Index
In the two previous pages I explained how to start a project and how to use filters. When you apply a filter, the objects filtered out remain in the project but are made invisible. This has an advantage: you can change the filter, re-apply it, and the vanished objects will be included in the process. When you apply transforms (discussed on the following page), the actual project in memory remains as it is, only what you see changes. You can re-apply transforms until you get the result you desire, without actually modifying the project as it is kept in memory: you are always working on the original data. When you are satisfied that a certain filter or combination of filters does what you require, and that a transformation is as you want it to be, it is time to consolidate your project, i.e. to remove the invisible discarded objects objects and apply the filters and transforms permanently. Once this is done, you will be able to apply new filters and transforms, consolidate again, until your project contains only the objects you want it to have. Rotational transforms should be applied to the original data, so as to avoid working on approximated numbers, and should only be consolidated once (exceptions are rotations by multiples of 90 degrees); translations may be applied and consolidated any number of times.
To consolidate, select menu Project | Consolidate Project or, on the Projects tab, hit the button consolidate.
Before you use your project for building, destroying, or simply to back up your property, you need to save it to file. Select menu Project | Save Project. The file-selector will allow you to give your file any name you wish. The standard extension is .xlg previously, all extensions were allowed.
Note: although when you save to file, invisible objects will not be saved, saving does not consolidate the project the program is holding in memory.
The xelagot file format (.xlg) can only be used with xelagots, and contain specific information other formats may not contain. For instance, it will save the identification number of each object and, if set, it will also save a coordinate of your choice called origin. Xelagot can save in 2 different other formats: propdumps (.prp, .p3a) used by the world server and admin tool, and Canopus blueprints (.bpr) used by Canopus' builderbots. See the note on Project origin in Tips and Tools in The Project: transforming. To save your project in one of these formats, select menu Project | Save Project as and click on the desired format.
Loading clears the project memory before loading a file, merging adds the objects in the file to the project in memory. Select Project | Load Project or Project | Merge Project and load the appropriate file. Xelagot files, propdumps (as from version 3.07 also multi-world 3.1 world server propdumps) and Canopus' blueprint files are automatically recognised, the file extension does not need to be standard. If an origin is detected (in xelagot or Canopus files), it will be set as Project origin. When merging, only the first origin will be considered.
| DOUBLE ENTRIES |
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Xelagot will screen out double entries if the object number and the coordinates of two objects match. This object number is sent to the bot by the world server, and is preserved by the bot. It will be destroyed when you modify the position of an object using transforms, but not when you apply filters.
Double entries are screened out when copying objects from a survey to a project. They are also screened out when merging objects from file. Suppose you made a back-up, saving files with overlapping areas. You can safely merge them back in: double entries will automatically be screened out. |
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