3DS export bugs

[arno]

Some bugs have been reported about the 3DS exporter. Sometimes GMax does not want to read the created 3DS file. Tonight I looked into these issues a bit and it seems to be related by the length of some lists being defined as an unsigned 16 bit integer, which means they can contain a maximum of 65536 items.

So if you have a part with more than 65536 triangles or vertices, than the created 3DS file will be invalid and gives the error. I am going to think of a fix for this issue, I'll probably have to split up parts that go over this limit.

If you also have problems with 3DS files, but they are not so complex, please let me know. In that case there might be other bugs as well.

[ALain152]

Hi Arno,

I tried on several models less than 2000 polys. Export seems ok. when I import into 3dsmax9, the 1st pop up ask wether I want to merge or replace, and second only says "invalid format file".

I decided to export in obj. I can import the shape but model is rotated 90°:
- front view shows actual top view,
- top view shows actual front view upside down...
- model seemsis no more textured.

Dunno if I'm clear enough

My goal really is to convert my models into Xplane8/9 .obj format ;)
Do you have that in your bag ? :)

Regards

[arno]

Hi Alain,

Do you have a simple test object that has this import trouble? That might help me with the debugging.

About the OBJ rotation, I have not seen that kind of issues yet, but we first need to see if this is an issue with the OBJ export or the import side.

[ALain152]

Will prepare a set of files and screens.
Can you MP a mail address.

[arno]

Hi Alain,

Thanks for the test object, I could export it to 3DS and import it correctly with my latest build. So I guess I might have fixed that bug already.

About the XPlane OBJ format you mentioned before, that is on the wishlist for ModelConverterX, but I don't think I will be able to add it soon. Would be a nice feature to have though.

[ALain152]

Great !
Let me know if I can help :twocents:

[arno]

Hi,

I think I have fixed the bugs with the 3DS exporter. So please try the development release of tomorrow. Here it works for all big and complex objects as well now.

[ALain152]

Will try tomorrow with a 65Kpolys-multi-textured-LODed model ;):D

[ALain152]

Hi,
It works ! But here what I noticed:
- dispite fs9.mdl is LODed, MDLConvX only sees and exports LOD100
- fsx.mdl LODs are seen and exported fine
- Material structure, materials and textures are never set in 3ds for fs9 and X
Will look further tomorrow;)

[arno]

Hi,

- dispite fs9.mdl is LODed, MDLConvX only sees and exports LOD100

That's right, ModelConverterX can not yet read the LOD structure from FS2004 MDL files. They are defined with a whole range of conditions, I need to work on that.

- Material structure, materials and textures are never set in 3ds for fs9 and X

They should be, but you need to click the blue/white checkerboard button in the material editor to actually see them. Also, the texture names in the 3DS file are limited to 8.3 character notation, so most likely you will have to check if they are found correctly. But that is not something I can change, those are the limitations of the 3DS format.

[ALain152]

That's all right now !
For fs9 lod, put it below the xp obj format in the wishlist ;)