Height settings for ingame files

[fern]

From Jay:
"I created height lists.  Of the four "Flowerbed", three have height of 1 and one has height of 2.  So, in order to try to differentiate them, I added descriptions to them the best I could, since that is the only way to tell the difference ingame.  Some of the things, especially in the scenery list, were beta objects and are not actually available ingame."

Foliage

Acacia Caffra Tree (acacia): height=3
Agave Cactus (mexagave): height=3
Arctic Birch Tree (arctbrch): height=3
Arctic Bush (arctshrb): height=3
Arctic Grass (arctgrss): height=1
Bald Cypress Tree (cypress): height=7
Bald Cypress Tree (cypressd): height=7
Bamboo (bamboo): height=3
Baobab Tree (baobob): height=3
Barnacles (barnacle): height=2
Beach Grass (bchgrass): height=2
Birch Tree (birch): height=3
Bonsai (japbush): height=3
Brittle Sea Star (britstar): height=2
Broadleaf Bush (grshrub): height=3
Cherry Tree (cherry): height=3
Chinese Fir Tree (cfir): height=3
Clam Bed (clambed): height=2
Club Moss Shrub (clubmoss): height=3
Dawn Redwood Tree (dawnred): height=3
Deciduous Bush (bush3): height=2
Decorative Hedge (hedge): height=3
Desert Flowers (sflowers): height=1
Divercate Tree Coral (dtcoral): height=3
Doum Palm Tree (doumpalm): height=3
Durian Tree (asiduria): height=3
Elephant Ear Tree (eleear): height=3
Elephant Topiary (tpele): height=3
Elm Tree (elm): height=3
Eucalyptus Tree (eucalyp): height=3
Fallen Rainforest Tree (juntree): height=1
Feather Duster Worm (fdstworm): height=1
Fern Bush (fernbush): height=1
Fir Tree (fir): height=3
Fire Coral (fircoral): height=3
Flowerbed (flower1) (has 2 clumps of light green): height=1
Flowerbed (flower2) (has no clumps of green): height=1
Flowerbed (flower3) (has 2 clumps of light green): height=1
Flowerbed (flower4) (has big clump of dark green): height=2
Foxtail Palm Tree (foxtail): height=3
Giant Ficus Tree (asitree): height=3
Gingko Tree (gingkos): height=3
Giraffe Topiary (tpgiraf): height=3
Globe Willow Tree (willow): height=3
Glossopteris Tree (glossop): height=3
Grass Tree (grasstr): height=3
Hard Quandong Tree (hquandon): height=3
Himalayan Birch Tree (hbirch): height=3
Himalayan Pine Tree (hpine): height=3
Holiday Tree (xmastree): height=3
Horsetail (horstail): height=2
Japanese Maple Tree (jmaple): height=3
Joshua Tree (joshua): height=3
Kapok Tree (kapok): height=3
Kelp (kelp): height=3
Khejri Tree (khejri): height=3
Large Flowerbed (flower5): height=2
Large Flowerbed (flower6): height=2
Large Flowerbed (flower7): height=2
Lepidodendron Tree (lepidod): height=3
Leptocycas Tree (lepto): height=3
Llala Palm Tree (shrtpalm): height=2
Lodgepole Pine Tree (lodgpine): height=3
Magnolia Tree (magnolia): height=3
Mangrove Tree (mangrove): height=3
Maple Tree (maple): height=3
Monkey Puzzle Tree (monkpuzz): height=3
Norfolk Island Pine Tree (norfolk): height=3
Orange Cup Coral (cupcoral): height=1
Orchid Tree (orchid): height=3
Pacific Dogwood Tree (pdogwood): height=3
Palm Tree (palm): height=3
Paper Birch Tree (pbirch): height=3
Pine Bush (pineshrb): height=3
Pine Tree (pine): height=3
Polar Bear Topiary (tppbear): height=2
Prickly Pear Cactus (ppear): height=3
Quiver Tree (quiver): height=3
Rafflesia (asiflow): height=1
Rainforest Bush (bush2): height=2
Rainforest Fern (bush4): height=2
Rainforest Flowers (junflowr): height=1
Rainforest Stump (junstump): height=3
Red Gorgonian (redgorgo): height=2
Red Gum Tree (redgum): height=3
Rhinoceros Topiary (tprhino): height=2
Sage Bush (sage): height=3
Saguaro Cactus (saguaro): height=3
Sand Bush (sandbush): height=1
Sand Dollar (sdollar): height=1
Sargassum (sargass): height=2
Savannah Flowers (afflower): height=1
Sea Anemone (anemone): height=2
Sea Cucumber (seacuke): height=2
Sea Grass (sgrass): height=2
Sea Lettuce (lettuce): height=2
Sea Sponge (sponge): height=2
Sea Star (seastar): height=2
Seaweed (seaweed): height=1
Senegal Date Palm (aftree): height=3
Sigillaria Tree (sigillar): height=3
Snowbell Tree (japtree): height=3
Snowy Bush (snowbush): height=3
Snowy Grass (snograss): height=3
Snowy Tree (snowtree): height=3
Spiral Topiary (tpspiral): height=3
Spruce Tree (wspruce): height=3
Stove Pipe Sponge (stovpipe): height=3
Tall Grass (savgrass): height=1
Thorn Acacia Tree (whtthrna): height=3
Thorn Bush (bush1): height=2
Thornless Mesquite Tree (tmesquit): height=3
Thouarsus Cycad Tree (cycad): height=3
Trembling Aspen Tree (taspen): height=3
Tube Worm (tubeworm): height=3
Ulmo Tree (ulmo): height=3
Umbrella Thorn Tree (umbacac): height=3
Walchian Conifer Tree (conifer): height=3
Water Lily (wtrlily): height=1
Water Reed (wtrreed): height=2
Weeping Willow Tree (weepwill): height=3
Western Juniper Tree (wjuniper): height=3
Western Larch Tree (glarch): height=3
Western Red Cedar Tree (wrcedar): height=3
White Oak Tree (woak): height=3
Wild Olive Tree (wolive): height=3
Williamsonia Tree (williams): height=3
Yellow Cedar Tree (westceda): height=3
Yellow Fever Tree (yfacacia): height=3
Yew Tree (yew): height=3
Yucca Tree (mexyucca): height=3

Rocks

Arctic Rock (icerock): height=1
Atlantean Undersea Ruin (atlruin1): height=3
Atlantean Undersea Ruin (atlruin2): height=3
Atlantean Undersea Ruin (atlruin3): height=3
Coniferous Forest Rock Formation (srckfrm4): height=1
Deciduous Forest Rock Formation (srckfrm2): height=2
Desert Rock Formation (srckfrm1): height=2
Highland Rock (japrock): height=1
Highland Rock Formation (bwallmtn): height=3
Iceberg (iceberg): height=3
Isle Rock (islerock): height=2
Jungle Rock Formation (bwalljun): height=3
Large Coral Formation (aqrock5): height=3
Large Desert Rock (sandrock): height=3
Large Highland Rock (srckfrm3): height=2
Large Ocean Floor Rock (aqrock3): height=2
Large Rock (lrock1): height=2
Large Rock (lrock2): height=2
Large Snowy Rock (lrocka1): height=2
Large Snowy Rock (lrocka2): height=2
Limestone Rock (asirock): height=1
Medium Aquatic Rock (drock4): height=3
Medium Coniferous Rock (drock5): height=2
Medium Coral Formation (aqrock4): height=2
Medium Desert Rock (drock1): height=2
Medium Highland Rock (drock2): height=2
Medium Ocean Floor Rock (aqrock2): height=3
Medium Rock (srock1): height=1
Medium Savannah Rock (drock3): height=2
Medium Snowy Rock (srocka1): height=1
Mossy Rainforest Rock (junrock): height=1
Rainforest Rock Formation (srckfrm5): height=1
Small Desert Rock (mexrock): height=1
Small Ocean Floor Rock (aqrock1): height=1
Small Rock (srock2): height=1
Small Snowy Rock (srocka2): height=1
Snowy Rock Formation (bwallsnw): height=3
Stone Ruins (rstone): height=2
Termite Mound (aftmound): height=1

Scenery

6499 (testbox): height=2
Amphora Clay Pot (amphora): height=1
Asian Elephant Statue (asistatu): height=3
Atlantean Arch (atlarch): height=1
Atlantean Statue (atstatue): height=1
Atlantean Urn (atlurn): height=1
Bighorn Statue (statue5): height=2
Binocular Stand (binoc): height=1
Black Observation Area (aqview1): height=1
Bone Bed (bonebed1): height=1
Campfire (campfire): height=1
Cloth Observation Area (sandview): height=1
Concrete Observation Area (view2rc): height=1
Deep Sea Diver Statue (statdive): height=1
Dolphin Statue (statdolp): height=1
Dolphin Wishing Fountain (wishwell): height=2
Duck Pond (duckpond): height=1
Elephant Fountain (fount3): height=1
Elephant Statue (statue2): height=3
Exhibit Sign (habsign): height=
Fancy Backdrop (bckdrop1): height=3
Fountain (fountain): height=1
Giant Pacific Clam (fakeclam): height=2
Giant Tortoise Fountain (dfnt1): height=1
Ice Age Observation Area (dview4): height=1
Ice Archway (icearch): height=3
Iron Bar Observation Area (dview2): height=1
Jack-O'-Lantern (pumpkin): height=1
Japanese Archway (japarch): height=3
Japanese Koi Pond (jappond): height=1
Japanese Rock Garden (japzen): height=1
Japanese Stone Lantern (japlant): height=1
Japanese Urn (japurn): height=1
Jumping Fountain (jmpfount): height=2
Lamp (lamp): height=1
Large Bench (bench): height=1
Large Fossil Wall (fossil3): height=3
Large Geyser (geyser1): height=1
Large Stone Torch (storch2): height=3
Large Volcano (volcano2): height=1
Lava Archway (darch1): height=3
Lava Pit (lavapit): height=1
Lion Statue (statue1): height=2
Marble Observation Area (dview5): height=1
Masai Warrior Statue (afstatue): height=3
Medium Fossil Wall (fossil2): height=3
Mermaid Statue (statmerm): height=3
Metal Bench (aqbench): height=1
Metal Grate Observation Area (view1lc): height=1
Metal Observation Area (view1): height=1
Metal Picnic Table (picnic2): height=1
Mexican Archway (mexarch): height=3
Mexican Observation Area (mexview): height=1
Mexican Statue (mexserpt): height=3
Orca Statue (statorca): height=1
Picnic Table (picnic): height=1
Playful Bronto Statue (dkbronto): height=2
Playful Dino Archway (dkarch): height=2
Playful T. rex Statue (dktrex): height=2
Rainforest Archway (junarch): height=3
Rainforest Pond (junpond): height=1
Rainforest Statue (junstat): height=3
Rainforest Torch (juntorch): height=2
Rainforest Vase (junvase): height=1
Reinforced Observation Area (dview3): height=1
Rock Observation Area (view2lc): height=1
Sand Archway (sandarch): height=3
Sea Lion Statue (statslio): height=1
Seal Statue (statseal): height=1
Small Fossil Wall (fossil1): height=3
Small Geyser (geyser2): height=1
Small Torch (storch): height=1
Small Volcano (volcano): height=4
Snake Pit (snakepit): height=1
Snowman (snowman): height=1
Southeast Asian Archway (asiarch): height=3
Southeast Asian Observation Area (asiview): height=1
Sphinx Statue (sphinx): height=1
Stage Backdrop (stgeback): height=3
Stage Backdrop End (stgecorn): height=3
Stage Door (stgedoor): height=3
Steam Vent (vent1): height=1
Stick Pole Observation Area (view2): height=1
Stone Archway (darch2): height=3
Stone Bench (sbench): height=1
Stone Obelisk (obelisk): height=3
T. rex Skeleton (skeltrex): height=3
T. rex Statue (stattrex): height=3
Tall Torch (aftorch): height=2
Tar Pit (tarpit): height=1
Thatched Grass Archway (afarch): height=3
Trash Can (trshcan): height=
Treasure Chest (trchest): height=2
Tribal Mask (afmask): height=1
Triceratops Skeleton (skeltric): height=3
Triceratops Statue (stattops): height=3
Trio Statue (stattrio): height=1
Turtle Fountain (fount2): height=1
Umbrella Table (umbtable): height=
Velociraptor Skeleton (skelvelo): height=3
Velociraptor Statue (statvelo): height=3
Water Well (sandwell): height=1
White Observation Area (aqview2): height=1
Wishing Fountain (wishw2): height=2
Wood Observation Area (view1rc): height=1
Wooden Observation Area (dview1): height=1
Wooly Mammoth Fountain (dfnt2): height=1
Worn Cart (sandcart): height=1
Woven Flower Basket (wvbasket): height=1
Zoo Map (parkmap): height=1

[Pukkie]

questions (what's new) If I see a guest pass that small flowerbed of which the height is 2 I see no reaso why they can't look over it. But can they? And if they can, can they look over everything else that has height 2?

[Jay]

Before answering your question, let me say what "height" is supposed to mean. Go in Zoo Tycoon, have a zoo with guests in it, pause the game, and use the elevation tool to raise the land and make a cliff near a guest. If you raise the land 2 levels, it is obvious it is taller than the guests. This is a height of 2. So, since it is taller than the guests, the guests cannot see through it. Instead of raising the land 2 levels, raise it 1 level. This is a height of 1. It is obvious that adult guests are taller than taller than this. So they can see over it. Children guests are close to that height, but I believe they can see over it as well.

For elevation such as these cliffs, Zoo Tycoon knows how tall they are. But Zoo Tycoon cannot tell how tall other things are just from how it looks. It cannot tell if the picture is going up (such as a shrub) or if the picture is on the ground (such as a path). Our experience allows us to tell the difference, although sometimes even our eyes and brains are fooled (optical illusions). Zoo Tycoon has no experience. Therefore, designers have to tell Zoo Tycoon how tall each thing is. If the designers say something has a height of 1, guests can see over it. If the designers say something has a height more than 1, guests cannot see over it. But sometimes the designers made mistakes. That is what happened with the one Flowerbed. So, for that Flowerbed with height of 2, guests will not be able to see over it, even though they should.

Some of the heights are not mistakes. If you look at the observation areas, for example, you will see they have a height of 1. Yet observation areas are taller than guests. The reason they have a height of 1 is to tell Zoo Tycoon that they do not block the view of guests. Although lamps are taller than guests, they have a height of 1 because guests can see around them, since they are thin. Some tall things that go in tanks have a height of 1 so that marine animals swim over them instead of through their sides. But there are lots of heights that would be considered wrong, especially a number of thin things, which should have a height of 1 for the same reason as lamps.

[Caddienoah]

Wow, I understood it with only one reading...but my question is...can we therefore change the height of that flowerbed...or are we so called stuck with it?  Can the same item have more than one height...so that one building is a 3...but this building (the same building in a different spot) is a 4 height...would changing that one piece of info make the computer see them as totally different buildings needing different ztd files...or would the computer and program override and make them both the same...

[Jay]

Yes, we could change the height of ingame things. There are 2 different approaches. One approach would be to create a ".ztd" that overrides Zoo Tycoon's ".ztd". That would be considered a hack. This approach would change the economics of all saved zoos containing those objects. Although some might consider this to be an advantage, I consider it to be a disadvantage, especially since there may be ingame maps and scenarios using some of those objects. The second approach would be to create a ".ztd" that links to the Zoo Tycoon graphics, but has new APE ids (internal names). This means those items would appear in the purchase menus twice, one being the ingame version and one being the new version with a new height value. That allows Zoo Tycooners to choose which they want to use. That means any saved zoos will work the same for everyone, and not depend on whether or not someone happens to be using a hack. But it means if someone has a saved zoo using the ingame version and they want it now to use the new version, they would have to change the saved zoo to do so. My preference would be the second approach. But this would be more useful for some of the thin objects rather than the Flowerbed, since there are 3 other Flowerbeds that could be chosen instead.

No, the same exact object cannot have different heights based on where it is in the zoo. But, as mentioned in the second approach, it is possible to have 2 versions, each with a different height setting, in the same zoo at the same time. And we normally do not care whether a height is 3 versus 4. We usually just care if it is 1 (guests can see over or around), 2 (guests cannot see through), or 3 (although do not know for sure, this might prevent tall dinos from walking or maybe seeing over the item, since some dinos have a cTall setting).

[Caddienoah]

Jay thank you for the info...with option two, which sounds not only better, but the more practical to do...would it not have a limitation...since items would show in the menu twice...and the menu only holds a certain amount of files...not all files could be duplicated without going over and above the set limit...or would the limit amount could /would have to be changed to reflect the total number of original and duplicated files...

[fern]

Why change things at all. There are plenty of user made 1s and 2s or more. So why not chose to use the 2s to give animals more privacy when they whine about lack of it.

[Jay]

would it not have a limitation...since items would show in the menu twice...and the menu only holds a certain amount of files...not all files could be duplicated without going over and above the set limit...or would the limit amount could /would have to be changed to reflect the total number of original and duplicated files...

Each ZT purchase menu can hold up to 3000 things, which is a limit we cannot change, at least for the "All" menu filter, which is the important one. Although it is possible to reach that limit with what is currently available, especially if one uses the angled animations, most people do not get near that limit. They will move some things in and out of the Updates or dlupdate folders. That makes it easier to find things in the purchase menus and allows ZT not to use up memory unnecessarily or to run slower when it has the purchase menus open. So having two versions of some things here and there will not matter much.

Why change things at all.

I agree that we should not change everything that might be considered wrong. I was thinking of the Tall Torch and Rainforest Torch. They are thinner than the Lamp and so should have the same height, especially since they often look better than the lamps in certain places. I also do not like that guests gawk at them in MM/CC.

[Pukkie]

Now that is a true point It is very annoying indeed