bmp -> dds

[Speed of flight]

This question has probably been asked, but lo, I find nothing that fits exactly.

So here's my issue.
I've bought I couldn't tell you how many 3rd-party aftermarket aircraft, and quite a few of them still use bmp textures.
FSX seems to want dds textures when using DX10 preview. I've heard it thrown about that it will use bmp's only after searching 2 other places for a dds.

I am not finding this statement to be true. I have quite a few aircraft that use bmp textures, that display all white with no textures (everything else, though, it seems).

I can uncheck the DX10 preview option and they display fine, but the model preview is not the only thing that suffers when I do that.

How can I modify/convert/something to these textures, or even alter the model to make the textures display with DX10 preview on?

Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Hagar]

The problem is not with the texture format but the MDL file. Aircraft with this problem were created for FS9 with the FS9 SDK. If you wish to use them in FSX turn DX10 Preview OFF.

[Speed of flight]

Thank you for a very prompt answer! These new internets linking the world is a miracle! It's just after 700AM where I am, and figure that i'm the only weirdo awake in my timezone posting questions in here.

so is there anything I can do to the .mdl file to make it display proper?

For example, the CLS dc-10, and lots of other planes made and posted in Simviations vast library are this way. What can I do to make these work right?

thank you. Anxious to fly...

[Hagar]

It's 3.30 pm where I am.

I'm not familiar with the CLS DC-10 or any other payware aircraft. If the model was created with the FS9 SDK it can't be modified. It's possible to change the texture format to DDS but that wouldn't make any difference. The only solution that I'm aware of is to turn DX10 Preview OFF. Sorry.

Note: Read the statement at the top of the page. https://www.commerciallevel.com/webshop.php?actie=pshow&pid=54&groep=11

Welcome to the DC10 Series
[glow=yellow,2,300]This product is compatible with FS9 and FSX. However not compatible with DX10 preview mode.[/glow]

[Speed of flight]

Yeah, I did see that, but I was hoping that I'm a smart enough guy that I could somehow make it work anyway, but I digress...

So a few of these folks are "creating" new models out of their older FS9 stuff, but not updating their texture format. DX10 makes everything look different/better, if you can use it.
There was also a nice 777 that someone made, and doesn't show using DX10. Ugh.

[Hagar]

It's possible that these aircraft were originally available before FSX SP2 was released. That was when the "DX10 Preview mode" was introduced. (This doesn't just affect the Preview window on the selection menu but the whole sim.)

If you want fully compatible FSX aircraft look for "native FSX" or "true FSX" models. There's more & more freeware examples being posted so it won't cost anything to try them.

Edit. You might like t try this one --> http://simviation.com/1/search?submit=1&keywords=tom_dc10.zip&categoryId=&filename=Y

[Speed of flight]

Thank you for the link. I had seen that one, but there's no VC, it's a work in progress, etc. So many really great aircraft and they don't use DX10. Whoever finds a way to convert these will be able to sell the program to suckers like me...
Thanks for your help.

[Speed of flight]

Point to ponder:
That file you suggested said that it is a FS2004 model. It IS DX10 compatible, and looks great. There IS a way to convert a model this way, because this guy did it. Maybe it's before the .mdl and .bgl are compiled with a GUID and so forth (however that all works).

Any 3d modelers out there that know about this? How does one take a model that is not DX10 compatible, edit it for use with .dds skins, and use it with DX10? Anybody?

[Hagar]

Point to ponder:
That file you suggested said that it is a FS2004 model. It IS DX10 compatible, and looks great. There IS a way to convert a model this way, because this guy did it. Maybe it's before the .mdl and .bgl are compiled with a GUID and so forth (however that all works).

Any 3d modelers out there that know about this? How does one take a model that is not DX10 compatible, edit it for use with .dds skins, and use it with DX10? Anybody?

If you mean the Thomas Ruth DC-10 from my link it's an FSX native model for FSX only. The original FS9 model was updated for FSX & exported using the FSX SDK. It's only possible to do this if you have the original source file.

As I said earlier there is no way of modifying an existing FS9 MDL file to be compatible with FSX in DX10 Preview mode.

[glow=yellow,2,300]FSX native model, needs FSX ServicePack1 or 2.[/glow] Uses default panel and sound, no VC. [glow=yellow,2,300]FSX conversion of Erick Cantus beautiful FS9 WIP mesh.[/glow] Contains six different model and texture versions, including a KC-10 Air Force tanker. PSP repaint resource, panel and VC to be released later. By Thomas Ruth and [glow=yellow,2,300]Erick Cantu[/glow]

[Speed of flight]

Point to ponder:
That file you suggested said that it is a FS2004 model. It IS DX10 compatible, and looks great. There IS a way to convert a model this way, because this guy did it. Maybe it's before the .mdl and .bgl are compiled with a GUID and so forth (however that all works).

Any 3d modelers out there that know about this? How does one take a model that is not DX10 compatible, edit it for use with .dds skins, and use it with DX10? Anybody?

If you mean the Thomas Ruth DC-10 from my link it's an FSX native model for FSX only. The original FS9 model was updated for FSX & exported using the FSX SDK. It's only possible to do this if you have the original source file.

As I said earlier there is no way of modifying an existing FS9 MDL file to be compatible with FSX in DX10 Preview mode.

[glow=yellow,2,300]FSX native model, needs FSX ServicePack1 or 2.[/glow] Uses default panel and sound, no VC. [glow=yellow,2,300]FSX conversion of Erick Cantus beautiful FS9 WIP mesh.[/glow] Contains six different model and texture versions, including a KC-10 Air Force tanker. PSP repaint resource, panel and VC to be released later. By Thomas Ruth and [glow=yellow,2,300]Erick Cantu[/glow]

Yeah, I found this to be completely true, and thank you. I don't think that CLS, Captainsim, and the like are going to give up the originals for folks to abuse. I also have the Iris f-15 that has oh so many liveries, and they all appear to be white (alpha channel, but no textures).

A lot of 3rd-party AC are this way, and it's sad.
Again, I thank you for your help. This question has been asked to death, and I surely didn't want to bug with it.

Here's an idea - If there is a paint kit for these aircraft, the original base files would still probably need to be edited to know that they're looking for a .dds rather than a .bmp anyway, so here's the question:

Has anybody had any luck repainting an aircraft such as one of the mentioned, and made it work for the DX10 preview option?

[Hagar]

Here's an idea - If there is a paint kit for these aircraft, the original base files would still probably need to be edited to know that they're looking for a .dds rather than a .bmp anyway, so here's the question:

Has anybody had any luck repainting an aircraft such as one of the mentioned, and made it work for the DX10 preview option?

I repeat: the texture format is not the problem. BMP textures can be converted to DDS format & FSX will read DDS textures without any modification to the MDL. That will not affect how the textures display in DX10 Preview mode.

[Speed of flight]

Point to ponder:
That file you suggested said that it is a FS2004 model. It IS DX10 compatible, and looks great. There IS a way to convert a model this way, because this guy did it. Maybe it's before the .mdl and .bgl are compiled with a GUID and so forth (however that all works).

Any 3d modelers out there that know about this? How does one take a model that is not DX10 compatible, edit it for use with .dds skins, and use it with DX10? Anybody?

If you mean the Thomas Ruth DC-10 from my link it's an FSX native model for FSX only. The original FS9 model was updated for FSX & exported using the FSX SDK. It's only possible to do this if you have the original source file.

As I said earlier there is no way of modifying an existing FS9 MDL file to be compatible with FSX in DX10 Preview mode.

[glow=yellow,2,300]FSX native model, needs FSX ServicePack1 or 2.[/glow] Uses default panel and sound, no VC. [glow=yellow,2,300]FSX conversion of Erick Cantus beautiful FS9 WIP mesh.[/glow] Contains six different model and texture versions, including a KC-10 Air Force tanker. PSP repaint resource, panel and VC to be released later. By Thomas Ruth and [glow=yellow,2,300]Erick Cantu[/glow]

So by the original source file, you mean the 3dsMax or Gmax model, as saved in one or the other of these modelling programs. The .mdl file isn't the secret, but the original model? And then to update it using one of these programs and compile/export it with the FSX SDK...

Easy enough. I'll get right on it! Right now, I'm finishing up the last bit on my nuclear reactor to power my anti-matter containment field, and after that, I may test out the new deuterium turbine blades I've been working on...

So, the lawyers and copyright laws have made that process on someone else's work nearly this level of difficult. I guess I could ask them, but I bet I know what they'll say.

Perhaps I'll just wait...

Thank you for all your help! I'll see what else I can do...

[Hagar]

So by the original source file, you mean the 3dsMax or Gmax model, as saved in one or the other of these modelling programs. The .mdl file isn't the secret, but the original model? And then to update it using one of these programs and compile/export it with the FSX SDK...

Exactly!

So, the lawyers and copyright laws have made that process on someone else's work nearly this level of difficult. I guess I could ask them, but I bet I know what they'll say.

Not really anything to do with lawyers. The publishers of commercial addons are unlikely to give their source files away to anyone.

Some source files for freeware aircraft are available on developer websites like FFDS. That's how many people get started in this hobby. It's one thing to have the file but quite another to convert it for FSX. That's one of the reasons why so few 'true FSX' aircraft are available.

Perhaps I'll just wait...

Thank you for all your help! I'll see what else I can do..

You're welcome. Meanwhile, as I advised you in my first reply, if you wish to use FS9 models in FSX turn DX10 Preview OFF.