Simviation Forum - Rusty with GMAX

Mar 30^th, 2005 at 2:38am

microlight Offline
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Hi all.

I'm re-learning what to do with GMAX, but I have an exporting problem. Got the FSModelExp.dle and makemdl.exe files in the 'plugins' folder which I seem to remember is right. However, there's an error message generated when makemdl runs that says 'invalid x file'.

SO as I'm not Mulder or Scully, can anyone tell me what an x file is, and how to create one from within GMAX? And what to do with it once I've got one?

Many thanks!
Wink

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Reply #1 - Mar 30^th, 2005 at 3:11am

microlight Offline
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Extra information: I get the 'x file' error if running makemdl by itself. If run from the 'export' option in GMAX, the export .dle file seems to be working (and I assume producing an intermediate 'x file'), but after the makemdl compiler fails, the log file says:

(Part fuselage) Found colocated vertices within triangle
(-0.762563,12.633653, 1.272889)
(-0.762899,12.635988, 1.270154)
(-0.762760,12.633318, 1.272891).
Model units are 1024.00 units/meter
Error!
Error!

I changed the measurement units from default inches to meters - what difference does this make? Also, some of the tutorials indicate there might be a problem if there are too many vertices - could this be an issue?

Thanks again.

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Reply #2 - Mar 30^th, 2005 at 10:17am

crawl55 Offline
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What you need to do is in the MakeMDL options....check all the ignore error boxes and de select the weld-verticies box...hope this helps

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Reply #3 - Mar 30^th, 2005 at 12:40pm

FSEdge Offline
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Posts: 203

Quote:

Extra information: I get the 'x file' error if running makemdl by itself. If run from the 'export' option in GMAX, the export .dle file seems to be working (and I assume producing an intermediate 'x file'), but after the makemdl compiler fails, the log file says:

(Part fuselage) Found colocated vertices within triangle
(-0.762563,12.633653, 1.272889)
(-0.762899,12.635988, 1.270154)
(-0.762760,12.633318, 1.272891).
Model units are 1024.00 units/meter
Error!
Error!

I changed the measurement units from default inches to meters - what difference does this make? Also, some of the tutorials indicate there might be a problem if there are too many vertices - could this be an issue?

Thanks again.

The error is caused by the fact that you have more than one vertices located on the same x, y or z plane.

One way resolve this issue is to select all the vertices on your fuselage and using a very low Weld threshold try to weld the vertices that are causing the problems. Other ways to target the vertices is by looking at the numbers returned by the error and then track them down to their XYZ location in the scene.

FS wants all *MDL information to be in Meters. It's just an internal thing related to FS

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Reply #4 - Mar 31^st, 2005 at 5:23pm

microlight Offline
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crawl55,

I tried to alter the makemdl options, but the program didn't save my changes, so next time GMAX used makemdl, if defaulted to the original settings. Any ideas?

Thanks.

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Reply #5 - Mar 31^st, 2005 at 5:23pm

microlight Offline
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crawl55,

I tried to alter the makemdl options, but the program didn't save my changes, so next time GMAX used makemdl, if defaulted to the original settings. Any ideas?

Thanks.

BAe ATP for FS9 now available! www.enigmasim.com

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Reply #6 - Mar 31^st, 2005 at 5:24pm

microlight Offline
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crawl55,

I tried to alter the makemdl options, but the program didn't save my changes, so next time GMAX used makemdl, if defaulted to the original settings. Any ideas?

Thanks.

BAe ATP for FS9 now available! www.enigmasim.com

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Reply #7 - Apr 4^th, 2005 at 6:34pm

Sterk Offline
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By pressing a shortcut(dont actually remember wich one) you can access makemdl options from within gmax right after it's activated by Gmax but before it starts compiling.
Hey,anybody remembers?

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Reply #8 - Apr 4^th, 2005 at 8:56pm

FSEdge Offline
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Texas

Posts: 203

Quote:

By pressing a shortcut(dont actually remember wich one) you can access makemdl options from within gmax right after it's activated by Gmax but before it starts compiling.
Hey,anybody remembers?

Sorry, but there is no shortcut to halt MakeMDL. The only way to actually halt it to make configuration changes is to use Middleman in the export pipe. Other than that your only other option would be to create a custom MakeMDL config file and set what you want in it prior to an export.

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Reply #9 - Apr 5^th, 2005 at 4:57am

GWSimulations Offline
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Quote:

Extra information: I get the 'x file' error if running makemdl by itself. If run from the 'export' option in GMAX, the export .dle file seems to be working (and I assume producing an intermediate 'x file'), but after the makemdl compiler fails, the log file says:

(Part fuselage) Found colocated vertices within triangle
(-0.762563,12.633653, 1.272889)
(-0.762899,12.635988, 1.270154)
(-0.762760,12.633318, 1.272891).
Model units are 1024.00 units/meter
Error!
Error!

I changed the measurement units from default inches to meters - what difference does this make? Also, some of the tutorials indicate there might be a problem if there are too many vertices - could this be an issue?

Thanks again.

Looks like it doesn't like the model you have made.

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Reply #10 - Apr 5^th, 2005 at 7:33am

microlight Offline
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Told you I was rusty!

Solved the problem though - I downloaded MDL Commander (available at http://hometown.aol.de/_ht_a/docmoriarty3/fs2002/en/index.html) which sits in the GMAX-to-finished-.mdl production chain, and among other things (like writing the memory-stored 'x-file' to the hard drive) halts the process when the MakeMDL screen comes up. Then you can change the options and hey presto! Works perfectly.

Hope this helps somebody.

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Reply #11 - Apr 5^th, 2005 at 1:59pm

Sterk Offline
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Posts: 316

FSEdge-I surely did it-I remember-just don remember how...And cant check it now cause no longer use Gmax,only 3DMax...

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Reply #12 - Apr 5^th, 2005 at 2:34pm

FSEdge Offline
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Texas

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Quote:

FSEdge-I surely did it-I remember-just don remember how...And cant check it now cause no longer use Gmax,only 3DMax...

Sorry but I am sticking by it's impossible to stop MakeMDL with a shortcut key from within Gmax.

The whole reason behind Chris File writing Middleman was to halt the export because there was no other way to do it. After Chris wrote Middleman Doc Moriarty added his utility into the mix for allowing the X file to be saved. Doc's original idea was to offer a way for scenery developers to allow end users more flexibility with the BGL files.

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