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a problem with ModelconverterX

S

scott41258

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2
Country
us-california
I am trying to make the landing gears stop extending on a HU-16 Albatross so I might us it for AI for Chalks Airway's as a water base flightplan only. When I put the gear animations to 0 min-max and save it, I get animation error's when I save it. When I go back and look at the MDL I just saved, there are no animations listed. Can anyone tell me what I might be doing wrong? :confused:
Here is the error I get,

10:29 PM MDLXWriter Information Starting writing of file C:\Users\Scott\Desktop\hu16v2.MDL
10:29 PM MDLXWriter Information Object contains animations
10:29 PM XWriter Information Starting writing of file C:\Users\Scott\Desktop\hu16v2.x
10:29 PM XWriter Information Finished writing of file C:\Users\Scott\Desktop\hu16v2.x
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information Found dictionary file: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\environment kit\modeling sdk\bin\modeldef.xml
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information OutputFile: C:\Users\Scott\Desktop\hu16v2.MDL
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information Output file after modification: C:\Users\Scott\Desktop\hu16v2.MDL
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information Creating output MDL file: C:\Users\Scott\Desktop\hu16v2.MDL
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information CRASHTREE no granularity specified
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information CRASHTREE completed in 00:00:00.0250014
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information <!-- ++++ Processing Animation : rudder_water_deploy ++++ -->
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information error :
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information error : Failed processing animation file!!
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information error :
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information error : System.FormatException: Guid should contain 32 digits with 4 dashes (xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx).
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information error : at System.Guid..ctor(String g)
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information error : at Microsoft.FlightSimulator.XAnimToAnimLib.FileExporter.WriteGuid(String S)
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information error : at Microsoft.FlightSimulator.XAnimToAnimLib.ANIMProcessor.WriteGUID(String GUID)
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information error : at Microsoft.FlightSimulator.XAnimToAnimLib.ANIMProcessor.WriteANIM(XmlNode node)
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information error : at Microsoft.FlightSimulator.XAnimToAnimLib.ANIMProcessor.WriteANIMLib(XmlNode node)
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information error : at Microsoft.FlightSimulator.XAnimToAnimLib.ANIMProcessor.GenerateOutput(FileExporter Exporter)
10:29 PM XtoMDL Information error : at Microsoft.FlightSimulator.XAnimToAnimLib.XAnimToAnimLib.Process(Stream OutputStream)
10:29 PM MDLXWriter Information Finished writing of file C:\Users\Scott\Desktop\hu16v2.MDL
 
Hi,

Did you set the right path to the modeldef.xml file? It seems xtomdl has trouble reading it.

Aircraft animations are a bit tricky however, I still can't guarantee that modelconverterx won't screw them up a little bit. So be aware that some animations might get lost when converting aircraft models.
 
path

yes, I just check the path and everything looks good. I tried converting the model again to no avail. Darn, I really had hoped to use this aircraft.
 
Hi,

Can you send me the XANIM file that ModelConverterX made? It seems XtoMDL has trouble processing it. Maybe I can spot what is going wrong.
 
I have this problem too because MCX don't write GUID in xanim:

<Anim name="c_tire" guid="" length="100.000" type="" typeParam="" typeParam2="">

I've try to change Anim name and guid to standard like this:

<Anim name="r_gear" guid="77C00B94-DDA1-450a-B725-1E2B4ADF6BC8" length="200" type="Sim" typeparam2="r_gear" typeparam="AutoPlay">

After convert to mdl MSX see models with true animation but with wrong names in the Animation Editor:
len=100
len=100
etc....
 
Hi,

An empty string for the GUID is not correct indeed. But normally that can only happen if the animation is not found in the modeldef.xml file.

If any of you with the problem can send me a file to debug, I'll have a look.
 
Hi,

I see where the problem comes from. The model is a FS2004 model and it uses FS2004 names for the animations. These are not defined in the FSX modeldef.xml file, so therefore the GUID remains empty.

I have fixed the XtoMDL error now by skipping those animations. But that is only a half solution of course. The real solution would be to map the FS2004 animation names to correct FSX ones. I'll see if I can do that.
 
Thanks, Arno!
Please, look at 172x.MDL and 172x.xanim in archive. Are their any errors in xanim? Why the Animation Editor shows wrong names?
 
Hi,

Yes, I saw the difference. Can you explain me where the mdl files come from? I assume one is the original one and the other is the one modelconverterx made.
 
Arno,

172.mdl - old traffic original model by Henry Tomkiewicz
172.xanim - made by MCX

172x.xanim - I try to change animation (c_tire -> r_gear, engine0 ->prop_anim etc.)
172x.MDL - new variant (made by xtomdl.exe).

Is this wrong way?
 
Last edited:
Hi,

So you took the xanim file that modelconverterx made and modified the names and guids in there? That should normally work.

I have now fixed the bug that the invalid guids were put in the xanim file as well.
 
Yes, I took the xanim and modified the names and guids... but Animation Editor don't see true animation (see attached screenshot).... Is it important?

And another question (sorry :) )... where I can read about "condition variables" in the import windows? I can't understand what value should i set....

Arno, thanks for fix!
 

Attachments

  • Снимок.JPG
    Снимок.JPG
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Hi,

The fact that there are no animations when you import the object again, probably means something went wrong. Normally you should see the correct names there.

I think I'll try to modify the animation editor, so that you can use it to rename the animations.

If you hover with your mouse of the conditions form you will get some help in the tooltips (not for all variables). In general the default settings should work OK, but to really see what they are you would need to study the scattered documentation there is( FS98, FS2000 SDK, etc).
 
Hi,

My mistake, I found another bug that caused those empty names in certain conditions. Now I see the correct animation names for your 172x.mdl as well. So your tweaking was correct.
 
Hi,
what bug, Arno?
Thank u for your help!
P.S. It will be great if you make some fix which allows editing xanim data in MCX (data, GUID) or rename the animations.... Although I understand that it is very difficult.
 
Last edited:
Hi,

If you download the new version now the bug I found that resulted in missing animation names is fixed. And in that new version you can also alter the animation type of the animations in the animation editor.
 
aircraft disappears as soon as the animation starts

Hi,
some another problem with animation.
I've changed anim, converted via MDX.
MDX show normal animation.
But I have big problems in the FSX: I see this aircraft only if it is "cold" (at the gate). But aircraft disappears as soon as the animation starts (in-flight) - I see terrain only.
Thanks!
 

Attachments

Hi,

If this is an AI aircraft, then I think it has nothing to do with the aircraft itself but with the fact that the aircraft disappears after having been activated by the AI engine,
If that is the case, then check your flightplan for it and also check the contact points.
I may be wrong about the cause, it is just an idea.
 
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