The Ex-GWX-Dev SH5 to SH3 Crew Animations Process + Tools thread

[Jeff-Groves]

I finished the SH5toSH3_Animations Scripting this afternoon.
It is based on a modified GR2 Reader Script written by Jayn23 on the Xentax forum.

One can now export the 3D Characters and Animations from SH5 then convert that to numbered obj files for Import to SH3 using S3D.

Several FREE programs will be needed and I'll post links and more information in the coming days.
:salute:

1st you will need Noesis. It's free and does not install. Just Unzip it and place it anywhere you wish.
http://www.richwhitehouse.com/index.php?content=inc_projects.php&showproject=91

Then you'll need Blender. I've tested with versions 2.79b and 2.80 so any version from there up will work.
I use the portable versions that you just unzip and run so no install.
https://www.blender.org/download/

OH! Of course you will need SH5. You'll need to copy files from that.
Now there's 200+ textures you'll need to copy. I've been busy and have a simple Batch file I'll upload that will do the work for you!
You'll need to edit a couple lines in it for your system but Edit it with Notepad and your good.

[Tigerzhunters]

I finished the SH5toSH3_Animations Scripting this afternoon.
It is based on a modified GR2 Reader Script written by Jayn23 on the Xentax forum.

One can now export the 3D Characters and Animations from SH5 then convert that to numbered obj files for Import to SH3 using S3D.

Several FREE programs will be needed and I'll post links and more information in the coming days.
:salute:

1st you will need Noesis. It's free and does not install. Just Unzip it and place it anywhere you wish.
http://www.richwhitehouse.com/index.php?content=inc_projects.php&showproject=91

Then you'll need Blender. I've tested with versions 2.79b and 2.80 so any version from there up will work.
I use the portable versions that you just unzip and run so no install.
https://www.blender.org/download/

OH! Of course you will need SH5. You'll need to copy files from that.
Now there's 200+ textures you'll need to copy. I've been busy and have a simple Batch file I'll upload that will do the work for you!
You'll need to edit a couple lines in it for your system but Edit it with Notepad and your good.

What can i say, Man You was A Life Saver Thank you So much For your Programs It make easiers Also It works With sh4? :yeah::yeah::yeah:

[GrenSo]

I finished the SH5toSH3_Animations Scripting this afternoon.
It is based on a modified GR2 Reader Script written by Jayn23 on the Xentax forum.

One can now export the 3D Characters and Animations from SH5 then convert that to numbered obj files for Import to SH3 using S3D.

Several FREE programs will be needed and I'll post links and more information in the coming days.
:salute:

1st you will need Noesis. It's free and does not install. Just Unzip it and place it anywhere you wish.
http://www.richwhitehouse.com/index.php?content=inc_projects.php&showproject=91

Then you'll need Blender. I've tested with versions 2.79b and 2.80 so any version from there up will work.
I use the portable versions that you just unzip and run so no install.
https://www.blender.org/download/

OH! Of course you will need SH5. You'll need to copy files from that.
Now there's 200+ textures you'll need to copy. I've been busy and have a simple Batch file I'll upload that will do the work for you!
You'll need to edit a couple lines in it for your system but Edit it with Notepad and your good.


Hi Jeff,


stupid question, I know, but where we can find the script you talked from, or I'm just blind?

[rik007]

Realy looking forward to the first trials. Keep on experimenting! :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

[Jeff-Groves]

Yes. Any MeshAnimation you create will work in SH4.

I'll be uploading the Script and other files needed tonite.

If you have Noesis copy the granny2.dll from your SH5 Game and put it in the folder with the Noesis.exe
The Script will look for it!

Any where you wish, create a folder named SH52SH3. Inside that create 2 more folders. Name one Textures and the other Animations.
You can now copy SH5 animations into that folder. I'd not move them all until you get the hang of the work flow! There's 1000+ animations!
I'd start with:
walk.GR2
Vasla02.gr2

I'll be using walk.GR2 for a few lessons so get that for sure. It's also the smallest size animation.

[Jeff-Groves]

Here's the Script and other files.
https://www.mediafire.com/file/tm1p9r69r4putvv/SH5toSH3_Stuff.zip/file


You will need to move them into proper folders!!!!!!
skip_mesh.txt needs to be in the noesisv4442 folder with the Noesis.exe!

fmt_SH5toSH3_Animations.py needs to be in the noesisv4442\plugins\python folder!

Mesh_List.txt, Texture-list.txt, and Copy_Images.bat should be saved somewhere safe. You'll need those!

You WILL NEED TO EDIT Copy_Images.bat to match your file paths!!!
I hope I don't need to break out the Crayons to tell you how to do that.
:/\\!!
Copy_Images.bat will copy the needed textures from your SH5 install to the Textures folder you created if you edit it right.


Copy the CharacterBodyParts.GR2 from SH5 into the SH52SH3 folder.

If you have everything right? Open Noesis then open file.
Browse to SH52SH3 and select the CharacterBodyParts.GR2
Then open the Animations folder and select walk.GR2.

!t's gonna take a few minutes depending on your system so give it time.

Let me know how that works for you!!! If you've made it there and see this? I'll start the teachings. Your gonna need it!

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1069&pictureid=13232

[Jeff-Groves]

If you want to know more about the start of the Script I adjusted?
Read the link below. You'll spot me soon enough!
:03:
https://forum.xentax.com/viewtopic.php?t=22277
If you can't wait? Page 4

[Tigerzhunters]

Yes. Any MeshAnimation you create will work in SH4.

I'll be uploading the Script and other files needed tonite.

If you have Noesis copy the granny2.dll from your SH5 Game and put it in the folder with the Noesis.exe
The Script will look for it!

Any where you wish, create a folder named SH52SH3. Inside that create 2 more folders. Name one Textures and the other Animations.
You can now copy SH5 animations into that folder. I'd not move them all until you get the hang of the work flow! There's 1000+ animations!
I'd start with:
walk.GR2
Vasla02.gr2

I'll be using walk.GR2 for a few lessons so get that for sure. It's also the smallest size animation.

So .GR2 Compitable Hmm that make me remember about AOE3 Lol adding Some WW1 tank-plane-ship :haha:

[Jeff-Groves]

For those that want to learn more? I'm going to explain a WHOLE BUNCH of stuff on how to get good renders for export to Blender.

Like the thread name? It's a process you need to learn to work the Tools.
Now since I know someone wants the Cook animations? I'm useing that to start.

We need to change the Meshes loaded first.
In the noesisv4442 folder, remove the skip_mesh.txt(You might want to save it somewhere with a new name)

Copy the Mesh_List.txt into noesisv4442 folder and rename it to skip_mesh.txt
Open that txt and DELETE the following lines....
D_Head_04
D_Hat_04
D_Pants_04
D_Torso_04
object1_Beard_CAP04
Then save.

The reason we do that is Any Meshes NOT in the skip_mesh.txt will load!
Anything IN the list will NOT load!

You should get this.............

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1069&pictureid=13234


Now lets fix the beard texture!
Select Tools and then Data Viewer. Select Model1 then Materials.
You'll see this.............
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1069&pictureid=13235

We have to fix the Beard Texture. There is NO object1_Beard_CAP04_D.dds!
In the texture folder, open the hair.tga and save as object1_Beard_CAP04_D.dds.
Now reopen with noesis! (Just don't look real close to the UV work on the beard! Someone was drunk when they did that!)

Here's the video........
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfKLxlttFUU

[Jeff-Groves]

Let's get Blender setup for use.
When you first open Blender, you may see a screen like this.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1069&pictureid=13237


You need to RIGHT CLICK on each of the 3 objects you see and hit your delete key.
Once they are removed go to File in the upper left corner and select
Save Startup file

Now when you open Blender you don't need to delete those again!

I'll be exporting the Cook and the walk animation from Noesis for the next steps!




With the COOK and walk animation loaded in Noesis.
Go to File and select Export from preview. FBX is what We export as and just leave it as it appears.

Now due to how Blender is importing things? Save the file to the Textures folder!!!!
Don't ask me why it screws the pooch. Just trust me!

Open Blender and then File, Import, FBX. The fun starts now!!!!
You'll see a weird object like in this image.
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/picture.php?albumid=1069&pictureid=13238

Now where you see the blue arrow pointing? Click on the eyeball! The Red arrow points to the end Frame of the animation. Change that to 25
Now hit 5 on your Numbers Pad and then scroll in!! Hit play in the bar near the bottom and you'll see the animation.

[rik007]

Jeff, thank you for your information. Are all animations hard coded or do we have the possibility to add custom animations?

[Jeff-Groves]

Jeff, thank you for your information. Are all animations hard coded or do we have the possibility to add custom animations?
Any Animation can be modified once you get it into the 3D program of your choice that can handle animation work.
It's up to you to learn how to do that.

If you are asking about modifying animations for SH5? That's a totally different topic not specific to this thread.

[rik007]

Thank you Jeff! So we can change/import existing animations only. We cannot add new ones. That's my conclusion to it.

[Jeff-Groves]

No. You can create animations but that means You need to learn HOW to do that.

Find a 3D program like Blender and there are plenty of instructions on learning the basics. It's not my intension to teach you how to do that.

[Tigerzhunters]

Thank you Jeff! So we can change/import existing animations only. We cannot add new ones. That's my conclusion to it.

So the simple thing Was You know how to make animations With blender or other And You know how to make it can be view on the sh 3 like the video From Jeff

[rik007]

So the simple thing Was You know how to make animations With blender or other And You know how to make it can be view on the sh 3 like the video From Jeff

Thank you Tingerzhunters. Blender is on my desk top and if I want to make an animation with it I can manage. I will make a simple animation and then try to get it somehow in Sh3.

[Jeff-Groves]

Once you get the exported Animation into Blender you will export to the obj format. Blender allows exporting multiple obj files. S3D can convert those to useable animations.