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FSX Model doesn't show in FSX

rasha01

rasha01

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73
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yugoslavia
Hi guys!
After long period of scenery design I have faced a problem which I can't solve all by myself.

I have made gate model for my scenery using GMAX.
It is one complex model as you can see from pic below:

gateA1 by therasha021, on Flickr
Than I have ATTACHED all parts of that complex model and named the new object GATEA1_LOD_600.
After that I have used LODname tool and gave the FRIENDLYNAME ''GATEA1'' to that object.

Untitled-SEWUEW81 by therasha021, on Flickr

Finally I have exported the object as a GATEA1.mdl and imported it into the library. By using ADE I have refreshed library and placed my object at desired position and exported final .bgl, placed it into correct scenery subfolder and started my FSX, but my object wasn't there at all.

I didn't get any errors during export neither positioning my object.
I have also checked the box for .dds textures during exporting process.
My textures have correct names,as far as I know, and they are in .dds format (DXT5 with mip maps and all white alpha canal) placed in texture folder of my scenery.
Does anybody have a clue what seams to be the problem?
Maybe too many crossing parts since I didn't wanted to extrude things during modeling?

As far as I remember FS9 SDK didn't wanted to export some objects if they are too small in scale, therefore I have tried to make my object bigger in GMAX and correct its scale in ADE but without any results. Object just wasn't there again.
I have also tried to open the object in MODELconverterX and that program has opend it without any problems.
Than I have tried to convert model using MODELconverterX to FSX format without changing anything. But nothing seams to help...

If anybody had similar problems please help with the suggestions...
Tnx in advance!
 
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Do you have any other LODs or parts/objects in the scene?

Try just a LOD_100 entry ? Make sure there are no hidden pieces of geometry.

ModelconverterX is good for inspecting what has happened to the eported file, and whether there are any "stray" bits.
 
hcornea said:
Do you have any other LODs or parts/objects in the scene?

Try just a LOD_100 entry ? Make sure there are no hidden pieces of geometry.

ModelconverterX is good for inspecting what has happened to the eported file, and whether there are any "stray" bits.
Click to expand...

Can you please explain ''hidden geometry'' and ''stray'' bits since I'm not sure if I understand correctly your point?
Tnx. ;)
 
If parts of a scene in Gmax or 3DSMax are hidden, they are still present when the file is exported.

With LODded objects, ANY other part defaults to LOD_100 which will display when your object is exported, until you reach the LOD_600 threshold.

Troubleshooting steps I would suggest:

Remove all LODs: will the model export and appear?

Set the LOD to LOD_100 and see whether the LODs appear as required?

Then push the LODs up to 400 or 600.

600 is very high, so switching will probably occur a little late (could be visually irritating) or not at all (if the screen resolution is not especially high)
 
Problem solved!
I have grouped all parts instead of attaching them.
LODs working perfect and everything looks just as I expected...
Tnx for good hints! ;)
 
Glad to hear your problem solved.:)
I think grouping is not a good idea.
Linking is much better solution for LOD.

One other thing, if you have something in the gmax scene that is not include in LOD (or link to LOD), you can experience this problem too. And every LOD needs to have three digit to follow. Such as LOD_010, LOD_050, LOD_100 not LOD_10, LOD_50 and LOD_100.

It seems to me that everthing in the scene (that need to be exported) has to link to LOD.

Another thing, every time you use LOD in FSX, you will make a new drawcall.
I used to do LOD whenever I can, but I was wrong!!!!!

Drawcall is much more penalty to fps than LOD. Now I make my model in Gmax and process it with ModelConverterX, setting drawcall batching to TRUE. Then I compile the mdl to bgl and check how it affect to fps by this model. If the effect is not much, I will not do LOD at all. Please take a look at this thread.
http://fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16317
 
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Tnx for pointing to that post, anyway I'll experiment a bit with LODs on gate objects since I made them slightly over detailed for my taste. It seams that there's no significant FPS drop though. My scenery still runs over 60fps.
 
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