2.0.3

civHelo

modules/cfxZones.lua

@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 cfxZones = {}
-cfxZones.version = "4.1.2"
+cfxZones.version = "4.2.0"
 
 -- cf/x zone management module
 -- reads dcs zones and makes them accessible and mutable 
 -- by scripting.
 --
--- Copyright (c) 2021 - 2023 by Christian Franz and cf/x AG
+-- Copyright (c) 2021 - 2024 by Christian Franz and cf/x AG
 --
 
 --[[-- VERSION HISTORY
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ cfxZones.version = "4.1.2"
 - 4.1.0   - getBoolFromZoneProperty 'on/off' support for dml variant as well 
 - 4.1.1   - evalRemainder() updates 
 - 4.1.2   - hash property missing warning 
+- 4.2.0   - new createRandomPointInPopulatedZone()
 
 --]]--
 
@@ -425,6 +426,95 @@ function dmlZone:createRandomPointInPolyZone(onEdge)
 	return p, dx, dz 
 end 
 
+function dmlZone:createRandomPointInPopulatedZone(radius, maxTries)
+	if not maxTries then maxTries = 20 end 
+	if not radius then radius = 10 end -- meters 
+	local cnt = 0
+	local p, dx, dz
+	repeat
+		p, dx, dz = self:createRandomPointInZone() -- p is x, 0, z 
+		local hits, collector = cfxZones.objectsInRange(p, radius) 
+		if hits < 1 then return p, dx, dz end
+		if hits == 1 then 
+			local o = collector[1]
+			local op = o:getPoint()
+			d = dcsCommon.distFlat(op, p)
+--			trigger.action.outText("singleDist = " .. d, 30)
+			if d > radius/2 then 
+--				trigger.action.outText("good enough, will use", 30)
+				return p, dx, dz 
+			end 
+		end 
+		cnt = cnt + 1
+--		trigger.action.outText(hits .. "hits --> failed try " .. cnt, 30)
+	until cnt > maxTries
+	return p, dx, dz
+end
+
+function cfxZones.createRandomPointInPopulatedZone(theZone, radius, maxTries)
+	if not theZone then return nil, nil, nil end 
+	local p, dx, dz = theZone:createRandomPointInPopulatedZone(radius, maxTries)
+	return p, dx, dz
+end
+
+--[[--
+function dmlZone:createRandomPointInPopulatedZone(radius, maxTries)
+	if not maxTries then maxTries = 20 end 
+	local cnt = 0
+	local p, dx, dz
+	p, dx, dz = self:createRandomPointInZone() -- p is x, 0, z 
+	repeat
+		local hits = cfxZones.objectsInRange(p, radius) 
+		if hits < 1 then return p, dx, dz end 
+		-- move to the right by radius
+		p.z = p.z + radius
+		dz = dz + radius 
+		cnt = cnt + 1
+		trigger.action.outText("failed try " .. cnt, 30)
+	until cnt > maxTries
+	return p, dx, dz
+end
+--]]--
+function cfxZones.objectHandler(theObject, theCollector) -- for world.search
+	table.insert(theCollector, theObject)
+	return true 
+end
+
+function cfxZones.objectsInRange(pt, range) 
+	if not range then range = 100 end -- meters
+	local allCats = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6} -- all cats 
+	local lp = {x = pt.x, y = pt.z}
+    pt.y = land.getHeight(lp)
+	local collector = {}    
+	-- now build the search argument 
+	local args = {
+			id = world.VolumeType.SPHERE,
+			params = {
+				point = pt,
+				radius = range -- range
+			}
+		}
+	-- now call search
+	world.searchObjects(allCats, args, cfxZones.objectHandler, collector)
+	-- now filter for distance because search finds too many 
+	local filtered = {}
+	for idx, anObject in pairs(collector) do 
+		-- calc dist and filter 
+		local op = anObject:getPoint()
+		local dist = dcsCommon.dist(pt, op)
+		if dist < range then 
+--			local e = {
+--					dist = dist,
+--					o = anObject
+--				}
+--			table.insert(filtered, e)
+			table.insert(filtered, anObject)
+		end
+	end 
+	
+	return #filtered, filtered  
+end
+
 function cfxZones.addZoneToManagedZones(theZone)
 	local upperName = string.upper(theZone.name) -- newZone.name:upper()
 	cfxZones.zones[upperName] = theZone

modules/civHelo.lua

@@ -0,0 +1,474 @@
+civHelo = {}
+civHelo.version = "1.0.0"
+civHelo.requiredLibs = {
+	"dcsCommon", -- always
+	"cfxZones", 
+}
+--[[--
+Version History
+	1.0.0 - Initial version 
+	
+--]]--
+
+civHelo.flights = {} -- currently active flights 
+civHelo.ports = {} -- civHelo zones where flight can take off and land 
+civHelo.maxDist = 600000 -- 60 km 
+civHelo.minDist = 1000 -- 1 km 
+-- helos and liveries 
+civHelo.types = {"CH-47D", "CH-53E", "Ka-27", "Mi-24V", "Mi-26", "Mi-28N", "Mi-8MT","OH-58D", "SA342L", "SH-60B", "UH-1H", "UH-60A",} -- default set
+
+civHelo.liveries = {
+["CH-47D"] = {"Australia RAAF", "ch-47_green neth", "ch-47_green spain", "ch-47_green uk", "Greek Army", "standard", }, 
+["CH-53E"] = {"standard",},
+["Ka-27"] = {"China PLANAF", "standard", "ukraine camo 1",},
+["Mi-24V"] = {"Abkhazia", "Algerian AF Black", "Algerian AF New Desert", "Algerian AF Old Desert", "Russia_FSB", "Russia_MVD", "South Ossetia", "standard", "standard 1", "standard 2 (faded and sun-bleached)", "ukraine", "Ukraine UN", },
+["Mi-26"] = {"7th Separate Brigade of AA (Kalinov)", "Algerian Air Force SL-22", "China Flying Dragon Aviation", "RF Air Force", "Russia_FSB", "Russia_MVD", "United Nations", },
+["Mi-28N"] = {"AAF SC-11", "AAF SC-12", "night", "standard", }, 
+["Mi-8MT"] = {"China UN", "IR Iranian Special Police Forces", "Russia_Gazprom", "Russia_PF_Ambulance", "Russia_Police", "Russia_UN", "Russia_UTair", "Russia_Aeroflot", "Russia_KazanVZ", "Russia_LII_Gromov RA-25546", "Russia_Vertolety_Russia", "Russia_Vertolety_Russia_2", "Russia_Naryan-Mar", }, 
+--["OH-58D"] = {"",},
+--["SA342L"] = {"",},
+["SH-60B"] = {"Hellenic Navy", "standard", },
+["UH-1H"] = {"[Civilian] Medical", "[Civilian] NASA", "[Civilian] Standard", "[Civilian] VIP", "Greek Army Aviation Medic", "Italy 15B Stormo S.A.R -Soccorso", "Norwegian Coast Guard (235)", "Norwegian UN", "Spanish UN", "USA UN", }, 
+["UH-60A"] = {"ISRAIL_UN", }
+}
+--
+-- process civHelo zone 
+--
+function civHelo.readCivHeloZone(theZone)
+	-- process properties 
+	theZone.canLand = theZone:getBoolFromZoneProperty("land", true)
+	theZone.canStart = theZone:getBoolFromZoneProperty("start", true)
+	theZone.hotStart = theZone:getBoolFromZoneProperty("hot", true)
+	
+	if theZone:hasProperty("types") then 
+		local hTypes = theZone:getStringFromZoneProperty("types", "xxx")
+		local typeArray = dcsCommon.splitString(hTypes, ",")
+		typeArray = dcsCommon.trimArray(typeArray)
+		theZone.types = typeArray 
+	end
+	-- set active flag 
+	theZone.inUse = nil -- if true zone is in use for a flight
+end
+
+function civHelo.addCivHeloZone(theZone)
+	table.insert(civHelo.ports, theZone)
+end
+
+function civHelo.getPortNamed(name)
+	for idx, theZone in pairs(civHelo.ports) do 
+		if theZone.name == name then return theZone end 
+	end
+	if civHelo.verbose then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++civH: cannot find port <" .. name .. ">", 30)
+	end 
+	return nil 
+end 
+
+function civHelo.getFreePort(source, dest, anchor)
+	collector = {}
+	local a 
+	if anchor then a = anchor:getPoint() end -- for dist calc  
+	for idx, theZone in pairs(civHelo.ports) do 
+		if theZone.inUse then 
+		else
+			if (source and theZone.canStart) or 
+               (dest and theZone.canLand) then 	
+				if anchor then 
+					-- must be at least minDist and at most maxDist away 
+					local p = theZone:getPoint()
+					local d = dcsCommon.dist(a, p)
+					if d > civHelo.minDist and d < civHelo.maxDist then 
+						table.insert(collector, theZone)
+					else 
+--						trigger.action.outText("+++civH: disregarded dest zone <" .. theZone.name .. ">: dist <" .. math.floor(d) / 1000 .. " km> out of bounds", 30)
+					end
+				else 
+					table.insert(collector, theZone)
+				end
+			end 
+		end
+	end
+	if #collector < 1 then return nil end 
+	local theZone = dcsCommon.pickRandom(collector)
+	return theZone
+end
+
+function civHelo.getSourceAndDest()
+	local source = civHelo.getFreePort(true, false)
+	if not source then return nil, nil end 
+	source.inUse = true 
+	local dest = civHelo.getFreePort(false, true, source)
+	if not dest then 
+		source.inUse = nil 
+		return nil, nil
+	end 
+	dest.inUse = true 
+	return source, dest 
+end
+
+
+function civHelo.createCommandTask(theCommand, num) 
+	if not num then num = 1 end 
+	local t = {}
+	t.enabled = true 
+	t.auto = false 
+	t.id = "WrappedAction"
+	t.number = num 
+	local params = {}
+	t.params = params 
+	local action = {}
+	params.action = action 
+	action.id = "Script"
+	local p2 = {}
+	action.params = p2 
+	p2.command = theCommand 
+	return t 
+end
+
+function civHelo.createLandTask(p, duration, num) 
+	if not num then num = 1 end 
+	local t = {}
+	t.enabled = true 
+	t.auto = false 
+	t.id = "ControlledTask"
+	t.number = num 
+	local params = {}
+	t.params = params 
+	
+	local ptsk = {}
+	params.task = ptsk 
+	ptsk.id = "Land"
+	local ptp = {}
+	ptsk.params = ptp
+	ptp.x = p.x 
+	ptp.y = p.z 
+	ptp.duration = "300" -- not sure why 
+	ptp.durationFlag = false -- off anyway 
+	local stopCon = {}
+	stopCon.duration = duration
+	params.stopCondition = stopCon 
+	
+	return t 
+end
+
+function civHelo.createFlight(name, theType, fromZone, toZone) --, inAir)
+	if not fromZone then return nil end 
+	if not toZone then return nil end 
+--	if not inAir then inAir = false end 
+	
+	local theGroup = dcsCommon.createEmptyAircraftGroupData (name)
+	local theHUnit = dcsCommon.createAircraftUnitData(name .. "-H", theType, false)
+	if fromZone.hdg then 
+		
+	end 
+	-- add livery capability for this aircraft 
+	--civHelo.processLiveriesFor(theHUnit, theType)
+	civHelo.getLiveryForType(theType, theHUnit)
+	
+	-- enforce civ attribute 
+	theHUnit.civil_plane = true 
+	
+	theHUnit.payload.fuel = 5000 -- 5t of fuel 
+	dcsCommon.addUnitToGroupData(theHUnit, theGroup)
+
+	local A = fromZone:getPoint()
+	local B = toZone:getPoint()
+	
+	-- unit is done, let's do the route
+	-- WP 1: take off 
+	local fromWP, omwWP 
+	fromWP = dcsCommon.createTakeOffFromGroundRoutePointData(fromZone:getPoint(true), fromZone.hotStart) -- last true = hot  
+	fromWP.alt_type = "RADIO" -- AGL instead of MSL
+	theHUnit.alt = fromWP.alt
+	-- WP2: signal that we are 1km away so source can be freed from flight 
+	local dir = dcsCommon.bearingFromAtoB(A, B) -- x0z coords
+	local omw = dcsCommon.pointInDirectionOfPointXYY(dir, 1000, A)
+	omwWP = dcsCommon.createSimpleRoutePointData(omw, civHelo.alt, civHelo.speed)
+	omwWP.alt_type = "RADIO"
+	-- create a command waypoint
+	local task = {}
+	task.id = "ComboTask"
+	task.params = {}
+	local ttsk = {} 
+	local command = "civHelo.departedCB('" .. name .. "', '" .. fromZone:getName() .. "')"
+	ttsk[1] = civHelo.createCommandTask(command,1)
+	task.params.tasks = ttsk
+	omwWP.task = task 	
+
+	-- now set up destination point: land
+	-- at destination and add a small script 
+	local toWP 
+	-- add destination WP. this is common to both 
+	toWP = dcsCommon.createSimpleRoutePointData(toZone:getPoint(), civHelo.alt, civHelo.speed)
+	toWP.alt_type = "RADIO"
+
+	local task = {}
+	task.id = "ComboTask"
+	task.params = {}
+	local ttsk = {} 
+	local p = toZone:getPoint()
+	ttsk[1] = civHelo.createLandTask(p, civHelo.landingDuration, 1)
+	local command = "civHelo.landedCB('" .. name .. "', '" .. toZone:getName() .. "')"
+	ttsk[2] = civHelo.createCommandTask(command,2)
+	task.params.tasks = ttsk
+	toWP.task = task 	
+	
+	-- move group to WP1 and add WP1 and WP2 to route 
+	dcsCommon.moveGroupDataTo(theGroup, 
+							  fromWP.x, 
+							  fromWP.y)
+	dcsCommon.addRoutePointForGroupData(theGroup, fromWP)
+	if not inAir then 
+		dcsCommon.addRoutePointForGroupData(theGroup, omwWP)
+	end
+	dcsCommon.addRoutePointForGroupData(theGroup, toWP)
+	
+	-- spawn 
+	local groupCat = Group.Category.HELICOPTER
+	local theSpawnedGroup = coalition.addGroup(civHelo.owner, groupCat, theGroup)
+	
+	return theSpawnedGroup	
+end 
+
+function civHelo.openPort(where)
+	local thePort = civHelo.getPortNamed(where)
+	if thePort then 
+		thePort.inUse = nil 
+	end
+	if civHelo.verbose then trigger.action.outText("+++civH: opening port <" .. where .. ">", 30) end 
+end 
+
+function civHelo.openPortUsedBy(name)
+	for idx, theZone in pairs(civHelo.ports) do 
+		if theZone.inUse == name then 
+			theZone.inUse = nil 
+			if civHelo.verbose then 
+				trigger.action.outText("+++civH: clearing port <" .. theZone.name .. "> from flight <" .. name .. ">", 30)
+			end 
+		end 
+	end
+end
+
+function civHelo.departedCB(who, where)
+	-- free the port that we just took off from
+	civHelo.openPort(where)
+end
+
+function civHelo.landedCB(who, where)
+	-- step 1: remove the flight
+	local theGroup = Group.getByName(who)
+	if theGroup then 
+		if Group.isExist(theGroup) then 
+			Group.destroy(theGroup)
+		end 
+	else 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++civH: cannot find group <" .. who .. ">", 30)
+	end 
+	civHelo.flights[who] = nil 
+	
+	-- step 2: schedule opening the port
+	-- do it immediately first 
+	civHelo.openPort(where)
+end
+
+--
+-- new flight
+--
+function civHelo.getType(theZone)
+	local types = civHelo.types -- load default 
+	if theZone.types then types = theZone.types end 
+	local hType = dcsCommon.pickRandom(types)
+	return hType
+end
+
+function civHelo.getLiveryForType(theType, theData)
+	if civHelo.liveries[theType] then 
+		local available = civHelo.liveries[theType]
+		local chosen = dcsCommon.pickRandom(available)		
+		theData.livery_id = chosen
+	end
+end
+
+function civHelo.newFlight()
+	local source, dest = civHelo.getSourceAndDest()
+	if source and dest then 
+		-- source and dest "inUse" already have been marked inUse 
+		-- but still need the name of the flight 
+		local theType = civHelo.getType(source)
+		local name = source:getName() .. "-" .. dest:getName()
+		local theFlight = civHelo.createFlight(name, theType, source, dest)
+		if theFlight then 
+			civHelo.flights[name] = theFlight 
+			source.inUse = name 
+			dest.inUse = name 
+			if civHelo.verbose then 
+				trigger.action.outText("+++civH: created new flight <" .. name .. ">", 30)
+			end
+		else 
+			trigger.action.outText("+++civH: cant create flight <" .. name .. ">", 30)
+			source.inUse = nil 
+			dest.inUse = nil 
+		end
+	else 
+		if civHelo.verbose then 
+			trigger.action.outText("+++civH: no ports available, can't create new flight. Numflights = <" .. dcsCommon.getSizeOfTable(civHelo.flights) .. ">", 30)
+		end 
+	end 
+end
+
+--
+-- event handler 
+--
+function civHelo:onEvent(theEvent) 
+--	trigger.action.outText("event", 30)
+	if not theEvent.initiator then return end 
+	local theUnit = theEvent.initiator 
+	if not theUnit.getGroup then return end 
+	local theGroup = theUnit:getGroup() 
+	if not theGroup then return end 
+	local gName = theGroup:getName()
+	
+	-- see if it's an event for one of mine 
+	local mine = false 
+	for name, aGroup in pairs(civHelo.flights) do 
+		if name == gName then mine = true end
+	end
+	if not mine then 
+		return 
+	end 
+	
+	local id = theEvent.id 
+	if id == 9 or -- pilot dead 
+	   id == 30 or -- unit lost 
+	   id == 5 -- crash 
+	then  
+		if civHelo.verbose then 
+			trigger.action.outText("+++civH: cancelling flight <" .. gName .. ">: mishap", 30)
+		end 
+		civHelo.openPortUsedBy(gName)
+		civHelo.flights[gName] = nil 
+	end 
+end
+
+--
+-- update
+--
+function civHelo.update()
+	-- schedule again 
+	timer.scheduleFunction(civHelo.update, {}, timer.getTime() + 1/civHelo.ups )
+	
+	-- see how many flights are live 
+	if dcsCommon.getSizeOfTable(civHelo.flights) < civHelo.maxFlights then
+		civHelo.newFlight()
+	end
+end
+
+--
+-- Config 
+--
+function civHelo.addTypesAndLiveries(rawIn)
+	local newTypes = {}
+	local newLiveries = {}
+	-- now iterate the input table, and generate new types and 
+	-- liveries from it 
+	for theType, liveries in pairs (rawIn) do 
+		if civHelo.verbose then 
+			trigger.action.outText("+++civH: processing type <" .. theType .. ">:<" .. liveries .. ">", 30)
+		end
+		local livA = dcsCommon.splitString(liveries, ',')
+		livA = dcsCommon.trimArray(livA)
+		table.insert(newTypes, theType)
+		newLiveries[theType] = livA
+	end
+	
+	return newTypes, newLiveries
+end
+
+function civHelo.readConfigZone()
+	local theZone = cfxZones.getZoneByName("civHeloConfig") 
+	if not theZone then 
+		theZone = cfxZones.createSimpleZone("civHeloConfig") 
+	end 
+	civHelo.verbose = theZone.verbose 
+	civHelo.owner = theZone:getNumberFromZoneProperty("country", 82) --82 -- UN peacekeepers
+	civHelo.ups = theZone:getNumberFromZoneProperty("ups", 1 / 30)  
+	civHelo.maxFlights = theZone:getNumberFromZoneProperty("maxFlights", 5)
+	civHelo.landingDuration = theZone:getNumberFromZoneProperty("landingDuration", 180) -- seconds = 3 minutes
+	civHelo.alt = theZone:getNumberFromZoneProperty("alt", 100) -- 100 m
+	civHelo.speed = theZone:getNumberFromZoneProperty("speed", 30)
+	civHelo.maxDist = theZone:getNumberFromZoneProperty("maxDist", 60000)
+	civHelo.minDist = theZone:getNumberFromZoneProperty("minDist", 1000)
+	if theZone:hasProperty("types") then 
+		local hTypes = theZone:getStringFromZoneProperty("types", "xxx")
+		local typeArray = dcsCommon.splitString(hTypes, ",")
+		typeArray = dcsCommon.trimArray(typeArray)
+		civHelo.types = typeArray
+	end 
+	
+	-- now get types and liveries from 'helo_liveries' if present
+	local livZone = cfxZones.getZoneByName("helo_liveries") 
+	if livZone then 
+		if civHelo.verbose then 
+			trigger.action.outText("civH: found and processing 'helo_liveries' zone data.", 30)
+		end 
+		
+		-- read all into my types registry, replacing whatever is there
+		local rawLiver = cfxZones.getAllZoneProperties(livZone)
+		local newTypes, newLiveries = civAir.addTypesAndLiveries(rawLiver)
+		-- now types to existing types if not already there 
+		for idx, aType in pairs(newTypes) do 
+			dcsCommon.addToTableIfNew(civHelo.types, aType)
+			if civHelo.verbose then 
+				trigger.action.outText("+++civH: processed and added helo <" .. aType .. "> to civHelo", 30)
+			end
+		end
+		-- now replace liveries or add if not already there 
+		for aType, liveries in pairs(newLiveries) do 
+			civHelo.liveries[aType] = liveries
+			if civHelo.verbose then 
+				trigger.action.outText("+++civH: replaced/added liveries for helicopter <" .. aType .. ">", 30)
+			end
+		end 
+	end  	
+end
+
+--
+-- start 
+--
+function civHelo.start()
+-- lib check
+	if not dcsCommon.libCheck then 
+		trigger.action.outText("cfx civ helo requires dcsCommon", 30)
+		return false 
+	end 
+	if not dcsCommon.libCheck("cfx civ helo", civHelo.requiredLibs) then
+		return false 
+	end
+	
+	-- read config 
+	civHelo.readConfigZone()
+	
+	-- process civHelo Zones 
+	-- old style
+	local attrZones = cfxZones.getZonesWithAttributeNamed("civHelo")
+	for k, aZone in pairs(attrZones) do 
+		civHelo.readCivHeloZone(aZone) -- process attributes
+		civHelo.addCivHeloZone(aZone) -- add to list
+	end
+	
+	-- start update in 5 seconds
+	timer.scheduleFunction(civHelo.update, {}, timer.getTime() + 5)
+	
+	-- install event handler 
+	world.addEventHandler(civHelo)
+	
+	-- say hi 
+	trigger.action.outText("civHelo v" .. civHelo.version .. " started.", 30)
+	return true 
+end
+
+if not civHelo.start() then 
+	trigger.action.outText("civHelo failed to start.")
+	civHelo = nil 
+end 
+

modules/cloneZone.lua

@@ -303,7 +303,9 @@ function cloneZones.createClonerWithZone(theZone) -- has "Cloner"
 	if theZone:hasProperty("wholeGroups") then 
 		theZone.centerOnly = theZone:getBoolFromZoneProperty( "wholeGroups", false)
 	end
-	
+	if theZone:hasProperty("inBuiltup") then 
+		theZone.inBuiltup = theZone:getNumberFromZoneProperty("inBuiltup", 10) -- 10 meter radius must be free -- small houses
+	end 
 	theZone.rndHeading = theZone:getBoolFromZoneProperty("rndHeading", false)
 	
 	theZone.onRoad = theZone:getBoolFromZoneProperty("onRoad", false)
@@ -1063,6 +1065,8 @@ function cloneZones.spawnWithTemplateForZone(theZone, spawnZone)
 			local loc, dx, dy 
 			if spawnZone.onPerimeter then 
 				loc, dx, dy = spawnZone:createRandomPointOnZoneBoundary()
+			elseif spawnZone.inBuiltup then 
+				loc, dx, dy = spawnZone:createRandomPointInPopulatedZone(spawnZone.inBuiltup)
 			else 
 				loc, dx, dy = spawnZone:createRandomPointInZone() -- also supports polygonal zones 
 			end 
@@ -1072,6 +1076,8 @@ function cloneZones.spawnWithTemplateForZone(theZone, spawnZone)
 					-- *every unit's displacement is randomized
 					if spawnZone.onPerimeter then 
 						loc, dx, dy = spawnZone:createRandomPointOnZoneBoundary()
+					elseif spawnZone.inBuiltup then 
+						loc, dx, dy = spawnZone:createRandomPointInPopulatedZone(spawnZone.inBuiltup)
 					else	
 						loc, dx, dy = spawnZone:createRandomPointInZone()
 					end 
@@ -1322,6 +1328,8 @@ function cloneZones.spawnWithTemplateForZone(theZone, spawnZone)
 			local loc, dx, dy 
 			if spawnZone.onPerimeter then 
 				loc, dx, dy = spawnZone:createRandomPointOnZoneBoundary()
+			elseif spawnZone.inBuiltup then 
+				loc, dx, dy = spawnZone:createRandomPointInPopulatedZone(spawnZone.inBuiltup)
 			else 
 				loc, dx, dy = spawnZone:createRandomPointInZone() -- also supports polygonal zones 
 			end

modules/csarManager2.lua

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 csarManager = {}
-csarManager.version = "3.1.0"
+csarManager.version = "3.2.0"
 csarManager.ups = 1 
 
 --[[-- VERSION HISTORY
@@ -28,9 +28,14 @@ csarManager.ups = 1
 		 - inflight status reflects time limit but will not time out 
 		 - pickupSound option 
 		 - lostSound option 
+- 3.1.1  - birth clears troopsOnBoard
+- 3.2.0  - inPopulated csar option 
+		 - clearance csar attribute 
+		 - maxTries csar attribute 
 
-	INTEGRATES AUTOMATICALLY WITH playerScore IF INSTALLED
-	INTEGRATES WITH LIMITED AIRFRAMES IF INSTALLED 
+	INTEGRATES AUTOMATICALLY WITH playerScore 
+	INTEGRATES WITH LIMITED AIRFRAMES 
+	INTEGRATES AUTOMATICALLY WITH SCRIBE 
 		 
 --]]--
 -- modules that need to be loaded BEFORE I run 
@@ -297,17 +302,26 @@ function csarManager:onEvent(event)
 		csarManager.heloLanded(theUnit)
 	end
 	
-	if ID == 3 then -- take off
+	if ID == 3 or ID == 55 then -- take off, postponed take-off 
 		csarManager.heloDeparted(theUnit)
 	end
 	
 	if ID == 5 then -- crash 
 		csarManager.heloCrashed(theUnit)
+		-- note: maybe not called in network missions.
+		-- correction: is called in 2.9
 	end	
 	
 	if ID == 15 then -- player helicopter birth 
 		-- we need to set up comms for this unit 
 		csarManager.setCommsMenu(theUnit)
+		-- we also need to make sure that there are no 
+		-- more troopsOnBoard
+
+		local conf = csarManager.getUnitConfig(theUnit)
+		conf.unit = theUnit
+		conf.troopsOnBoard = {}
+
 	end
 	
 end
@@ -421,7 +435,7 @@ function csarManager.heloLanded(theUnit)
 					end 
 					
 					for idx, msn in pairs(conf.troopsOnBoard) do 
-						-- each troopsOnboard is actually the 
+						-- each troopsOnBoard is actually the 
 						-- csar mission that I picked up 
 						csarManager.successMission(myName, base.name, msn)
 					end
@@ -792,7 +806,7 @@ function csarManager.doStatusCarrying(args)
 			local evacMission = conf.troopsOnBoard[i]
 			report = report .. "\n".. i .. ") " .. evacMission.name 
 			if evacMission.expires then 
-				delta = math.floor ((mission.expires - now) / 60)
+				delta = math.floor ((evacMission.expires - now) / 60)
 				if delta > 20 then
 					report = report .. " is hurt but stable"
 				elseif delta > 10 then
@@ -1207,6 +1221,9 @@ function csarManager.createCSARMissionFromZone(theZone)
 	if theZone.rndLoc then mPoint = theZone:createRandomPointInZone() end 
 	if theZone.onRoad then 
 		mPoint.x, mPoint.z =  land.getClosestPointOnRoads('roads',mPoint.x, mPoint.z)
+	elseif theZone.inPopulated then 
+			local aPoint = theZone:createRandomPointInPopulatedZone(theZone.clearance, theZone.maxTries)
+			mPoint = aPoint -- safety in case we need to mod aPoint 
 	end 
 	local theMission = csarManager.createCSARMissionData(
 			mPoint, 
@@ -1218,6 +1235,7 @@ function csarManager.createCSARMissionFromZone(theZone)
 			theZone.csarMapMarker, -- mapMarker
 			0.1, --theZone.radius) -- radius
 			nil) -- parashoo unit 
+	theMission.inPopulated = theZone.inPopulated -- transfer for csarFX
 	return theMission
 end
 
@@ -1338,12 +1356,22 @@ function csarManager.readCSARZone(theZone)
 	theZone.triggerMethod = theZone:getStringFromZoneProperty("triggerMethod", "change")
 	theZone.rndLoc = theZone:getBoolFromZoneProperty("rndLoc", true)
 	theZone.onRoad = theZone:getBoolFromZoneProperty("onRoad", false)
+	theZone.inPopulated = theZone:getBoolFromZoneProperty("inPopulated", false)
+	theZone.clearance = theZone:getNumberFromZoneProperty("clearance", 10)
+	theZone.maxTries = theZone:getNumberFromZoneProperty("maxTries", 20)
+	
+	if theZone.onRoad and theZone.inPopulated then 
+		trigger.action.outText("warning: competing 'onRoad' and 'inPopulated' attributes in zone <" .. theZone.name .. ">. Using 'onRoad'.", 30)
+	end 
 
 	if (not deferred) then 
 		local mPoint = theZone:getPoint()
 		if theZone.rndLoc then mPoint = theZone:createRandomPointInZone() end
 		if theZone.onRoad then 
 			mPoint.x, mPoint.z =  land.getClosestPointOnRoads('roads',mPoint.x, mPoint.z)
+		elseif theZone.inPopulated then 
+			local aPoint = theZone:createRandomPointInPopulatedZone(theZone.clearance, theZone.maxTries)
+			mPoint = aPoint -- safety in case we need to mod aPoint 
 		end 
 		local theMission = csarManager.createCSARMissionData(
 			mPoint, 

modules/dcsCommon.lua

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 dcsCommon = {}
-dcsCommon.version = "3.0.2"
+dcsCommon.version = "3.0.3"
 --[[-- VERSION HISTORY 
 3.0.0  - removed bad bug in stringStartsWith, only relevant if caseSensitive is false 
        - point2text new intsOnly option 
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ dcsCommon.version = "3.0.2"
 3.0.1  - clone: better handling of string type
 3.0.2  - new getPlayerUnit() 
 3.0.3  - createStaticObjectForCoalitionInRandomRing() returns x and z 
+       - isTroopCarrier() also supports 'helo' keyword
+ 	   - new createTakeOffFromGroundRoutePointData()
 --]]--
 
 	-- dcsCommon is a library of common lua functions 
@@ -1285,6 +1287,25 @@ dcsCommon.version = "3.0.2"
 		return route
 	end
 
+	function dcsCommon.createTakeOffFromGroundRoutePointData(pt, isHot) -- vec 3!
+		if not pt then return nil end 
+			
+		local rp = {}	
+		rp.x = pt.x
+		rp.y = pt.z
+		rp.alt = pt.y 
+		if isHot then 
+			rp.action = "From Ground Area Hot"
+			rp.type = "TakeOffGroundHot" 
+		else
+			rp.action = "From Ground Area" -- add " Hot" if hot
+			rp.type = "TakeOffGround" -- add "Hot" (NO blank) if hot
+		end
+		rp.speed = 10 --  that's 36 km/h 
+		rp.alt_type = "BARO"
+		return rp
+	end
+	
 	function dcsCommon.createTakeOffFromParkingRoutePointData(aerodrome)
 		if not aerodrome then return nil end 
 			
@@ -2701,6 +2722,15 @@ end
 function dcsCommon.isTroopCarrier(theUnit, carriers)
 	-- return true if conf can carry troups
 	if not theUnit then return false end
+
+	-- see if carriers contains "helo" and theUnit is a helo 
+	if dcsCommon.arrayContainsString(carriers, "helo") or dcsCommon.arrayContainsString(carriers, "helos")then
+		local grp = theUnit:getGroup() 
+		if grp:getCategory() == 1 then -- NOT category bug prone, is a group check 
+			return true 
+		end
+	end	
+	
 	local uType = theUnit:getTypeName()
 	return dcsCommon.isTroopCarrierType(uType, carriers) 
 end

modules/scribe.lua

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 scribe = {}
-scribe.version = "1.0.0"
+scribe.version = "1.0.1"
 scribe.requiredLibs = {
 	"dcsCommon", -- always
 	"cfxZones", -- Zones, of course 
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ scribe.requiredLibs = {
 --[[--
 Player statistics package
 VERSION HISTORY 
-	1.0.0	Initial Version 
+	1.0.0 Initial Version 
+	1.0.1 postponed land, postponed takeoff, unit_lost 
 --]]--
 scribe.verbose = true 
 scribe.db = {} -- indexed by player name 
@@ -234,8 +235,9 @@ function scribe.playerEjected(playerName)
 end
 
 function scribe.playerDied(playerName)
---	trigger.action.outText("+++scb: player <" .. playerName .. "> DEAD event, handing off to crashS", 30)
-	-- counts as a crash 
+	if scribe.verbose then 
+		trigger.action.outText("+++scb: player <" .. playerName .. "> DEAD event, handing off to crashS", 30)
+	end -- counts as a crash 
 	local theEntry = scribe.getPlayerNamed(playerName) 
 	if not theEntry.isActive then 
 		if scribe.verbose then 
@@ -365,7 +367,9 @@ function scribe:onEvent(theEvent)
 		scribe.playerUnits[uName] = playerName -- for crash helo detection 
 	end 
 	
-	if theEvent.id == 8 or theEvent.id == 9 then -- dead, pilot_dead 
+	if theEvent.id == 8 or 
+	   theEvent.id == 9 or 
+	   theEvent.id == 30 then -- dead, pilot_dead, unit_lost 
 		scribe.playerDied(playerName)
 	end 
 	
@@ -373,15 +377,17 @@ function scribe:onEvent(theEvent)
 		scribe.playerEjected(playerName)
 	end
 	
-	if theEvent.id == 5 then -- crash 
+	if theEvent.id == 5 then -- crash, maybe not called in MP 
 		scribe.playerCrashed(playerName)
 	end 
 	
-	if theEvent.id == 4 then -- landed 
+	if theEvent.id == 4 or -- landed 
+	   theEvent.id == 56 then 
 		scribe.playerLanded(playerName)
 	end 
 	
-	if theEvent.id == 3 then -- take-off
+	if theEvent.id == 3 or -- take-off
+	   theEvent.id == 55 then -- postponed take-off
 		scribe.playerDeparted(playerName)
 --		trigger.action.outText("departure detected", 30)
 	end 

modules/valet.lua

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 valet = {}
-valet.version = "1.0.2"
+valet.version = "1.0.3"
 valet.verbose = false 
 valet.requiredLibs = {
 	"dcsCommon", -- always
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ valet.valets = {}
 	1.0.0 - initial version 
 	1.0.1 - typos in verbosity corrected
 	1.0.2 - also scan birth events 
+	1.0.3 - outSoundFile now working correctly 
 	
 --]]--
 
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ function valet.createValetWithZone(theZone)
 		theZone.firstInSoundFile = cfxZones.getStringFromZoneProperty(theZone, "firstInSoundFile", "<none>")
 	end 
 	
-	theZone.outSoundFile = cfxZones.getStringFromZoneProperty(theZone, "outSoundFile", "<none>")
+	theZone.outSoundFile = cfxZones.getStringFromZoneProperty(theZone, "outSoundFile", theZone.inSoundFile)
 
 	-- greeting/first greeting, handle if "" = no text out 
 	if cfxZones.hasProperty(theZone, "firstGreeting") then 
@@ -195,7 +196,7 @@ function valet.sendOffPlayer(playerName, aPlayerUnit, theZone, theDesc)
 	-- player has left the area
 	local msg = theZone.goodbye or ""
 	local dur = theZone.duration
-	local fileName = "l10n/DEFAULT/" .. theZone.inSoundFile
+	local fileName = "l10n/DEFAULT/" .. theZone.outSoundFile
 	local ID = aPlayerUnit:getID()
 	
 	if msg == "<none>" then msg = "" end