Texture problem. Help!

[gaymeboy]

I need some help. I installed ConvImX to be able to convert multiple textures at the same time, BUT I can't seem to get it to work. The textures will not show up in FS. It took hours to troubleshoot the problem since I am a newbie, and finally I got to the conclusion that the editor is the problem. I converted a texture with DXTBMP instead and that shows up as it is supposed to, so...the problem must be ConvImX. Any suggestions on other edtitors that support converting multiple textures at the same time?

[StringBean]

ImageTool comes with the Terrain SDK and can batch convert files from the command prompt.

For FS9 you can download the SDK from- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555857

If you need to work with .DDS textures you will need the FSX version from the FSX SDK.

peace,
the Bean

[Jim Robinson]

What conversion are you making, i.e from what to what? I've used ConvimX several times without issue, do you have your input & output settings correct?

Joe, make a shortcut to imagetool and specify the imagetool parameters in the "target" field, i.e "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X SDK\SDK\Environment Kit\Terrain SDK\ImageTool.exe" -nobeep -brief -dds -dxt5. Now move the shortcut into your "Send to" folder and you can then select any number of .psds and "send them to" the imagetool shortcut. It'll convert them all and deposit the converted textures alongside the sources without the batch command.

Jim

[gaymeboy]

Unfortunately I run Window7 64 so I can't use imagetool, or at least I haven't found a vay to work around it.
I use fs2004

I'm converting .jpg to DXT1 and it will not... Convert. I'll add a screenshot so you can see if something in the settings is wrong.
Last night I made a 3d object entirely by using DXTBMP and it woked fine. Grrr!

[gaymeboy]

[Jim Robinson]

I use Imagetool on Win7 64 every day, have had no problems whatsoever. Not sure if ConvimX can convert .jpegs, never tried that. Are your .jpegs "powers of two", i.e. 256x256, 512x512, 1024x1024, etc? Also in your screenshot you have no source textures selected, are you pressing the "All" button (or selecting at least one anyway) prior to conversion?

Jim

[gaymeboy]

The source textures are not selected just because I took the screenie as a demo
Perhaps it can't convert jpegs, didn't even reflect over that. I tried installing imagetool yesterday and and an error message popped up that the program is not compatible bla bla bla. Any suggestions?

[Jim Robinson]

I just tried the FS9 version of Imagetool and it seems to work as well, I wonder if you need to specify something like "run in compatibility mode for Win XP" or something (Properties > Compatibility)? Actually I just looked at mine and none of those options are checked.

Roger that on the screenshot. I'll try a .jpeg and report back.

EDIT: worked fine for me, .jpeg was 1024x1024 incidentally

Jim

[gaymeboy]

Ok, thanks!
I tried the compatibility mode and.. Nothing. I googled it and everywhere I read it says that imagetool and win7 is a no go. Strange:-P

[Jim Robinson]

I'm not really buying that one, I know of dozens of folks that use imagetool on Win7. What do you mean by "installing" it? It's just a single excecutable that you should be able to drop into any folder and double click? Are you having trouble with installing the gamepack that Imagetool ships with (the gmax gamepack SDK)?

If you have FSX, the FSX version of Imagetool can do everything the FS9 version can do, plus it has .dds capability and I think a bit better all around compression algorithm, at least I've noticed the output files have fewer ugly artifacts than those output with the FS9 version.

Not sure if it has anything to do with it, but I turned UAC off about 30 seconds after I installed Win7 so maybe that's the reason Imagetool runs on my setup, I doubt it though...

Jim