Multiple independent lights in one part / GUI text change

[sumghai]

(NB: A somewhat related topic I started very recently was fully resolved and included as part of hoojiwana's modding info compilation, so I figured I'd create a new one for a rather different and unusual scenario)

In an attempt to further extend the capabilities of the ModuleLight PartModule, I decided to consider a case where there were multiple independently-controllable lighted windows in a part:

- Said part is a habitation module for space stations

- There are six windows total

- The first two windows are for the "Galley" area, and so will be toggled together

- The remaining four are for the individual Sleeping Areas, two each on the Port and Starboard sides, to be toggled individually

My first attempt involved simply duplicating ModuleLight for each set of animations:

MODULE
{
    name = ModuleLight
    lightName =
    useAnimationDim = true
    lightBrightenSpeed = 1
    lightDimSpeed = 1
    resourceAmount = 0.002
    animationName = KHabWinLights_Galley
    useResources = true
}

MODULE
{
    name = ModuleLight
    lightName =
    useAnimationDim = true
    lightBrightenSpeed = 1
    lightDimSpeed = 1
    resourceAmount = 0.002
    animationName = KHabWinLights_SS_Port_1
    useResources = true
}

MODULE
{
    name = ModuleLight
    lightName =
    useAnimationDim = true
    lightBrightenSpeed = 1
    lightDimSpeed = 1
    resourceAmount = 0.002
    animationName = KHabWinLights_SS_Port_2
    useResources = true
}

MODULE
{
    name = ModuleLight
    lightName =
    useAnimationDim = true
    lightBrightenSpeed = 1
    lightDimSpeed = 1
    resourceAmount = 0.002
    animationName = KHabWinLights_SS_Star_1
    useResources = true
}

MODULE
{
    name = ModuleLight
    lightName =
    useAnimationDim = true
    lightBrightenSpeed = 1
    lightDimSpeed = 1
    resourceAmount = 0.002
    animationName = KHabWinLights_SS_Star_2
    useResources = true
}

When loaded in-game and during flight, five Lights On / Lights Off GUI buttons are displayed in the context menu as expected, but only the last-defined light (i.e. the Second Starboard Sleep Station window) actually toggles.

1) How would one go about making individually toggleable lights?

2) Would it be possible to have a "master" switch for all the lights in the one module i.e. toggle all the animations at the same time?

3) Extending (2), would it be possible to have the other individual toggle switches recognize their corresponding lights' current state, and display the appropriate GUI text appropriately?

i.e.User clicks "Lights On" -> All windows in that particular module are lit -> GUI for all other lights automatically now show "Galley Light Off", "SleepStation Port 1 Off" etc., and vice versa

4) Would it be possible to change the GUI button text for each of the light toggles?

"Galley Light On/Off", "SleepStation Port 1 On/Off", "SleepStation Port 2 Off" etc. is more user-friendly than several identical instances of "Lights On/Off"

I have a feeling that I may have to go down the plugin route in order to create this functionality. Thoughts?

[bac9]

Don't use ModuleLight, use ModuleAnimateGeneric and emissive surfaces separated into six gameobjects, plus six Unity animations modifying those emissive surfaces and light sources instead. If some have to be synced, leave them in one object/animation. Context menu captions will correctly reflect the state and you can add custom text there.

Not possible to add master switch.

[sumghai]

Gotcha, thanks bac9.

[EndlessWaves]

Yeah, moduleLight is for actual shadow casting lights (light components in unity) rather than emissive textures (which only light up themselves).

A master switch isn't possible in the config file but would be a very simple plugin.