ModelConverterX 0.55 release [Archive]

arno

20 Sep 2008, 15:03

Here is a new version of ModelConverterX. It contains just some bug fixes compared to version 0.50. The following issues are addressed:

Fixed bug with rotations in the SCASM reader, this affected the RotatedCall and TransformCall commands
Fixed bug in batch convert mode that did not write all objects when a file with multiple objects was loaded
The last used reader or writer is now remember in the dialog to open or save files

If there are any issues with this version, please report them here in the forum.

Ayrsimming

21 Sep 2008, 09:11

Hi Arno

I have tried converting a couple of api's with rotation involved ( I am assuming this counts as animation ), one with rotate to aircraft and one with rotate continuously. Should I be able to see rotation in the preview in this case? I so far haven't gone further and exported the objects.

Iain

arno

22 Sep 2008, 15:01

Hi Iain,

Reading animations from SCASM objects is not supported yet (planned for the next version). At the moment only animations from FSX MDL files can be loaded and displayed. So it is correct that you are seeing nothing.

If you have a nice SCASM object with an animation that I can use for testing, please consider sending it to me :).

Ayrsimming

23 Sep 2008, 04:40

Hi Arno

Here is a file for the rotating ( continuously )part of a radar pylon.

Iain

arno

23 Sep 2008, 14:25

Thanks, I will use that object will adding this new feature. It is scheduled for the next version.

Ayrsimming

26 Sep 2008, 05:33

Hi Arno

Can you clarify if the import of lines is restricted to FSX mdl files the same as animations as I have had no success with this feature converting from api's

Iain

arno

27 Sep 2008, 04:03

Hi Iain,

No, the lines are only supported on SCASM code. FSX MDL files don't have them as far as I know, that is why ModelConverterX turns them into 3D shapes by extruding the lines.

Do you get any warning of unsupported commands after importing?

Ayrsimming

27 Sep 2008, 12:02

Hi Arno

Attached is a simple api file which makes a box with a rail on top. This object is made in Novasim which has a tool to draw fences which I am assuming will count as lines.
On import there is an error message 'unsupported command Drawlinelist' Only the box is converted.
I have used this feature in a few objects in the past so it would be good if this part of the object could be converted in a future version.

Iain

arno

28 Sep 2008, 03:21

Hi Iain,

I have put it on the list for the next version. You are correct that at the moment only the older SCASM line commands are supported, this one not yet.

gary20

03 Nov 2008, 20:17

Hi Iain,

I have put it on the list for the next version. You are correct that at the moment only the older SCASM line commands are supported, this one not yet.

It's funny how time drags when you're waiting.
Been looking forward to the version with the new Scasm coding and keep checking in to see

Thanks Arno for all your wonderful tools. They really are appreciated.

Gary

arno

04 Nov 2008, 15:07

Hi Gary,

I have been on vacation for 3 weeks, now I am getting back on track with programming on the new version of ModelConverterX. I have more things on my wishlist than only this command, so I think it will take a few more weeks before I can have a release ready again.

gary20

04 Nov 2008, 20:39

mikesflight

07 Nov 2008, 21:48

Hi Arno
I have been using your new release 0.55 and am enjoying it. Many thanks for all the work.

Two points:

1)I am wondering if you are going to enable a display of the number of polygons(triangles) of each model - a feature I have found very useful in your FS9_mdl_tweaker program. If it already exists my apologies but I could not find access to it.

2) Each time I exit ModelConverterX 0.55 I get the following message as per the attachment.

Cheers
Mike

KlausKlausen

08 Nov 2008, 10:01

Hello Arno,

Thank you very much for the outstanding ModelConverterX. It works very well, I encountered just one problem:
When trying to convert round objects such as poles and cylinders using the VecPoly( xy ...) command and using VecPoly or ShadedTexPoly or TexPoly( comands, the object still has sharp edges and does not appear to be round. TexVecpoly is not supported. Is there a possibility of creating round shapes with the Scasm commands supported?
Many thanks, Klaus

arno

08 Nov 2008, 16:15

Hi Mike,

1)I am wondering if you are going to enable a display of the number of polygons(triangles) of each model - a feature I have found very useful in your FS9_mdl_tweaker program. If it already exists my apologies but I could not find access to it.

It is on my todo list for the next release to show more information and statistics about the object. So that should be there soon.

2) Each time I exit ModelConverterX 0.55 I get the following message as per the attachment.

I have seen that on one PC myself as well, but unfortunately I have not yet been able to reproduce it on my development PC. That makes it hard for me to debug this error. But it is on my bug list.

arno

08 Nov 2008, 16:17

Hi Klaus,

When trying to convert round objects such as poles and cylinders using the VecPoly( xy ...) command and using VecPoly or ShadedTexPoly or TexPoly( comands, the object still has sharp edges and does not appear to be round. TexVecpoly is not supported. Is there a possibility of creating round shapes with the Scasm commands supported

I will check, it could be that the TexVecPoly command is not yet supported, but then it should be easy to add it.

About the correctly shaded (and thus looking rounded polygons). I thought that worked already, but I will check again. If you can send me the object that gives you the trouble that would help debugging as well.

arno

15 Nov 2008, 09:37

Hi guys,

Just a little status update. The DrawTriList command is working now, but there are other features I want to add before the next release. So please hold your breath a little longer :).

arno

15 Nov 2008, 09:46

Hi Klaus,

When trying to convert round objects such as poles and cylinders using the VecPoly( xy ...) command and using VecPoly or ShadedTexPoly or TexPoly( comands, the object still has sharp edges and does not appear to be round. TexVecpoly is not supported. Is there a possibility of creating round shapes with the Scasm commands supported?
Many thanks, Klaus

I have looked and the VecPoly or VecTexPoly commands are not yet supported indeed. At the moment only the ShadedPoly and ShadedTexPoly are supported. But to be sure that I add them correctly, could you send a sample object that uses those commands? I would like to see how they are used compared to the other commands to make sure they are proccessed correctly. Thanks already,

rhumbaflappy

15 Nov 2008, 10:09

Hi Arno.

If I import an FSX MDL, then export it, them reimport it, the XYZ axis is messed up... simple flat planes going vertical.

My idea was to add attachmaents to simple small planes.

Dick

Ayrsimming

15 Nov 2008, 11:19

Hi Arno

Just to add that I have come up against the same problem as Dick with re-importing to FSX mdls but wasn't sure if this was an expected problem so I hadn't gotten round to advising. I had just been curious to try this out at the time:)

Iain

arno

16 Nov 2008, 03:45

Hi guys,

Happens with any FSX model?

I must say I did not really test that part, as exporting to FSX will loose a lot still at the moment (no animations, other properties can be lost, etc). So I mainly used the FSX importer to visualize models at the moment.

Ayrsimming

16 Nov 2008, 06:19

Hi Arno

It's happened with any I have tried so far.

Iain

arno

16 Nov 2008, 10:33

OK, thanks. I think I know what is going wrong. I did not update the exporter for some of the changes I made in the FSX MDL importer a while ago.

rhumbaflappy

16 Nov 2008, 11:01

Hi Arno.

Exporting an FSX MDL as 3DS messes up things. Importing the 3DS to gmax is off XYZ.

Also exporting as 3DS should use TGA as texture extension, rather than DDS. I don't know if texture flipping is needed as well?

Dick

arno

16 Nov 2008, 14:08

Hi Dick,

Yes, that is right the other exporters have the same trouble. Actually I should say the FSX MDL importer is the one that makes the mess of it. It stores the object differently since I added support for animations, but the exporters still have to be updated for that.

I guess I did not came across this before, because I did not test the MDL import -> MDL export path. I should add that to my list of tests before each release from now on.

You can be sure it is on my list now to fix those exporters asap, for sure in the next release it will be ok (although I can't promise no features will be lost when importing MDL and then exporting again :)).

Burkhard

16 Jan 2009, 07:21

I tried it get get one of my models back into GMAX, and it looks like that the normals of all surfaces are flipped.

arno

16 Jan 2009, 12:27

Hi,

I'll check that. Last time things were OK, but maybe something is broken now. Happens with any model for you?

arno

22 Jan 2009, 12:38

Hi,

I can't reproduce the problem anymore. So maybe I fixed it already since the last release or it is something specific to your model. Does it happen on any model you export-import that way or just with a specific one?

rhumbaflappy

22 Jan 2009, 13:54

Hi Arno.

It happened on all models from GMAX.

Dick

arno

23 Jan 2009, 11:29

Hi,

I checked with the old version and that one is indeed not working correct. Only API macro -> 3DS -> Gmax will work correctly in that version. Once version 1.0 is released these problems are solved though.