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FSX Exporting? XtoMDL? (help!)

A

Aeroshell09

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Ive been working on a E2C Virtual Cockpit in 3ds max 2012, but I have no clue how to export to mdl format for fsx, or how to use XtoMDL.

Ive been trying to find ways for months now, nothing seems to work.

Ive also downloaded the prepar3d SDK, and installed the plugin to max. I got a list of errors saying I need to point it toward the SDK. I read the doc for it, but its to hard to understand.

If someone could explain a simpler way how to export to .X, then two MDL it would be most appreciated.

I thought I could do something like convert my model from max to gmax and then do it somehow, but agian im lost.

Please Help!

Thanks so much! (i honestly appreciate it, ive been at this the past month)
 
Download the Entire Prepar3d SDK, and the Beta versions of the Max plugins also

Install the main SDK first
Copy the beta Max files over the existing ones (which were buggy)

When exporting from Max ... export as an ESP 1.0 .x file

This is combined afterwards using xtomdl.exe to create the model.

xtomdl.exe is correctly run in the CLI. You will most likely be recompiling the same files a few times, so it would be worth you creating a batch file, or alternatively a windows shortcut to run it with the parameters you require.

To compile aircraft (or anything with animations) you need to have a .xanim file (created by Max when you select export animation, referencing the modeldef.xml file) You also need to to run the xtomdl.exe executable with the /xanim flag set.
 
hcornea said:
Download the Entire Prepar3d SDK, and the Beta versions of the Max plugins also

Install the main SDK first
Copy the beta Max files over the existing ones (which were buggy)

When exporting from Max ... export as an ESP 1.0 .x file

This is combined afterwards using xtomdl.exe to create the model.

xtomdl.exe is correctly run in the CLI. You will most likely be recompiling the same files a few times, so it would be worth you creating a batch file, or alternatively a windows shortcut to run it with the parameters you require.

To compile aircraft (or anything with animations) you need to have a .xanim file (created by Max when you select export animation, referencing the modeldef.xml file) You also need to to run the xtomdl.exe executable with the /xanim flag set.
Click to expand...

Thanks hcornea, where can I get the beta max plugins from?
 
Actually .. it looks like they might have been rolled into the main September release of the SDK.

Try that ... if it has a 2012 folder in the SDK (same folder structure as the FSX SDK) then I'd say you're good to go.
 
hcornea said:
Actually .. it looks like they might have been rolled into the main September release of the SDK.

Try that ... if it has a 2012 folder in the SDK (same folder structure as the FSX SDK) then I'd say you're good to go.
Click to expand...


I found instructions online for max 9, I followed them and made the .ini file, and instead of 9 for everything i put 12. I then installed the plugin, ran the prepar3d max and nothing seemed to happen...
 
Sounds too complicated.

Max is installed.
Add the plugin path to the 2012 plugin directory
Restart Max.

That is all that is required.

Max 2012 does not suffer from the Folder selection bug present in Max 9
 
hcornea said:
Sounds too complicated.

Max is installed.
Add the plugin path to the 2012 plugin directory
Restart Max.

That is all that is required.

Max 2012 does not suffer from the Folder selection bug present in Max 9
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks alot. I'll try that here soon!
 
hcornea said:
Sounds too complicated.

Max is installed.
Add the plugin path to the 2012 plugin directory
Restart Max.

That is all that is required.

Max 2012 does not suffer from the Folder selection bug present in Max 9
Click to expand...

Hey, when installed the plugin I get this error, then I got to export and .x is not present.

xp7s4p.png
 
Perhpas post the exact path you are using for your plugin.
It is possible of course that the Max plugin doesn't work with the student edition.
 
Another user has it working in his Max2012 Student Edition just fine. I note that it is NOT installed on this one though. The ACES Tools and ACES Documentation tabs are on the top toolbar.
 
hcornea said:
Perhpas post the exact path you are using for your plugin.
It is possible of course that the Max plugin doesn't work with the student edition.
Click to expand...

Plugin Path: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2012\plugins

Scripts Path: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2012\Scripts

Is it possible that you have to have 32-bit? I don't see any ACES Tools at the top. I did look through all the tabs but it was not there.
 
Yes, you must have installed the 32 bit version of Max (any version). The FSX tools are 32 bit programs ;)
 
Aeroshell09 said:
My autodesk folder is under Program files, not Program files (x68) Do I have to have a 32-bit pc?
Click to expand...

No, you simply need to install the 32bit version of Max. I run it on an i7 2600k, running Win7 x64 myself.
 
The default installer for Max 2012 full installs BOTH versions.

The one you are using seems to be the 64bit version (32bit plugins will not work) I briefly tried this just before and get a different set of errors. In any case, there will not be a 64bit set of plugins any time soon.

If you do not have

C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\3ds Max 2012

then you most likely do not have the 32bit executable installed.

If this is indeed the case, then the original distribution media can be used to install the program, and they share a license key ... so the same key should be ok.
 
i have max 2012 student edition and installed the sdk perfectly. make sure your using the 32bit edition, the student edition dosent have a plugin folder (well i gavent seen one) i had great help from hcornea and n4gix.

Blake
 
also when i found out i needed the 32bit 2012 i couldent find it so i went into the autodesk folder and installed the 32 bit installer.

Blake
 
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