Topic: Another Christmas present for you.. this time, a script! (and gadgets!) - update

[atheorhaven]

Decided that in the spirit of giving, I was going to share my SFC 2 -> SFC 1 conversion script for 3dsMax r3 (think that it'll work in later versions as well).  If someone with Max 4 can import it, resave it as a Max 4 script, and then pass it along to someone with Max 5, then we'll have a script for all versions that can export to .MOD through the Taldren plugin.

So, what does this do?  Simple, it will strip all the self-illumination from a SFC .MOD file and then allow that mesh to be loaded in SFC 1.

I'm releasing this because a) it's Christmas time and b) I'd love to see more people support SFC 1.  Typical run time once the script is loaded to convert over 100 material slots = less than 3 seconds.  Means that those more complex meshes can now also be converted with little to no work as well.

I have 330 material slots in the script, have never had it run to the end yet. 

This should also work easily for SFC 3 -> SFC 1 conversions.. *but* you'll probably have to re-HP/DP the mesh afterwards to reflect the changed HP/DP structuring between SFC 2 -> SFC 3

So there you are.. Merry Christmas!

Now if someone loads and saves the script in SFC 4 and/or 5, I'd appreciate a copy of the resulting script, as I don't have either of those versions of Max.  Thanks!

[GotAFarmYet?]

Thanks

[Kreeargh]

Just a simple load the script and save it ? or any tricks.  I have tryed to "import" the script but it says " no approperate import module found"

[atheorhaven]

Just a simple load the script and save it ? or any tricks.  I have tryed to "import" the script but it says " no approperate import module found"

After I load the ship and select the Materials in Max, for me, I run the script like this:

Alt -> Maxscript -> Run Script -> select sfc2tosfc1.ms and OK.

.. and then the script strips out the Self-Illumination. 

[Kreeargh]

Sweet you Rule  my pc goes all nutts when i try and strip i maps the old way i guess my pc cant handle the memory load .

[Starforce2]

all you need to do is use the material editor and delete the illumination setting if you want/need to do it manualy. Shouldn't be a memory load with that.

[Kreeargh]

all you need to do is use the material editor and delete the illumination setting if you want/need to do it manualy. Shouldn't be a memory load with that.

I dont have much problem when i wipe a model with just a few 4 or 5 textures but any more than that i got to be real quick its about 5 min then all the buttons in max get a white boundry and then moveing the model around in view gets slower and slower ends up locking up the pc, its simmler to when i load a model over 200000 poly max does the same thing after a few min. Im still useing win me im sure thats 1/2 my problems. I dont know max all that well either , there seems to be 50 ways to do anything and i only know a few tricks other than how to mesh even my maping hasent improved yet.

[atheorhaven]

all you need to do is use the material editor and delete the illumination setting if you want/need to do it manualy. Shouldn't be a memory load with that.

That's fine if you're working with a mesh that has 5 or 6 or so materials, but I developed the script after I started getting in some meshes with over a hundred materials.  After going through on one mesh and converting 115 materials manually and it taking about five hours, I decided that enough was enough.  And the script works, and gives you back four hours and fifty-nine minutes of your life otherwise. 

[Tus-XC]

all you need to do is use the material editor and delete the illumination setting if you want/need to do it manualy. Shouldn't be a memory load with that.

That's fine if you're working with a mesh that has 5 or 6 or so materials, but I developed the script after I started getting in some meshes with over a hundred materials.  After going through on one mesh and converting 115 materials manually and it taking about five hours, I decided that enough was enough.  And the script works, and gives you back four hours and fifty-nine minutes of your life otherwise. 

this wouldn't be a certain deadites connie would it...

[atheorhaven]

this wouldn't be a certain deadites connie would it...

Nope, the need developed after trying to convert some ships on request to SFC 1 from SFC 2.  Some of the kitbashes had several duplications of materials, and that meant several dozen (or over a hundred) materials in Max.  So the script took a lot of the time consuming work out of the conversions, and meant that I could fill the requests and still have time for a busy family life. 

[atheorhaven]

Copule more things..

I frequently don't have a window open for the forum during the day, but just about everything I use is configured to check RSS.  Also, I frequently have iGoogle open as well.  So I just created two Dapps (www.dapper.net) that will check the messages here and update me on when there's activity here.  I'm sharing because I want it to be easier for people also to become more involved, or at least know when there's activity in their topics, or on the board in general.

First one is a Google Gadget that sifts through the forum and displays new content in iGoogle:
http://www.dapper.net/services/Dynaverse_Modelling_Forum_Monitor

Second one is an RSS feed generator that's suitable for Google Reader, Groups, or any RSS feed reader.  Should work with RSS -> voice convertors as well if you like an audio soundtrack of updates during the day, but I haven't tried that yet. 
http://www.dapper.net/services/Dynaverse_Modelling_Forum_RSS_Feed

Also, I generated a custom search engine for iGoogle as well to search the forums here:
http://www.google.com/ig/adde?source=ignsrc1&moduleurl=http%3A//www.google.com/coop/api/017652868258459672419/cse/wcxky4cdtey/gadget

Not trying to drive people away from the board.. indeed, trying to get people back and posting more often.  And I think that all these should help with that..

Feedback on how this works for others would be appreciated.. then I know if I have to fix anything..

(edit: thinking of doing a Facebook version as well, will let you know how that goes)..

[atheorhaven]

you do something for facebook and i might have to get it

You got it, Version 1 of the Facebook application is up and running:

http://apps.facebook.com/dynamdlfrm/