CMP to SUR Conversion Tests

**@ Arvis - if you want to do that simply use the sur exporter in Milkshape, it will do exactly what you are asking about…

I am posting here that I have successfully built a fully working single hull sur file based off of a cmp model. I have also successfully built a routine to calculate the scaling value in the bits section (aka the color value).

SUR File Format
Compiled By Lancer Solurus with Adoxa's help
All values in HEX unless otherwise noted (Size in decimal)
*****************************************
Size(d)	Type	Comment

** Header
4		string	'vers' - Version
4		float	2.0

** Section header
4		ULONG	CRC
4		ULONG	Surface Type Count (!fxd, exts, surf & hpid)
4		string	'!fxd' - Part header
4		string	'exts' - Tag
12		XYZ		Box minimum
12		XYZ		Box maximum

** Surface tag
4		string	'surf' - Surface
** Surface header 0x00000034
4		ULONG	Surface offset, bytes to next HPID or section (this addr + offset)
** Surface base pointer 0x00000038
12		XYZ		Center
12		XYZ		Inertial damping
4		float	Radius for visibility (set this large enough to surround entire object to keep it from 'popping', 1.5*radius is good)
1		byte	Flag or Scaler?
3		byte	Duplicate of surface offset above
4		ULONG	Bits section offset (surface header start addr + offset)
4		ULONG	0	unused
4		ULONG	0	unused
4		ULONG	0	unused

** Face list header (size = 16*face lists)
4		ULONG	Vertex list offset (this addr + offset)
4		ULONG	Cmpnd/HP CRC or bits offset if 'last face group flag' is set
1		byte	Type 4-normal face, 5-face linkage (final face list entry)
3		byte	Referenced vertex count, unused by FL, simply set to 0
4		ULONG	Face count

** Face list (size = 16*Face count)
12		bits	Face number	nn xn xx xx (4 bytes) max 16,384 faces
12		bits	Opposite face xx nx nn xx
1		byte	Flag xx xx xx nn
2		WORD	Vertex index 1 nn nn xx xx
15		bits	Opposite offset xx xx nn nn (bits 0-14)
1		bit		Last Face Group Flag xx xx xx nx (bit 15) (only set if more than 1 face group)
2		WORD	Vertex index 2
15		bits	Opposite offset
1		bit		Last Face Group Flag
2		WORD	Vertex index 3
15		bits	Opposite offset
1		bit		Last Face Group Flag

** Vertex list (size = 16*Vertex count)
12		XYZ		Vertex position
4		ULONG	Cmpnd/HP CRC

** Bits section (as in 24 bit bitmap)
4		ULONG	Sibling offset	{Bits base addr + offset)
4		ULONG	Triangle offset (this bits base addr - face base offset (0-fbo)) (if sibling offset is not 0, this is 0)
12		XYZ		Center
4		float	Radius
4		ULONG	Scale (XX YY ZZ xx) - xx is always 00 since it's unused

** HpID section - hardpoint IDs
4		ULONG	Count
4		ULONG	Hardpoint CRC list (size = 4*Count)

```**

I’m afraid Darkness would have something to say about that.

[wmp=640,480]http://www.digitalbrilliance.org/Videos/SUR_Export03.wmv[/wmp]

Thx, I am currently testing it on a new update of my mod of the 15 most flown ships. So far no crashes and everything seems to working as it should. I will be releasing a test version within a couple of days for you guys to play with.

**Hehe, I got a pair of scissors waiting on you…

The ship didnt blow up because I used a shatter fuse on a single component mesh which doesnt destroy it, just makes it shatter.

Shield bubble, that will be later but from testing there is no need for it. It will be an optional feature.

Empty spaces are not handled yet, I will have to learn how to do Delaney triangulation to do that. What I will be releasing is a test version only and still has a problem with faces inside of the hull on some models. This can be allieviated to some degree by adjusting the duplicate points radius but a good fix has not been implemented yet. Also only a whole mesh sur is currently supported, nothing more.

So far though, everything seems to be functional.**

**OK, here is the first test version. Feel free to give your thoughts on it. I would like to thank Aodxa for his help in figuring out the unknown parts of the sur file. Also Freindly Fire for testing it earlier and suggesting a fix and the ‘recalc’ addition. Also for those pushing me to get this project completed that have posted in this thread.

Click here to download 0.001 of the FL Sur Builder

Make sure you backup your mod files before playing with this tool, you may need to put your original sur files back in. All sur files are output into the ‘Output’ folder.**

**Got something for that beard…

;)**

Forgot to mention to adjust the distance setting for very small ships. Usually they require 0.1 for the radius or smaller. A setting of 0 turns it off. I’ve also noticed funny named vmeshdata’s can cause problems such as | in the name. It can’t save out the name properly in that case. That will be fixed by the next update. Feel free to send me the file and I will see what’s going on with it.