scenery objects creation help

[Steve2112]

Hello Good People,
Just wondering if anyone has successfully created any infrastructure objects for CFS2 using GMAX.
I am attempting this and have run into some problems. Namely How does one successfully convert the *.xml files into working *.bgl file.
I can create the "BGL" file but when I place it into CFS2's scenery folder and load up MB and go to place the object/infrastructure item I get the error - "Can't find the model in the library" I have tried to go into the scenery selection area and add it but that doesn't seem to correct the issue.
I have also created an object.dp file and added the object to the "Mdlname.txt file.
No luck there either.
I believe my problem lies within my *.xml file prior using BGLComp.exe. Not sure though.
Any help would be great.
Thanks in advance
Steve

[Pen32Win]

Hi Steve;

Yes I've used GMax for all of the objects I've created over the years. Sadly I've been away from it for almost two years and am in the process of getting back up to speed. There are several people here that use GMax and I'm sure they'll chime in before long. I'll be watching this thread very intently. Thanks for posting you question.

[Robert John]

Hi Steve
Here to help.
You will need the gmax gamepack that the mkmdl saves the asm code.
You can download the game pack at soh.
You will need Raw2sca from http://webpages.charter.net/ludowr and
bglc_9 from http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/showthread.php?t=59 ( Bglc_9 is what I use )
When you have these tools PM ME
Robert John

[simonu]

Hi Steve2112.
From your reference to xml files I'd guess you are using the the Gmax/FS2004 game pack.
Im afraid CFS2 does not support xml at all.
You need to use the fs2002 game pack to export to CFS2.
This will enable you to export your creations as a scenery bgl.
You will have to set the location when you export, you will then be able to install the scenery and view it in CFS2.
However you want to make infrastructure that can be used in mission builder.
I have to tell you that there is no GUI program that does this in a simple click.
I am not at my desktop at the moment so I can't just post all the files you need here or even the links, I will come back later and do so if you havent already found them.

The best version of MakeMDL is the one that comes with the FS2002 Makemdl SDK, it is not the same as the one on the FS2002 pro Disks or the Gamepack itself.

For advanced work and indeed an easier work sequence I'd recomend using an extra plugin called MDL Commander by Doc Moriarty.

There is also a small toolkit to assist in the job I cannot find a link ATM.

The export proccess goes like this, Export the work as scenery from Gmax but make sure to check the Keep files on the options tab of MakeMDL.
The files kept have the .asm suffix. (modelname.asm and modelname_0.asm)
The larger file modelname_0.asm is the one we want. If this is dragged and dropped into
BGLC.exe a raw BGL will be made. This is then decompiled using Raw2SCA (a tool in the tool kit)
The resulting modelname_0.sca.
Then we build a source to build a new object library that "includes" the sca we just made.
Once again the toolkit comes with a template and instructions.
I know there are other members here who have all the files you need, Maybe they will step in before I return to my desk top machine.

[sc7500]

Can be D/L'd from Doc Moriarty's page HERE:

http://www.docmoriarty.com/msfs/en/mdlcommander_dl.html

[Steve2112]

First off - Thank you ALL for your support.
It is simply amazing how many people go out of there way to assist others in need.
Thank you.

Ok so I owe you all an apology – I posted my initial request for help in the Forums/Designer’s Workshop/Landscapers Forum under the post of: GMAX CFS2 Object Creation Question.

There was no initial response to my post for what I felt at the time was to long and I also thought that perhaps I posted in the wrong forum. So I started this thread here.

So – Now I have two threads running with some outstanding support. I apologize for creating two separate posts/threads.
Some really great support has been provided to me by many of you.
To help other’s in need in the future that may search on this topic for help, I would like to close this thread and direct you all to use my initial post/thread in Forum/Designer’s Workshop/Landscapers/GMAX CFS2 Creation Question.

Lastly – To bring you all up to speed on this thread.

I have successfully created a GMAX exported infrastructure object.bgl that is viewable within CFS2.
Sorry for not responding sooner, I ran into some issues at home that required my full attention.
Car battery on the Wife's car died. When it rains it pours. It's been replaced and reinstalled.

Ok so I am now flooded with a ton of questions about how to configure GMAX to export to a BGL using the FS2002 game pack’s folder. (FS2002 GMAX SDK's)

How does one configure this? I still have not found a way to configure GMAX to use the FS2002 SDK's game pack directly.

I had to export using the FS2004 game pack and then drag my BGL over the FS2002 MakeMDL.exe and then copy that bgl to my scenery folder. Some how this worked. (Mind you my object is VERY basic at this stage, a simple sphere).

I am still wondering why I have to add the Lon/Lat information to my bgl. This seems a little strange.

So just that I understand this, each new infrastructure object.bgl I create will be floating or sitting in space somewhere within CFS2 at the designated location I specify? So are all infrastructure object.bgl’s floating or sitting somewhere else with-in CFS2 as well?

Crashaz & Rhumbaflappy you guys have been very helpful so far and I wanted to say thank you.

Crashaz to answer your question - Yes If it would be possible to get a copy of your FS2002 folder that you posted the picture of that would be great. That way I can compare my files to yours and go from there. Hopefully that will help.

Rhumbaflappy - Yes I would very much like to progress onto making a Library Object, and eventually a destroyable Library Object.

Thanks again guys.

[shphawk]

Hey all,

I'm trying to create scenery objects for CFS2 and I can't seem to get it right. I've built the model in FSDS3, I compile an aircraft mdl, then decompile it to an .scx with mdldis32. Then edit the header and enda to endobj. Use scasm to compile a bgl and I get an error in cfs2 or the model is not visible. I'm following weapons creation tutorials as I used to make weapons all of the time. I'm trying to create a tree line object so far consisting of a very simple textured box. Are static objects different than weapons? The other thing that is confusing is that one tutorial says,"Open the sca up in notepad (or wordpad) and delete everything from the top till where it says "; CRASH Detection" and replace it with:
Header( 1 90 -89 180 -179 )
LibID( xxxxxx xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx ) ;any 4 32bit Hex numbers
LibObj("

the next one says,"
Go to the folder it was saved in and open the .SCA file in a text editor (notepad)

and delete all the text, etc. down to but not including the BGLVersion( 0800 )line."

The last one says,"Now, delete everything until you see ";*** Start of Main Aircraft Code ***"

Who is correct?

I know the BGLVersion( 800 ) version is the one I used successfully back in the day for weapons.


Thank you profusely for your help.

ShpHawK

[shphawk]

I also cannot get cfs2 to render my model as an aircraft MDL. I have a feeling this is the larger part of the problem. It says MDL creation was successful, but CFS2 says Error the visual model cannot be displayed. I'm using mkmdl from the fs02 sdk. I have a feeling this is the larger part of the problem. Thanks again for the help.

ShpHawK

[UncleTgt]

IIRC FSDS needs to be version 2.24(?) to create a CFS 2 mdl file. I think the software designer is receptive to requests for supplying this older version...

[Shessi]

Hi S,
Blimey!!!

Yes and no....there is very little difference between destroyable objects and scenery objects. One has two states and the other just one. Yes you can use your method and just not have two states ie undamaged and damaged, just don't have the first stage which is the destroyable version in the sca. The first description that you mention is the correct one, I think that's from Tango_Romeo?

Just a test please, re-your mdl conversions not showing up, make sure you're using a CFS2 compatible airfile, not a Fs9. I expect you are using a good airfile, but just asking the obvious first.

It's difficult get a clear picture of what you're doing, as you jump between BGL's and MDL's. Did you then try and make the tree as an mdl to see if it would show up as an ac, just to test it out?

Unfortunately as you know FSDS 3x will not export as a CFS2 compatible model, either an mdl or bgl. With an ac mdl making it CFS2 compatible, you can use MDLC (Mk_MDLC v2). It's here in the archive, install, and then run to convert your created mdl to be compatible. Please read Ivan's README that come's with it. Export from FSDS 3x as an ac mdl and then convert it using MDLC.

NOTE where I have said MDL or BGL, as you cannot convert BGL's using MDLC only MDL's.

You can sca or hex edit the mdl or bgl but TBH the easiest way is to get hold of FSDS 2.24, you can have this installed as well as FSDS 3x. This will make CFS2 compatible ac and scenery straight off without all the messing around m'larky. If you get FSDS 2.24 visual errors in the solid 3D perspective view pane, you can make the item in FSDS 3x and then open it in 2.24 (turning the view pane to display a non-solid mesh visual), and then export it direct to CFS2.

If you really want to go a merrily MDL hex editing kit to change headers etc, I've got a good kit that works, which I used to use years ago...but please just get FSDS 2.24...it will save time, disappointment and sanity...

Cheers

Shessi


Ha! Wot UT said!

[Allen]

I know bgls made using the MS MakeMdl for fs2002 work in cfs2.

[Blood_Hawk23]

So what do you want to make?


If you want to get your feet wet, I'm doing model conversions. I'm using Gmax and taking API macros and making them into destroyable models. Its a good way to learn Gmax.

If you have FSDS 3 you may want to ask if they can send you a copy of FSDS 2.24. Other wise Gmax will be your only option at this point.

We may be able to take a model made with FSDS 3 and export it into Gmax. The mapping will be lost (I think). Shessi or Allen would have to confirm that.

[stuart277]

Hi all
I have been trying to make a ship as scenery model for Wake Island to avoid the problem of the number of ships in the Ship folder.
The Multi-LOD model is complete.
In GMax, With the ship models I export as 'Flightsim Aircraft model' and then go through Allen's DOSmdlc or DOSmdlc 2.0 program to make the CFS2 model.
I can use GMax to convert the model to a Flightsim 'scenery model but that is it.
I use Windows 10, which may be a problem.
Cheers
Stuart

[Allen]

You need the gMax FS2002 plug in or MDL Commander to make .bgls

MDL Commander info.
https://www.knifeedge.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15771
http://www.docmoriarty.com/msfs/en/mdlcommander.html

[UncleTgt]

Hi Allen

I've tried using Robert John's Exploding Objects using MCX & FS2002 to generate the bgl but it keeps adding an extra empty LOD. This means the wreck disappears as you get close to it. I've scoured through the asm file & can't see anything obvious.

We can use the ship mdl as is, it just seemed a shame to tie up a ship model slot with a static wreck ...

[Allen]

Are you placing the ship as non-damage-able/non destroy-able scenery using the FS2002 MakeMDL.exe or as destroy-able object?

If your using FS2002 MakeMDL to make non destroy-able scenery object I really haven't done much with it.

If your making a place-able in Mission Builder and destroy-able object. From my experience you need to make the normal and destroyed version of the object have the same number of LODs. If the normal and destroyed version don't have the same number of LODs extra empty LODs will be made.

If you still get extra empty LODs clone the LOD of the object closest to the empty and give it the number of the empty LOD. Make sure you do the same for the destroyed model as well to make the normal and destroyed models have the same number of LODs.

If need be send me what your working on and I can have a try at it.

[stuart277]

Hi Allen
Thanks for that.
I do not have FS2002, so that is out.
I tried MDL Commander without any success.
I hope you had a great Christmas and I wish you all the best for the New Year.
Cheers
Stuart

PS UncleTGT will read this, but I will email him anyway.