[bizzybody]

I want to be able to get the gunstar model from http://www.roguesynapse.com/games/last_starfighter.php into trueSpace 6.6. I don't have conversions pack 2.1.

Blender supposedly can import DirectX files, but it does nothing, no error message, NOTHING. I got mview from Microsoft and resaved in text format. Blender still won't do anything with it.

Is there anything else that can import that file and export it to any other format that trueSpace can open?

[Aardwolf]

I'm just guessing, but have you tried Lithunwrap?

[Talon 1024]

If you have Milkshape...

Tools --> DX Mesh tools --> Open your DX model --> Save

It will then show up in the Milkshape viewport.  You can export it to 3DS from there, and then open it up in TS.

[bizzybody]

Lithunwrap was able to load it and export to .cob. Unfortunately, like some other .??? to .cob conversions, it buggered the mesh so that using the decompose button breaks it down to every single face becoming a subobject. The rather expensive Polytrans software does this too!

That makes the mesh plenty useless in trueSpace.... At least I finally had it in tS. I've been using the model as a guide to create my own Gunstar model. The game model is quite inaccurate. I dug up some pics on the web and am using them to help build a somewhat closer to the original model.

[Water]

Lithunwrap was able to load it and export to .cob. Unfortunately, like some other .??? to .cob conversions, it buggered the mesh so that using the decompose button breaks it down to every single face becoming a subobject. The rather expensive Polytrans software does this too!

If several converters give the same result then there is a good chance the original DirectX export was responsible. To solve it in Blender - select all verts and remove doubles. Then press p - seperate to all loose parts. Truespace should have similar tools.

[Vasudan Admiral]

It doesn't. You can weld verts or faces that are already connected to each other, but AFAIK there is no analogue to remove doubles the way Blender has it.

As such - the mesh being split up into separate faces like that is a death blow for someone using only TS.

[bizzybody]

But first Blender has to be able to load the .x file. This particular one, it just does nothing, not even an error message.

WTH is with Blender not using the normal file dialog boxes provided by Windows? Operating systems provide such standard elements so software authors don't have to waste time with such things, yet so many (especially freeware and open source) authors keep reinventing the wheel as if they were writing for MS-DOS.

[chief1983]

Actually, they're writing for all the operating systems.  Windows just does it differently than everyone else, so they typically don't waste time integrating _additional_ support for Windows dialogs when they already have a system in place that works on everything.

[Vasudan Admiral]

But first Blender has to be able to load the .x file. This particular one, it just does nothing, not even an error message.

WTH is with Blender not using the normal file dialog boxes provided by Windows? Operating systems provide such standard elements so software authors don't have to waste time with such things, yet so many (especially freeware and open source) authors keep reinventing the wheel as if they were writing for MS-DOS.

As a truespace user you're kinda throwing bricks at windows from a glass tower there.

As for the .X import, that works just fine and outputs any errors it does get in the console window that opens alongside the main window. If it worked it will say: "importing into Blender...   ...finished".

[Water]

But first Blender has to be able to load the .x file. This particular one, it just does nothing, not even an error message.

Just spare a thought for the Max and Maya people. They pay some good money for the software and they also have trouble importing some files. Also if you haven't paid for 3d software you probably don't know how magic Blender actually is. Recently because of the feedback from the peach game, the latest version now has the uv texture displayed while you edit the mesh. Seriously cool.

[bizzybody]

Just tried it again, claims it worked but there's nothing there in the 3D view. Download the game from Rogue Synapse and try it yourself.

Do X-11 or any other Linux GUI not have standard file handling dialogs? If so, Blender ought to use them. That'd make an already small program even smaller!

[Vasudan Admiral]

Blenders UI is fine as is. In fact I wish more apps would adopt the same approach, because you can do things so much faster than you would in TS like interfaces once you know how to use it.

Check in the outliner. If your object appears there then it is somewhere in the scene - possibly the model in the file is too small or too large and you simply haven't found it with the initial view.

[Getter Robo G]

God Dammit, I always thought my milkshake failed cause I could never see anything.... I never tried saving a blank window. Plus when I tried them in Lith they crashed or failed (I forgot which).

I'll tr it next weekend.. I use to have all these .x files I wanted to mess with.

TY TALON! (Crosses fingers)