.3ds file export from GMAX to .mdl ERRORS

[Gradguy]

I this is my first week with FSX as I'm working a graduate project.
My skills are not in 3d design or flight simulators so this is all new.  In fact I just bought FSX 3 days ago.

I've decided to try getting my own model in FSX.  But have run into problems with GMAX, SDK... I assume it a setup or procedure issue but I can figure out what it is.

I have SKD sp1a installed... I have the copied fsx_gamepacks to the gmax gamepacks folder... Thats all I got.

Here are the errors as I try to export my model as and .mdl

Failed loading animation definition file
C:\Program Files (x86)\MicrosoftGames\GMAX\gamepacks\FSX_Gamepacks\plugins\ModelDef.xml

I click ok and the Flight Simulator Model Export Options Are:
Use DDS files

Clicked ok

The next error: flight Simulator Model Exporter Error

I get two:The mesh xyz contains faces that are textured and untextured.

I click ok then I get this bad boy:

System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException: Could not find a part of the path 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\GMAX\gamepacks\FSX_GmaxGamePack\scenes\Test\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\bin\modeldef.XML'.

  at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)

  at System.IO.FileStream.Init(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, Int32 rights, Boolean useRights, FileShare share, Int32 bufferSize, FileOptions options, SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES secAttrs, String msgPath, Boolean bFromProxy)

  at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access)

  at Microsoft.FlightSimulator.XToMDL.XToMDL.LoadPartDictionary(DelegatePassString LogError, DelegatePassString LogWarning, String DictionaryFile, Boolean& bFailedValidate)

  at Microsoft.FlightSimulator.XToMDL.XToMDLExporter.InternalConvertData(String& Filename, String& ModelDataPath, Byte[]& XDataStream, Byte[]& XAnimStream)

  at Microsoft.FlightSimulator.XToMDL.XToMDLExporter.ConvertData(String& Filename, String& ModelDataPath, Byte[]& XDataStream, Byte[]& XAnimStream)
---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------

I click Ok and the next error msg reads

ERROR!
CovertData faild

I click ok

Error!
Failed to run exporter!

I click ok

---------------------------
Flight Simulator Model Exporter Error
---------------------------
Failed to export model 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\GMAX\gamepacks\FSX_GmaxGamePack\scenes\Test\test'.
---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------
I click ok

---------------------------
Export
---------------------------
Export module failure
---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------

and thats it...  I just don't simply know what the deal is

I don't have any animations.  I do have a couple of textures but I am just not concerned about that yet.

Any suggestions?

[Gradguy]

Better yet.

This is for a graduate project.  I'm not going to be making any other models for FSX... Rather than I try to learn and problem solve all of these issues, can somebody take my .3ds file and generate FSX .MDL files for me? The only thing I didn't read about is an animated prop.

[HarvesteR]

first, what version of FSX are you using? there are currently 4 versions available:

RTM (out of the box)
SP1
SP2
Acceleration

the version of the SDK you use must be that of FSX, or it won't work... if you are on RTM you have to install the SDK that comes in Disk 1 of the FSX Deluxe Package, if you're on SP1, you have to get the SP1 SDK, and if you're using SP2 or acceleration, you have to install the SP2 SDK

bear in mind also, that to install the SDK service packs, you have to have the RTM version already installed

then, assuming your SDK version matches that of FSX, you have to do a number of procedures to 'link' your Gmax to the SDK... i suggest you read the SDK manual and look for the Gmax Setup instructions

(environment kit -> modeling SDK -> gmax -> setup) in the SDK index

that should give you some idea on how to proceed from where you are now

Hope this helps

Cheers

[Gradguy]

This is just maddening...

I have FSX RTM out of the box. Then updated FSX with SP1. I installed gmax first to a non default location... before knowing that I needed STK.  So I then installed STK only to realized I needed STK update sp1a.  But I got all the errors above.  Hmmm ok... Then i thought it might be that Gmax was not at its default location of C:/Gmax so i uninstalled gmax only to find out that the SDK gamepack didn't see the new location after I copied it from the FSX SDK gamepack directory.  So I uninstalled  SDK sp1a.... Only to find out that it has to reinstalled the RTM SDK has to be installed first...ok I did that then re installed the RTM SDK and then the SDK sp1a.  

Now everything is where it should be.

But I still get the error above when trying to export using abc.MDL from the GMAX export.

I have read the all the manuals... the only thing that I can't seem to figure out is if I should be using the export .mdl or is there another one using the .x extension if that is the case I can't get that one to show up... even if I just type it in i get a error saying don't know how to save that file type.

Well I have launched from the gamepack of gmax short cut and the .mdl dropdown shows up... so the fsx sdk gamepack folder is effecting GMAX.

Any Ideas?  Anybody?


Here are the errors again

---------------------------
Failed loading animation definition file
---------------------------
C:\gmax\gamepacks\FSX_GMaxGamepack\plugins\ModelDef.xml
---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------

---------------------------

---------------------------
System.IO.DirectoryNotFoundException: Could not find a part of the path 'C:\gmax\gamepacks\FSX_GmaxGamePack\scenes\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\bin\modeldef.XML'.

  at System.IO.__Error.WinIOError(Int32 errorCode, String maybeFullPath)

  at System.IO.FileStream.Init(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access, Int32 rights, Boolean useRights, FileShare share, Int32 bufferSize, FileOptions options, SECURITY_ATTRIBUTES secAttrs, String msgPath, Boolean bFromProxy)

  at System.IO.FileStream..ctor(String path, FileMode mode, FileAccess access)

  at Microsoft.FlightSimulator.XToMDL.XToMDL.LoadPartDictionary(DelegatePassString LogError, DelegatePassString LogWarning, String DictionaryFile, Boolean& bFailedValidate)

  at Microsoft.FlightSimulator.XToMDL.XToMDLExporter.InternalConvertData(String& Filename, String& ModelDataPath, Byte[]& XDataStream, Byte[]& XAnimStream)

  at Microsoft.FlightSimulator.XToMDL.XToMDLExporter.ConvertData(String& Filename, String& ModelDataPath, Byte[]& XDataStream, Byte[]& XAnimStream)
---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------
---------------------------
Error!
---------------------------
ConvertData failed!
---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------
---------------------------
Error!
---------------------------
Failed to run exporter!
---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------
---------------------------
Flight Simulator Model Exporter Error
---------------------------
Failed to export model 'C:\gmax\gamepacks\FSX_GmaxGamePack\scenes\test'.
---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------
---------------------------
Export
---------------------------
Export module failure
---------------------------
OK  
---------------------------

[Fr. Bill]

You are running around in circles!

First, install GMax to your C: drive.

C:\gmax

Next, install the SP1 SDK to C:\FSX_SDK*, then update with SP1a SDK

* Note: I like short paths!

Next, copy/paste the ..\FSX_GmaxGamepack to your C:\gmax\gamepacks folder:

C:\gmax\gamepacks\FSX_GmaxGamePack

Next, rightclick on the FSX_GMax.icn file and SendTo Desktop as Shortcut. Use this new desktop Icon to launch GMax.

Open the plugin.ini file in notepad.exe and add this line:

ModelDef.xml=C:\FSX_SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Modeling SDK\bin\

You should now be good to go!  8-)

[Gradguy]

Thanks for your help... I think you are on to something but I must be missing something.... My os is a vista 64. I don't know if that make a difference.

[Fr. Bill]

Look in the FSX_SDK folder and run the program ConfigSDK.exe

This should update all the SDK's ini files, and Registry settings for you.

Also, rightclick on the desktop icon and set the Properties/Compatibility tab to "Disable visual themes."

[Alejandro Rhodes]

Among many things you need to update you need first of all to download (even if you using VISTA) the latest DX9c runtime

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en

windows instaler ,latest Framework version etc

[Gradguy]

Thanks guys... But it still won't go... Yes the ConfigSDK.exe did get everything clicking again.

[Gradguy]

Ok My logic is wrong because I got rid of the first error placing a copy of the modeldef.xml within the C:\gmax\gamepacks\FSX_GmaxGamePack\Plugins but directly after I got all the other errors.

So forget what I said before... lol

Ok last thing until somebody discovers what I'm doing wrong.

Is there a file hierarchy that I NEED to follow so the .MDL export will work?  Meaning that do I need to have all the input files for a gmax project in a certain location and export to a certain location? I've know other programs like this but I'm not sure if this one of them.

Thanks

[Alejandro Rhodes]

Just curiosity

Did you check Your Regional settings conf. in control panel? ,I mean IT has to be english See, The decimals unit has to be in Period (.) Not comas (,) like 123,400.50

[Gradguy]

Thanks Alrot,  My regional setting are good.

I did a system restore to make sure it wasn't something buggy...  same result as before...

Anybody have a suggestion?
Thanks in advance.

[Alejandro Rhodes]

This is strange  :-/ You just have to place the "FSX_GmaxGamePack" inside the Gmax/gamepack  folder ,nothing else , I do it all the time everytime I format my drive (BTW I did it last week) Never had problems to export to mdl

[Gradguy]

Ok I'm happy!!!  I mean really happy... I got this thing to work finally after, literary days spent on it.   This is for a grad project so it's my life right now.

Anyway thank you everybody who suggest fixes.... I can't tell you how good it was to have at least something to try out...

This is important for others that my have issues.

IF RUNNING VISTA 64... INSTALL FSX SP2 and then the SDK sp2.  I didn' think I needed to have it because i didn't have or want the adrenaline pack.  I guess there is code in it that fixes some bugs with VISTA 64.

Thanks again everybody... I'm sure I'll have more questions.  

[HarvesteR]

yeah, SP2 is pretty much the current version of FSX now... even if you don't want Acceleration... actually it's there for those that DIDN'T buy the expansion so they can be up to par on the core updates that were introduced in the expansion (along with the new content)