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gmax -> FSX export troubles

C

cyana

Messages
10
Country
austria
Dear all,

please excuse my newbie questions, but although I've studied the helpful threads here in this forum I still cannot export a gmax object for the use in FSX.

I've set up the FSX SDK and also the update according to the descriptions, when I fire up gmax with the FSX_GMax icon the FS Tools menu appears correct, also the 'Export...' feature offers the types *.CLD and *.MDL, however no *.X type, that however seems to be normal from what I've learned from here and is an error in the SDK description.

For testing I've created a simple box in gmax and assigned a FSX-Material to it. With the LOD Tool I also applied a FriendlyName and a GUID property. When I export the object as testbox.mdl, the Flight Simulator Model Export Options window pops up, where I leave the entries unchanged and hit OK.

Next an Error! box comes up saying 'ConvertData failed', after that, another Error! box says 'Failed to run exporter!'. Next another Error! box rants it failed to export the file, and finally an Export box claims an Export module failure.

I've also updated the original plugin.ini in FSX_GmaxGamePack with the two additional entries pointing to ..\gmax\gamepacks\FSX_GmaxGamePack\scripts\startup\ and ..\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\bin\ as suggested here in this forum, although this is not mentioned in the sdk description as well. But no success, the errors are still the same.

Any help would be very much appreciated, thank you very much
Cyana
 
First of all, welcome!

The SDK was written around Max7/8, as at the time ACES wasn't sure that they'd be allowed to use GMax any longer... (long story there, but not relevant to this reply)...

Simply put, the export from GMax is seamless - you'll never see any .X files - so just use the .MDL export from GMax's menu.

As for the other error, make certain that you have Windows setup to use the period "." symbol for the decimal separator instead of the comma ",". The exporter/compiler will not work with the European "," symbol.
 
Thank you very much for your friendly welcome and your quick reply ! Changing the number format setting in win.ini actually did the trick ! Very nasty, though - I wonder if this can be patched in gmax (or whereever this property is located) ?

I was trying to use 3dsmax 9 in hope this problem will not occure there, however it seems it does not work with the provided dlls.

I guess I have to create the required xml file for the bgl compiler from the scratch ?

best greetings
Cyana
 
Hi,

Use this .xml template and follow the instructions:
Open Notepad (right click) and copy the following template into Notepad:

XML TEMPLATE

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<FSData
version="9.0"
xmlns:xsi='http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance'
xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="bglcomp.xsd" >

<SceneryObject
lat="S33 25.07"
lon="E149 39.16"
alt="0"
altitudeIsAgl="TRUE"
pitch="0"
bank="0"
heading="0"
imageComplexity="NORMAL">

<LibraryObject
name="{618157a1-e440-460a-af0e-ced6ef527fa8}"
scale="1.0"/>

</SceneryObject>
<ModelData sourceFile="test.MDL" />

</FSData>
Click to expand...

2. Go to the selected object in the Global Library Object list and copy the GUID number and replace the one in
name="{618157a1-e440-460a-af0e-ced6ef527fa8}"
shown above. Make sure you retain the enclosed brackets and quotes.
3. Also replace the longitude and latitude and heading in the template with the ones recorded in 1) above.
4. Save the file as objectname.xml where objectname is the name of say the object to be displayed.
5. Drop the xml file onto the bglcompN.exe icon and it should compile a BGL file in the C:\BGLC folder.
6. Transfer the BGL file to the FSX “Addon Scenery/Scenery” folder
7. Start up FSX and the object should appear at the location. Make sure you have “Scenery Complexity” set to “Normal” or higher.


Alternatively to 5 above you can compile by using a command prompt:
C:\BGLC >bglcompN objectname.xml. This will allow any compile errors to be seen.

(PS. The above default template sets up a very large hanger at the end of runway 350 at airport YBTH [Bathurst NSW]- not a very good location for it !! But try a walking elephant or Giraffe (in the same spot) a lot more fun! Click on “advanced animations” for this though.)


Greetz. José.
 
Dear José,

thank you very much for your great advice. I successfully could compile and implement my custom scenery object into FSX.

There are still some questions left - the exact position of my object is N47°20'57" E13°12'18" . Of course I can convert the numbers to decimal degrees, however the SDK says it is possible to set the position also with the format above, however does not give an example how to do it (it seems to indicate something like "N47-20-57", this however does not work.

Also it would be great if I could adjust the exact position on the fly (e.g. aligning the object to a street). I have the object placement tool installed in FSX, but I cannot select my custom object.

best greetings
Cyana
 
Hi,

Try this notation:

N47°20'57" E13°12'18" =====> "N47 20.57" and "E13 12.18"

Indeed very confusing.

For exact positioning, I try to use a Cessna and allign the wings with a road for exemple and read the heading.

Greetz. José.
 
cyana said:
I was trying to use 3dsmax 9 in hope this problem will not occure there, however it seems it does not work with the provided dlls.
Click to expand...

No, the 3DS tools MS provded only work in Max 7 or 8.
 
José Bourgoignie said:
Try this notation:

N47°20'57" E13°12'18" =====> "N47 20.57" and "E13 12.18"

Indeed very confusing.
Click to expand...

Please DON'T do it like this, as this is not correct and will result in your objects being placed at a different location. N47°20'57" is actually equal to N47 20.95, not to N47 20.57.

Although I always use the decimal format myself, you should also be able to enter it like this N47 20 57 (so with spaces between the three parts).
 
cyana said:
Also it would be great if I could adjust the exact position on the fly (e.g. aligning the object to a street). I have the object placement tool installed in FSX, but I cannot select my custom object.
Click to expand...

To get your object visible in the Object Placement tool, you would have to put your MDL object in an object library first. You can use my Library Creator XML tool to make that library. After you loaded that BGL in FsX the object should appear in the list. The only problem is that it is listed by its GUID, not by the name, so that makes it a little harder to find.

From the Object Placement tool you can then save another XML file for the placement. This will give you a second BGL. Of course you can combine all the MDL object of your project in the same library BGL and do the placement in the same placement XML. So you will end up with these two files in the end.
 
Dear all,

again, thank you very much for your enlightening answers ! I would like to try the approach of creating an object library. Arno, where can I find your Library Creator tool ?

again, thank you all for your great help !
Cyana
 
Again, thank you very much for your quick and helpful replies ! I've d/led Arno's Library Creator and it works great !

Sorry for my late reply - I was on vacation in Frankfurt over the weekend, and had a very special experience - a flight in a 'real' Airbus 320 Flight Simulator, that is normally used for pilot's training by Lufthansa. I've managed two save landings at the airport of my home town in Salzburg/Austria, the second time during a snow storm with ice on the runway. It was absolutely fantastic, specially the feeling in your stomach when the plane is bumping through turbulences and the not-so-soft landing ;)

best greetings and thank you
Cyana
 
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