[NeoKnight]

First of all, sorry for asking yet another (probably newbish) question, but I'm at my wit's end and was hoping for a little guidance.

I downloaded the Enterprise-A from FreeSpace 2 Sector (http://sectorgame.com/f2s/downloads.php?action=downloads&id=178), which consisted of a .pof model along with several textures. I put the .pof in the FreeSpace 2/data/models folder and the textures (which I converted to .dds) in the FreeSpace 2/data/maps folder. I then created a table, which was not supplied in the download, and housed it at FreeSpace 2/data/tables. I checked out the model in PCS2, and everything looked fine. But when I opened FRED, I ran into some trouble. First of all, in the ship drop-down menu, the Enterprise was listed in purple text. I don't know if that means anything besides unknown IFF identification, but it did strike me as odd. Then, I tried inserting the actual ship into the FRED mission I was designing. Now here's the real problem; the Enterprise model didn't appear in the FRED plane. I know it's there, however, because it was the second ship I put in the level, and the ship I inserted after that (An ordinary Ulysses-class fighter) was automatically labeled "GTF Ulysses 2". Which means of course that the invisible Enterprise model (which would automatically be designated as Enterprise 1) is the ship that chronologically comes between GTF Ulysses 0 (aka Alpha 1) and the aforementioned GTF Ulysses 2. To summarize, the model is there, but I can't see it in FRED or in the actual mission itself. And I've concluded that invisible models aren't half as fun as their visible counterparts.

I know that similar problems to the ones I've been experiencing were discussed at the following thread: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=67181.0 - but I was unable to find a solution in that area.

If anyone has advice on how to fix the problem, I would be very, very grateful.

Sincerely,
NeoKnight

[FUBAR-BDHR]

Run the FRED debug build and post a log.  Well fix any error messages first then if you still need to post a log. 

[SpardaSon21]

Wait, you aren't yelling at him for placing things directly in his FreeSpace2/data directory?  Whatever happened to the tech support on this forum?

[FUBAR-BDHR]

I was gathering evidence first. 

[Getter Robo G]

Ugh, Luddies legacy.

Short of reposting my post from that thread again let me sum up...


It does work fine but I tweaked it and renamed things cause he (Luddie)did a straight rip from SFC3 and didn't think.


Neo- are you sure it is in game? I mean do you see an invisible ship fire? When I started modding FS2 my first insert was the Xanthus. I couldn't see it except for a wireframe and  was like that, it worked in game but since the textures were not available it WAS invisible and it could attack others but not be hit (weapons fire would go through it ineffectively).

Once I renamed the textures to stock FS2 ones the ship showed up and then I used them as a base and retextured it to my liking (problem solved).


Also you indicated you are using core FS2 directory files, a big no no until you know what you are doing. make a MOD folder of any name (I made mine FS2SFA for Starfleet Academy I also had folders for Gundam, Robotech, and my other projects before they got lost) and use the data folder you make in there!



Before I ran into IP issues cause of Luddie I reconverted most of his "work" for my mod since his "Read Me's" gave blanket permission to all (of OTHER people's work) and all the ones I did worked.

Did you do any tweakage of Texture names and forgot to make them match what the pof actually has listed? I've done that before and didn't notice cause I had both sets in the same folder and if they are similar it can slip by you easily.


Note - you should NOT be seeing a wireframe or mesh texture of a ULY!! Or if you see one in the mission itself! This means FRED cannot find the right pof to match your table and it uses the ULY be DEFUALT!

IIRC - as I haven't modded in 5+ months

[NeoKnight]

Wait, you aren't yelling at him for placing things directly in his FreeSpace2/data directory?  Whatever happened to the tech support on this forum?

Hmm...maybe the tech support became a little more polite and understanding of a neophyte's naivety since you were last here? Just a guess.

In interest of taking things one step at a time, I started by removing all downloaded ships and their associated content from the core FS2 directory files and relocating them to a MOD folder, as Getter Robo G suggested. I structured the directory as follows: C:\Games\FreeSpace2\FS2StarTrek\data. Within the data folder I had subfolders for models, maps, tables and effects, each one housing its respective content. With this new structure, however, the EnterpriseA no longer appears in the FRED drop-down ship menu. Which seems a little problematic. So, could someone please tell me what I did wrong (and preferably how to correct it)? 

[Angelus]

Wait, you aren't yelling at him for placing things directly in his FreeSpace2/data directory?  Whatever happened to the tech support on this forum?

Hmm...maybe the tech support became a little more polite and understanding of a neophyte's naivety since you were last here? Just a guess.

In interest of taking things one step at a time, I started by removing all downloaded ships and their associated content from the core FS2 directory files and relocating them to a MOD folder, as Getter Robo G suggested. I structured the directory as follows: C:\Games\FreeSpace2\FS2StarTrek\data. Within the data folder I had subfolders for models, maps, tables and effects, each one housing its respective content. With this new structure, however, the EnterpriseA no longer appears in the FRED drop-down ship menu. Which seems a little problematic. So, could someone please tell me what I did wrong (and preferably how to correct it)? 

Create a shortcut of the FRED2 build you want to use, the go to properties and in the custom flag field add this:

-mod FS2StarTrek

or in general the name of your modfolder, but always with the -mod prefix.

[NeoKnight]

Create a shortcut of the FRED2 build you want to use, the go to properties and in the custom flag field add this:

-mod FS2StarTrek

Thanks, that quickly fixed the problem.

Upon opening the FRED debug build to create a log, a large number of warning messages appeared. Most of these pertained to the ship table, and when I investigated the table in question I found a multitude of errors and mistakes I had made in the formatting. A good amount of time was spent correcting those, but in my defense I can say that this was my first time tabling.  Once I fixed the tables, I found that the model worked almost perfectly both in FRED and ingame. It is fully visible in both environments, and functions quite well. It seems then that the problems I was experiencing were the result of my own sloppy tabling, but it took the FRED debug build to bring this to my attention. Next time I encounter a problem of this sort, I'll try some of the troubleshooting steps mentioned in this thread before I post with in inquiry for help. Hopefully that will make the lives of the tech support staff a little easier.  However, as I continue to work with Little Luddie's ST models, I may encounter more problems that are beyond my ability to analyze and solve. If that's the case, I may be back with more Newbie questions... 


Whilst discussing things pertaining to Star Trek, I was wondering if anyone could tell me something about the Mod/TC whose screenshots are posted here: http://scp.indiegames.us/screenshots.php?gallery=Star%20Trek . Was this part of the now-dead Hostile Borders project that was registered at ModDB (http://www.moddb.com/mods/star-trek-total-conversation)? If not, where can I find more information about it? It looks truly epic.

[Getter Robo G]

Heh!

That FIRST Screenshot is mine (A tribute to a TMP Trek Era crossover fanfic with B5 - Feds versus Minbari), the other three screenshots are from OMNICAPSER's conversions of various meshes like Scotchy's Awesome Ent-D and MANY others...

I wonder how that first pic got there? No worries, if they think it's Omni I take that as a COMPLIMENT!!!

 


PS  I have to google your link raw cause clicking it causes this to show:

The URI you submitted has disallowed characters: star-trek-total-conversation)

Anyway Omni was sorta working on a mod but not really (just having fun converting), see NBSG stole him from US Trekkies (DAMN YOU RDM!!!)... <Ahem> Where was I?

Oh yes, I foolishly had been working on a multi Era mod for FS2 TMP-post Nem following short campaigns of a fighter group. It was going to be very dicey as while they do exist in Trek, fighters are WAY overshadowed by Cap ships. It's the nature of the Trek beast.

99% of the work was lost though but if you want you can still find surviving screenies scattered over my photo site.

http://s22.photobucket.com/albums/b321/Star-Dragon/

Use the links on left side to navigate, they really are NOT as organized as they seem, I use the main section as a dumping ground mostly and only some are in the right categories...

Not only is my efforts there, but many others I admire like Omni's and other communities also beyond FS2.

[NeoKnight]

Ah, many apologies for the broken link. A parentheses and exclamation-point were somehow attached to the end of the URL, thus rendering it useless. If anyone wants to see the site, this link should actually work:

http://www.moddb.com/mods/star-trek-total-conversation


I followed the photobucket link in the last post, and seeing those screenshots sure makes me wish there was Star Trek TC I could play. Like you pointed out though, the minor role that fighters play in the Trek fleet could be a severe impediment to successfully structuring such a mod. It's been a dream of mine to spearhead a Star-Trek based total conversion, but (obviously), I will need many more years of experience before beginning to organize such a project.

And by the way, is there a download link for Scotchy's EnterpriseD? I'd love to get my hands on that ship.