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Dual Gmax installs

S

Skydvdan1

Messages
192
Country
germany
I've done it before but now I can't figure out how to do it. I used to have a FS2002, FS2004 and FSX install of Gmax. Now that I'm done with FS2004 I only need Gmax installs for FS2002 (for ground polys) and FSX for modeling. Everytime I try to install a second Gmax installation it wants to uninstall the original one. Is there an easy way of accomplishing this? I've tried searching the forums but I don't think I'm putting in the right search words. Help please.

Edit: This is a fresh install of Gmax. I've only installed the FSX sdk and no other previously.
 
Last edited:
You only need ONE installation of GMAx!

You can have as many gamepack installations as you wish, and each has it's own desktop icon and .ini files...

Directory of C:\gmax\gamepacks

02/09/2008 12:52 PM <DIR> fs2002
05/15/2008 12:25 PM <DIR> fs2004
07/23/2007 08:35 PM <DIR> fs2004_scenery
02/10/2008 05:20 PM <DIR> FSX_GmaxGamePack
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
n4gix said:
You only need ONE installation of GMAx!

You can have as many gamepack installations as you wish, and each has it's own desktop icon and .ini files...
Click to expand...


I've tried that but I keep getting errors whenever I try to export.

Makemdl was not found, or failed to convert the model specified in 'C:\Users\Dan\Desktop\rwy01' to a .mdl file. Check your path to ensure MakeMDL is on it.
 
Hi Dan,

Those errors probably indicate something else is wrong, not that you have to install another GMax.

First check if you decimal character has been set to a dot, instead of the default comma for Germany. That is a common source for errors.

Also check if you have installed the FS2002 gamepack correctly. The original instructions are wrong, as they put the files not in a specific gamepack folder. FS2004 contains instructions on the proper installation.
 
arno said:
Hi Dan,

Those errors probably indicate something else is wrong, not that you have to install another GMax.

First check if you decimal character has been set to a dot, instead of the default comma for Germany. That is a common source for errors.

Also check if you have installed the FS2002 gamepack correctly. The original instructions are wrong, as they put the files not in a specific gamepack folder. FS2004 contains instructions on the proper installation.
Click to expand...

I don't have FS2004 anymore... at least I don't have it with me here in Iraq. I have FS2002 pro and FSX. Can I get some help getting a proper install?
 
Hi Dan,

Of course we will try to help you :).

Can you give some more information on how you installed the FS2002 gamepack now? Do you have in your gamepacks folder a subfolder for FSX and one for FS2002? Or is that not the case?

With the original FS2002 CD instructions came to put the MakeMDL.exe and FSModelExp.dle files in the plugins folder of GMax, that part is incorrect, they should be in the plugins folder of the FS2002 gamepack folder. After that you need a INI file and a special shortcut to start GMax using that gamepack (similar to the way the FSX or FS2004 gamepacks are started).

So if you can tell us where you are exactly stuck, I am sure we can get you further.
 
Here is my gmax.ini and plugin.ini for FS2002:

gmax.ini file:
Code: 
Directories]
Fonts=gamepacks\FS2002
Scenes=gamepacks\FS2002
Import=gamepacks\FS2002
Export=gamepacks\FS2002
Help=Help
Expressions=gamepacks\FS2002
Sounds=gamepacks\FS2002
PlugCFG=gamepacks\FS2002
Heidi Drivers=Drivers
AutoBackup=autoback
Materials=gamepacks\FS2002\texture
GmaxStart=gamepacks\FS2002\scenes
Scripts=gamepacks\FS2002\scripts
[BitmapDirs]
Dir1=scenes
[XReferenceDirs]
Dir1=scenes
[Performance]
DeferredPluginLoading=0
UnitType=5
UnitScale=1.000000
AutoUnitConvert=0
TransformGizmoRestoreAxis=0
SFMask=1
Degrade=0
RealTimePlayback=1
PlayActiveOnly=1
CrossHairCursor=0
ACIPalette=0
CustColor1=12041151
CustColor15=942253
CustColor2=942253
[Utility Sets]
ModifierSetName0=
ModSetEntry0=1010183319 1606892208 307388827 306186243 1924876789 -1482568881 1470835552 1493529333 1855492501 1576747447 1698601430 1759998750 -1479269395 1692309753 -1923732607 0 1163371204 1600820 761473067 1521299528 929757223 190734547 81152088 382825757
ModifierSetName1=Gmax default
ModSetEntry1=307388827 306186243 1924876789 -1482568881 1470835552 1493529333 1855492501 1576747447 1698601430 1759998750 -1479269395 1692309753 -1923732607 0 1163371204 1600820 761473067 1521299528 929757223 190734547 81152088 382825757
CurrentModSet=0

[Directories]
Fonts=C:\GMAX\Fonts
Scenes=C:\GMAX\Scenes
Import=C:\GMAX\Meshes
Export=C:\GMAX\Meshes
Help=C:\GMAX\Help
Expressions=C:\GMAX\Express
Sounds=C:\GMAX\Sounds
PlugCFG=C:\GMAX\PlugCFG
gmaxStart=C:\GMAX\Scenes
Heidi Drivers=C:\GMAX\Drivers
AutoBackup=C:\GMAX\AutoBack
Materials=C:\GMAX\MatLibs
Scripts=C:\GMAX\Scripts
Startup Scripts=C:\GMAX\Scripts\Startup

[PlugInKeys]
Enabled=1

[CommandPanel]
Columns=1
RollupBreakThreshold=50

[Modstack]
Visible=0
ModStackHeight=128
ShowAllIcons=0
ShowAllSets=1

[WindowState]
GFXType=HEIDI
GFXRenderer=SZB7.hdi
GFXDevice=GDI7.hdi
Size=800 600
Place=132 132
Maximized=1
XfmTypeInPos=336 397

[CustomMenus]
FileName=C:\GMAX\UI\MaxMenus.mnu

[MAXHistoryList]
[FileList]

[Material Editor]
AmbientColor=0.000000 0.000000 0.000000

[ObjectSnapSettings]
DisplaySnapMarkers=1
SnapMarkerSize=15
SnapMarkerColor=0.000000 1.000000 1.000000
UseAxisConstraints=0
SnapToFrozen=0

[62f565d6,110a1f97]
ObjectSnapPluginState=1 0

[24960fd5,343a4913]
ObjectSnapPluginState=0 0

[1f120de7,30bc716f]
ObjectSnapPluginState=0 0

[52256183,106b5fda]
ObjectSnapPluginState=0 0 0 0 0 0

[MaterialBrowserDialogPosition]
ModalDimension=346 121 332 497
Dimension=432 100 332 497
Maximized=0

[ImageFilePicker]
EnablePreview=1
SequenceFlag=0
MaxHistory=16

[MtlEditorPosition]
MainWindow=10 70 368 485

plugin.ini file:
Code: 
[Directories]
Standard Gmax plug-ins=StdPlugs\
Additional Gmax plug-ins=plugins\
FS2002=gamepacks\FS2002\plugins\
[Help]
 
I installed and can open gmax thru 2002 shortcut but still couldn't export successfully. Here's what I have in the 2002 gamepack folder:

1. plugin (folder - FsmodelExp.dle and makemdl)
2. scenes (folder - 4 sample fs2002 scenes)
3. scripts (folder - empty)
4. texture (folder - sample fs2002 textures)
5. abrowser (.cfg)
6. FS2002 (shortcut)
7. gmax (config setting) I renamed fs2002 gmax to "gmax.ini" but as soon as I open up thru shortcut, it reverts back to the default "gmax" setting without the ".ini" extension.

8. image tool (application)
9. plugin (config setting) I renamed fs2002 plugin to "plugin.ini" but as soon as I open up thru shortcut, it reverts back to the default "plugin" setting without the ".ini" extension.

I did a test export and came up with this: "cannot determine export file type - export cancelled." There's only two options in the export dialogue box: plasma.p3d and All formats.

I guess, I installed incorrectly.
Sorry to hijack the thread, but I have the same problem. I have FSX game working OK for modelling but need 2002 for runway poly.

Thanks,
wantok
 
Here is what needs to be in the folder:

Code: 
Directory of C:\gmax\gamepacks\fs2002

09/15/2002  07:51 PM               446 abrowser.cfg
02/21/2004  06:40 PM             1,158 fs2002.lnk.lnk
03/25/2008  09:50 PM             3,444 gmax.ini
09/13/2001  02:45 PM           188,416 imagetool.exe
01/09/2004  10:41 AM               126 plugin.ini
12/05/2004  09:40 AM    <DIR>          plugins

The Shortcut on your desktop should have these entries:
Code: 
Target: %GMAXLOC%Gmax.exe -i gamepacks\FS2002\Gmax.ini -p gamepacks\FS2002\plugin.ini

Start in: %GMAXLOC%
 
Hi,

I think the problem with your extensions is that Windows is hiding known extensions. That is why the INI is not showing in your case, but that is not something to worry about (as long as you are sure it is really called .INI and not .TXT or so).
 
OK, Thanks Arno and Bill for your replies.

BTW, should the export as flightsim.MDL? I see Plasma.P3D in the export dialogue box and not the flightsim.mdl. I tried exporting as .p3d and can't find my object in the 2002 gamepack folder.

Wantok
 
arno said:
Hi Dan,

Of course we will try to help you :).

Can you give some more information on how you installed the FS2002 gamepack now? Do you have in your gamepacks folder a subfolder for FSX and one for FS2002? Or is that not the case?

With the original FS2002 CD instructions came to put the MakeMDL.exe and FSModelExp.dle files in the plugins folder of GMax, that part is incorrect, they should be in the plugins folder of the FS2002 gamepack folder. After that you need a INI file and a special shortcut to start GMax using that gamepack (similar to the way the FSX or FS2004 gamepacks are started).

So if you can tell us where you are exactly stuck, I am sure we can get you further.
Click to expand...

I've followed everything in this post and I think I'm almost there now. Now my issue is that when I export I only get the bgl and not the asm files. Is there something that needs to be added to one of the ini files? There is no check box for keep files.
 
Last edited:
Hi Dan,

In the FS2002 gamepack there is a keep checkbox, that is probably the easiest way. If you do not see that option now, I think you still have to old MakeMDL. You need to download the latest MakeMDL SDK for FS2002, which includes an improved version.
 
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