The There Layout Editor, written by TheChaz is a very helpful tool for builders and decorators.  I have written this documentation to help people understand the layout file and the layout editor.  I have been able to do remarkable things with the Layout Editor, and so can you.

 Enjoy!
eRobert

The Layout File Editor was written by TheChaz who graciously gave me permission to distribute it.  This software was not made by Makena, and is not supported by There.  Use it at your own peril.  Erobert and TheChaz take no responsibility for any damages resulting from use of  this program.

Installation of the Layout Editor
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No installation is required.  Just unzip the file to any folder or to your desktop.  Then just click it to run it.  No configuration is required.


The Basics of the Layout File
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When you save a layout file in your portazone, lot, or zone, a file is written to your computer.  This file is located in your "\There\ThereClient\UserData\gk_layouts\" folder.  When you save a layout, you provide the name for it.   The layout file is saved with a "*.lay" extension.  So, for example if you save a layout and give it the name "Tower", the layout file will be titled "tower.lay".  The layout file contains the exact position and orientation of every object in your lot, paz, or zone.  When you load a layout file, each object is placed at the exact position specified in your layout file.  The Layout Editor allows you to change these coordinates to your liking and save the new file before loading the layout file.

Previously some hearty souls would edit this layout file with a text editor.  It is in a format which can be very confusing.  The Layout Editor makes changing the position of any object a breeze.  The Layout Editor is a great tool any time you need to move or place and item with great precision.  This editor displays each object within your lot, paz, or zone.  It also gives the X, Y, Z and heading of each item.  When you click on an item it shows a picture of the item.  You can change any of the parameters as necessary and save the new layout file.

CAUTION:  Before you use the Layout Editor, it is a good idea to copy your layout file to a safe place.  This allows you to go back to your original layout file if you wish, for any reason.


There's Coordinate System
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Note:  This section is detailed and somewhat difficult.  While it is great to fully understand the There coordinate system, if it does not interest you, please skip ahead to the “Procedure” section.

There uses a set of four numbers to describe the location and orientation of an object.  X, Y, Z, and Heading. The X, Y, and Z numbers are referenced to the gray polygon you see up in the horizontal center of any paz or lot.  The X, Y, and Z numbers are in meters.  The distance above ground for this polygon varies depending on the paz or lot size. This is the zero point and all measurements are referenced to this.  The heading refers to the There compass heading of the object.  There's compass is different from the real world compass.  North is 0 (zero).  As you go in a counterclockwise direction the numbers are negative and clockwise the numbers are positive.  So you can see that North is 0 degrees, west is (minus) -90, south is 180, and east is (positive) 90 degrees,

You will need to find the elevation of the zero point polygon above ground.  Hop on your hoverpack and go up to the gray polygon.  You must have a way to measure this.  Note the elevation with the polygon at your eye level.  Then, go back to the ground and note the elevation.  Subtract the polygon height from your ground height and add 2 meters if your avatar is female or 2.15 meters if your avatar is male.  This distance is roughly the distance from your eyes to the ground.

    Example:  The polygon is noted at an altitude of 31 meters.  Ground   
    level is noted at 6 meters.  Ground elevation therefore 31-6+2 = 27 meters. 
    This calculation assumes a female avatar.  Since we know it is that
    ground level is below the zero point, we change that to -27 meters. 
    Therefore, the vertical coordinate of ground level is -27.
 
An alternate and perhaps easier way to obtain this elevation is to hoverpack up to where your feet are centered in the polygon and note the altitude.  Then go back to the ground and note that altitude.   When you subtract the upper measurement from the lower one and add a minus sign, you will be done.

The Effects of Coordinate Changes
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Please just memorize this section.  It will be very helpful to you.

Here are the effects of changing these coordinates in your layout file and reloading it:  These movements are as you face the decorator tag of an item you have dropped while you are in the same position as when you dropped it. 

              A larger “Y” number moves the object away from you.
              A larger “X” number moves the object to your left.
              A larger “Z” number moves the object up.
              Changing the heading rotates the object to the specified There
               compass heading.

Again, all linear measurements are referenced to the gray zero point polygon in your lot, paz, or zone, if an object is below this zero point, it will have a negative Z coordinate, and if it is above the zero point, it will have a positive number.  Similarly, if the object is to the right of the zero point, the X coordinate will be negative.  If the object is beyond the zero reference point, the Y coordinate will be negative.

To move an object, you must use the coordinates algebraically.  Here are some examples:

X=-25 is smaller than X=24
X=23 is smaller than X=25

If you change X from -25 to -24  the object will move 1 meter to your right.
If you change X from +20 to +21  the object will move 1 meter to the left.
If you change Y from -20 to -19  the object will move 1 meter toward you.
If you change Y from +15 to +16  the object will move 1 meter away from you.



A Practical Example
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Note:  This example is very detailed.  It is good if you really want to fully understand the use of the layout editor and the There coordinate system.  If you are not interested in the hairy details, please skip to the section titled, “Procedure”.

Lets do an example.  Lets suppose we want to place an object 5 meters east of zero, and 8 meters south of zero, and vertically, 10 meters above the ground.  Lets also assume that we want the object orientated toward the west.  For this example, lets assume the distance above ground of the zero reference polygon is 30 meters

We can see that a Z coordinate of -30 will be ground level in this case.  The new Z number in the layout file then will be -30+10=-20.  The X coordinate is 8 meters south of the zero point, so the layout file entry would be -8.  The Y coordinate is 5 meters east of the zero point, so the layout file entry would be -5.  West is -90 degrees on There's compass, so that is the number which would be put in the layout file.  So here is a summary:

X=+5
Y=-8
Z=-30+10=-20
The orientation is west which is -90.

So you change the coordinates in your layout file to these numbers.  Then save the layout file.  When you load the layout file, the system will place the object according to these new coordinages.


Procedure
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The Layout Editor is straight forward and simple to use.  Run the program and just click 'File' and select 'Open', and select the layout file you wish to change.  Make your changes and then click 'file' and select 'Save'.  After you have saved the new layout file, with the There client online, click 'This Place' > Layout Options > Load Layout then select the layout you have changed.  Don't be startled when everything you have dropped disappears.  The system will place each object exactly where you have specified.  This happens one object at a time, so it takes a certain time for everything to be placed.

You can see how easy it will be to for example get several objects at the same elevation or precisely aligned.

Handy Conversions
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1 meter = 100 centimeters = 1000 milimeters
1 meter = 1.0936 yards
1 meter = 3.281 feet
1 meter = 39.37 inches
1 inch = 0.0254 meters
1 foot = 0.3048 meters
1 yard = 0.9144 meters

So, for example if you want to move an object 1/4 inch, this would be 0.0254 x (1/4) = 0.00635 meters.  Therefore you would change the appropriate coordinate in the layout file by 0.00635 .  Similarly, to move an object 1/2 inch, you would change the coordinate by:  0.0254 x (1/2) = 0.0127 meters.


The Effects of Coordinate Changes
--------------------------------------------------
Please just memorize this section.  It will be very helpful to you.

Here are the effects of changing these coordinates in your layout file and reloading it:  These movements are as you face the decorator tag of an item you have dropped while you are in the same position as when you dropped it. 

              A larger “Y” number moves the object away from you.
              A larger “X” number moves the object to your left.
              A larger “Z” number moves the object up.
              Changing the heading rotates the object to the specified There
               compass heading.

Again, all linear measurements are referenced to the gray zero point polygon in your lot, paz, or zone, if an object is below this zero point, it will have a negative Z coordinate, and if it is above the zero point, it will have a positive number.  Similarly, if the object is to the right of the zero point, the X coordinate will be negative.  If the object is beyond the zero reference point, the Y coordinate will be negative.

To move an object, you must use the coordinates algebraically.  Here are some examples:

X=-25 is smaller than X=24
X=23 is smaller than X=25

If you change X from -25 to -24  the object will move 1 meter to your right.
If you change X from +20 to +21  the object will move 1 meter to the left.
If you change Y from -20 to -19  the object will move 1 meter toward you.
If you change Y from +15 to +16  the object will move 1 meter away from you.


Relative Column of the Layout Editor
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You can see that the Editor has a column labeled Absolute and one labeled Relative.  Thus far, we have used only the Absolute column.  Most of your work will not be with relative numbers, but here is an explanation of how it works.  The Relative numbers let us see the difference between the locations of two different items.  So, for example, say you had a flower barrel and a date palm listed.  To see the relative difference, drag the date palm under the flower barrel.  Now when you click the date palm, you will see numbers appear in the Relative column.  These numbers tell you the absolute distance between the flower barrel and the date palm.


 Moving Many Items as a Unit
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 This is where the layout editor really shines.  If, for example you have a house with furniture in it and for some reason you need to move the house, this becomes a tedious process as you much pick up the hous and every item in it individually, and move them one at a time.

‘tada!  In comes the Layout Editor to the rescue.  You can move everything as a unit and have the relative position of all items remain the same.  This saves tons of work.

To accomplish this, load the layout file into the editor.  Using the house example, just drag and drop all the items you wish to move together under the house entry.  Now move the house as you please and save the layout file.  When you then load the layout file again, the house will have moved as you specified.. but also, all the items inside will have moved the same amount. 


Conclusion
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This Layout Editor gives you absolute and precision control of each object in your setup.  My hope is that the Editor enhances your There experience.  I know it has allowed me to do some remarkable things.  It will do the same for you.

Trust me… using the editor is easier than it seems.  You will be an expert builder with unbelievable precision in no time.

I ask nothing for my efforts here writing this documentation.  It is a joy to share with others.  However, if you wish to make a small donation, my PayPal email  address is:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   My There avie also accepts Therebucks as well.  Thanks in advance.

Enjoy!
eRobert
June 21, 2008