reported How to Dynamically create a new FARP with Dynamic Spawn Slots

[Dangerzone]

Hi,

I have the following code below. Using the F10 menu, that allows a player in a helicopter can create a FARP 100m in front of them. (This is just for testing at the moment). 

The problem I have, is when the new FARP is created, it doesn't appear to be available in the dynamic spawn slot list. I can see the original static FARP created via the ME in the dynamic spawn list, but not the newly created FARP.

I have attached a working copy of the mission - to replicate simply start a multiplayer server, spawn into the UH-1 and choose spawn farp from the F10 menu. 

Thanks & Regards

DZ

 

-- Define the function to create a static FARP at a given position
function createFARP(position)
    local farp = {
        ["category"] = "Heliports",
        ["shape_name"] = "FARP", -- Full FARP shape name
        ["type"] = "FARP",
        ["unitId"] = mist.getNextUnitId(), -- Ensure this function is available in your environment
        ["x"] = position.x,
        ["y"] = position.z, -- Note: 'y' in DCS is actually the z-axis for world coordinates
        ["name"] = "Spawned FARP",
        ["heading"] = 0,
        ["dead"] = false,
        ["dynamicSpawn"] = true,
    }
    coalition.addStaticObject(country.id.USA, farp)
end

-- Define the function to get player coordinates, display them with an offset, and create a FARP
function getPlayerCoordinates(unit)
    if unit then
        local unitPosition = unit:getPosition().p
        local unitOrientation = unit:getPosition().x

        -- Normalize the forward vector
        local forwardVector = {
            x = unitOrientation.x,
            y = unitOrientation.y,
            z = unitOrientation.z
        }
        local length = math.sqrt(forwardVector.x^2 + forwardVector.y^2 + forwardVector.z^2)
        forwardVector.x = forwardVector.x / length
        forwardVector.y = forwardVector.y / length
        forwardVector.z = forwardVector.z / length

        -- Apply the 100m offset
        local offsetPosition = {
            x = unitPosition.x + forwardVector.x * 100,
            y = unitPosition.y + forwardVector.y * 100,
            z = unitPosition.z + forwardVector.z * 100
        }

        -- Display the offset coordinates
        local lat, lon, alt = coord.LOtoLL(offsetPosition)
        trigger.action.outTextForUnit(unit:getID(), string.format("Your offset coordinates:\nLatitude: %.6f\nLongitude: %.6f\nAltitude: %.1f meters", lat, lon, alt), 10)

        -- Create the FARP at the offset position
        createFARP(offsetPosition)
    else
        trigger.action.outText("Unit not found.", 10)
    end
end

-- Add the F10 menu for a group
function addF10MenuForGroup(group)
    if group then
        for i = 1, #group:getUnits() do
            local unit = group:getUnit(i)
            if unit then
                missionCommands.addCommandForGroup(group:getID(), "Get Offset Coordinates and Create FARP", nil, getPlayerCoordinates, unit)
            end
        end
    end
end

-- Iterate over all groups and add the F10 menu
function addF10MenuForAllPlayers()
    local coalitionGroups
    -- Process helicopter groups for both sides
    coalitionGroups = coalition.getGroups(coalition.side.BLUE, Group.Category.HELICOPTER)
    for i = 1, #coalitionGroups do
        addF10MenuForGroup(coalitionGroups[i])
    end
    
end

-- Schedule the menu addition
do
    addF10MenuForAllPlayers()
end

 

DynamicFarp.miz

[Dangerzone]

OK - I've found one way for this to be successful - but it requires 'hacking' the DCS install. I'm not sure whether this is just a server side thing (if so, it may mean that us mission hosters may be able to have dynamic spawning on dynamically spawned FARPS moving forward)!

It involves editing the Scripts\ui\MultiplayerSelectRoleMap\MultiplayerSelectDynamicDialog.lua file, and commenting out certain IF statements so that the dynamic spawn will spawn regardless. (Note: This has the sideeffect that dynamic spawn will always be available for all airfields, as it ignores the dynamic spawn true/false in the mission file). 

I'm hoping there's a more eloquent way of achieving this that doesn't involve modifying (hacking) the .lua file on the server.

 

function getAllDynamicsAirdromes()
    airdromes = Terrain.GetTerrainConfig("Airdromes")
    local dynamicsAirdromes = {}
    for i, v in pairs(airdromes) do
        local settings = DCS.getDynamicSpawnSettings(i, true)
        --if settings.dynamicSpawnAvailable == true then
            base.table.insert(dynamicsAirdromes, i)
        --end
    end
    return dynamicsAirdromes
end

function isDynamicSpawnAllowForAirbase(airbaseId, isAirdrome)
--	local settings = DCS.getDynamicSpawnSettings(airbaseId, isAirdrome)
--	if settings and settings.dynamicSpawnAvailable == true then
		return true
--	end
	
--	return false
end

function getDynamicsAirdromes(coalition)
	local dynamicsAirdromes = {}
	
	airdromes = Terrain.GetTerrainConfig("Airdromes")

	for i, value in pairs(DCS.getAirdromesCoalition()) do
		airdromesCoalitions[value.airdromeId] = coalitionIndices[value.coalition]
	end
	
	for i, v in pairs(airdromes) do
		local settings = DCS.getDynamicSpawnSettings(i, true)
		--if settings and settings.dynamicSpawnAvailable == true and coalition == airdromesCoalitions[i] then
		if settings and coalition == airdromesCoalitions[i] then
			v.airdromeId = i
			v.airbaseType = _('Airfield')
			base.table.insert(dynamicsAirdromes, v)
		end
	end
	return dynamicsAirdromes
end

function getDynamicsFarpsAndCarriers(coalition)
	local farpsAndCarriersData = {}
	
	local addFunc = function(data, airbaseType)
		for i, v in pairs(data) do
			local settings = DCS.getDynamicSpawnSettings(i, false)
			--if settings and settings.dynamicSpawnAvailable == true and coalition == v.coalition then
			if settings  and coalition == v.coalition then
				v.unitId = i
				v.airbaseType = airbaseType
				base.table.insert(farpsAndCarriersData, v)
			end
		end
	end
	
	local farpsAndCarriers = DCS.getFarpsAndCarriersMissionData()
	addFunc(farpsAndCarriers.farps, _('Heliport'))
	addFunc(farpsAndCarriers.carriers, _('Aircraft carrier'))
	return farpsAndCarriersData
end

 

 

[Zyll]

Thanks for sharing. I'm following this thread in the hopes that a more elegant solution is available as well.

Zyll @ TAW

[NeedzWD40]

Just to share, as a result of looking into some warehouse functions for dynamic FARPs (arming/fueling, not spawning), there is another mechanism that involves reserving warehouse IDs and having limited dynamic spawning FARP availability detailed here.

[shaji]

@BIGNEWY Any news on this? Dynamic spawns for dynamically spawned FARPs is huge since most of the missions have CTLD. Thank you.

[BIGNEWY]

9 hours ago, shaji said:

@BIGNEWY Any news on this? Dynamic spawns for dynamically spawned FARPs is huge since most of the missions have CTLD. Thank you.

I will ask the team 

[Spargelschaeler]

@BIGNEWYany updates?

[IndyNavy]

Any updates on this @BIGNEWY?

[Dangerzone]

On 12/3/2024 at 7:03 PM, BIGNEWY said:

I will ask the team 

Hi Bignewy,

Did ED ever get back to you since Dec about this? 

Just getting a little worried that we've heard nothing since. I appreciate that ED have a lot to do, but just a bone thrown our way so we have an idea of what the future looks like for the possibility with our mission making would be very welcome. 

Cheers

DZ

[BIGNEWY]

I have created a report for the team to check

thank you