Makemdl
MakeMDL is the primary compiler for objects created for Microsoft's Flight Simulator 9
In its latest iteration, available in the MakeMDL SDK [1] for FS9, it supports input commands via a file named "makemdl.cfg".
Normally, this file is located in the same folder in which MakeMDL.exe resides, e.g. "C:\gmax\gamepacks\fs2004\plugins"
Sample MakeMDL.cfg
[Settings]
LastDir=
SaveDir=C:\gmax\GAMEPA~1\FS2004\plugins
[Options]
Debug=1
ViewLog=0
KeepErrorLog=1
Keep=0
I8=1
I=0
FullMat=1
Deffallback=1
WeldPoints=0
Optimize=0
Flatten=0
NoAnimate=0
HasReflectMap=1
HasNightMap=0
HasLightMap=1
HasDamageMap=0
NegateZ=1
NoLeftToRight=0
SwapBH=0
Vis=0
Crash=0
XML=1
Makemdl.cfg options explained
Of special interest to avid modellers for FS9 are the "Debug", "KeepErrorLog", "WeldPoints", "Optimize" and "Flatten" settings.
- Debug
- Set to "1" (no quote marks) to enable debug functionality
- ViewLog
- Automatically opens the log file after compilation if set to "1"
- KeepErrorLog
- Does not delete the log file if set to "1"; useful for finding erroneous parts or animations
- Keep
- Does not delete temporary files created during compilation if set to "1"
- I8
- ???
- I
- ???
- FullMat
- ???
- Deffallback
- ???
The next three settings can be a cure to the 4mm vertex weld issue otherwise present for FS9 models (very notable and annoying in virtual cockpits)!
- WeldPoints
- Disable vertex welding when set to "0".
- Optimize
- Optimizes code (grouping of parts with same materials and removing unnecessary translate/rotate animation tags)
- Flatten
- Set to "0" to disable flattening of the hierarchy tree
- NoAnimate
- Does not parse animations during compilation if set to "1"
- HasReflectMap
- Set to "1" to enable reflectivity for the model. Make sure to put a "_t" suffix into the texture's file name, e.g. "fuselage_t.bmp" and make sure "Reflections" is enabled in FS9's "display" menu.
- HasNightMap
- Enables use of auto-enabled night textures ("_lm" suffix, i.e. "tower_lm.bmp") if set to "1". You won't need to fill the "self-illumination" slot of the material in GMax. Useful for scenery design!
- HasLightMap
- Enables use of self-illumination night textures ("_l" suffix, i.e. "fuselage_l.bmp") if set to "1". You won't need to fill the "self-illumination" slot of the material in GMax. Useful for aircraft design!
- HasDamageMap
- Enables damage textures if set to "1". Not needed for FS9.
- NegateZ
- If your object appears upside down in FS9, set this to "1".
- NoLeftToRight
- Set this to "1" to invert the left/right coordinate axis
- SwapBH
- When set to "1", the bank and heading axis of the model will be swapped
- Vis
- ???
- Crash
- Set to "1" to enable crash detection when compiling a scenery object.
- XML
- Produces a sample placement XML file for a scenery object when set to "1"
