CMP to SUR Conversion Tests

Scratches Head

Could someone point me to the part of my post where I belittled BullWinkle & LS’s work, cause I sure as hell can’t find it. It’s the exact opposite, I’m all for the SUR Builder and any other tool that makes it easier to get models into FL.
The problem is that even with a SUR Builder working as ST wants it, the CMP has to have been done right otherwise the SUR wont work, and in my experience that’s the part most fail on, either because they hate using Milkshape (too basic for them), or because they have little or no modelling experience (not knowing how to use the CMP exporter properly doesn’t help either), that is what my post was about.

Eh! the only SURs I’ve ever done with the splicer are the ones I did for Gibbon’s Galactica 2.0 mod, and a couple of starlancer ones I was working on before my last visit to the loony house, haven’t built a SUR since I got out, you never know I might just finish them one day. It’s the Exporter for me, 5 years of practise means that only “shrinkwrapped” SURs fail for me, and only because that part of the exporter is F***ed.

Bejay, Thaddeus…

You are both on the same side.

Bejay is quite right, a lot sometimes needs to be done in Milkshape to regroup the model - but he has had experience with too many single-group models as have I, these are a pain and that is what he is explaining.

Someone else suddenly threw in animation and hardpoints - forget it. That is moving the goalpost and I am against that.

The only things we need fixing is what I have already put in because they are simple to produce and there is clearly NO INTENTION HERE to improve Sur Builder.

I am not being insulting now, I passed that and BW copped the lot.

I will not apologise, because he not only refused to even listen to my input, but decided to deride me three times, and refused on several occasions to consider to complete this project, without explanation.

I am now merely very bloody sad about all this sh&t!

I am hoping that LS will have enough maturity being close to my own age to spend the 3-4 hours that are needed as only he can do it to complete this to the spec that I and others have accepted for the sake of compromise to make it achievable.

So to stand any chance of him rethinking this, let sleeping dogs lie.

LANCER: - my last appeal to you is this one. Think about it and reason, please. Minimum 8 vertices, if less then issue a message that the cmp group SUR will not be generated, and an optional shield bubble 1m around the ship shape. With your knowledge I could do this in the same time I have suggested. I am not boasting, I do have knowledge in other languages and can compare the task indirectly.

Anyone want to throw another punch at me watch out, I advise you don’t do it, I do not care who you are, this is not spam, not trolling, and I am extremely vitreolic right now. Don’t bring my wrath on yourself.

My reason and cause of my anger: This project is the third bloody time it was started from scratch, and the third bloody time it is killled inches away from being good.

So some of you need to grow up - a lot. This is NOT only for me.

Time to learn how to use Milkshape properly, rather than as an import/export tool.

Bugger… you mean i have to actually do some work?? lolz :lol:

Xarian, heaven forbid that you should have to work

I must once again agree with ST, its frustrating being so close to having it done and then it dieing off.

Thanks as always though to those that put in their all.

It’s only work when you don’t enjoy it & I’ve never once not enjoyed it.
Playing with ms3d is fun…

Just wish there were more hours per solar rotation… or i clone myself… then I at least wouldn’t have a problem with sur’s… it’s all about time for me… If a ship is chewing up precious modding time, it get’s put aside or worked on in parts (over a few days/weeks)… a working sur clicky thing would go along way to speed up the last stages of conversion & be one less thing to worry about.

It’s just such a blastedly mind-bending format to grasp… when its not your only worry, Here’s to some agreement and further advancement in this area :pint:

StarTrader wrote:
Someone else suddenly threw in animation and hardpoints - forget it. That is moving the goalpost and I am against that.

whats the problem with animations?
afaik its all in the cmp, the sur just needs a group linked to the cmp group name.
ive had no problems getting baydoors to work with the splicer.
or am i misunderstanding?

Lancer -

Thanks for replying.

No I’m not asking for so much work. I’m trying to help you dump it by accepting less.

This is the third/fourth time I repeat myself:-

I’m only asking for these for the existing version of builder:

1. Issue a message if less than 8 vertices & skip the sur build for that cmp group. So the modder knows which groups he has to rework.

2. Squish a sphere 1m round the ship if the shield bubble option is selected.

I believe you started by squishing spheres round parts? So you have the method already.

+1
the program is allready good
with these two options he will be excellent

on my side the amount of memory used is not so catastrophic
i’m almost sure that all the moders have a good amount of RAM
so don’t waste your time on this, i’m sure you have more interesting to do

Lancer’s not going to do hardpoints RimShot, it’s already been dumped because he has so many other projects on the go.

I’m just trying to get LS to make these small changes and then dump it, so at least we know by messages when a model hasn’t been sur’d instead of having to inspect it closely, and get a shield bubble option for when we want one, on a small ship.

So - LS:

Please read post #552 above, please.

Can we get it this afternoon please?

Pretty please with sugar on the top?

A sweet potato too?

A model Shaguar car?

??

Then I will leave you in peace and go hibernate for the winter.

Read post #552 please!

If you post below this one then please copy this message (Read post #552 please!) into your post so Lancer can find what I want him to read or he will not even read it.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

This topic is getting more and more

So, is the SUR tool redy? Or there isn’t gonna be one?

BTW F!R, this video was really “fascinating”!

Just to shift focus a little, I’ve put up an update to msSURImporter. The center of each surface now has its own group; 3db surs are called S1_Model; and materials are prefixed with “s_”.

Adoxa, thanks for the updated importer.

What’s the purpose of the centres?

To see where they are, since this centre (of gravity) is not necessarily the physical centre of the model.

Thanks, good idea.

So - I think I have waited long enough for any movement on the Sur Builder, this is now another dead project.

Yet again another one so close - yet unfinished.

I can’t see your side for not completing it at all, Lancer Solurus. If it were me I couldn’t leave it when it is so close, it would have been a matter of personal pride to complete it for me having made it to where it is now.

I am currently learning for tests (University) so until I wrote those you wont hear from me. I am only doing things which I am in the mood for until then.

Don’t worry Schmackbolzen, my criticism is for the Sur Builder being killed off, not for your offer.

I and many others will appreciate your sur exporter plugin when you are ready to try it, I know real life is always first for all of us. Adoxa also had an intention to write a new exporter plugin, maybe by working together you can succeed.

Good luck and many thanks.