SubSim Edition SH Exporter

[Jeff-Groves]

I'm calling it that because if it was not for all of you Guys?
I'd have never bother creating it.
The main goal of the SE-SHE (Hey! That's catchy!) is to allow an extremely fast way to export the 3D models in a way that has them near perfect for conversion to the RAD Games GR2 format.

This thread will contain some serious information on the SH3/4 3D Models in the .dat files.
Over all goal is to have every node exported in a way that I'll explain as we go along.

I've spent a lot of years learning how the 3D models are created and then export to .dats and GR2 files. That information is critical to build this Tool.
All that information will be in this thread.

First credits go to Anvart, ref, and DivingDuck.
Some of the best at what they did.

[Jeff-Groves]

Anvart's stuff is pretty good for giving me the lay out without redoing it all myself.
That saved days.
I'll add some code and correct a few things to actually export a 3D model.
As it is? You'd never get a correct 3D model export as it's just a temple as to what is in the .dat as far as the 3D model info.

[THE_MASK]

If there were new SH3/4 3D Models in SH5 then I am sure there would be renewed interest in the game .

[Oby]

I smell some good stuff here.

This sim really needs some people with knowledge how the stuff works and how to improve it on next level.

Good luck.:Kaleun_Cheers:

[Jeff-Groves]

Making the 10 hour drive home tomorrow for a few days off.
I'll be able to grab all the needed software and get some example files stored on the other external HD.

One of the example files is very important to explain the reason a new exporter is needed.

[iambecomelife]

The excitement builds! Thank you so much for your efforts. I remember hex editing manually a decade ago, spending hour after hour for one unit.....we will never be able to repay you, skwas, anvart, and the rest of the elite. In a lot of ways, modders like me have the easy part. :up:

[Jeff-Groves]

Once I can show the example 3D models and explain everything?
Everyone will understand why a new Exporter is needed.
The whole goal is to make everything as fast and as efficient as possible.
S3D is able to export the 3D models ONE part at a time.
And those will not be place as We are going to need them for conversion to GR2 files.

So going that way would take hours or days for one Ship!
This Exporter will cut that down to minutes.

And I would expect minutes even if We do a mass export!
Point it at the Sea folder and grab a beer.
Done!

[THE_MASK]

SH5 Take Two :up:

[Jeff-Groves]

Made it home alive and have ALL my software ready to load up.
Also grabbed a few things off the other external HD.
It's going to get real techy in here soon!
:haha:

Things like how 3D models were done for the SH series before exporting through Kashimer or RAD Games Exporter.

How to read the different info in the dats at a Hex level and convert them.

How I am going to build the new Exporter and what I plan for it to actually do.

You are going to see the best list of names in the credits maybe ever compiled for the SH series.
Many newer people would probably not even know who they are and what they did in the early days.

I'm even proposing a special award be granted them for that work.
Without that work? We would not be where we are today.

[Jeff-Groves]

The excitement builds! Thank you so much for your efforts. I remember hex editing manually a decade ago, spending hour after hour for one unit.....we will never be able to repay you, skwas, anvart, and the rest of the elite. In a lot of ways, modders like me have the easy part. :up:

That's what makes the SubSim Community so great.
Some of us like the techy stuff and creating Tools for Guys like you that do the 3D models and such.
It's a Quid pro quo thing in a lot of ways.
:haha:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynpm1a5lgBU
I'll give you the tools. You give me the Units.
:up:

[Jeff-Groves]

Let's see if anyone can figure this out.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n12/privateer_2006/Ranger.png

[Jeff-Groves]

Wondering if I need to write a new exporter for GR2 files also.
Now per an agreement with RAD Games I wouldn't use their dlls as I did in the past.
I can extract the needed info without doing that.
Now TDW's stuff will do it as is but not a mass extract nor will it add some other info we need.

The only Tool I've seen for Mass exports is Pack 3D.
Of course that is the early Tool and done in java.
It also has serious limitations and will not work for our needs.
S3D dropped the ball on having that option and TDW's Tool also dropped the ball there.

I have one Tool that will extract all 3D models in a dat file WITH the AO and such.
That Tool is also lacking a few things for our needs to go forwards for GR2 conversion ready.
But it's the closest to what I want.
And I just happen to have the source code.

[THE_MASK]

Ship recognition ? Height /length etc .

[Jeff-Groves]

That is a teaser as to how 3D Models have been built for the SH series.
:03:

[Jeff-Groves]

Geee, Jeff!

This sound like a heap of fun ahead of us. I shall bookmark this thread!!!



Cool.
:D

Most of the Old Hex Guard is gone now which saddens me.
I have no problem with the fancy tools but they do have serious limitations that I can see hobble new Modders in ways they will never realize.

[Jeff-Groves]

The first thing I am going to explain is why every 3D exporter for the SH3/4 series is flawed!
:o

I know that is not going to go over big but I can and will prove this fact.
And I'll explain why ALL of us have wasted what amounts to years of time doing things the time wasting way.

It's a hard bit of info to swallow once I give you the answers and explain it.

[gap]

Following this thread :03: :up:

[Jeff-Groves]

Post #11 shows an actual 3D model of the NOM Ranger BEFORE export to GR2 format.

This is important as SH3/4 did the models in the same way!
The exporter Kashmir did the nodes transformation stuff.

Every exporter/importer ever created by modders overlooked this.

This simple fact has SH3 Units in SH4 with NO AO mapping since it's so time intensive to import ALL the 3D objects and relocate them in a 3D program to burn an AO.

If you doubt me? Export all the object files with Pack3D once and import them all into a 3D program.

We are going for a mass exporter that gives us all parts where you see them in Game. Thus an AO burn is simple!

Speed and time saved is the whole goal!

[vdr1981]

I'm having troubles to follow you Jeff...:hmmm:

Are you trying to say that even if you manage to collect enough money for "Rad tool", there won't be much use of it without this exporter you're working on? :hmmm:

[Jeff-Groves]

I'm having troubles to follow you Jeff...:hmmm:

Are you trying to say that even if you manage to collect enough money for "Rad tool", there won't be much use of it without this exporter you're working on? :hmmm:
You can still do the work without the exporter yes.
But I'm trying to save you DAYS if not weeks of work.

Say IMBL wants to convert his fine MFM to SH5?
It would take him an ungodly amount of time without the exporter maybe.

To convert just the Units in SH3/4 now without this new converter?
I'm not going to do it as the current exporters stand!

Now a side note.
A whole new IMPORTER for SH3/4 could be done!
You build a Unit, hit the import button, and you would not need to adjust positions with the Node settings.

Infact? One can create a program that does all the work to build the dat and more.

[vdr1981]

You can still do the work without the exporter yes.
But I'm trying to save you DAYS if not weeks of work.

Say IMBL wants to convert his fine MFM to SH5?
It would take him an ungodly amount of time without the exporter maybe.

To convert just the Units in SH3/4 now without this new converter?
I'm not going to do it as the current exporters stand!

Thanks for the answer...

I've imported so far significant number of dat units and objects from SH3/4 to SH5 (without GR2 conversion of course) but still, I find this thread quite hard to follow... I apologies in advance for some future inexpert questions...

[Tomi_099]

:Kaleun_Cheers:

[vdr1981]

:Kaleun_Cheers:

Looks like the old gang is gathering again...:hmm2:

[Jeff-Groves]

This thread is going to be details hard.
It may be hard to follow on several levels. I'll not hold back on that fact.

Many Modders are use to easy to use tools.
Under the hood? Only a few select can truly write new tools.
It's all intended to give you a BETTER tool.

I don't want to do the work. I want you to but as fast as possible.