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GMAX - modeldef.xml

Stuart

Stuart

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6
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unitedkingdom
Hi guys,

Spent a few hours working with a friend trying to get parts of my GMAX to work with no good turn-out. We have been searching forums after trying everything we could think of but the forums did not help. So here it goes. Oh, first things first so you know, I am running Vista 64 - yup, so problems are bound to happen :rolleyes:

I have animated my Loch Ness Monster so it's neck moves back and forth, animation is working fine so go to FS Tools>Animation Manager. This is where I get a lovely error:

error1.jpg


So went through some forums and the like and edited the plugin.ini file so that it included this entry:
ModelDef.xml=C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\bin\

I then realised I could of done this in the Customise>Configure Paths within GMAX:

error2.jpg


So everything is set up properly (as far as I know) but this problem still persists and I get the same error. If anyone has got any ideas I will welcome them with open arms - I am starting to get desperate. Knowing me I haven't given enough information to get a final answer but I am happy to answer any questions.

Stuart
 
Just a thought, Stu - you've obviously got the SDK loaded, else you won't have FSTools in gmax, so you should have the modeldef.xml file in the ......\bin file. But, have you looked at modeldef.xml in, say, wordpad? Check it out because some downloaded models (payware included) change the contents, and, sometimes, the format of modeldef. I saw this recently in a PMDG forum post. :confused:

On the other hand, I could be barking....... Sorry if I am! :rolleyes:

Cheers - Dai (EGFE). :cool:
 
Hey David,

Yup I have got the SDKs installed:p
I have put the beginning and end of the modeldef.xml so you/peoples can see if it is normal:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<ModelInfo>
<Animation name="Ambient" guid="A6F1C5D0-BEF6-449eBAF8FB777F27808F" type="Standard" ...

... </Code>
</Parameter>
</Visibility>
</PartInfo>

</ModelInfo>

If anymore is needed I will put it in, but it has lots and lots of writing lol

Stuart
 
My Modeldef.xml is a considerable amount more than that - you .xml contains all the animation tags etc hence why its not being loaded if thats all the contents is, not sure if you allowed to attach the .xml file ?
 
Attached Modeldef.cfg

Hopefully this has worked, attached is my modeldef.xml

What I showed in my last post as just the beginning and end, not the whole thing - It is a lot bigger lol

Stu
 

Attachments

Hi,

You could try to run the ConfigSDK tool that is in the root of the SDK installation folder. That can fix trouble like this.
 
Oh there was something I forgot to say in my first post, dear oh dear. Yes I did run the ConfigSDK from what a forum told me which helped another error I had but not this one.

Cheers,

Stuart
 
Please save yourself a HUGE headache.

Do not install ANYTHING related to FS in the bloody "Program Files..." folder...

Use something really short and sweet such as:

C:\FSX_SDK
C:\FSX

The problem you are encountering is that there are actually TWO "Program Files..." folders in the 64bit OS, and the (x86) part is getting ignored...

Alternatively, copy/paste your modeldef.xml file to the same folder that XtoMDL.exe is located: ..\plugins and edit the path in the .ini file (or use the GUI) to point to that location.
 
Last edited:
Hi n4gix,

Do I need to move my FSX and GMAX directories out of the Program Files(x86) folder and just straight in the C drive for it to work? As I did what you said to do with the modeldef.xml and I put it in the plugins folder where I found XtoMDL.exe.
(C:\Program Files (x86)\GMAX\gamepacks\FSX_GmaxGamePack\Plugins\modeldef.xml)

After doing so and configuring the path, everytime I start up FSX this error comes up:
error3.jpg


I can just skip past this error and gmax will start up, but when going to the Animation Manager the modeldef.xml can still not be found.

Stuart
 
You are seeing that error because now there are two paths defined, both of which have MakeMDL.exe in them.

GMax should have been installed to its own folder, such as:

C:\GMax

One of my first observations about Vista is that any program that requires read/write access to any files within its own folder structure should be installed outside of the default ..\Program Files... structure.

That general "rule" of mine pretty much covers anything to do with flightsimulator... :D

BTW, simply "moving" the folders will not be sufficient, as all of the Registry entries will require updating as well. Unless you are very comfortable working in the Registry, it would be best to uninstall/reinstall using new paths...
 
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