Milkshape ms3d Importer/Exporter for 3ds Max and Gmax

**KnightErrant** · November 17, 2007, 09:57 PM

An importer/exporter for 3ds Max and Gmax for Milkshape's .ms3d format
has been developed by Bwian and myself. A wordy release statement
can be found at the guild:
http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=95320

The short form is, the files can be found here:
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/downl...o=file&id=1718

The four files are ms3dImportExport_ver1_0.ms which is the Max Script
which does the import and export, a readme.txt with some technical bits,
an executable called GmaxSLGRAB.exe which Gmax users can use to
grab output in the listener and put in a .txt file (Gmax can't write files,
so this is how the export is done for those users.), and a Python utility
which converts the ASCII output into a binary .ms3d file.

Animations are supported in that the utility can import and export
animated .ms3d files created by the Python animation utilities.

Please post any bug reports here or send a PM. I don't own a copy
of 3ds Max so any problems relating to the writing of the binary output
part of the code please work with me to resolve them.

Acknowledgements:

Bwian for getting me started with Gmax and sending a link to Vercingetorix's script.

Vercingetorix for writing the wonderful script in the first place.

Aymar de Bois Mauri for explaining that "groups" in 3ds Max can only be made by making multiple meshes,
a conceptual roadblock for me coming from Milkshape.

GrumpyOldMan for sending along the listener data grabbing utility: GmaxSLGRAB.exe.

**Megalos** · November 18, 2007, 03:10 AM

Thankyou thankyou KE!

Nice work, thanks to all the other guys that helped out too!

Mega

**Bwian** · November 18, 2007, 06:08 AM

I'm already using this to fix the horse animations to make a solid base for 'project chariot'.

Ther are major plusses in using Max for animating..aside from it's better keyframing tools.

Main plus is the lack of hte 'extra frame' bug, where the 'spare' frame in the MS3d animation loop could not be edited without messing about with some very silly workarounds! This just lets you edit ALL the frames straight out.

**Rorarii** · November 18, 2007, 02:48 PM

thanks all, although i think i'll stick to Milkshape for my basic modding of M2TW meshes.

Glad to see a chariot might soon be available in M2TW.

R

filip_f · November 30, 2007, 02:58 AM

Hi KnightErrant very nice tool

Can you make a tutorial how to use it , making new attatchment and add it to unit (in Gmax please)

**KnightErrant** · November 30, 2007, 10:56 AM

@filip_f
Monkwarrior and I have been working on an update that should be ready in
a day or two. It will have two new buttons "import geometry only" and
"export geometry only". To do what you want would then be:

(1) Import a full model that has the geometry element you want, say a
shield.
(2) Hit the "export geometry only" button and then choose the shield from
a listbox. (You can select multiple elements but for now assume just the
shield.) Click the "finished selecting" button. In Max it exports to a .ms3d
file whose name you select in a FileSave dialog. For us Gmax users it
exports to the listener and you do the Grab utility to get it into a .txt file
and then run ascii2ms3dconverter to make it a binary .ms3d file.
(3) Import another full model you want to add the shield to. Delete the
shields you don't like.
(4) Hit the "import geometry only" button and select the .ms3d file you
created in step (2). The shield will appear in the scene. Adjust position
if needed.

We're just resolving an issue with v coordinates so if that gets sorted out
it shouldn't take too long.

filip_f · November 30, 2007, 06:13 PM

thanks !

Knight Errant But ithink you should need to make a manual of tutorial to use this amazing tool

**Riannorix** · May 31, 2008, 07:21 AM

Hello there,

I readed this great tuto, and i have some question because i didn't understand all the tutorial:

i would convert my gallowglass unit from BI to MTW2, i follow the GOM's tutorial, but after i assigned the joins to vertices, and to cofigure the other parametters, in game my converted unit is invible sometime and there is not animation for it. I don't succeed to export my cas file in ASCII to MS3D, i can't.

Also, this tool can correct that?