ModelConverterX - Revision history

Arno: Replaced content with "The manual of ModelConverterX is now included as a PDF file with the tool distribution."

2021-03-25T19:25:44Z

Replaced content with "The manual of ModelConverterX is now included as a PDF file with the tool distribution."

BASys: Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion upgrade

2020-10-24T14:08:59Z

Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion upgrade

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	\| imageright = [[Image:Broom icon.jpg\|40px]]		\| imageright = [[Image:Broom icon.jpg\|40px]]
	\| style = width: 100%; color: black; font-weight: bold; background:#EFFFB0; font-style: italic		\| style = width: 100%; color: black; font-weight: bold; background:#EFFFB0; font-style: italic
	\| text = <small>This manual is for the latest stable version of ModelConverterX. There is also a development release available, which contains more features. But it might be less stable and have some bugs. If your model is not read correctly in the stable release, please try the [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14215 development release].</small>		\| text = <small>This manual is for the latest stable version of ModelConverterX.
			There is also a development release available, which contains more features. But it might be less stable and have some bugs.
			If your model is not read correctly in the stable release, please try the [http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14215 development release].</small>
	}}		}}
			[[Category:ModelConverterX]]
			[[Category:Tools]]
			[[category:Manuals]]
	{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion		{{Infobox-Applicable-FSVersion
			\| MSFS = true
	\| FSXI = false		\| FSXI = false
			\| P3D5 = true
			\| P3D4 = true
			\| P3D3 = true
			\| P3D2 = true
			\| P3D = true
			\| FSW = true
			\| FSXSE = true
	\| FSXA = true		\| FSXA = true
	\| FSX = true		\| FSX = true
	\| FS2004 = true		\| FS2004 = true
	\| FS2002 = false		\| FS2002 = false
	\| ~~FS2000~~ = ~~false~~		\| XP11 = unknown
	\| ~~FS98~~ = ~~false~~		\| XP10 = unknown
			\| XP9 = unknown
	}}		}}


	ModelConverterX is a tool which primary function is, as the name already implies, to convert models. The tool allows you to import models from different formats and can then export them to other formats. For example you can import your old SCASM macros or COLLADA files made with SketchUp and export them in the FSX MDL format. But also exporting to the 3DS or OpenFlight format is possible.		ModelConverterX is a tool which primary function is, as the name already implies, to convert models. The tool allows you to import models from different formats and can then export them to other formats. For example you can import your old SCASM macros or COLLADA files made with SketchUp and export them in the FSX MDL format. But also exporting to the 3DS or OpenFlight format is possible.

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	The copyright and any intellectual property relating to this program remain the property of the author.		The copyright and any intellectual property relating to this program remain the property of the author.

	The software distributed in this way may represent work in progress, and bears no warranty, either expressed or implied.		The software distributed in this way may represent work in progress, and bears no warranty, either expressed or implied.

	~~[[category:Manuals]]~~
	~~[[Category:Tools]]~~
	~~[[Category:ModelConverterX]]~~

Pyscen: /* Prerequisites */

2017-03-06T17:22:14Z

Prerequisites

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	[http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0]		[http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0]

	[http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851&displaylang=en Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.0 '''(Development Release)''']		[http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851&displaylang=en Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.0 '''(Development Release)''']

Pyscen: /* Prerequisites */

2017-03-06T17:18:27Z

Prerequisites

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:18, 6 March 2017
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	[http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0]		[http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0]
	[http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851&displaylang=en Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.0 (Development Release)]		[http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851&displaylang=en Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.0 '''(Development Release)''']

	=== Installation ===		=== Installation ===

Pyscen: /* Prerequisites */

2017-03-06T17:09:52Z

Prerequisites

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:09, 6 March 2017
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	[http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0]		[http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=0856eacb-4362-4b0d-8edd-aab15c5e04f5&displaylang=en Microsoft .NET Framework version 2.0]
			[http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=17851&displaylang=en Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.0 (Development Release)]

	=== Installation ===		=== Installation ===

Arno: /* Credits */

2015-08-01T13:43:09Z

Credits

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	* The [http://www.codeplex.com/DotNetZip DotNetZip] library		* The [http://www.codeplex.com/DotNetZip DotNetZip] library
	* Remi at the COLLADA forum for his [https://collada.org/public_forum/viewtopic.php?t=676 C# COLLADA code].		* Remi at the COLLADA forum for his [https://collada.org/public_forum/viewtopic.php?t=676 C# COLLADA code].
			* Manfred Moldenhauer for the [http://www.scams.de SCASM] compiler and the permission to redistribute SCASM with ModelConverterX.

	== User license ==		== User license ==

Baherhosni: /* Drawcalls */

2015-05-04T13:31:43Z

Drawcalls

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	Simply said a drawcall is a group of triangles that use the same material settings (colours and textures) when the graphical card draws your object. Every change in a material setting means that the graphics card has to set its state again and that is a relatively expensive operations for the performance.		Simply said a drawcall is a group of triangles that use the same material settings (colours and textures) when the graphical card draws your object. Every change in a material setting means that the graphics card has to set its state again and that is a relatively expensive operations for the performance.

	So to optimize performance you can best make sure you have as little different materials as possible. Even one small parameter that is different in the material results in a new drawcall already. Another ~~why~~ to reduce them is to not use colours on your triangles, instead give a piece of unused texture that colour and map it on the triangle.		So to optimize performance you can best make sure you have as little different materials as possible. Even one small parameter that is different in the material results in a new drawcall already. Another way to reduce them is to not use colours on your triangles, instead give a piece of unused texture that colour and map it on the triangle.

	== Support ==		== Support ==

Arno: /* Ground polygon wizard */

2012-06-01T19:12:39Z

Ground polygon wizard

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	Next the ouput location is specified. This is the name of the BGL file that will be created.		Next the ouput location is specified. This is the name of the BGL file that will be created.

	If you want to use seasonal textures on your ground polygons, you can use the '''Define seasons''' button to bring up the dialogue where you can specify at which day each of the seasons starts and ends.

	Next to this button are two other buttons, these are used to save and load the settings of the ground polygon wizard itself. This can be used to quickly load the same settings again if you want to convert the same object.

	In the middle of the screen is a list of all textures in the model. For each of these textures you can specify four things:		In the middle of the screen is a list of all textures in the model. For each of these textures you can specify four things:
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	* The LM checkbox is used to specify if this texture should have a night texture assigned or not.		* The LM checkbox is used to specify if this texture should have a night texture assigned or not.
	* The Seas checkbox is used to specify if this texture should get seasonal textures assigned or not.		* The Seas checkbox is used to specify if this texture should get seasonal textures assigned or not.

			In the '''Textures''' section you specify if the textures need to be converted as well. If you check this box they will be convert to DDS (for FSX) or extended BMP (for FS2004). You need to specify the folder where the textures will be stored and if existing texture may be overwritten or not.

	Next the position of the reference point of the ground polygons needs to be specified. You need to give the latitude, longitude, heading and altitude. When converting to FSX it is very important to enter the correctly altitude above sea level of your airport here.		Next the position of the reference point of the ground polygons needs to be specified. You need to give the latitude, longitude, heading and altitude. When converting to FSX it is very important to enter the correctly altitude above sea level of your airport here.

	In the ~~'''Textures''' section you specify if~~ the ~~textures need to be converted as well~~. ~~If you check this box they will~~ be ~~convert~~ to ~~DDS (for FSX) or extended BMP (for FS2004). You need~~ to ~~specify the folder where~~ the ~~textures will be stored and if existing texture may be overwritten or not~~.		Next to this button are two other buttons, these are used to save and load the settings of the ground polygon wizard itself. This can be used to quickly load the same settings again if you want to convert the same object.

	Finally there are a number of other options to set for the ground polygon conversion:		Finally there are a number of other options to set for the ground polygon conversion:
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	Finally you need to specify if you want to place the ground polygons in FS2004 or FSX. Because FSX has a different earth model, you can not use the same ground polygons in both versions.		Finally you need to specify if you want to place the ground polygons in FS2004 or FSX. Because FSX has a different earth model, you can not use the same ground polygons in both versions.

			If you want to use seasonal textures on your ground polygons, you can use the '''Define seasons''' button to bring up the dialogue where you can specify at which day each of the seasons starts and ends.

	After all is set, you press '''Convert''' and the BGL will be made. Once that is finished the form will be blanked.		After all is set, you press '''Convert''' and the BGL will be made. Once that is finished the form will be blanked.

Arno: /* Ground polygon wizard */

2012-05-27T09:14:37Z

Ground polygon wizard

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	Next the position of the reference point of the ground polygons needs to be specified. You need to give the latitude, longitude, heading and altitude. When converting to FSX it is very important to enter the correctly altitude above sea level of your airport here.		Next the position of the reference point of the ground polygons needs to be specified. You need to give the latitude, longitude, heading and altitude. When converting to FSX it is very important to enter the correctly altitude above sea level of your airport here.

			In the '''Textures''' section you specify if the textures need to be converted as well. If you check this box they will be convert to DDS (for FSX) or extended BMP (for FS2004). You need to specify the folder where the textures will be stored and if existing texture may be overwritten or not.

			Finally there are a number of other options to set for the ground polygon conversion:
			* You can specify if the polygons should be sliced in 100 meter sections. For FSX it is required that the vertices are no more than 100 meter apart. Else there will be problems with the curve of the earth.
			* You can specify if you want to divide the polygons in groups of 500 meter. Each group will have its own local reference point and that does increase performance for complex airports in general.
			* The option optimize reference point location determines if the reference point will be placed optimally in the middle of the scene or will be kept at the original location.
			* The option prevent autogen exclusion adds a tweak that prevents the autogen objects from being excluded by the ground polygons. However this tweak sometimes results in flickering shadows of the objects.

			Finally you need to specify if you want to place the ground polygons in FS2004 or FSX. Because FSX has a different earth model, you can not use the same ground polygons in both versions.

			After all is set, you press '''Convert''' and the BGL will be made. Once that is finished the form will be blanked.

	==== Batch convert ====		==== Batch convert ====

Arno: /* Ground polygon wizard */

2012-05-27T09:07:20Z

Ground polygon wizard

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:07, 27 May 2012
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	* The LM checkbox is used to specify if this texture should have a night texture assigned or not.		* The LM checkbox is used to specify if this texture should have a night texture assigned or not.
	* The Seas checkbox is used to specify if this texture should get seasonal textures assigned or not.		* The Seas checkbox is used to specify if this texture should get seasonal textures assigned or not.

			Next the position of the reference point of the ground polygons needs to be specified. You need to give the latitude, longitude, heading and altitude. When converting to FSX it is very important to enter the correctly altitude above sea level of your airport here.

	==== Batch convert ====		==== Batch convert ====