Actually, now two different work-arounds to long preview loading screens:
Here is what (I think) I've discovered (with the help of Castmodean). Please confirm if these things work.
The problem with long preview loading screens has to do with adding objects to a map via the menus on the right of the screen.
So, load into the foundry and do nothing. You can preview your map over and over again with fast loading screens. Or, adjust items that are already loaded onto the map, when you launched the editor = fast loading screens. Or, copy and paste something already on your map using Cntl + C, Cntl + V (or the edit... paste option), then you'll have fast loading screens. Or, copy and paste something and then change it to something different = fast loading times.
Disclaimer: This is true, IF you haven't already set the Foundry into long loading screen mode by trying to add something new (from the menus) to the map. Basically, once you are stuck with 4-5 minute loads, they are there to stay, no matter if you are messing with objects already on the map. All of the above applies before you get the loading screens, not after. Once you get a long load, then you need to reboot the Foundry.
Generally, you can avoid the long loading screens with one of these two work-arounds:
1. Load the map with all the objects you need or need to copy and paste.
Ex: If you know you're building an office, put in all the objects that you want in a corner of the map. So, put in a desk, chairs, a fish tank, basically everything you want to use. It doesn't matter where they go, because you'll fix all of that later.
Then, save the project, exit the foundry, reload the project and there you go. You should have no trouble at all with loading screens while building a map with the objects that you already put in. If you need a second version of a desk, copy and paste it from the one that is already on the map. Again, placing one onto the map via the menus will bring back the loading screens of DOOM, even if the object is already on your map. You have to copy and paste a new version of it from the existing version to avoid the loading screens.
Or (thanks to castmodean for discovering this):
2. Minimize the right side of the Foundry so that you're never tempted to add something new that way. Instead, practice this method:
If you need something new, copy and paste an existing building or prop (cntl c, cntl v). Now, with the new version of the prop, change the item to whatever you want by clicking on it and then clicking on the button of what it is. This button lets you search and change the object to something new. This will allow you to add new things to your map without creating the long load times.
Hopefully these are just temporary work-arounds, and it helps Frost to understand what is happening. But, they are working for me, and I can build again. Even if I have to stop and restart the foundry, that is preferable to a 4 minute loading screen that will never go away until I reboot the foundry.
Summary: Don't add something to your map unless you're copying and pasting an object already there (or changing something you copy and paste). If you need to add something, then add one of each thing that you'll need for the next half-hour of building. Then, save and restart the Foundry. Or, copy and paste something and change it to something new.
Do whatever you want, but avoid adding anything to the map via the tabs on the right side of the screen.
I can confirm what Kirkfat has stated. I have a work in progress, on the first ground map I place a couple of objects then previewed, placed a few more and the load times became 5 mins +. On my second ground map I did as Kirkfat suggested, place all objects, save, exit, reload, and then preview and it worked perfectly. The second map has 15 + items in it so far and loads very nicely, the first map has 6 objects in it and takes 7-10 mins to load.
I can confirm what Kirkfat has stated. I have a work in progress, on the first ground map I place a couple of objects then previewed, placed a few more and the load times became 5 mins +. On my second ground map I did as Kirkfat suggested, place all objects, save, exit, reload, and then preview and it worked perfectly. The second map has 15 + items in it so far and loads very nicely, the first map has 6 objects in it and takes 7-10 mins to load.
Thanks Cormac, the first map should work fine with the objects you placed already when you reload the foundry.
and I can confirm that you can actually reduce some of the work by only cloning 1 object with copy/paste and then turning around and changing it on the general tab in the editor, by doing that you can place your first object, (or if you are editing the map later copy one) and change it into whatever you want.
The really weird thing about this is that it isnt caused by additions of objects into the database, but the addition of a 'new' object from the sidebar only.
and I can confirm that you can actually reduce some of the work by only cloning 1 object with copy/paste and then turning around and changing it on the general tab in the editor, by doing that you can place your first object, (or if you are editing the map later copy one) and change it into whatever you want.
The really weird thing about this is that it isnt caused by additions of objects into the database, but the addition of a 'new' object from the sidebar only.
Wow, great find Cast. So we simply have to copy and paste an object and then change it to something new, in order to add something new to the map. I'll edit the OP with that info.
I've confirmed that Cast is right about copying an existing object, pasting it, and then changing what it is to add something new to the map. It doesn't create the loading screens. So, that is good to know. If anyone needs to add something new to their map, try doing that instead of restarting the Foundry.
currently, I can refute his "work-around". I still get long load times (at least nine minutes), even though I didn't add anything; I was simply adjusting the coordinates of the objects that were already there.
Was this after you had added something from the sidebar? Once you get the long load times, you are stuck with them. You have to restart the Foundry.
currently, I can refute his "work-around". I still get long load times (at least nine minutes), even though I didn't add anything; I was simply adjusting the coordinates of the objects that were already there.
Sorry to hear that this is not working for you, man.
Following these steps has led me to have no more than 30 seconds load time on preview maps. However , if I forget after I added something / anything from that danged sidebar , back to the long loads. I just now make that sidebar disappear once a map is built with 1 of each kind of object on it.
Be warned that for some reason, once you've reskinned the actors in a mob, the Foundry editor won't let you make copies of it. Unfortunately you'll have to make as many copies of a mob as you'll need, and then reskin all the actors in all the copies, one by one.
I'm not sure if any other changes to a mob's default settings will prevent you from copying it, but I know reskinning definitely does.
After Drogyen told me of this problem, I suspect you don't even need to pull any object from the library to run into this long-load issue. I was just messing around in the costume editor and the load times in the preview was five minutes long.
Honestly, I'm surprised Cryptic has let this serious issue go so long without being fixed. I know Frost was away, but surely this could've been sent to someone. How can they keep hyping the Foundry, and not take good care of it?
Honestly, I'm surprised Cryptic has let this serious issue go so long without being fixed. I know Frost was away, but surely this could've been sent to someone. How can they keep hyping the Foundry, and not take good care of it?
CrypticFrost is only a QA guy, he doesn't fix things. Once it's reported it is out of his hands.
Its valuable info. We need to know if things change. Would be a good idea to test various things with the costume editor since you said that might have been slowing you down.
Well I did more testing, copying a costume caused a slowdown, as did minor changes like changing skin color or hair style. Just one tiny change gave me a 4 minute loading screen.
Well I did more testing, copying a costume caused a slowdown, as did minor changes like changing skin color or hair style. Just one tiny change gave me a 4 minute loading screen.
This is no longer working for me. Copying, pasting, then changing an item results in long load times. It's like they saw the workaround and said, "Well we can't have that!" and 'fixed' it. Anyone else having trouble with this?
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Thanks Cormac, the first map should work fine with the objects you placed already when you reload the foundry.
@Rellimtime82 - Foundry Author
The really weird thing about this is that it isnt caused by additions of objects into the database, but the addition of a 'new' object from the sidebar only.
Nouveau riche LTS member
I think that is probably a different issue. This only refers to our ability to quickly build sets.
Wow, great find Cast. So we simply have to copy and paste an object and then change it to something new, in order to add something new to the map. I'll edit the OP with that info.
Cheers,
Brandon =/\=
Was this after you had added something from the sidebar? Once you get the long load times, you are stuck with them. You have to restart the Foundry.
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Sorry to hear that this is not working for you, man.
Following these steps has led me to have no more than 30 seconds load time on preview maps. However , if I forget after I added something / anything from that danged sidebar , back to the long loads. I just now make that sidebar disappear once a map is built with 1 of each kind of object on it.
I'm not sure if any other changes to a mob's default settings will prevent you from copying it, but I know reskinning definitely does.
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Honestly, I'm surprised Cryptic has let this serious issue go so long without being fixed. I know Frost was away, but surely this could've been sent to someone. How can they keep hyping the Foundry, and not take good care of it?
CrypticFrost is only a QA guy, he doesn't fix things. Once it's reported it is out of his hands.
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Check out my Foundry missions:
Standalone - The Great Escape - The Galaxy's Fair - Purity I: Of Denial - Return to Oblivion
Untitled Series - Duritanium Man - The Improbable Bulk - Commander Rihan
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EDIT: Just did a quick test.
loading a map with no changes at all immediately after entering foundry gave me a load time of a few seconds.
adding two objects to the map upped the load time to 4 mins.
closing the project and reopening it dropped the load time to a few secs.
moving the two objects into their correct spots had no observable effect on load times.
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Check out my Foundry missions:
Standalone - The Great Escape - The Galaxy's Fair - Purity I: Of Denial - Return to Oblivion
Untitled Series - Duritanium Man - The Improbable Bulk - Commander Rihan
My character Tsin'xing
Interesting. I really haven't tested the costumes stuff. Thanks for digging.
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OK, well yeah, that is a bunch of @#$@#$@#$@%$@#$@!
3 months and counting, Cryptic.