Super Simple Exporting with "Doit!" for 3dsmax
by eb · 02/28/2009 (3:30 am) · 17 comments
I wrote this maxscript panel "Doit!" because I found myself spending too much time on dts setup & processing for exports.
Now, what used to take me several dozen mouse clicks and a few minutes to achieve, is now done in seconds with 1 click!
Yes, 1 click and Yes, in seconds!!
With 1 click I can export an Epoly model(doesn't need to be changed to a mesh, the script does it for you) with bounds, box
collision and 2 lods(the detail2-mesh is autogenerated to 33% vertex count). This includes all of the necessary nodes and
parenting. - If you want your model to have 4 (autogenerated) detail levels. It is a mere 3 clicks in Doit!...all in the same panel!
I setup and exported this static model with 4 lod levels, as fast as: Load, click, click, save. Done!
Now what used to take you minutes to setup a few LODs, can be done in 3 clicks! Seriously.
I love Doit!...and I think you will too!
Here is the current v0.8b Doit! panel:

I made a video to quickly explain the buttons seen in the panel..12 minutes of power packed information!
hd.avi here | codec if needed
I hope you guys/gals like what you see so far.
I plan to extend the features seen and add more features even though it is a great tool as it currently stands!
The video explains a good amount of the details...but here is a bit more...
I plan to:
- automate player setup and export(but no rigging) with a base config (using orc as an example). We'll see how well this part works out..
- automatic animation additions such as rotate(with proper curve setup), flip, rotate 110(door opening), etc.
- make the lowest detail a plane that is a Billboard. Capture a screen shot from the viewport of the 2nd lowest res mesh as a 256x256png with an alpha and attach the material to the plane-billboard. All automatically!
- make the boxTrick keep the pivot..it already keeps name and hierarchy. (I know this should already be done).
- change the grid button to auto set torque settings in max, grid:1 units:generic etc.
- add LOS stuff if people want it and I am open to more ideas...
The idea here is to make dts exporting worry free, just let "Doit!" do it all for you!
Now the question here is:
I would like to charge $10us(perSeat) for an early adopter edition.
- As a paying customer, you would recieve Free updates for forever. Suggesting additions/plans for "Doit!" can be
done by everyone, but the users will get the most attention on this. [With the functionality I have planned, I
will charge more once it is finished. ]
Thoughts ?
** Get onto the *alert list* to stay updated on Doit! **
Thanks for reading,
- eb
P.S. if you prefer reading about Doit! rather than watching the video: I have a blog page about it
*Edit: I wrote this in max9 and it has been lightly tested in max7. I am working on testing in more versions before release but to be honest, I wrote it in basic maxscript as so it would work throughout different versions. I would imagine that it works in 7 and above just fine..I will let you guys know once I have verified version compatibility. ;)
Now, what used to take me several dozen mouse clicks and a few minutes to achieve, is now done in seconds with 1 click!
Yes, 1 click and Yes, in seconds!!
With 1 click I can export an Epoly model(doesn't need to be changed to a mesh, the script does it for you) with bounds, box
collision and 2 lods(the detail2-mesh is autogenerated to 33% vertex count). This includes all of the necessary nodes and
parenting. - If you want your model to have 4 (autogenerated) detail levels. It is a mere 3 clicks in Doit!...all in the same panel!
I setup and exported this static model with 4 lod levels, as fast as: Load, click, click, save. Done!
Now what used to take you minutes to setup a few LODs, can be done in 3 clicks! Seriously.I love Doit!...and I think you will too!
Here is the current v0.8b Doit! panel:

I made a video to quickly explain the buttons seen in the panel..12 minutes of power packed information!
hd.avi here | codec if needed
I hope you guys/gals like what you see so far.
I plan to extend the features seen and add more features even though it is a great tool as it currently stands!
The video explains a good amount of the details...but here is a bit more...
I plan to:
- automate player setup and export(but no rigging) with a base config (using orc as an example). We'll see how well this part works out..
- automatic animation additions such as rotate(with proper curve setup), flip, rotate 110(door opening), etc.
- make the lowest detail a plane that is a Billboard. Capture a screen shot from the viewport of the 2nd lowest res mesh as a 256x256png with an alpha and attach the material to the plane-billboard. All automatically!
- make the boxTrick keep the pivot..it already keeps name and hierarchy. (I know this should already be done).
- change the grid button to auto set torque settings in max, grid:1 units:generic etc.
- add LOS stuff if people want it and I am open to more ideas...
The idea here is to make dts exporting worry free, just let "Doit!" do it all for you!
Now the question here is:
I would like to charge $10us(perSeat) for an early adopter edition.
- As a paying customer, you would recieve Free updates for forever. Suggesting additions/plans for "Doit!" can be
done by everyone, but the users will get the most attention on this. [With the functionality I have planned, I
will charge more once it is finished. ]
Thoughts ?
** Get onto the *alert list* to stay updated on Doit! **
Thanks for reading,
- eb
P.S. if you prefer reading about Doit! rather than watching the video: I have a blog page about it
*Edit: I wrote this in max9 and it has been lightly tested in max7. I am working on testing in more versions before release but to be honest, I wrote it in basic maxscript as so it would work throughout different versions. I would imagine that it works in 7 and above just fine..I will let you guys know once I have verified version compatibility. ;)
#2
02/28/2009 (4:30 am)
I'd be very interested in this eb. This tool looks awesome.
#3
Came outta left field =)
How long have you worked on this?
02/28/2009 (6:26 am)
Wow! Outstanding project eb!Came outta left field =)
How long have you worked on this?
#4
@Brian: Thanks bro!
@Michael: Thanks and the real-development period was over the past few days. I wrote a few small dts scripts last year but recently I decided they weren't good enough. The toughest part, believe it or not, was deciding the panel layout. :p
@all:
I should have good, yet short, example videos of Doit! for you tomorrow.
Cheers
02/28/2009 (8:51 am)
@Jim: I edited the bottom of the blog with some information for you and as for a release date..perhaps late in the day EST 2/28 ? We'll see.@Brian: Thanks bro!
@Michael: Thanks and the real-development period was over the past few days. I wrote a few small dts scripts last year but recently I decided they weren't good enough. The toughest part, believe it or not, was deciding the panel layout. :p
@all:
I should have good, yet short, example videos of Doit! for you tomorrow.
Cheers
#5
Looks fantastic! Count me in. Let us know how to purchase this? You going to try to market this yourself or get it through garagegames? Its worth a lot more than $10 USD but that's a fantastic deal for early adopters. We use 3ds 2009 here. Hope its going to be compatible. Computer is in the shop right now but hope to have it back soon. Having the ability to load a 3d model and make the .dts export without a lot of setup is great.
02/28/2009 (10:11 am)
eb, Looks fantastic! Count me in. Let us know how to purchase this? You going to try to market this yourself or get it through garagegames? Its worth a lot more than $10 USD but that's a fantastic deal for early adopters. We use 3ds 2009 here. Hope its going to be compatible. Computer is in the shop right now but hope to have it back soon. Having the ability to load a 3d model and make the .dts export without a lot of setup is great.
#6
billy.garretsen@perfectdorkstudios.com
Really excited to use it. Great job.
02/28/2009 (2:46 pm)
Great tool Eric. I would gladly adopt early. Please contact me when the tool is ready to distribute.billy.garretsen@perfectdorkstudios.com
Really excited to use it. Great job.
#7
I had the opportunity to assist eb in testing this out. I must say that using this tool is probably the easiest thing I've ever used with Max. I first tested simple shapes and those took literally seconds.. it does pretty much everything for you. I make large quantities of game objects and all I can say is this tool made my life so much easier! It saves experienced Max users valuable time, and it automates the dts process for those less experienced. The days of prolonged clunky export attempts are over thanks to this. Great job eb!
~LK~
02/28/2009 (3:16 pm)
Hi all,I had the opportunity to assist eb in testing this out. I must say that using this tool is probably the easiest thing I've ever used with Max. I first tested simple shapes and those took literally seconds.. it does pretty much everything for you. I make large quantities of game objects and all I can say is this tool made my life so much easier! It saves experienced Max users valuable time, and it automates the dts process for those less experienced. The days of prolonged clunky export attempts are over thanks to this. Great job eb!
~LK~
#8
If you want to be alerted to new information and/or addon ideas, you can watch out for my blogs here...
OR
simply join the mail list to be alerted to when I have posted another blog about Doit!.
This way you won't need to have to "watch for activity/news"...I will alert you!
** Sign up **
02/28/2009 (4:06 pm)
A quick note:If you want to be alerted to new information and/or addon ideas, you can watch out for my blogs here...
OR
simply join the mail list to be alerted to when I have posted another blog about Doit!.
This way you won't need to have to "watch for activity/news"...I will alert you!
** Sign up **
#9
Right now I am using Max 8.
02/28/2009 (4:18 pm)
Yes this looks to be a timesaver, and I would definately purchase it.Right now I am using Max 8.
#10
02/28/2009 (5:58 pm)
That's really awesome!
#11
BS
02/28/2009 (7:27 pm)
Best exporting tool I've ever seen here. Great work and for sure I would purchase it!BS
#12
02/28/2009 (10:24 pm)
Looks really good.
#13
02/28/2009 (10:32 pm)
Very Cool!
#15
Doit! v0.8b works from Max7 through Max2009, [tested]
(may work in earlier versions)
I will stick to the $10us EarlyAdopter for indies/students. However, I will charge a commercial price for you guys that make the big bucks (250k/yr)...let's double it to $20 EarlyAdopter. That is the style of this community .. "indy|commercial" right ?
I have added some more ideas to my development sheet. I will share the ideas soon. I hope to release v0.8b of Doit! by Monday/Tuesday of this week...I have a few things that need attention for this package. Examples: I am working on the license, FAQ and videos today.
So expect some more news by the end of the day.
**this post was sent to the mail list as well**
03/01/2009 (5:08 pm)
UPDATE:Doit! v0.8b works from Max7 through Max2009, [tested]
(may work in earlier versions)
I will stick to the $10us EarlyAdopter for indies/students. However, I will charge a commercial price for you guys that make the big bucks (250k/yr)...let's double it to $20 EarlyAdopter. That is the style of this community .. "indy|commercial" right ?
I have added some more ideas to my development sheet. I will share the ideas soon. I hope to release v0.8b of Doit! by Monday/Tuesday of this week...I have a few things that need attention for this package. Examples: I am working on the license, FAQ and videos today.
So expect some more news by the end of the day.
**this post was sent to the mail list as well**
#16
They are good to watch to get more of an idea what Doit! does.
I "You-tubed" the vids because I can't be bothered with Vimeo's pickyness on codec.
4 simple max buttons in Doit! (50 seconds)
Doit!'s Controls (7min17sec)
Doit!'s Exporting Panel & SSE (5min6sec)
Almost done with everything else.
03/01/2009 (10:09 pm)
Videos are up...they are basically an extension of the vimeo video above.They are good to watch to get more of an idea what Doit! does.
I "You-tubed" the vids because I can't be bothered with Vimeo's pickyness on codec.
4 simple max buttons in Doit! (50 seconds)
Doit!'s Controls (7min17sec)
Doit!'s Exporting Panel & SSE (5min6sec)
Almost done with everything else.
#17
[ The mailing list will receive a news email, containing the blog link, once Doit! is released. ]
03/04/2009 (12:08 pm)
I am releasing v0.8.3 today. Expect a blog in a few hours.[ The mailing list will receive a news email, containing the blog link, once Doit! is released. ]
Torque 3D Owner Jim Kaiser
What versions of 3ds Max will this work with?
Very interested in purchasing this. Count me in...also, how do we purchase this?