[WIP] SubSim Edition SH Exporter

Jeff-Groves · 02-22-17, 05:52 PM

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 · 02-22-17, 08:11 PM

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 · 02-22-17, 10:21 PM

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

Oby · 02-23-17, 04:01 PM

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.

Jeff-Groves · 02-23-17, 04:30 PM

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 · 02-23-17, 05:26 PM

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.

Jeff-Groves · 02-23-17, 08:13 PM

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 · 02-23-17, 09:42 PM

SH5 Take Two

Jeff-Groves · 02-25-17, 01:11 PM

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!

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 · 02-25-17, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

I'll give you the tools. You give me the Units.

Jeff-Groves · 02-25-17, 02:19 PM

Let's see if anyone can figure this out.

Jeff-Groves · 02-25-17, 02:55 PM

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 · 02-25-17, 04:36 PM

Ship recognition ? Height /length etc .

Jeff-Groves · 02-27-17, 03:10 PM

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

Jeff-Groves · 02-27-17, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BL!TZKR!EG

Geee, Jeff!

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

Cool.

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.

02-22-17, 05:52 PM	#1
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,654 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	SubSim Edition SH Exporter 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. Last edited by Jeff-Groves; 02-22-17 at 06:12 PM.

02-23-17, 05:26 PM	#6
iambecomelife Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4,709 Downloads: 300 Uploads: 0	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. __________________ https://www.facebook.com/WolvesoftheKaiser/

02-25-17, 02:55 PM	#12
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,654 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	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. Last edited by Jeff-Groves; 02-25-17 at 03:05 PM.

02-22-17, 08:11 PM	#2
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,654 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	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.

02-22-17, 10:21 PM	#3
THE_MASK Ace of the deep . Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,226 Downloads: 901 Uploads: 73	If there were new SH3/4 3D Models in SH5 then I am sure there would be renewed interest in the game .

02-23-17, 04:01 PM	#4
Oby Medic Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: BH7853 Posts: 169 Downloads: 458 Uploads: 0	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.

02-23-17, 04:30 PM	#5
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,654 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	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.

02-23-17, 08:13 PM	#7
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,654 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	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!

02-23-17, 09:42 PM	#8
THE_MASK Ace of the deep . Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,226 Downloads: 901 Uploads: 73	SH5 Take Two

02-25-17, 01:11 PM	#9
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,654 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	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! 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.

02-25-17, 02:19 PM	#11
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,654 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	Let's see if anyone can figure this out.

02-25-17, 04:36 PM	#13
THE_MASK Ace of the deep . Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,226 Downloads: 901 Uploads: 73	Ship recognition ? Height /length etc .

02-27-17, 03:10 PM	#14
Jeff-Groves GLOBAL MODDING TERRORIST Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 5,654 Downloads: 137 Uploads: 0	That is a teaser as to how 3D Models have been built for the SH series.