Vehicle Layouts

Vehicle layouts define the structural skeleton and bone configuration of your custom vehicle.

Understanding Bones

Bones are the skeletal structure of a vehicle. They define:

• Seat positions
• Door mechanisms
• Light positions
• Customization part attachment points
• Deformable body parts

Layout Structure

Vehicle layouts are typically defined in a layout XML file or within vehiclelayouts.xml:

<Layout>
  <Name>STANDARD_SEDAN</Name>
  <Bones>
    <Bone index="0" name="chassis" />
    <Bone index="1" name="door_fl" />      <!-- Front left door -->
    <Bone index="2" name="door_fr" />      <!-- Front right door -->
    <Bone index="3" name="door_rl" />      <!-- Rear left door -->
    <Bone index="4" name="door_rr" />      <!-- Rear right door -->
    <Bone index="5" name="hood" />         <!-- Engine hood -->
    <Bone index="6" name="trunk" />        <!-- Trunk/boot -->
    <Bone index="7" name="seat_driver" />
    <Bone index="8" name="seat_passenger" />
  </Bones>
  <Seats>
    <Seat index="0" bone="seat_driver" />
    <Seat index="1" bone="seat_passenger" />
  </Seats>
</Layout>

Common Bones

Structure Bones

Bone	Purpose
chassis	Main vehicle body
door_fl	Front left door
door_fr	Front right door
door_rl	Rear left door
door_rr	Rear right door
hood	Engine hood (bonnet)
trunk	Trunk/boot
windshield	Windshield glass
window_fl	Front left window
window_fr	Front right window

Seat Configuration

<Seats>
  <Seat index="0" bone="seat_driver" x="0.0" y="0.0" z="0.0" />
  <Seat index="1" bone="seat_passenger" x="1.0" y="0.0" z="0.0" />
  <Seat index="2" bone="seat_rl" x="-0.5" y="-1.5" z="0.0" />
  <Seat index="3" bone="seat_rr" x="0.5" y="-1.5" z="0.0" />
</Seats>

Light Positions

<Lights>
  <Light index="0" type="headlight_l" bone="light_l_front" />
  <Light index="1" type="headlight_r" bone="light_r_front" />
  <Light index="2" type="taillight_l" bone="light_l_rear" />
  <Light index="3" type="taillight_r" bone="light_r_rear" />
</Lights>

Deformable Parts

Define which bones can be damaged and repaired:

<DeformableParts>
  <Part bone="door_fl" health="100.0" />
  <Part bone="door_fr" health="100.0" />
  <Part bone="hood" health="150.0" />
  <Part bone="trunk" health="150.0" />
  <Part bone="window_fl" health="30.0" />
  <Part bone="windshield" health="50.0" />
</DeformableParts>

Customization Attachment Points

Define where modifications attach:

<AttachmentPoints>
  <Attachment type="spoiler" bone="trunk_ext" />
  <Attachment type="bumper_f" bone="bumper_front" />
  <Attachment type="bumper_r" bone="bumper_rear" />
  <Attachment type="skirt_l" bone="skirt_left" />
  <Attachment type="skirt_r" bone="skirt_right" />
  <Attachment type="exhaust" bone="exhaust" />
</AttachmentPoints>

Door Configuration

<Doors>
  <Door index="0" bone="door_fl" type="NORMAL" />
  <Door index="1" bone="door_fr" type="NORMAL" />
  <Door index="2" bone="door_rl" type="NORMAL" />
  <Door index="3" bone="door_rr" type="NORMAL" />
  <Door index="4" bone="hood" type="BONNET" />
  <Door index="5" bone="trunk" type="BOOT" />
</Doors>

Door Types

• NORMAL - Standard hinged door
• BONNET - Hood/engine cover
• BOOT - Trunk/boot
• SLIDING - Sliding door (vans)
• GULLWING - Upward-opening door

Complete Layout Example

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<VehicleLayout>
  <Name>CUSTOM_SEDAN</Name>
  
  <Bones>
    <Bone index="0" name="chassis" />
    <Bone index="1" name="door_fl" />
    <Bone index="2" name="door_fr" />
    <Bone index="3" name="hood" />
    <Bone index="4" name="trunk" />
    <Bone index="5" name="seat_driver" />
  </Bones>
  
  <Seats>
    <Seat index="0" bone="seat_driver" />
    <Seat index="1" bone="seat_passenger" />
  </Seats>
  
  <Doors>
    <Door index="0" bone="door_fl" type="NORMAL" />
    <Door index="1" bone="door_fr" type="NORMAL" />
    <Door index="4" bone="hood" type="BONNET" />
    <Door index="5" bone="trunk" type="BOOT" />
  </Doors>
  
  <Lights>
    <Light index="0" type="headlight_l" bone="light_l_front" />
    <Light index="1" type="headlight_r" bone="light_r_front" />
  </Lights>
  
  <DeformableParts>
    <Part bone="door_fl" health="100.0" />
    <Part bone="hood" health="150.0" />
  </DeformableParts>
</VehicleLayout>

Best Practices

1. Use consistent naming - door_fl = front left, etc.
2. Set proper bone indices - Sequential numbering
3. Define all doors - Hood, trunk, doors needed for functionality
4. Position seats carefully - Affects camera view
5. Test deformable parts - Ensure all damageable parts work
6. Reference existing vehicles - Use as layout templates

Bone Index Reference

Index	Typical Bone
0	chassis
1-4	doors (fl, fr, rl, rr)
5	hood
6	trunk
7+	seats and accessories

Testing Layouts

1. Define all critical bones (doors, hood, trunk)
2. Set seat positions for proper camera view
3. Test door opening/closing
4. Verify damage states work
5. Check all lights illuminate correctly
6. Test customization attachments

Common Issues

• Seats in wrong position - Adjust bone coordinates
• Doors won't open - Verify door bones and types
• Missing lights - Check light bone references
• Invisible parts - Ensure bones are defined in model
• Camera issues - Wrong seat positioning bone