3ds export -> Constructor

#1 Are you using the Static Shape icon to do the import? Do you have at least one brush built beforehand--you shouldn't have to, but I was just wondering. Does it crash on import or does it crash afterwards?

To help, start Constructor anew and do the import as your first action. Then open the console.log in the Constructor directory to see where it seemed to fail.

#2 David,

Thanks for the guidance - I'll try this tonight and let you know the results.

Kelly

#3 Here is how I can recreate the error:

1. Launch 3DS Max 8 and create a teapot (nothing fancy - no textures or anything)

2. Launch the .dts export plugin

3. Select the teapot - Create Bounds - Quick Setup - Quick Export (0 warnings and 0 errors)


Here is the log from the .dts exporter:

************************************************************************************
Exporter Report

Config file "C:\Users\Kelly\Desktop\Teapot.cfg" not found.

Config file "C:\Users\Kelly\Desktop\Teapot.cfg" not found.

Begin reading config file "C:\Users\Kelly\Desktop\dtsScene.cfg".
End reading config file.
First pass: enumerate scene...

Processing Node base01 with parent Scene Root
Found subtree starting at Node "base01"
Processing Node start01 with parent base01
Processing Node Teapot2 with parent start01
Processing Node detail2 with parent base01
Processing Node bounds with parent Scene Root
Bounding box found

Second pass: put shape structure together...

Adding detail named "detail2" of size 2 to subtree "base01".
Adding node "base01" with parent "base01" to subtree rooted on node "base01".
Adding node "start01" with parent "base01" to subtree rooted on node "base01".
Adding node "Teapot2" with parent "start01" to subtree rooted on node "base01".
Attaching object to node.
Adding object named "Teapot".
Adding mesh of size 2 to object "Teapot".

Third pass: Collapsing unneeded nodes...

Removing node "base01"
Removing node "start01"

Add default object states...

Adding object state to 1 detail level(s) of mesh "Teapot".
Adding frame.
Object is visible.
Object offset transform for mesh dl=0:
scale: x=1.00000, y=1.00000, z=1.00000
stretch rotation: x=0.00000, y=0.00000, z=0.00000, w=1.00000
translation: x=0.00000, y=0.00000, z=0.00000
actual rotation: x=0.00000, y=0.00000, z=0.00000, w=1.00000
---------------------------------

Add default node states...

Adding node rotation at time 0.000000 for node "Teapot2".
rotation: x=0.00000, y=0.00000, z=0.00000, w=1.00000
---------------------------------
Adding node translation at time 0.000000 for node "Teapot2".
translation: x=-1.34159, y=0.00000, z=0.00000
---------------------------------

Adding 0 sequences...


Optimizing meshes...

Optimizing mesh "Teapot" detail level 2.
630 verts before joining verts
630 verts after joining verts
1024 faces before stripping
Using Quick, dirty, & ugly stripping method.
91 strips with average length 13.80 (range 4 to 34) and 50 reversals

Shape Hierarchy:

Details:
detail2, Subtree 0, objectDetail 0, size 2

Subtrees:
Subtree 0
Teapot2 --> Object Teapot with following details: 2

Sequences:

Material list:
************************************************************************************

4. Launch Constructor

5. Select Import Static Mesh

I immediately get the "Constructor has stopped working" dialog box - and nothing new is added to the log.

Note that if I instead import the same teapot as a reference shape it works.

Here is the Constructor log:

************************************************************************************
//-------------------------- 1/4/2008 -- 21:03:02 -----
Processor Init:
AMD (unknown), ~2.05 Ghz
(timed at roughly 2.05 Ghz)
FPU detected
MMX detected
3DNow detected
SSE detected

Math Init:
Installing Standard C extensions
Installing Assembly extensions
Installing FPU extensions
Installing MMX extensions
Installing 3DNow extensions
Installing SSE extensions

Input Init:
keyboard0 input device created.
mouse0 input device created.
DirectInput enabled.

Internet Proxy: (null)
--------- Loading MODS ---------
Missing file: textures/main.cs!
Error: Unable to find specified mod: textures
Loading compiled script constructor/main.cs.
Loading compiled script common/main.cs.
Missing file: common/defaults.cs!
Loading compiled script constructor/version.cs.
Loading compiled script constructor/defaults.cs.
Loading compiled script constructor/prefs.cs.
Loading compiled script creator/main.cs.
Loading compiled script common/main.cs.
Missing file: common/defaults.cs!
ActivatePackage called for a currently active package!


snip


InteriorMapLighting::calculateInEditorInfo (0)
CScene::loadProcessInteriorMapEntityCSX(): Adding property 'geometry_scale' with value '32.0'
!!! Set entity internal property 'direction' to 0 0 0.558505
!!! Set entity internal property 'direction' to 0 0 0.558505
!!! Received worldspawnChange
Set Lighting System properties (0)
Push entity data (0)
Calculate entity info (0)
Pull entity info (0)
InteriorMapLighting::calculateInEditorInfo (0)
CScene::loadProcessInteriorMapEntityCSX(): Adding property 'light_geometry_scale' with value '8.0'
!!! Received worldspawnChange
Set Lighting System properties (0)
Push entity data (0)
Calculate entity info (0)
Pull entity info (0)
InteriorMapLighting::calculateInEditorInfo (0)
CScene::loadProcessInteriorMapEntityCSX(): Adding property 'light_smoothing_scale' with value '4.0'
!!! Received worldspawnChange
Set Lighting System properties (0)
Push entity data (0)
Calculate entity info (0)
Pull entity info (0)
InteriorMapLighting::calculateInEditorInfo (0)
CScene::loadProcessInteriorMapEntityCSX(): Adding property 'light_mesh_scale' with value '1.0'
!!! Received worldspawnChange
Set Lighting System properties (0)
Push entity data (0)
Calculate entity info (0)
Pull entity info (0)
InteriorMapLighting::calculateInEditorInfo (0)
CScene::loadProcessInteriorMapEntityCSX(): Adding property 'ambient_color' with value '0 0 0'
!!! Received worldspawnChange
Set Lighting System properties (0)
Push entity data (0)
Calculate entity info (0)
Pull entity info (0)
InteriorMapLighting::calculateInEditorInfo (0)
CScene::loadProcessInteriorMapEntityCSX(): Adding property 'emergency_ambient_color' with value '0 0 0'
!!! Received worldspawnChange
Set Lighting System properties (0)
Push entity data (0)
Calculate entity info (0)
Pull entity info (0)
InteriorMapLighting::calculateInEditorInfo (0)
CScene::loadProcessInteriorMapEntityCSX(): Adding property 'mapversion' with value '220'
!!! Received worldspawnChange
Set Lighting System properties (0)
Push entity data (0)
Calculate entity info (0)
Pull entity info (0)
InteriorMapLighting::calculateInEditorInfo (0)
Paging in current undo entries for scene 2763 (new02)
__setSelectionType(): Sel type to 3
Could not locate texture: textures/starter/wood3
*************************************************************************************

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide me.

Kelly

#4 It seems that Milkshape handles exporting .dts files with a little less pickyness (is that a word?) - so I'll switch over to Milkshape for the time being.

Kelly

#5 It may also be the exporter you are using. There are a couple of exporters with different features, but I'm not sure which one(s?) are for Max 8 as I'm a Lightwaver. It is just strange that it works in one mode and not the other. I wonder if it has to do with lighting. I don't know if reference shapes are lit, while I think static shapes are.

#6 Thanks. I decided to take a step back and begin mastering Constructor and Milkshape before moving onto 3ds. Although I have much more experience with 3ds - I see more users are using Milkshape, et al - so more peer help will probably be avail.

Kelly