I have recently been trying to create a bit of scenery for FS using gMax, but to no avail.  Every time I fly over, all I can see is the shadow cast by the object.  When I enter slew mode, however, the object becomes visible and stays that way.  Pause doesn't do it, just slew.

I at first thought it had something to do with the model itself, but I created a model just the way the gMax SDK scenery tutorial told me to, and it just did the same thing.

So I thought it might have something to do with the converters.  I use MDLCommander and Middleman in conjunction with MakeMDL.  So I removed the extra two programs and reverted back to the original type.  Unfortunately this didn't do anything for it.

Then I noticed something about the scenery tutorials instructions for converting.

Quote:


First off, I don't have an option to save as "Flightsim Scenery Object (*.MDL)".  I have:
         Flightsim BGL File (*.BGL)
         Flightsim MDL File (*.MDL)
         plasma (*.P3D)

Secondly, I tried saving under all three of those formats.  I never got an XML file, I just got an X File, two ASM files and the BGL or MDL.  What gives?  Is this the problem?

Has ANYONE got ANY advice in ANY form?

The options to export to bgl and mdl are FS2002 exporter options. The options you are referring to Flightsim Scenery Object and Flightsim Aircraft Object are FS2004.

Check your setup.

http://www.oregon-coast.net/Tutorials/Multi_Gamepacks/index.htm

Lou

Eddie,

When you export a model from gMax with the FS2004 gamepack there is no pause to allow you to select any export options. The makemdl.cfg file is not required but is a convienence so you can tell makemdl how you want it to function if its defaults are not working the way you want. You can make the makemdl.cfg file using notepad or any other simple text editor and tailor it to your need for your particular project These options are basically the same for FS2004 as they were for FS2002 with the addition of the XML option.

If you start makemdl.exe as a stand-alone program you see there is an Options tab and on this page there are several check boxes. The makemdl.cfg just does the checking off for you.

Here is a list of the makemdl.exe options for FS2004.

http://www.oregon-coast.net/Tutorials/MakeMDL_FS90/makemdl_FS90_options.htm

None of the options have been really been explained by MS as to there true function but many are those kinda "Well Duh" things, so be carefull of which ones you turn on and off. Some only work with scenery and some only with aircraft. Some seem to be for converting *.X files made with and exported from 3dsMax.

Example: Say you want to tweak the asm code. By default, makemdl.exe does not Keep the *.asm and *_0.asm files and does not pause to allow you to select this option. So by making a makemdl.cfg file you can tell makemdl.exe not to delete these files.  The command in the makemdl.cfg file would look like this:

;;-- start code--

[Options]
Keep=1

;;-- end code--

Here is an example of a large makemdl.cfg file:

;;-- start code--

[Settings]
LastDir=C:\gmax\gamepacks\FS2004\meshes
SaveDir=C:\gmax\gamepacks\FS2004\meshes

[Options]
Debug=0
ViewLog=1
ViewBGL=0
View=0
KeepErrorLog=1
Keep=1
Il=0
I8=1
In=0
I=0
TexPage=1
SoftMat=0
FullMat=1
Deffallback=1
Specularcanopy=1
WeldPoints=1
DLL=0
Info=0
Optimize=0
Flatten=0
NoAnimate=0
HasReflectMap=1
HasNightMap=0
HasLightMap=0
HasDamageMap=0
NegateZ=1
NoLeftToRight=0
SwapBH=0
Vis=1
Vistest=0
Crash=0
XML=0

;;-- end code--

Lou