What is a dynamic light compared to a static light compared to a directional light?
What is a path?
Why are there 8 lights possible in DynaLights™?
How do I reverse the direction when moving a light?
How is the formatting set up in the output text file?
Is there any wdl script file produced?
How many light settings/path nodes can I save?
How do I remove the light XYZ axis lines or the spot light direction arrow?
Why is the light moving left-right on the screen when according to the move button it should move into the screen?
How can I access the control panel of my own project which is behind the DynaLights™ panel?
How can I move around in my World when the DynaLights Control Panel is active?

What is a dynamic light compared to a static light compared to a directional light?
DynaLights™ allows you to create and control up to 8 dynamic light at the same time. A dynamic light can change its properties during runtime (position, color, range, etc). The changes influence the 3D environment in real time, including material and shader illumination, and dynamic shadow casting. It's just like having a light bulb illuminating the real world (or nearly so). The dynamic light in 3DGameStudio™ must be controlled by a control script, the control "action" of the light. This is where changes to the light are implemented, including its position, color, range, etc. If no script has been assigned to a light in your project level, it will be considered a static light by the engine, and then only taken into consideration during the compiling (building) of your project. Static light cannot change during runtime. The only directional light available is the Sun, which works like a dynamic light except that the light source is not a point, but a direction. It occupies one dynamic light slot when used. The present version of DynaLights™ allows you to turn the Sun on and off during runtime, making that extra light slot available to you.

What is a path?
DynaLights™ allows you to build a list of node position for up to 8 linear paths at the same time. A path is in essence a "track" along which a level entity can move or perform a behavior according to its control script. A path is made up of nodes and edges. The nodes are the"way points" of the path, and can be created in DynaLights™ by moving a dynamic light to each of the desired positions of the nodes in sequence, and then saving those positions in a node list.

Why are there 8 lights possible in DynaLights™?
In fact you can create an unlimited number of lights with DynaLights™, but modern 3D graphic cards cannot project them. The limitation is thus found in the hardware, and in DirectX 9, which limits the number of dynamic light sources that can be turned on at the same time to 8. Future versions of 3DGameStudio™ may rely on software controlled rendering of dynamic lights (up to 32). If you wish, or need to, you can create additional dynamic lights after first removing lights that you are done with by hitting the "remove selected lights" (X) button to the lower right on the DynaLights™ control panel.

How do I reverse the direction when moving a light?
Either by holding down the keyboard Shift key, or by turning on the reverse button on the DynaLights™ control panel. It is located in the origin corner of the xyz direction icon of the move buttons in the upper right corner of the control panel.

How is the formatting set up in the output text file?
The format of the output text file is following the default set by the A6 engine. Use the Windows Wordpad program to open the file to view the intended formatting. Set the View Options to Wrap To Window. Alternatively, reformat the text to your desired preferences in your word processing program.

Is there any wdl script file produced?
Yes. DynaLights™ can produce a custom script file for you if you select the wdl option in the Control Panel. The produced wdl file will be named according to your input, and the file will contain an Action that you can assign to models in your project that you want to use a dynamic light sources. The name of the action is based the name you have given to the wdl file. The new wdl file can easily be added to your project by selecting "add script" in the file menu of the 3DGS World Editor (WED). The produced wdl file can be further customized in the WED. Once an Action from the script has been assigned to a model, a number of action settings specific to that model can also be customized

How many light settings/path nodes can I save?
DynaLights™ allows the saving of an unlimited number of light settings, and paths with an unlimited number of nodes. The only limitations are those of the 3DGS Acknex engine, and possibly the text editor max file size that you use to open the output text files.

How do I remove the light XYZ axis lines or the spot light direction arrow?
These are turned off when you turn on the lock button of the light. They are turned on again when you unlock the light for further editing.

Why is the light moving left-right on the screen when according to the move button it should move into the screen?
The movement of the light follows the World X, Y and Z axes. These will not change as you (the developer or player) move through or around in your world level. Depending on your own position in this world, the lights may thus appear to move in opposite direction compared to the xyz arrow icon on the DynaLights™ control panel.

How can I access the control panel of my own project which is behind the DynaLights panel?
DynaLights™ control panel is intentionally placed on top of all other panels in your level in order to allow access to the light controls. If you need to get to you own panels, just click on the DynaLights™ icon in the lower left corner of the screen, OR use the keyboard key combination Ctrl + Alt + d OR Ctrl + Alt + l. DynaLights™ will be temporarily suspended and hidden, allowing you to access your own level controls. Created lights will still be shown while DynaLights™ is suspended. Use the same to re-activate the Control Panel again.

How can I move around in my World when the DynaLights Control Panel is active?
DynaLights™ does not change your normal way to move about in your World with the exception to the mouse input, which needs to be used to give input to the DynaLights™ Control Panel. Your standard use of Joystick and keyboard input will still work. If you need mouse input to move about in your World, you will have to temporarily suspend DynaLights™ by clicking the DL-icon in the lower left corner of the screen, OR using the keyboard key combination Ctrl + Alt + d OR Ctrl + Alt + l.