Normals: I 4 --> I 2 Equivalences and Auto-N control
Submitted by ArgCmdr

First of all, we will take a look at what were gonna explain here, as this is more an informative tutorial rather than an innovative one. This tutorial informs about two different things related on the same matter. The first, is the conversion from RA2 type normals, Index 4, to TS type normals, Index 2 and viceversa. We will treat which normal value corresponds to which other. And next, we will explain what is the normal control file that works with Voxel Section Editor II and how to modify it (So in case that for some reason youve messed it up, you can restore it, or in case you wanna go berserk to try find something new).

The normals values possessed and known are scarse, specially since it is very hard to determine which are the correct values for most non 45º multiple surface. Below, you will find the normals tables from the normals files by Flyby made for Voxel Editor II. And also the table Koen made. All set in comparison of course. (I gotta recommend taking a look at the file Godwin madem which isnt clearly downloadable anywhere but deezire.net, in the forums).

Facing / Set	Koens TS (I2)	Flybys TS (I2)	Flybys RA2 (I4)
Front	15	15	7
Front Top	33	33	126
Front Bottom	3	3	37
Front Right	14	20	140
Front Left	22	22	13
Bottom Front Right	8	8	48
Top Front Right	20	21	230
Bottom Front Left	10	16	66
Top Front Left	34	34	219
Left	17	17	147
Left Top Top	28	28	191
Top	32	32	232
Right Top Top	26	26	199
Right	19	19	153
Right Bottom	2	7	86
Bottom	2	2	16
Left Bottom	4	4	19
Back	12	12	106
Back Top	30	30	224
Back Bottom	0	0	30
Back Right	13	13	107
Back Left	23	23	178
Bottom Back Right	13	1	54
Top Back Right	13	31	208
Bottom Back Left	4	11	51
Top Back Left	23	29	122

Notice that Koen´s values are not 100% accurate due to the method used to uncover how theyre read by the program. The goal is accomplished though, show you which values program uses on each facing.

As you may have seen before, Flyby´s values are held in .normals files. These files are text. Actually inside them, youll find the data given above in the following format:

[details]
author = flyby
details = http://xccu.sourceforge.net
details = http://www.tibed.net
scheme = TIBERIAN_SUN

[normals]
Front = 15
Front Top = 33
Front Bottom = 3
Front Right = 20
Front Left = 22
Bottom Front Right = 8
Top Front Right = 21
Bottom Front Left = 16
Top Front Left = 34
Left = 17
Left Top Top = 28
Top = 32
Right Top Top = 26
Right = 19
Right Bottom = 7
Bottom = 2
Left Bottom = 4
Back = 12
Back Top = 30
Back Bottom = 0
Back Right = 13
Back Left = 23
Bottom Back Right = 1
Top Back Right = 31
Bottom Back Left = 11
Top Back Left = 29

Now, you will get to know the utility of each line, and thus, how to make YOUR OWN .normals files for Voxel Editor to used. Theres just the limitation of using only the values readable and reckonable by the program, only the ones in the [normals] section.

[details] section provides author information on appliance of the scheme. Whenever you choose in the editor what scheme to apply, you will get a warning message, saying:

Apply this normals scheme?
Filename:
Author: (The value in the file)
Scheme: (The value in the file) ; VERY IMPORTANT!: If this hasnt TIBERIAN_SUN or RED_ALERT_2, the file IS NOT read by the program at all!. The program actually either has the normals files in a temp location or places it in the RAM while its running.

Details= line seems to have little meaning or none, as it hasnt be spotted to modify much. Id think its rather informative in the file itself, pointing to a site, in case someone opened the file looking for such info.

Lastly, [normals] section and all its lines, are meant to give instructions to the program on what value to use (according to the above referred scheme) depending on each case. Each facing is a case, and in case program find case named like X facing, it will paint it with X normal. Eg. In case program finds many voxels together below all the rest, in correct and rect X and Z lines, forming a wall, it will reckon the case Bottom, in all the inner voxels that form that wall. The outter ones would rather be Left Bottom, Right Bottom, Back Bottom, etc.

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