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FSX Latest 3DS Max version compatible with FSX SDK Acceleration?

riccardo74

riccardo74

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italy
Hi guys I'm working normally with gmax, but I'm considering 3DS Max especially for UVW unwrapping feature included and map rendering, very fast and usefull (I'm getting crazy with gmax).

Reading in forum drive me a bit confused on which version of 3DS Max consider for my SDK (FSX Acceleration), so these are my questions and doubts:

1) which is te latest 3DS Max version compatible with FSX SDK Acceleration?
2) I only build scenery (building, no aircraft)
3) I'm considering the free accademic version (does it worth?)

Thanks for all as always!
 
The latest version of 3ds Max which can use the FSX (Acceleration) sdk is version 2008, approximately 8 years old now. The newest version of 3ds Max which can use the Prepar3D sdk (to build FSX models) is version 2015. The academic version works perfectly well, but should not be used for payware projects. 3ds Max 2013 doesn't work with any of the sdks.

You might find this handy:–

89D8b0.jpg
 
Thanks Tom, so if I well understand I have to install P3D SDK 1.4 and also 2.5 for the usage of Max 2015 or only P3D SDK 1.4?

And the plugin to export is inside SDK folder?

I get a bit confused with XtoMDL.exe 1.4

I didn't know that P3D SDK 2.5 was compatible with FSX for modelling.

Sorry for my ignorance......
 
you can model with any version of max. However, for the model to result in a bgl file usable by fsx or p3d, the export to .x routine must be made compatible with your version of max. Thus the chart above. For 3dsmax v 2015, the only exporter that I know of is p3d sdk, v2.4. That will create a completely usable .x file for either fsx or p3d. The trick is that the xtomdl routine provided with sdk v 2.4 will only create a mdl file that is compatible with p3d. So....for fsx with 3dsmax 2015, you need both versions of P3d SDK. v 2.4 to make the .x file, and v1.4 to make the .mdl file from the .x file. Then you can make an fsx bgl file from the .mdl file.

See...simple!
 
To summarise: install the P3D 2.4 sdk and also get XToMDL from the 1.4 sdk.
 
Done it, thanks.

1) Installed both SDK 2.5 and 1.4 (I'll uninstall SDk for Acceleration)
2) export from 3DS2015 via SDK P3D SDK 2.5 plugin and obtain a .x file


Now is this correct?

A) if I want develop for P3D 2.5 only I need XtoMDL.exe of 2.5
B) if I want develop for FSX/P3D only I need XtoMDL.exe of 1.4

May I use Model Converter X (pointing to correct version of XtoMDL.exe above) to compile my .x files to .MDL?
 
Yes. Keep in mind that getting a model for the sim is a two step process:
  1. Export from modeling program
  2. Compiling the intermediate files
 
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