Exporting Placeable Object with Animations from 3ds Max 9

[Legacy_IxionReborn]

               Hi i'm here to ask about how to correctly export a placeable model with working animations attached.  I created the model in Maya 2009, imported into 3ds max 9, applied the material, triangulated the mesh, applied the dummy's and the aurora base, connected them to the geometry, animated the dummys, set up the states in the right panel, and exported with animations using NWMax v0.8b61.

I tried using NWMax Plus but it still had no animations, then I later found out I coudnt import .mdl files using Plus so I switched back to v0.8.  

I tried various different ways of exporting, like 'baking the animations', doing things in different orders...  The model exports fine and works in NWN but I cant get the animations to work or play at all in NWN.  If theres a step I'm missing or if someone could write a step-by-step process of how its supposed to be done I'd greatly appreciate it.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Michael DarkAngel]

               I'm more curious as to why you couldn't import with Plus '>

But I'll also attempt to help you with your animation problem.

Any chance you could pass your mdl file along so we can both be using the same base?


  MDA
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_IxionReborn]

               Oh yeah forgot to mention I modeled it from scratch, im aware people normally use parts from bioware made models, ... unless you wanted the failed attempt of a mdl with an animation?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_IxionReborn]

               
               
               

               

                     Modifié par IxionReborn, 07 octobre 2010 - 12:28 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Michael DarkAngel]

               This may be obvious, but none the less.  Did you add the animations to the modelbase?  Are you using the Export button from the modelbase, or the Export All button from the NWmax rollout?

Just a couple things off the top off my head,


  MDA
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_IxionReborn]

               No it probably is something simple, I am new to making custom content though. 


If by adding animations to the base you mean setting up the states and setting which frames then yes, and I tried exporting through both the base export and the nwn max toolbar export, neither worked.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Michael DarkAngel]

               

IxionReborn wrote...
Oh yeah forgot to mention I modeled it from scratch, im aware people normally use parts from bioware made models, ... unless you wanted the failed attempt of a mdl with an animation?

The failed mdl file would be fine, but if you also had a saved max file that would be even better.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Michael DarkAngel]

               

IxionReborn wrote...
If by adding animations to the base you mean setting up the states and setting which frames then yes, and I tried exporting through both the base export and the nwn max toolbar export, neither worked.

In the modelbase rollout, there is a section called "Animation Parameters"

In that section is a dropdown with default animation names where you set the start and end frames of the particular animation, along with a text box to set the animation root name and an "Export Animation" checkbox that should be checked.  Once you have created your animations you use that to let nwmax know where to look for any animations you want exported with the model by applying the settings and pressing the "Add" button.

And I would definitely use the "Export Model + Anim" button from the modelbase.  The one in the NWmax rollout uses different code and doesn't always work properly, even less so where animations are involved, IIRC.


  MDA

Also, if you open up your mdl file in a text editor, do a search for "endmodelgeom" directly after that should be any animations that were exported with the model.  If there are none, then there is something not allowing the animations to be exported.  I know once again, pointing out the obvious.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Michael DarkAngel, 07 octobre 2010 - 12:45 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_IxionReborn]

               Theres stuff after endmodelgeom,  where should i send you the files?
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Michael DarkAngel]

               For some reason my email blocked the tga file, but I got the others and I'm looking at them now.

Ha wouldn't let me open it with 3DSMax 8.  Trying 9 now.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Michael DarkAngel]

               Okay, everything with your animations appeared correct.  I vaguely remember something about needing extra static keys in-between the end of one animation and the start of the next.  So I added those, fleshed out the rest of the placeable helpers and tried exporting.  Still no animations.

The values for the keys were not exporting.

Went back in and tried again.  This time before exporting I selected everything, and hit the "Bake Anims" button.  All the keys transferred to the modelbase.  Yay!!!  Exported, tossed it into override and opened up the toolset.  Woohoo,  we have animation.

Zipped it up and e-mailed it back to you.


  MDA

Now I remember why I don't normally mess with animations
               
               

               

                     Modifié par Michael DarkAngel, 07 octobre 2010 - 06:28 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_IxionReborn]

               Thanks a lot It works! Yeah the main problem was when I tried baking it I only either selected the dummies or the geometry not everything.

You've been a great help I appreciate it.