Cool VL Viewer forum

Several other viewers have implemented a tiny quick-bar access panel to adjust a handful of graphics options which are especially handy to have available "on the fly" such as draw distance, number of avatars rendered, and a drop down with windlight presets quickly changeable. These tools are incredibly handy for photographers and machinimists, to avoid having to have preferences and settings panels sitting open in the viewer while trying to work.

(edited to add) I did just come across another request for the DD slider, and see now that it's accessible from the move panel- a reasonable alternative to prefs and conveniently small (Though I don't generally use the movement panel and have in the past kept it turned off.) The use and functionality I suggest, when combined with the sky preset quickbar is simply this: when I am taking shots or filming, I often park my avatar (sit on some nearby object) and operate my cam via ctrl, ctrl+alt, and mouse. Once I do so, I often adjust draw distance out to a higher max, and add shadings and light and color view WL presets, etc. It would be very useful (To me at least possibly to others?) to not at that point need to summon a floater for the draw distance, then another floater for environment editor which in turn I must use to summon *another* float panel for sky and possibly even another still for water...


Any chance of seeing similar tools available in CV?

The draw distance spinner is in the camera controls floater for a good reason: it is most useful when caming around, and although the latter can be done with the ALT, CTRL keys and mouse, the camera controls offer even more options for proper centring that you can't achieve with just the keys and mouse. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the camera control floater is open while you do such a task, and then provides you with the draw distance setting. In fact, the only two floaters which I keep permanently open are the camera controls and the movement controls (handy to move your avatar while your chat input line got the focus for the arrow keys because you are typing a long emote in it).

While implementing what you are asking for is feasible, I'm afraid it stands very low on my priority list: my number one priority now is to backport the multiple attachments per attachment point from viewer 2, and then to update RestrainedLove accordingly.

However, if you can provide me with a proper patch (i.e. a patch that is ready to apply to either the official viewer sources for v1.23 or Snowglobe v1.4/1.5), then I might consider reviewing it and implementing it in a future release.

Please bear in mind that unlike what happens for many of the other TPVs, I am the only coder working on the Cool VL Viewer. Things don't evolve as fast as for other viewers (although I've been the first to provide significant backports from viewer 2, such as the Alpha and Tattoo wearables support, and the inventory item links support), and I don't especially favour the number of features over the stability and usability. But in return you got the guarantee that every implemented feature is perfectly integrated to the viewer, thoroughly tested, does not introduce new bugs, and won't slow down the viewer (just compare the frame rates of the Cool VL Viewer with the one of the other TPVs...).