[Galemp]

OK, so ever since I've had Styxx's POF exporter I haven't gotten it to work. Now I think I have it nailed down; if the model uses more than one material it won't convert. The attached file is the sample model he provided, the only difference being that the main LOD's texture has been changed. If others can verify this, maybe we can get to the root of the problem.

Oh, by the way, I'm using Max 6. No idea if this crops up on other versions.

[Hippo]

You're right...





Is it just this model, or does this specifically hit other models? I don't recall Raa having too much trouble converting the Sobek... And it probably had many textures...

[KARMA]

I think omni used smoothgroups with the galaxy, does it mean in max that he used more materials?

[Taristin]

Originally posted by Hippo
Is it just this model, or does this specifically hit other models? I don't recall Raa having too much trouble converting the Sobek... And it probably had many textures...

Actually, my conversion of the Sobek has been put on hold because of sporadic problems. It converts sometimes, but not other times. But the model does have more than one texture. And I do use Max 6...

[Hippo]

I use 6 as well, but this seems to be a more persistant problem...


KARMA: each image file loaded to the scene is a material, though i don't know whether or not you actually put the material in the scene matters... did he smoothgroup in lith? (shows how little i know about texturing stuff)...

[Omniscaper]

The Galaxy converted with no problems. I dunno if smoothghroups translate into additional material divisions in Freespace, but I believe it has around 10 "standard" materials within the main mesh as "mult-subobject" material. I recall Bobbau stating that Freespace does support smoothgroups seperate from materials.

I do suffer from an occasional crash now and then. I did discover that shield generation from the pluggin creates unstable POF's that cannot be manipulated in Modelview32 (MOI and mass manipulation).

My method of making sure the conversion is successful is to use the following checklist:

1. All meshes are "editable mesh"
2. Hierarchy structure
3. Material assignment (make sure ALL meshes have a texture)
4. Remove shield model designation with "shield" UNCHECKED
5. Reset X-form all objects.

[Galemp]

so you're using one material, as a multi-subobject map? Perhaps I'll try that, though it's not something I've used before.

[Omniscaper]

It automatically becomes a multi-subobject map when two different meshes with different materials are "attached" as one mesh. The two materials become integrated by incorporating both "standard" materials into a "multi-subobject"

[Taristin]

Yeah, importing standard V models into Max does this as well. Almost every model I've imported has had multiple maps in the same single material sphere.

[Galemp]

Since when can you import POFs directly into Max?

[Taristin]

You can't. I mean after converting them to cob, and then using 3dex to convert cob to 3ds...

[StratComm]

Simply saving as 3ds and importing back does that.  I don't know why it would matter, but it seems like this might be a source of at least some of the problems we've had with the thing.

[Styxx]

I've tried several models with multiple materias and didn't run into any problems... But I'll try to look into it when I have the time. Thanks for the tip on the Shield Generation too, I'll see if there's anything wrong with that too. Just don't wait standing up, it may take a while.

[Galemp]

So the Max scene in the ZIP converts A-OK for you, Styxx?

[Styxx]

Er, the ZIP you posted? Didn't try that.

[Galemp]

Bumpity?

[LOKO]

I got 3d max, I've downloaded the files but where do I install them too? sorry me = noob and trying to learn.

[Galemp]

what, these? Don't worry about it. I'm looking for help from other experienced modders who have gotten models to export correctly.

[Taristin]

I'm actually still hitting a brick wall with this, and all I'm trying to convert is the LODs and the debris of the Nahema. But I don't give up. It seems that more often than not, the recovery files, after max crashes, convert better than the original files...