Inactive [MECH] RetractableBridge - Easy and realistic retractable bridges

Discussion in 'Inactive/Unsupported Plugins' started by Captain Chaos, Mar 31, 2011.

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  1. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    ****************************************************************************************
    RetractableBridge moved to BukkitDev!

    RetractableBridge has moved to BukkitDev! I will no longer be updating this thread, please use the BukkitDev page to keep track of developments, download the plugin and source code, read how to configure it and other details, etc.
    ****************************************************************************************

    RetractableBridge - The easy and realistic retractable bridges plugin:

    Build redstone powered rectractable bridges, without using commands! Much requested by the users of my PorteCoulissante plugin. If you know that plugin, this is basically the same thing, but horizontally instead of vertically... :)

    Download the latest release from the BukkitDev page.

    Features:
    • It doesn't use commands. Just build the bridge and it will work.
    • Stateless, i.e. it does not have to save anything on the server.
    • It's redstone powered, giving you flexibility in controlling it.
    • It is realistic. The bridge does not disappear, but slides in and out just like a real one would.
    • Holds back water or lava... ;)
    • Configurable speed by applying more or less redstone power
    Usage:
    • Build the bridge itself, out of slabs/half-blocks or double slabs.
    • Make sure there is at least one block adjacent to the bridge on three sides, so that it can't move in that direction.
    • For the direction in which you want it to move, make sure there is a block to stop at the distance you want it to move to.
    • Power one of the blocks underneath the bridge with redstone. Please note: you are powering a block underneath the bridge, not the bridge itself! Note that for the purposes of this plugin, just running redstone wire underneath a block will power it.
    • If you power more than one block, the bridge will move faster! Two blocks doubles the speed, and three blocks doubles it once more (so four times as fast as one block).
    • Make sure that when the bridge is fully extended it is still in contact with redstone power underneath. It can be the same blocks, or different ones.
    • When the blocks receive redstone power, the bridge will move to the south or west (depending on which direction it is able to move in), when they lose redstone power, it will move to the north or east.
    • Here is an example. If you build this, it will work. The bridge in this picture is three blocks wide and four blocks long. Note that it only has one powered block, so the bridge will move at its slowest speed:
    [​IMG]

    Hints and tips:
    • The bridge has to be at least two blocks long on each side, and it must be rectangular. It can't have holes or bits sticking out. It also can't abut any other blocks of the same height and material (when open or closed), since the plugin will think they are meant to be part of the bridge.
    • I highly recommend to make the distance the bridge can move less than its length. That way, the blocks at the forward edge of the bridge (when it is open) are always in contact with the bridge, so you only have to power one of those blocks.
    • The bridge will go through (and hold back) water and lava, so you can make water gates and water or lava traps with them.
    • The blocks that stop the bridge when it retracts can be steps or stairs. This way you get a smooth walking experience when the bridge is closed, without having to jump, if you are using slabs/half-blocks for the bridge. Here is an example to show what I mean (the bridge is closed in this example, and there are wooden stair blocks on each end):
    [​IMG]

    More information:

    For download links, source code, configuration information and change logs, please go to the BukkitDev page for RetractableBridge:

    http://dev.bukkit.org/server-mods/retractablebridge/
     
    kawa1107, Undrtakr, Xordaii and 8 others like this.
  2. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    It makes perfect sense. :) Thanks for reporting this! This is a known issue, even before pistons you could destroy a block of a bridge while it is moving, only for it to magically heal itself.

    But I guess now with pistons it's become easier to automate, so perhaps now I really should fix it. You're right, once the bridge is moving its integrity is not checked. I hope adding an integrity check every time it moves won't affect the performance too much...
     
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    goodrichtires

    can u update this so i can use it on my 1.7.3 server? please
     
  4. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    You can use it on your 1.7.3 server. What makes you think you can't?

    I have just released a new version of the plugin, version 1.3.7. It has the following changes:
    • The bridge now stops moving if it is damaged.
    • Sandstone is now also allowed as a bridge material.
    • The plugin is now configurable via a configuration file. The following aspects can be configured:
      • Whether entities standing or lying on the bridge are moved along with it.
      • The allowed materials for the bridge.
      • The speed with which the bridge moves.
    See the top post for details about how to configure the plugin, if you so desire. Please note: if you change the bridge materials, or the bridge speed, you will void your warranty! In other words, if it causes problems on your server, don't come complaining to me! Be especially careful about allowing new block types as bridge materials. You don't want random flat surfaces on your server which just happen to be next to a bit of redstone to start flying away!

    Also, please note that the 1.2 branch of the plugin has now been discontinued, because you can now use the configuration file to indicate that you don't want entities standing or lying on the bridge to be moved along with it.

    EDIT by Moderator: merged posts, please use the edit button instead of double posting.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 13, 2016
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    VeryInsane

    Love this and PorteCoulissante!
    Keep up the good work.
     
  6. Offline

    Undrtakr

    Oh man another awesome plugin! Great job!!!
     
  7. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    Source code released!

    I released the source code for this plugin. It's hosted on sourceforge.net, and you can get it via the web, or using Subversion. Check the top post for the details.

    Note that it is open source and uses the GPL v3 license. This means that you are free to use and modify the code, but if you redistribute it (unchanged or modified), you have to do it as open source under the GPL as well.
     
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    robmcdonald5

    Great werk on plugin! Im asken my host if we can get it on our server:D
     
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    Raptor2213

    @Captain Chaos

    Why is it that when I UNPOWER (when powered, it does nothing) my bridge, the 3x11 section just shoots to the other side (rather than expanding properly).

    It's like I'm playing bridge pong...


    What am I doing wrong?
     
  10. Offline

    Furious1964

    I'm wondering if you can make a single player version of this? It would rock tremendously if you can.
     
  11. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    I think you're misunderstanding what this plugin is for. It creates a realistic retractable bridge, in other words not one where blocks are created magically created from thin air... ;)

    It sounds like you're doing nothing wrong and it's working exactly as designed!
     
  12. Offline

    Raptor2213


    I actually built it out to it's full length and tested again, doesn't retract. Is there a maximum length?
    Image Ref (open)
    [​IMG]
     
  13. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    I think you may still have got it wrong. This plugin does not work by changing the size of the bridge deck, it works by sliding the bridge deck in and out, like it would in reality. If you built it out to its full length it's probably boxed in on all sides and has nowhere to move to.

    From the looks of it you're spanning a pretty wide stretch of water. You'll have to make space for the bridge deck on the inside of your castle so it can move back (all the way, or part of the way, whichever you want). It could slide under the ground so that it is hidden from view if you want.

    You could also divide the bridge in two halves, one half that retracts into the castle, and another half which retracts onto the opposite shore, so that it would take only half the time to open and close.

    If you want I could come over to your server and help you out.

    By the way, are those reflections in the water?
     
  14. Offline

    hatstand

    Yes
     
    Captain Chaos likes this.
  15. Offline

    Raptor2213

    @Captain Chaos
    Yup, water reflections.
    YouTube Video (open)



    Also, thanks for clearing that up, I think I got it now.


    Edit:
    Got it working, with a small bug. When using the default config file, it changes the behavior of the bridge significantly. It retracts slowly, then SHOOTS back.
     
  16. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    I don't see how that can be caused by the config file. There is only one speed in there. I just tested it to doublecheck, and I don't see any changes in speed in either direction by installing the default config file.

    Are you sure that you don't have more redstone touching blocks beneath the bridge deck when it is retracted than when it is extended? The more redstone powered blocks (up to three) beneath the bridge at the moment of activation or deactivation, the faster the bridge will move. Remember that for the purposes of this plugin, blocks are powered by redstone to the side or underneath the block.
     
  17. Offline

    Raptor2213


    See, this is why I hate working with redstone...
    Working now. >_<
     
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    goodrichtires

    wow i was going to ask for all that lol
     
  19. Offline

    SirExposed

    Just wanted to say nice plugin. I especially like being able to doublestack the half blocks so you can put a lever on the bridge its self. Thanks again.
     
  20. Offline

    Raptor2213

    Appears to be broken with CB > 1060 (1.8 Dev builds).
     
  21. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    Broken in what way? I haven't updated the plugins for 1.8 yet, so they don't recognize new block types yet, but I understood from other people that they did run.

    I'll update the plugins once the 1.8 compatible version of Bukkit is released.
     
  22. Offline

    Raptor2213


    As in powering/unpowering the bridges doesn't do jack. ;) Granted, I am using a custom block (wood), but it worked with the config file prior to 1.8. I didn't import my old file, but I made it about the same way.

    The dev version of Bukkit for 1.8 is out. I'm running it on my server right now, and it works fairly well, except for the annoying door bug.
     
  23. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    I'd rather wait for the stable release. Development versions are a bit of a moving target, you never know which bits might change again before the final release, breaking code of mine which was working before. Besides, it might actually be a Bukkit bug which is causing my plugin not to work.

    They're working hard on it, shouldn't be too long!
     
  24. Offline

    Raptor2213

    Yup, it might very well be a CB issue. Currently I have half a working double-sided bridge (one side works, the other doesnt). You're welcome to take a look at it. Check your messages for the server info.
     
  25. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    New release!

    I just released version 1.3.8 of the plugin. It's a minor release; it adds support for the new 1.8 bricks as the base of a bridge.
     
  26. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    New release!

    I just released version 1.3.9, which restores compatibility with pre-1.8 versions of Minecraft. I had been receiving reports that the plugin would no longer load on 1.7.3 or earlier. This release should fix that problem, please let me know if it doesn't!

    New release!

    I just released version 1.3.10, which restores the maximum number of speed boosts (by having more than one redstone powered block beneath the bridge) to two, like it was before. This had changed as a result of making the speed configurable, but it had the unintended side effect of bridges flying off at terrifying speeds for people who happened to have more than three redstone powered blocks beneath their bridge.

    If you really want you can configure this parameter by adding the line "maximumBoosts: n" to the config.yml file, where n is the number of speed boosts to allow, the default being 2. Each speed boost doubles the speed of the bridge.

    See the top post for more information about creating a custom configuration for the plugin. The normal caveat applies: if messing with this parameter causes problems on your server, you're on your own!

    EDIT by Moderator: merged posts, please use the edit button instead of double posting.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 13, 2016
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    sephirothtm

    is there anyway you could configure this plugin to stop the blocks say when it hits a world border or residence? Thats the only main issue i have with this on our server
     
  28. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    I'm not sure what you mean. It does stop when it hits a residence, or an unloaded chunk (in other words when it is no longer near any players). But what do you mean with "world border?
     
  29. Offline

    sephirothtm

  30. Offline

    Captain Chaos

    Ah, by "residence" I though you meant a real residence, as in a building where someone lives. :)

    No, there is no support for stopping at virtual, abstract borders like that. I must say I would rather not add such support, since I like to keep things as simple and natural as possible and it would seem odd for bridges to stop in mid air for no discernable reason.

    Why would people like this functionality so much? I can't imagine that it is more than a nuisance. You can't grief effectively with slow moving wooden bridges that stop whenever they hit something, right? Or am I missing some other aspect?
     
  31. Offline

    sephirothtm

    its more the fact that you could end up with a platform taking a entire floor way from someones house ooor the funnier one the block keeps going ad infinatum in the sky which some of my regulars are very prone to doing btu if it stops on unloaded chunks thats not so bad. We tend to get a lot of sneaky griefers being part of the yogs affliates. Some sort of redstone wiring rejig would fix this issue though
     
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