Can not create MDL for P3dv2 because mcx.dll issue

[gadgets]

Are you saying there were 2 issues - the language pack and the address for Imagetool?

SAMM should have (and now does) detect the latter. (Development Release 2.2.01(c), available from http://stuff4fs.com).

If the language pack was also an issue, I've still got some work to do.

Don

 

[Ralf Hürst]

Maybe spoke too soon.
Dear Don, please read carefully.

I convert a FS9 AI Model ( TFS Airbus A380 Prototype 'EA ' from flightsim.com filename tfs388.zip ) to P3dv2.
With the english language pack I have for the first time no error message. Hurrah.
But when I look in the \ Static Aircraft \ Models \ P3DV2 folder then the folder is blank. Only the "Textures_SAMM folder ; Al"l is available.
In the \ Static Aircraft \ Models \ FS9 folder - a model were produced.
Is this a FS9 model or a model P3Dv2 in the wrong place ????

Next step:

I delete the generated static model and make a new attempt. This time with a different repaint but the same ai-model.
Now I have the message: "Unable to convert this model for use with P3Dv2 - mcx.dll issue" .
But in the FS9 folder a static model was generated. What version is this now? The file sizes of the MDLs in comparison to the first test are different but it lacks the file " TexturesUsed.txt ".

Please again to understand:
The thing with the repaint is secondary. First and foremost, I would be interested if a FS9 model has been generated on the first attempt (the attempt without an error message) or a P3Dv2 model in the wrong place?!

Ralf

 

[gadgets]

If it's a FS9 aircraft, all static models - regardless of the target FS version - are placed in the Models/FS9 folder. If you open the folder for the static model, you should find a .mdl file for each target FS version.

Don

 

[Ralf Hürst]

Hi Don,
now I have understand. All runs excellent.
I can confirm that SAMM dont work with german language pack. I have to switch to english.

Ralf

 

[arno]

Hi Don,

Modelconverterx indeed checks if all settings are valid before exporting and if something is wrong reports an error and stops. It not only checks if xtomdl is found, but also if the decimal character is a dot. Unfortunately the tools Microsoft made don't work with the comma as decimal character. The last is the default setting in many country (most of Europe for example).

Let me check my code, I think you can call a function before exporting to do those checks as well.

 

[gadgets]

Thanks for jumping in, Arno. Please remember, SAMM doesn't call MCX per se, it calls MCX .dlls directly. But, perhaps the current set of .dlls supplied with MCX needs to be upgraded.

Don

 

[arno]

Hi Don,

The function I'm talking about is part of the exporting classes that you are using in SAMM as well. I know you don't use any of the modelconverterx GUI related code that also performs certain checks.

 

[gadgets]

ARno, can you suggest what I should be checking vis a vis language, please.

Don

 

[THeManRJ]

BUMP

I'm having exactly the same problem. I'm running SAMM v2.2.03. I tried to convert the same model Ralf Hürst posted (the Air France 747). Changed Win 7 Ultimate x64 to German, then to English, decimal symbol to "." and no luck. What was the solution you guys found out?
Thanks,

 

[gadgets]

It's unlikely to be the same problem since the previous user confirmed switching to English windows resolved the problem. As noted in the user manual, some aircraft simply won't going to convert properly because of the way they are designed.

Perhaps Ralf will jump in here and explain all the things he did to convert his aircraft.

Don

 

[holi51]

First of all, Hi to everyone!
I just registered to the Forum as I´m suffering exact the same Problems as described in this Topic!
I tried all tips and tricks written here but no success. (changing language, Setting the , to . etc etc)
If I try to save the mdl to FSX or P3D ist just getting the mcx.dll error and no files are saved in the FSX or P3D Folder.

Trying to create a library without saving the mdl file is generating an error as well and tells me "error reading XML file"

To make sure thats not the only model which may not be changed to a static model, I tried different AI aircraft all with the same Problem, not saving the model to FSX or P3D!
What else I noticed is that there is no editing of the cfg file possible. All changes made by me are gone after the next start of the program!
I´m running the program as Admin as required.

Any help would be appreciated.

Win7 prof 64bit, all C++ libs installed (2005;2008;2010;2012;2013 and 2015)

 

[gadgets]

Holi51, you say

I´m suffering exact the same Problems as described in this Topic!

As I mentioned to another user above, that seems unlikely since the first problem reported WAS resolved by doing as suggested in the second sticky above. Further, you have reported additional unique symptoms. How about you describe EXACTLY what you are doing and the result you are getting, including the exact wording of any error messages.

Trying to create a library without saving the mdl file is generating an error as well and tells me "error reading XML file"

If you haven't saved the .mdl file, what do you expect to be in a library?

What else I noticed is that there is no editing of the cfg file possible. All changes made by me are gone after the next start of the program!

To what .cfg file are you referring?

It may also be helpful if you identified the aircraft you are attempting to convert and, if not a stock aircraft, post the aircraft folder (You can remove all but one texture.)[/QUOTE]

Don

 

[holi51]

Don,
here is what I did:
I loaded the Aircraft into SAMM from my AI AC Folder, which worked fine see screenshot...
SAMM asked me to the XtoMDL.exe which I did into the FSX SDK, and I wanted to save the MDL file for FS9 and FSX/P3D first which failed see screenshot with the error message. In the right lower Corner of the screenshot you can see the language was switched to EN.
After that I tried to save the mdl to P3D Format, and directed entries I made the xtomdl.exe to the P3D SDK and again the error message appered.
I tried to edit the cfg for SAMM itself and just filled the right links to the different SDK´s for compiling into the different Simulators ( FSX and P3D) but after shut down of SAMM the entries I made were gone!

I uploade the A/C I was using as well as the screenshots.
Regards

 

[gadgets]

I converted the aircraft for all three versions without difficulty. So, the error is not with SAMM per se.

You note that you have switched from German to English. But, does this automatically change decimal points from "," to ".". Please see the second sticky above. Simply changing the language preference on my computer to German does not change the decimal separator to ",". That must be done additionally.

Presumably by "the .cfg for SAMM" you mean SAMM.ini. If so, this file is not meant to be modified by the user (except as specifically noted in the user manual), and cannot be edited while SAMM is running. It is read when SAMM is first started and is written when SAMM closes, thus overwriting and changes made by the user when SAMM is running.

Don

 

[holi51]

Don, I went to the systems settings and changed the "," to "." when I changed to EN, so this can not be the reason....

Okay with the ini is now clear to me.

Where could I look in my system to find the reason for SAMM not working properly.

Could you maybe upload the converted library for this aircraft?

Thanks and regards!

 

[gadgets]

Add the attached models to your SAMM Models folder and you can make you own library.

As for where to look for the issue, as I've said, I converted the models successfully, so we know the English versions of the 3rd part utilities are OK. From this, I conclude that something is still using the wrong decimal separator or has somehow been incorrectly initialized. Only thing I can suggest is that you uninstall, reinstall SAMM with English language and "." selected and allow SAMM to ask for the MS utilities it needs.

Some experimentation on your part may be required to get to the bottom of this one. Incidentally, if you are not using P3D, you can bypass the whole issue. The FS9 version should work just fine in FSX.

Don

 

[holi51]

Hi Don,
I´m running P3D as my simulator and sorry for late responding, but I was fiddeling around nearly the whole day to get SAMM running, but no success!
I loaded the mdl´s you sent me into SAMM to get a library, error message during loading the static Modell.
No way to compile a library.
Tried to find the Problem why SAMM is not converting into different mdl files ... failed again same error message as the last days.
I loaded the mdl files into the model converter and noticed that they are without landing gears (all of the 3 mdl´ you kindly uploaded).

So I gave up the adventure with your program and try to find another solution!

Thank you for your Support but there is no way to get SAMM running! I tried on 3 different Computers all show the same error and therefore I do not believe this problem arrises only on my machines and believe me I´m not a newby to Computers as I´m running a home Cockpit with all together 5 machines in a Network......

Sorry for the bad News!

 

[gadgets]

Well, you tried!

It's curious that you were unable to create a library from the models I sent you. I just created a library from them.

Not every aircraft is convertible with SAMM. For example, SAMM "assumes" standard animation techniques are used in the model. The absence of the main and nose landing gear suggests the developer of the aircraft model used some non-standard technique for animating that gear. (The tail gear is in the converted model. From a quick look at the model in the viewer, I didn't notice the other gear was missing.) You could probably have fixed this by exploring the model code and entering a "fix" via the Listings and Tools dialog. But that is unlikely to have anything to do with your underlying issue (though it might be worthwhile attempting to convert a stock-FS9 aircraft - which I believe are all convertible - to see if you get the conversion error message.)

We know that the (German-language) use of a comma as decimal separator creates difficulties for some of Microsoft's SDK tools. SAMM itself ignores comma-separators. And, Arno's .dlls are equally tolerant. But, there are other aspects of certain foreign (i.e., non-English) language settings that have proven to be problematic - e.g., the use of "V" for the English "W".

Sorry we were unable to resolve this one. Should the cause of the problem ever become apparent, please post in this forum.

Don

 

[holi51]

Don,
Maybe I give it another try later.
I was able to get this model converted into a bgl file with ConverterX 1.4.

The problem I have now ist that the model is partially " disassembled" after export, means the Landing gears are present which is good, but ie. the Flaps and gear doors are laying underneath the fuselage which is not good.
I will ask Arno if he has an idea what could be the reason....

If I get SAMM up and running, I let you know!
Regards!

 

[gadgets]

What is ConverterX 1.4 please?

Don