XtoMDL

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Discussion thread for XtoMDL.exe. If you would like to add a comment, click the Post Reply button.

[BASys]

Hi Folks

Bill -
Your latest article update of paths -

%windir%\system32\cmd.exe /K E:"\FSX_SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\3DSM7\Plugins\xtomdl.exe" /XANIM /DICT:E:"\FSX_SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\bin\modeldef.XML" > buildlog.txt

Are those highlighted characters possibly transposed ?

Appreciate the benefits of your non-default path,
however, preferable that wiki examples utilise MS-default paths,
as users tend to copy/paste.

Both issues apply similarly to your two other examples.

HTH
ATB
Paul

[n4gix]

Originally Posted by BASys

Hi Folks

Bill -
Your latest article update of paths -

Are those highlighted characters possibly transposed ?

Appreciate the benefits of your non-default path,
however, preferable that wiki examples utilise MS-default paths,
as users tend to copy/paste.
Paul

No, they are correct:

E:"

The first quote mark must be after the drive letter: and the close quote mark must be after the last item in the pathname/filename.

It took me a long time to remember how to use the quote marks correctly, which is why I decided to update the Wiki entry.

I did suggest that folks would have to modify the path according to where they installed the SDK, but I will (re)edit the entry to replace the examples with the default SDK install path(s).

[escamillacesar]

Hi Guys, sorry for ask but i cant get it work, Someone could explain me with more detail how to make this procedure to get the animation working? I exported my object from 3ds and i got 2 files: test1.x and text1.xanim, here and in the wiki talk about to make a shortcut but a shotcut of what? i mean i have to create a shortcut of my test1.x file? and then entry those lines that wiki explain? please help, thanks for your attentions.

[n4gix]

XtoMDL.exe is what is known as a "Command Line Program," which means you can't just run it and expect it to do anything at all...

Instead, you have to pass it the information it needs so it will know what to do!

Now you could open a "Command Box" and type in all of the information required every single time you want to compile a new model, but that is way too much effort!

Because of this, using the ideas from several other developers, I came up with the "Shortcut" method. A Desktop Shortcut is a tiny 'program' that contains all of the required information to "pass" to the Target, which in this case is the XtoMDL.exe program.

You only need to create the Shortcut one time! Once it is created and tested to work properly, you will never need to worry about it again. I've provided precise instructions in the Wiki article so I see no need to repeat them here.

[escamillacesar]

Thanks Bill, I made all the procedure, i make a shortcut of the xtomdl.exe and then i enter the correct lines in target and Start in with the proper adress like this:

Target:

%windir%\system32\cmd.exe /K C:"C:\FSX_SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\3DSM7\Plugins\xtomdl.exe" /DICT:C:"\FSX_SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\bin\modeldef.XML" /XMLSAMPLE > buildlog.txtt

Start in:

"C:\FSX_SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\3DSM7\Plugins"

Then i moved the shortcut to Sent to/
then i drag and drop the test1.x file to the new shortcut and nothing happend, what am i doing wrong?

thanks for your pattience, i just moved from gmax to 3ds..

[escamillacesar]

Sorry, when I drag and drop the x file i got a screen (see attached picture)...

[escamillacesar]

I got it working, thanks Bill,

[n4gix]

Originally Posted by escamillacesar

I got it working, thanks Bill,

Good! I'll bet that this was the problem:
%windir%\system32\cmd.exe /K C:"C:\FSX_SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\3DSM7\Plugins\xtomdl.exe"

The characters in red above are incorrect. You have the drive C:" correct, but then repeated it after the quote mark!

By the way, since you've moved the Shortcut to your SendTo folder, you do not have to 'drag-and-drop' the .x file! Simply right-click on the .x file and choose CompileAircraft (or whatever name you used) to compile the .x and .xanim files to a new .mdl file.

This is why I always export the .x file from Max to my sim's aircraft\model folder. This way I don't have to move the new .mdl file at all...