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N HELP: mdl always disappears when it's too far away in the screen

05-27-2006, 02:43 PM#1
MasterofSickness
After reading one or two threads with a similiar problem, I still have no clue how to fix that.
I made a wall model with gmax. Exporting is no problem. And converting from mdl to mdx also not.
But since I started making models, I always have the same problem...
When I make a big model (with great width and height)
they always disappear in game when they are almost out of the current screen (the point where you should see only a part of the model).
I realized the exact time when this happens, when they disappear, hope that you can help me out better then with this information:
After the center, the origin, of the model disappears from the screen, then, that's the moment where the model as a whole disappears!!!

So, if you need any further information about the problem,
then just ask please!

Here is also the model I ment I can't get fixed!
(It uses no custom textures)
(I had to rename it to a txt file for upload, so just rename it back to mdl...)
Attached file: MastersWallGate.txt

Thanks for any help!
Attached Files
File type: txtMastersWallGate.txt (205.4 KB)
05-27-2006, 02:46 PM#2
Jacek
Make sure you have proper Extents... I think Magos' editor allows calculation of them.
05-27-2006, 02:53 PM#3
MasterofSickness
Hi Most Helpful User!
What do you mean by proper Extents?
1) BoundsRadius?
2) MinimumExtent & MaximumExtent?
3) Something else?
05-27-2006, 03:01 PM#4
Jacek
lol I must change my custom rank because ppl treat it too seriously ;p
I meant 1) and 2)
05-27-2006, 03:28 PM#5
MasterofSickness
No, it must be something else!
I searched for "Magos' editor", found it and downloaded "War3 Model Editor v1.05 (Made by Magnus Ostberg)"
Then I started the program, went to "Edit" -> "Calculate Extents" and it changed something.
I saved as mdl and compared the original (the attached one) with the converted one from Magnus editor and yes, there were changes in the BoundsRadius & MinimumExtent & MaximumExtent.
I went back to WE and imported the new mdx.
I placed both, the old mdx and the new mdx next to each other, saved and started the game.
The same problem again!
Both models disappear, when their origins (their 0,0,0,-points) are not on the screen anymore!

So, thanks for that hint with this editor, but what else can I do?
05-27-2006, 03:49 PM#6
Rao Dao Zao
BoundsRadius and Min/Max Extents are what you're looking for. Calculating them in Magos' does usually do the job; however, it cuts it very fine on the edges so I usually take what Magos' gives and round it up to the next 50.
05-27-2006, 03:52 PM#7
Jacek
I knew it! :D btw why you use so big models, when you can scale them in-game?
05-27-2006, 03:54 PM#8
MasterofSickness
Ok, I will try that with increasing till 50 to Min & Max Extends (also in the geosets?) and to BoundsRadius now, but can you perhaps download the attached file and try to fix it?
I mean I can go on trying with what you say, but at all I have not so much experience as some other users here...

EDIT:
@Jacek
Does it matter anything if I use models 1 : 1 or 0,1 : 1?
Ok, perhaps the file size, but no solution for my problem or?

EDIT2:
Setting to next 50, hasn't done any change (not better or worse)
It looks like this after Calculation and going to 50:
MinimumExtent { -200, -600, 0 },
MaximumExtent { 100, 600, 400 },
BoundsRadius 650,


EDIT3:
I found out, that the models don't disappear, when I look at a part of them in the WE... any idea?

EDIT4:
Please help me...
05-29-2006, 03:02 PM#9
MasterofSickness
48 hours since my reply are over now, so I beg again:
Please help me,
or at least fix this problem in the file I have attached in post1 if you know how to.
05-29-2006, 03:35 PM#10
Guesst
Units and destructibles have their bounding box capped at slightly smaller than your gate. Make it a regular doodad and the one you attached works fine. If you really need to to be a unit/destructible, you can divide the sides into different models.
05-29-2006, 05:35 PM#11
Rao Dao Zao
NO SEQUENCES.

NO SEQUENCES.

NO SEQUENCES.

NO SEQUENCES.

I cannot stress this enough!

NO SEQUENCES.

Add a sequence. And set the extents and boundsradius there.
05-29-2006, 05:42 PM#12
Guesst
That doesn't seem to fix it. Did you actually try that out?
05-29-2006, 05:52 PM#13
Rao Dao Zao
It doesn't matter if it actually fixes the problem or not, the lack of a sequences section is a flawed state and causes many more problems than saving time in creating it.
05-29-2006, 07:58 PM#14
MasterofSickness
Many thanks Guesst and Rao Dao Zao!

@ Guesst
Yes, I need the model as a destructible, because of pathing,
but I will try that with dividing it
(then I have to import it 2 times, but if this is the only way it works, then I will have to do this)

@ Rao Dao Zao
I will try it with adding a sequence, but before doing this I must ask:
Can I just add the stand sequence to the mdl-file with lets say:
Interval { 0, 3333 }, or do I have to make one with gmax?

Have to go to bed now, but tomorrow I will work at it immediately after comming home from work!

Quote:
NO SEQUENCES.

NO SEQUENCES.

NO SEQUENCES.

NO SEQUENCES.

I cannot stress this enough!

NO SEQUENCES.
Are you angry? I'm sorry... (this is ment seriously, no irony)

Edit:
I have a general question about custom models!
-> Do you have to make at least a stand animation for every custom model you use, no matter if you use it as a unit, doodad or destructible?
Till now, I thought that if you use a custom model as a doodad or destructible, you don't need any animations...
Or wait, perhaps I understood this wrong. So it right that you don't have to use any animations, but still a stand sequense? Could that be?
05-30-2006, 02:32 PM#15
Rao Dao Zao
You need to define a full sequences section.

Sorry, I had to rant because Nasruding keeps telling everyone you don't need sequences when you so obviously do!

Sequences 1 {
Anim "Stand" {
Interval { 0, 3333 },
MinimumExtent { -200, -200, -200 },
MaximumExtent { 200, 200, 200 },
BoundsRadius 100,
}
}

Something like that in the header, always is necessary, even if the model has no actual keyframes or anything. The interval is really immaterial; 0 to 3333 seems to be a favourite of blizzard in their existing doodads.

To recap: every model must contain at least one sequence, and you must define the extents and boundsradius therein.