to use those instead of hazards once 0.7E is out. It's actually fairly quick/simple to change with some of the more recent editor changes.