Forester Pro Version 1.15 Released
by Matthew Genge · 04/18/2013 (3:36 pm) · 24 comments
Forester Pro version 1.15 features improved performance for low and mid-range systems and general performance enhancements for exporting and tree creation. We've also added an additional feature to the user interface to improve work flow. All these features are in response to user feedback.
Improvements
(1) Tree creation and loading is now 2-5x faster.
(2) Exporting models is now 2-10x faster.
(3) Shaders can optionally be disabled improving performance on low and mid-range systems by 2-4x. Leaf and branch shaders can be disabled independently.
(4) The content menu can now be accessed by pressing the middle mouse button as well as a right-click. There is no delay for middle mouse button access.
If you've already installed Forester Pro you can update using this installer:
www.hptware.co.uk/downloads/foresterupdate115.zip
Forester Pro can be downloaded from our website:
www.hptware.co.uk/forester.htm
Improvements
(1) Tree creation and loading is now 2-5x faster.
(2) Exporting models is now 2-10x faster.
(3) Shaders can optionally be disabled improving performance on low and mid-range systems by 2-4x. Leaf and branch shaders can be disabled independently.
(4) The content menu can now be accessed by pressing the middle mouse button as well as a right-click. There is no delay for middle mouse button access.
If you've already installed Forester Pro you can update using this installer:
www.hptware.co.uk/downloads/foresterupdate115.zip
Forester Pro can be downloaded from our website:
www.hptware.co.uk/forester.htm
About the author
I am an Earth Scientist who likes writing games for fun.
#2
04/19/2013 (4:29 am)
nice work. :)
#3
Great job guys!
04/19/2013 (5:02 am)
This tool is really a must-have for any indie developer trying to make a game :PGreat job guys!
#4
Runtime Error 1505 - Display using 16 bit is not supported by available hardware at line 13471
System specs:
i5 16GB Ram
2 x Nvidia 590 GTX
Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
I use a LCD TV as a monitor @ 1920x1080 32bit colour
Cheers,
Hewster
04/19/2013 (8:47 pm)
Just trying out this tool for the first time, and I get the following error on launch:Runtime Error 1505 - Display using 16 bit is not supported by available hardware at line 13471
System specs:
i5 16GB Ram
2 x Nvidia 590 GTX
Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
I use a LCD TV as a monitor @ 1920x1080 32bit colour
Cheers,
Hewster
#5
Many apologies. Forester Pro seems to have problems with some graphics cards. When Forester is unable to return available modes it tries to set the lowest possible, and apparently your graphics card doesn't like to work in the neolithic.
There is a (not particularly elegant) fix. In the README file with the exec it says this:
Notes
A prefered display mode may be specified on load by adding a file "screenmode.ini" to the Forester directory. This can be used to run Forester on systems with graphics cards that have some faulty display modes. The screenmode ini file is a text file that lists screen width, height and depth on three lines in text e.g:
800
600
32
Just set it to a screen mode you know works (e.g. your current one).
We are working right now on trying to detect the current screen mode more reliably.
Best,
Matt
04/20/2013 (4:58 am)
Hi Hewster,Many apologies. Forester Pro seems to have problems with some graphics cards. When Forester is unable to return available modes it tries to set the lowest possible, and apparently your graphics card doesn't like to work in the neolithic.
There is a (not particularly elegant) fix. In the README file with the exec it says this:
Notes
A prefered display mode may be specified on load by adding a file "screenmode.ini" to the Forester directory. This can be used to run Forester on systems with graphics cards that have some faulty display modes. The screenmode ini file is a text file that lists screen width, height and depth on three lines in text e.g:
800
600
32
Just set it to a screen mode you know works (e.g. your current one).
We are working right now on trying to detect the current screen mode more reliably.
Best,
Matt
#6
04/20/2013 (5:02 am)
I get "Runtime Error 118 - Array does not exist or array subscript out of bounds at line 12702"
#7
04/20/2013 (5:13 am)
loading forster, spining around the default loaded tree, clicking branches, clicking leaves, spin again, click blank space and get the same crash as Duion, will test it further..
#8
you can click branches fine, error seems to only occur when clicking leaves.
am using the update version 1.15 by the way.
04/20/2013 (5:15 am)
ok click on a leaf, get the "if realtime editing is slow" alert box, ok it, click anywhere and it crashes.you can click branches fine, error seems to only occur when clicking leaves.
am using the update version 1.15 by the way.
#9
installed a new copy of 1.15 to a different directory, that seems to work fine, now to reinstall all my tree packs *sigh*
[edit]
reinstalled all my tree packs, luckily didn't have any custom trees I wanted to keep, the crashing has stopped but dragging with the right button seems difficult as a popup (with properties, lods etc.) pops up lots of the time stopping the drag operation.
seems the crash is update specific.
[/edit]
04/20/2013 (5:30 am)
loaded up a new copy of 1.15 (it messed up trying to copy new copy over my existing copy)installed a new copy of 1.15 to a different directory, that seems to work fine, now to reinstall all my tree packs *sigh*
[edit]
reinstalled all my tree packs, luckily didn't have any custom trees I wanted to keep, the crashing has stopped but dragging with the right button seems difficult as a popup (with properties, lods etc.) pops up lots of the time stopping the drag operation.
seems the crash is update specific.
[/edit]
#11
04/21/2013 (5:45 am)
Works fine on my box. Thanks Matthew.
#12
www.hptware.co.uk/downloads/foresterupdate114.zip
Many apologies for any inconvience.
04/21/2013 (4:10 pm)
I will investigate further. We've obviously introduced a bug somewhere that is causing this crash. If you experience crashes with 1.15 then you may be best off rolling back to 1.14 rather than installing from scratch. All it does is update the exec and the helpfile.www.hptware.co.uk/downloads/foresterupdate114.zip
Many apologies for any inconvience.
#13
We've fixed the problem. Four bytes were missing from the uploaded zip file, presumably this caused file corruption and was an upload issue. We apologize for any inconvenience.
You can download the fixed update installer from the same url:
www.hptware.co.uk/downloads/foresterupdate115.zip
You can install this update over the faulty exec, as well as over existing versions, it will replace the exec with the correct version.
04/21/2013 (5:10 pm)
Dear everyone,We've fixed the problem. Four bytes were missing from the uploaded zip file, presumably this caused file corruption and was an upload issue. We apologize for any inconvenience.
You can download the fixed update installer from the same url:
www.hptware.co.uk/downloads/foresterupdate115.zip
You can install this update over the faulty exec, as well as over existing versions, it will replace the exec with the correct version.
#14
Still occurring.
04/21/2013 (11:39 pm)
Runtime Error 118 - Array does not exist or array subscript out of bounds at line 12702Still occurring.
#15
And just to be picky whilst I'm whining about non-important stuff ... I've always found the zoom on the mouse wheel to be counter intuitive, the directions are the opposite I'd expect.
04/22/2013 (5:46 am)
The new desktop icon is not as nice as the other one. Not exactly a big complaint I know.And just to be picky whilst I'm whining about non-important stuff ... I've always found the zoom on the mouse wheel to be counter intuitive, the directions are the opposite I'd expect.
#16
We are currently testing our next version 1.16 that addresses this issue and some superficial problems with 1.15 (e.g. accidental change in the logo, shaders turn back on after wireframe). We hope to have version 1.16 finished tomorrow.
04/22/2013 (9:56 am)
We've found there was a second issue causing subscript out of bounds. It occurs with leaf shaders off when deselecting a leaf. With leaf shaders on leaves can be selected.We are currently testing our next version 1.16 that addresses this issue and some superficial problems with 1.15 (e.g. accidental change in the logo, shaders turn back on after wireframe). We hope to have version 1.16 finished tomorrow.
#17
(1) Bug fix for crashes on deselecting leaves with leaf shaders off.
(2) View mode retained (wireframe, solid, textured) during LOD creation.
(3) Program icon fix.
(4) Edit and pop-up menu text made consistent
(5) Title in info panel now changes during change back to high res tree.
(6) Help file defaults to contents page.
www.hptware.co.uk/downloads/foresterupdate116.zip
04/22/2013 (4:55 pm)
Version 1.16 is now ready for download and features:(1) Bug fix for crashes on deselecting leaves with leaf shaders off.
(2) View mode retained (wireframe, solid, textured) during LOD creation.
(3) Program icon fix.
(4) Edit and pop-up menu text made consistent
(5) Title in info panel now changes during change back to high res tree.
(6) Help file defaults to contents page.
www.hptware.co.uk/downloads/foresterupdate116.zip
#18
04/23/2013 (12:08 am)
No more crashes here. Thanks!
#19
04/23/2013 (4:43 am)
And the nicer icon is back - hurray! ;)
#20
press right button. popup
right button, rotate, change direction. popup
right button, rotate, move threw tree. popup
ARGH!
maybe you can put the popup delay in the preferences so I can add a few seconds?
p.s. is this written with dark udk? or basic? as the error icon reminds me of them
04/23/2013 (4:44 am)
update 1.16 seems to be ok, although am still suffering from pop up windows while trying to right button rotate, makes rotation a chorepress right button. popup
right button, rotate, change direction. popup
right button, rotate, move threw tree. popup
ARGH!
maybe you can put the popup delay in the preferences so I can add a few seconds?
p.s. is this written with dark udk? or basic? as the error icon reminds me of them
Torque Owner Joe Melton
Fails At Making Games