Blender to FSX Toolkit question

[Ronald]

Hello All,
1 - First of all I want to give a very Big Thank! You! you too:
- "Krispy1001" for creating the Blender2FSX series of videos, (they are awesome material to learn from)
- The creator(s) of the Blender2FSX toolkit (what a great tool).

2 - I am working with Blender 2.70, the exact same version from Krispy1001video's

3 - I have manually installed the Blender2FSX toolkit.
I have places the following files in the following folders:
FOLDER_1 = "C:\Users\Ronald\AppData\Roaming\Blender\version\scripts\addons"
- FSX_Material.py
- FSX_Toolset.py

FOLDER_2 = "C:\Users\Ronald\AppData\Roaming\Blender\version\scripts\addons\io_scene_fsx"
- __init__.py
- export_fsx.py

4. Inside Blender, [Main menu],[File],[User Preferences],[TAB-Addon],[Testing] I now only find 2 modules called:
- 3D View: FSX Materials
- 3D View: FSX Toolset
Thought: I guess i'm missing the export module/script over here, but i'm not sure how to add this

5. Inside Blender, [Main Menu],[TAB-Blender2FSX],[Option:FSX File Properties] when I press the button [Initialize toolset] I do not get no any errors!
Thought: This must be a good sign that i did install the 2 modules in the correct way.

========================================================================================
Currently i'm at Krispy1001, lesson 7, around 19:00 where Krispy1001 shows how to EXPORT the current model to FSX
========================================================================================

6 - Only I do not have (yet) the menu option [Main menu],[File],[Export][DiretX for FSX(.x)] option?

QUESTIONS:
- Am I missing any Python scripts somewhere?
- Do I need to install more "Blender2FSX modules?"
- Do I need to re-install all "Blender2FSX modules" again from scratch?
.. to get the [DiretX for FSX(.x)] export menu option added to Blender?


Thanks for your hints and tips!

 

[Rob Richardson]

Hello Ronald,
In my "C:\Users\..........\AppData\Roaming\Blender\version\scripts\addons" folder I have the following folders and all seems to be working as it should.
_pycache_
io_scene_fsx
- FSX_Material.py
- FSX_Toolset.py
I'm sure someone can give you better info, I'm only learning the program myself.

 

[Ronald]

Thanks Richard for your comment

 

[Ronald]

Hello Richard,
I just found a location on the Blender website over here, about the "Export to DirectX" functionality:
- https://developer.blender.org/T22795

I found this in the Blender Scripts repository over here:
- http://wiki.blender.org/index.php/Extensions:2.6/Py/Scripts/Import-Export/DirectX_Exporter

I also discovered another Export functionality under:
- [File], [User Preferences],
- Supported Level [Community]
- Categories [Import-Export] -> Import-Export: DirectX Format!

Turning this setting on, will show the File, Export, DirectX (.x) Option

 

[krispy1001]

Hi Ronald!

Sorry that I did not see your post. But I have not been on line for awhile now.

Here is where I install the Blender2FSX file in Blender.

My system uses the 64bit operating system. And I did a default install of Blender.

C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.70\scripts\addons

If you have any further questions. Please let me know.

Thanks, Kris!

 

[Ronald]

Hello Kris,
1 - Let me first personally thank you for the creating the Blender2FSX series of videos,
Your videos are - to me the ebst online and provide - awesome material to learn from)""

2 - Just a quick reply (I've been way (too) busy lately):
- Where did you download the Blender to FSX toolkit from? (since I have found multiple spots on the Internet)
- What are the sizes, dates, version and filenames of the Blender2FSX scripts you use in Blender?
- How did you add them to Blender?

3 - I'll get back to you after this weekend on more details about my current Blender2fsx challenges.

Regards,
Ronald

 

[Dutcheeseblend]

Hi Ronald,

The toolset can be downloaded from the first post in this thread. http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/threads/blender-to-fsx-toolset.428090/ It is always the most recent version.

The toolset manual can be found here. http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=Blender2FSX_Toolset_manual
It provides all information to get started. Use this in conjunction with the FSX SDK to get correct results.

Cheers, Daan

 

[Ronald]

Hello Daan,
Thanks for pointing me to the correct Blender2FSX download location, now I have the following challenge.
In this first posting of this thread I see TWO packages called:
- Blender2FSX_0703.zip
- Blender2FSX_084.zip
These zipfiles both contain the same folder structure, same file names, but different file-sizes?

QUESTION(s): Which one or in which order do I need to install them inside my Blender software?
1 - Only install the contents of the first zipfile: Blender2FSX_0703.zip?
2 - Only install the contents of Blender2FSX_084.zip, the most recent one?
3 - First install the contents of install Blender2FSX_0703.zip and then later overwrite installation with the contents of Blender2FSX_084.zip (just like Windows services-packs for example)?
.... since I do have tried all methods(1,2,3) mentioned above before I started the beginning of this posting.

 

[Dutcheeseblend]

Hi Ronald,

I believe your method 3 would work fine.

Daan

 

[Ronald]

Hello Daan, Thansk for the tip, I have the following challenge ..

1 - Scripts installed

2 - My blender version (exact as in Kris Youtube tutorial)

3 - Two modules found after installation via the [instal from file option]

4 - Third module found

5 - (after 3 Blender2 FSX module installation, Exit and restarted Blender)
6 - Initialized the Blender2FSX toolset, wanting to export Kris's tutorial model, and then i found no MDL export option?

 

[F747fly]

and then i found no MDL export option

The export option is called DirectX for FSX, you'll find that you can set the option to also converted the DirectX file to MDL in the export options. However you also have to export the DirectX version as Blender2FSX uses the XtoMDL module to form the MDL

And note that the X export I see in your screenshots is not Blender2FSX, as the exporter for that is listed as DirectX for FSX, so I guess your problem is the Blender2FSX exporter missing in your export-list?

 

[Ronald]

The export option is called DirectX for FSX, <cut> DirectX for FSX, so I guess your problem is the Blender2FSX exporter missing in your export-list?

1 - Thanks for noticing F747fly. that explains the missing MLD export functionality.
2 - So there still must be something wrong, since I only see under [File],[User-preferences],[Add-ons][Supported level - Testing], [Categories - ALL] only 2 of the 3 modules :-}
3D View - FSX Materials
3D View - FSX Toolset

3 - When looking under [File],[User-preferences],[Add-ons],[Supported level - Official, Community, Testing],[Categories - Import:Export] i do not see any Import:Export module with "FSX" in its name.

QUESTION-1:Which Blender2 FSX file file must I [install from file]?
- the filed called __init__.py or the
- the filed called export_fsx.py

QUESTION-2; Is it possible to manualy add these python script to Blender configuration files, since the [Install from file} option does not seem to work?
I have done both scripts (__init__.py AND export_fsx.py) multilple times, exit-ted Blender and restarted Blender again
but this last Blender2FSX script is somehow do not getting activated and/or get visible in the Blender menus?

 

[Ronald]

UPDATE: I have now successfully imported all the 3 Blender2 FSX scripts into Blender:

I first had them placed into my Windows 7 personal folder over here:
- "C:\Users\Ronald\AppData\Roaming\Blender\version\scripts\addons"

I now have added them to the following folder under BLENDER program folder:
- "C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.70\scripts\addons\io_scene_fsx"

NOTE: This "move" caused 1 script to me automatically added to the Blender addons
I still had to manually add the other 2 scripts, but now they are working fine.

1 - Imported Blender2FSX scripts

2 - Then I repeated the Export function
And.. as you can see... I now do have the correct [Export to FSX] function + MDL option

3 - Only this time I run into an Phyton? scripting error? Or is there something faulty to my model?

 

[F747fly]

Well from what I know you've got this (tested it just now to verify)
You'll find that both the Blender2FSX_0703.zip and Blender2FSX_084.zip files contain the following:

io_scene_fsx (File folder)
FSX_Material (PY File)
FSX_Toolset (PY File)

You extract all files/folders to a location on your PC, be it downloads, desktop, whatever.

As you noted you go to File > User Preferences and under addons select "install from file"
You'll find four files, the FSX_Material and FSX_Toolset located in the main folder and _init_ and export_fsx in the io_scene_fsx folder, install the last two mentioned files aswell and you'll see three parts under the search term fsx

And this is what it then should be:

 

[Ronald]

LOL we did a parallel posting F747fly! Now i'm only have to figure out this export error I get.

EDIT: After analysing the Phython script linenumer 232, that is where Blender want to invoke an external program called XToMdl.exe (part of the FSX SDK).

I have found 3 versions of that file in the following folders on my computer

C:\>dir XToMdl.exe /s
De volumenaam van station C is Lokale schijf
Het volumenummer is E6D0-E16A
Map van C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\3DSM7\Plugins
26-09-2007 15:25 238.656 XToMdl.exe
1 bestand(en) 238.656 bytes

Map van C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\3DSM9\Plugins
26-09-2007 14:18 229.376 XToMdl.exe
1 bestand(en) 229.376 bytes

Map van C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\FSX_GmaxGamePack\Plugins
26-09-2007 15:25 238.656 XToMdl.exe
1 bestand(en) 238.656 bytes

Only I do not know how to tell Blender which one to use?

 

[F747fly]

ahh haha, didn't see your post, sorry for that.
I've actually never seen an error in line 232 before. Normall errors occur when certain steps in progress have been forgotten (such as setting a guid and friendly name before exporting) But that's not the case I see.

If it actually has to do with the XtoMDL part you could try the following (to elliminate the possibikity of it not being XtoMDL related).
Export it as a .X only (so without the convert to MDL option). If that works you could see if the XtoMDL.exe works by trying to convert the .X in ModelConverterX (a program you can find here: http://www.scenerydesign.org/modelconverterx/). That way we can see if the problem would be Blender related some how or if it has to do with the XtoMDL.exe in the SDK

 

[ronh]

Did you click on Initialize Toolset?

The error looks like it checks for an MDL file with a size > 0 - so I think the MDL was not created. I looks like you are doing things right. I assume you are following Krispi's tutorial.

Blender knows which one to use. The code around this line check the registry for the location of the 3DSM7 XtoMDL.exe.

 

[Ronald]

@ronh: Yes I repeat the same sequence every time
1 - Start Blender, open the model i'm working on,
2 - Go to Blender2FSX Tab, FSX File Properties, section
3 - Press [Initialize toolset]
4 - (re) enter the Friendly field with; testPlane
5 - Press [Generate GUID] -> appears on screen
.. no error to this point
5 - File, Export, DirectX to FSX
6 - In the Export X to FSX option
6a - [x] Apply modifiers
6b - [x] Export Animation
7 - Go to the correct folder and select a filename -> testplane<incresing_number>.x
8 - Press [Export to FSX.X file]
.. and no errors (anymore) until this point

 

[Ronald]

@F747fly Here's my progress so far:

1 - Now I get 2 files testplan1.x and testplane1.xamin

2 - These are the start of both files, seen inside Notepad++ editor.

3 - This is what now happens when i wanted to import my testplane1.x file into the Arno's ModelconvertorX (latest version) tool

From what I (think I ) can decypher in the error-handler output, there must be some double entry in the .x file somewhere.

NOTE: To not flood the forum, click the link below so you can see all the ModelConvertX setting I have used:
- http://s304.photobucket.com/user/indigowarrior9/library/BLENDER/blender2fsx-errors?sort=9&page=1


Next steps:
A - Locating the manual of the XToMdl.exe (check!)
http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=XtoMDL
http://blackiceair.net/SDK/Environment Kit/Modeling SDK/Using Modeling Tools.html#TheXtoMDLTool

B - Figuring out the correct XToMdl.exe version on my computer (since I have 3 of them)
C - Using XToMdl.exe (from the windows commandline) to get my tesplane1.x file one step closer to be converted into an FSX MDL file.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

 

[ronh]

The Blender2FSX tool code checks the registry for the location of the 3DSM7 XtoMDL.exe.

Try to run XtoMDL on your saved x and xanim files (per your blackiceair link) - then you may see an error or if it works. Look in your registry for the FSX SDK and the location.

I tried different things to reproduce your error. I tried moving the XtoMDL.exe and get a spawn error.

Try just a box and see if it at least creates a MDL, then you know something in your model is not correct.

Edit:

One of your pictures looks like you are using DirectX Export not the FSX one (never mind its a long list of ALL your pics)