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No animations

O

olivier BEVAIN

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4
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france
I use 3DS Max 7.0 and 3DS Max 7.1 and installed FSX SP 2 and the SP2 of SDK too on XP computers.


I have read carefully the "new aicraft procedure".

I have tried to create a "F_Canopy" a "prop_blurred" and "L_gear animation" and no animations are working.

I have tried then the Douglas_DC3_SDK.max and no animations work either.

I obtain then in FSX the objets with all the elements visible and no animations are working.

I have tried that on 2 different computers.

Of course I cheched / unchecked the animation export to see if it changes anythink.

I have done the process with GMax 1.2 and the same animations and only F_Canopy works.


Is there any "odd" reason for not working ?

Anyone has an idea ?
 
Since you state the sample DC-3 exports from Max with no animations working, but at least one animation is working when exporting with GMax, then it seems clear that Max is not able to locate and use the modeldef.xml file (where all animations are defined). You should have only one modeldef.xml file and it should remain in the SDK's ..\bin folder to work properly.

My question is, when you export the DC-3 model from Max, are you using the FSX X File export option?
 
Many thanks for your answer.

To export I use Aces Tools / Export LOD / Export the max file.


When I tried export he told me:
Failed loading animation definition file
..\3DSM7\PLugins\ModelDef.xml

I copied the ModelDef.xml in this directory.
I seems that it is wrong stuff !

I have removed it, and I have now the same error message. Now, can I correct this wrong path so that 3DS Max can find it ?
 
Fr. Bill - possible decimal point problem on setup? Doesn't the latest SDK resolve the "comma" decimal point issue?
 
Yes, I encountered this decimal pbs and no, the SP2 does not fix this problem. (I use French Windows XP SP2)

I have uninstalled this morning all the FSX packages and installed them back with the point as decimal and the problem is still the same.

Does any one knows how to force Max to search for ModelDef.xml in the bin dir. as Bill suggested ?

I have not found any directory entry of ModelDef.xml in the registry and also in both 3DS Max directory or Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK directory.
 
olivier BEVAIN said:
Does any one knows how to force Max to search for ModelDef.xml in the bin dir. as Bill suggested ?
Click to expand...

1. You can NOT export to .mdl directly from Max. You can only export to "Flight Simulator Direct X File"...

To export the model, make sure the format Flight Simulator Direct X File (*.X) is selected, no other model format will work. If the option Flightsim Model (*.MDL) is shown, do not use it, it has not been implemented in this release.


2. After exporting your .max project, you must compile the resulting files, and the path to modeldef.xml is specified in the command line.

XtoMdl /XANIM /DICT:..\..\bin\modeldef.xml filename.x

Note that in the above command string, the relative path to the modeldef.xml file is given.

It is because of the 'clumsiness' of the above process, that "we" put this Wiki* entry up describing how to create and use a shortcut in the SendTo folder to semi-automate the process. Using the shortcut then becomes as simple as rightclicking on the filename.x file, and choosing "SendTo" then picking the "Compile Aircraft" shortcut... :)

* http://www.fsdeveloper.com/wiki/index.php?title=XtoMDL.exe#Aircraft_models
 
Last edited:
OK, I misunderstood the point 6 of the “Exporting a model from 3ds max”. I thought that we must not use the File / export to Mdf, but use Aces tools / Export LOD and Build only Mdf file. In fact we can use File / Export to X or Aces Tools / Export LOD but NEVER use MDL File. To export to MDL I must use the command line of the XtoMdl.exe and nothing else. I made tests on this basis.

My problem is has changed a little.
1. Whatever I do now when I try any Export 3DS Max tries to find the ModelDef.xml in the plugins directory. If I remove the modeldel.xml form the plugins directory he does not create the Xanim file.
2. If I keep the modelDef.xml in the plug-ins directory then when I try to export the DC3 following the procedure only the props are working. I tryed to export my test model and only the canopy works.
 
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