Gmax Problems

[study]

Can anyone tell me how to export the GMAX-files to a MDL-file I have the MakeMDL and the exportbutton in GMAX works - but when i try to export i only get three errors one with something in meters, one with wrong path and one with export error. I am using GMAX 1.1 and the newest MakeMDL from the FS2002 site. Can anyone help me please??? i hope so.

[EngEd]

Hello,
I've found the GMax Learning Curve to be fairly steep, but worth the climb. To address your problems one at a time:
1. I've clicked through the meter warning with no problem at all. My first plane, the Bleriot here in the library, was done in ft. units and turned out sized correctly. My second, the Lesher Teal I'm working on now, is in cm; I get the same warning and no sizing problem.
2. The "path not found" jazz could be an incorrect location of GMax files; it could also just be warning of a problem with the model's construction.
To see if it's the latter, go to wherever you're putting the GMax export (ultimately in fs2002/aircraft/plane name/model), and use Notepad to open the file called .log. It'll describe (admittedly, in cryptic detail) any errors of construction.
If you're not getting that far, check to make sure your GMax files are located correctly.
To help with the whole process, I've done up a mini-essay called "From GMax to FS2002 in 12 1/2 Steps." It's posted a couple places within flightsim.com; probably the easiest is in the Aircraft Design Forum (within the past week or so). Search under GMax, etc.
3. The Export error may be cascading from the second one. Or, again, its basis may be described in that .log file.
Hope this helps (and that it is not too cryptic itself!).
Last, there are two excellent sites with loads of GMax info: gmaxsupport.com and freeflightdesign.com.
Regards. -- Dennis S, FSEngEd@aol.com

[study]

Hi EngEd

It doesn't work - i've even tried to use the p38 tutorial-file. but all i get are the three error messages. Do i need more than the two files imagetool and MakeMDL files? Help me please.

The logfile tells me something about mismatch between # vertices (110) and # normals (56) in part r_gear_top.

[EngEd]

Hello, Study,
Now we're getting somewhere. I suspect since you're getting as far as an error-log file that your installation is just fine. The problem may be just with that right gear top.
As I may have noted in an earlier post, I don't worry about that "meters" warning. I just click OK and go on.
Here's an experiment: Delete the r_gear_top (not just Hide, but Select it and Del). Then try to Export.
If that works, then you can go back and refabricate the part, perhaps in some other manner or with other geometry.
If that doesn't work, then see what the new error log says.
Don't get discouraged; I suspect you're closer to success than you think. (But having occasionally typed with my fists at 2 a.m., I also realize that this last sentence reads like a fortune cookie....)
All in good fun. -- Dennis

[Moparmike]

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON Jul-08-02 AT 11:00AM (EDT)[/font][p]If you are getting that "mismatch between vertices and normals" error, I believe it is usually caused by having some extra vertices that are just "floating around"...with no faces/polys attached to them.

Also, if you get an error that mentions "colocated vertices"...that means that you have two or more vertices that are trying to occupy the same space. Use a Weld Vertices with a very small threshold to fix these areas.


Another hint that you can to (to eliminate having to delete parts for testing)...
Use the 'Export Selected...' funtion instead of the normal 'Export' function.
Just select the parts that you want to export...


Also...in case you haven't found these sites yet.
Be sure to check out www.gmaxsupport.com and www.freeflightdesign.com for more FS-modeling related info.
DUH! I see Dennis already gave you those two links!...I need more caffeine!!!