Lago FSSE FS Exchange compatible GMax 1.2 files

[hesynergy]

Howdee,

I am in the process of an "AhhhhHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa." regarding creating basic shapes and texturing them for FS2004, using the FS2004 gamepack for Gmax 1.2. I've successfully placed several objects on our farm plot in the Appalacian Hills (S.E. Kentucky)

My problem is that I also Have and really love Lago's Flight Sim Scenery Enhancer (FSSE), and I'd love to contribute Kentucky /Appalacian farm scenery, e.g. farmhouses, barns, churches, out buildings, etc, created with Gmax 1.2.

I've been in touch with and enjoyed the tutiledge of Len Hickman, who indicates that FSSE files must:
1. be created ONLY by fs2002 gamepack files
2. must be made into library files
3. FS2004 for Gmax will NOT create usable library files.

Is anyone using a different method than Len and the Fs2002 gamepack for Gmax?....

has anyone found a way to translate the mdl/xml files created in Gmax1.2 using the fs2004 gamepack into FSSE usable library files?

Len has made many contributions to the FS world with his wonderful scenery created both for Rwy12 AND FSSE by Lago. I just wondered if an interface, say created in Visual Basic, might be able to translate the fs2004 mdl/xml files into usable FSSE library files using backtools akin to mdlcommander and or fsregen and middleman functions.

I realize that the above three tools intercept the creation of the GMax mdl files and create the mdl and intermediate asm, asx etc, etc files which then can be used to create FSSE library files visa vis fsregen.....but...is anyone working on a similar GMax1.2 to FSSE library files in the Fs2004/xml world??...

How did you guys who create your FSSE library files do it with GMax...is Len's FS2002 gamepack/Mdlcommander/Middleman/FsRegen the only route being used?

Will Arno's Xmllibrarycreator, create a FSSE usable file for upload to FSExchange?

lastly....on another note....I've digitized in a 512x512 file the huge Magnolia tree that fronts our farm house, but...even thought I "Believe" I've created the outline of the tree, and a checkerboard surrounds it, A Gmax Rectangle textured with the image :
1. only shows up on one side and;
2. the background shows up...as gray...Not transparent...

...any ideas?

Thanks for your indulgence y'all

Chas Honce

[arno]

Hi Chas,

I am totally not familiar with FSSE, but if it is just calling a certain GUID from the library then it should not make too much of a difference how this library has been made.

If you export using the Fs2002 gamepack you can use FsRegen to make an object library or if you use the Fs2004 gamepack you will have to do it using the XML code (or with my library creator program for example).

There are no tools that allow you to convert between these two library formats, as there is no need for this in general. So if FSSE really requires the Fs2002 format, you would have to stick with the old gamepack.

[rhumbaflappy]

Hi Arno and Chas.

LAGO's scenery program does require FS2002 objects, as their movement is much like what we had with BusyObjects.

Gmax for FS2002 required the use of the FS2002 Professional version for the right gamepack.

I don't know if you can use MDLCommander to save an FS9 X file, and then run it through Fs2002's MakeMDL... but it might be worth a try. Otherwise, Chas will need to buy a copy of FS2002 Professional version to get the gamepack. ( Ebay would be your best bet, Chas. )

Dick

[arno]

Hi Dick,

I am sure you tested this, but why would a new library not work? With the old CallLibObj command I can call an object from a new XML library. So in theory BusyObjects should work fine with a new library. It might be that they use a different command though.

[bob5568]

chas, regarding the tree....

A gmax polygon only is visible from one side. If you need to see the other side, you need to clone it and mirror it. If you do this, DONT use the button short cut for mirror on the top tool bar....well known gmax BUG. Rather, clone using the "edit/clone" sequence in the drop down menu, and then apply mirror to the stack of the one you want to flip.

I like to make trees differently, just leave it one polygon, and tweak the model to make that polygon rotate to the aircraft. Arno's model tweaker tool makes that easy.

As far as the background, you make that transparent by assigning the "grey area" to the alpha channel for that material. That's easy to do in a good graphics program that supports channels, just make a channel and select the background area, then fill black. Then save the file as a 32bit bmp or tga file if you must, and then use imagetool to convert to a dxt1.

There is a longer way if your graphics tool can't do channels...you make the alpha channel by making a seperate image...then download martin wrights dxtbmp tool, which lets you import the image as an alpha channel and saves as a dxt1 with alpha.

Bob