.obj -> .sur converter

Gibbon wrote:

w0dk4 wrote:
If I’ve not missed anything crucial, Schmacks tool does not (yet) actually add any HPID collision geometry as discussed earlier in this thread.

Question. Why would it? Surely a custom turret or any other addon to a model should have that defined seperatetly? I’ve always added custom surs to any turret models or whatever i’ve made. My point is a simple one after all this, why should the obj converter need to take this into account? Make each part a seperate model and make a sur accordingly. I’ve not had any errors so far in this department.

Adding the CM, Mine and thruster to the HPID section are the only hardpoints i add to each sur file made and even then only on ship surs. All sweetness and light so far with no crashes.

“Earlier in this thread:”

w0dk4 wrote:

FriendlyFire wrote:
I’m guessing that Schmack is right and that this really is just used to speed up calculations, whereas if you just don’t specify them the game reverts to the actual, more complex turret SURs.

Does make me wonder whether those turret SURs are used at all if you list them in the hardpoints list. Maybe they get used for calculations if and only if the simple turret is hit?

I think it works this way: If a beam is inside the general sur radius, the overall sur gets checked. Now, every hardpoint “rough” geometry is checked. If the beam intersects one, the actual sur of the equipment mounted at that hardpoint is checked.

So, if all your equipment is simply a sphere or a very simple geometry, I think there is basically no speed-up. But as soon as you have a lot of equipment that is rather complex, I think there can be quite a speedup.

Hey Schmackbolzen, thanks a lot for the tool; it makes complex .sur creation really easy!

Edit number 2: The rest of what I had had to say was even less useful than that, and I removed it. I’ll be thrilled to see the finished product. That is all.

(Sorry to double post.) Schmackbolzen, as a group splicer this tool works excellently. Your suggestion of making convex shapes in place of the actual model shapes works well. When using the convex shapes, there’s very few issues with passing through ship geometry.

If (or when) you get around to having the converter generate hardpoint shapes, perhaps you could have an option to either use standard FL hardpoint geometry or to make specially named shapes in your model. That way if a ship has set weapon geometry, for example, you can have the weapons hittable properly rather than using FL weapon shapes only. If this is even possible, that is.

Anyway thanks again!

Bump
AnyNews on this project ?

I’m very glad to see I m not the only one waiting quietly for year after year. Well, OK not so quietly from time to time. But it IS year after year.

You’re not entitled to it, ST

I’d love to hear news from Schmack about it, but I can totally understand that he’s busy or plain doesn’t want to work on it because SURs suck.

Don’t worry Schmack, your priority has to be your education.You’ve already done a great job anyway.

My interest is now only personal, the opportunity and need to use the tool to perfect our own mod has gone, our buddies have moved on to other things, and our server is almost completely idle.

So no need for you to worry on my part, and I don’t know how many others still feel they need a perfected converter.

Good luck with your exams, give them everything you can because best gades are what will benefit you in future.

i’m waitong fpr this converter
But your education is your priority, i can wait again, take your time and good luck for your exams

Hi Schmackbolzen

The holidays are in full swing as far as I know, and hopefully you are enjoying your free time too.

If you will continue with the converter to make it multi-group, and maybe add the basic hardpoint shapes that the original exporter already puts in (but this is not essential for this converter as long as the HPIDS are included), then you will have two dedicated and grateful fans.

Only 2, because clearly nobody else is interested, no-one else has said so here or anywhere.

So clearly they do not want it and will not use it even if you do complete it.

As you know I have been criticised by several members for being selfish in asking for it before, since nobody else really wants it, so it is only for me and now Ezekiel also said he wants it.

Nobody else said they want it.

Not FF, not W0dk4, not the Discovery developers, not any other team developers, and not anybody else either.

So nobody else needs it.

Not for their current mod, and not for any future mod either.

So this means all your work will be only for me and for Ezekiel.

Yes, I am rubbing their faces in it.

So I have an idea - I might be able to pay you a moderate commission to develop it only for me and for Ezekiel, since nobody else wants it.

In this case of course, you and I will own the rights to the converter, and I will not release it to anyone else, only to Ezekiel, under a no-distribution agreement, and I will ask you to not release it to anyone else without my permission too.

But if you do not want to continue with it in the next month or so, then no matter - but please say so now, so that I don’t continue to hang around waiting any more.

After all, only I and Ezekiel really want it.

And my need is for my personal use only.

So I await to know if you will continue shortly please.

I know that when the next term starts (or if you start in a job) you will not be able to work on it.

Many thanks.

StarTrader wrote:

So nobody else needs it.

Not for their current mod, and not for any future mod either.

On the contrary, StarTrader, I use it and love it. I have never bashed anyone here, only look to offer and ask questions, which everyone seems to be able to help with as their FL Knowledge is far better then mine. It has made hundreds for great surs for me. If he wishes to make it pay only, I’d most likey pay. I hope Schmackbolzen keeps it free but, if the latter, so be it. Not trying to sound like a ass about it, just saying.

Same, i’m waiting for it and check this post dayly

But i think Schmackbolzen is enjoying some hollidays after his exam period few weeks ago

Let him enjoying the SSAS ( Sea, Sex And Sun )

Then, i’m sure e will come back with the powerfull Sur tool ever made

Tactful as always, ST. :roll:

ST I don’t know if you’re trying some sort of weird reverse psychology but I think you’ll find many people still want and need a proper multi group sur exporter, including me

Pretty sure ST wasn’t fully serious, Thaddeus.

At least, I hope not. o.O

Hard to tell, really.

While I’ve only used it once for FL10K so far, I can definately tell it will be an invaluable tool for the future, and while it is obviously up to Schmack, having it in some way locked down would be slightly depressing.

It’s ST. Ignore one post out of two and you’ll find your sanity mostly intact

Good Luck for your Exams, take your time to finish the software, it’s not like tomorrow FL will die, we can wait fo your return

And between learning and coding, dont forget the SSAS attitude

Oh, hello everyone!

Wow! All of a sudden, several more of you have come out of the woodwork, and seem interested in Schmackbolzen developing the sur converter?!!

It was not the case a very short while ago though, was it?

My comment on restricting the converter was that I offered to pay Schmack a commission to develop it for me and Ezekiel privately, because until today we were the only two people interested, everyone else kept silence.

As there was no response except from us, it is not worth developing for only 2 people, unless I am willing to pay for it and Schmackbolzen accepts.

I am willing. But a commission to complete it specifically for me, not a donation.

And if Schmackbolzen accepts, I will want the rights to it in partnership with him. Why? Because nobody else was interested.

Until today.

Everyone keeps quiet until they see a threat to lose something, don’t you.

So yes, I was rubbing the magic lamp to get someone else to speak. And you have, finally.

Sushi, tactful only when it doesn’t fall on deaf ears. I was tactful last time I asked. And it fell on deaf ears, as I and Ezekiel appeared to be the only ones with any interest.

And I was tactful (kept my temper, didn’t I?) the time before that, when I did extensive testing of surs which kept crashing, despite everyone who commented saying it must be my environment or my testing methods which were at fault, only Adoxa took the trouble to humour me?

Again I was persistent. And indeed we did find a problem. And Adoxa made a solution.

Or as in the Sur Builder fiasco when I really lost my rag, because it was just cranky old ST again, trying to “deliberately break the tool”, not providing solid diagnostic proof of the problems in Sur Builder. And being ignored. Only one other person tried and understood that time.

That tool was shelved despite being so near to great. Nobody else spoke then either.

Nah, I am still smouldering, tact is too subtle here, a sledgehammer is needed. Or a snappy old Croc.

Maybe one day someone will actually think to himself “you know if it wasn’t for Cranky Old ST’s persistence we wouldn’t have a solution for this… or a tutorial for that… OR a fully-working SUR generator/converter/builder/exporter!”.

I live in hope.

No, actually you are right. Yes, you are! I’m only doing things for purely selfish reasons, to boost my own ego and benefit only me. (Oh, and of course my new friend and sidekick Ezekiel).

But now maybe Alucard? Thaddeus? Sushi? And maybe those other Silent Others who let someone else fight their battles alone?

(Oh! No, they aren’t really interested or they would have said so, they can do it another way just as easily and it isn’t worth Schmackbolzen’s time to develop it). So they stay silent.

Sarcasm, sardonic irony and reverse-psychology are second nature to some people, and can be funny or just… annoying… or… unintelligible… or… thought-provoking… or… just a tragic end to a discussion.

Dunno, my vision is getting cloudy as I cry my crocodile tears and wait for Mana from Heaven…

OK here’s a clear request to maybe get some motion:

Schmackbolzen: much more than others, I very much appreciate the work you have already done, but the tool needs to be completed to generate fully-functioning vanilla-type surs.

So, if you decide not to try to complete the converter in the near future (this year), would you please say so clearly here? Thank you my friend.

This might then encourage someone else to try to make another version, since so many silent people out there actually ARE waiting for a fully-functional SUR tool?

This is now my third full year of waiting for one. I’m three years older and still ageing.

Thank you.