Hi again,
I have just uploaded a new test version (V1.70 - TEST) of the tool.
The download link is: <Link removed. Get V2.00
from the LEX>
New features:- Re-orientate Model operation (for models with 20-Z/R views only).
- Enhanced Scale Model operation (now allows scaling for each of the three dimensins separately)
- Works under Vista too.
- The "Application Look" feature has been removed.
(see the notes below)
Notes:- Unlike in the reader, the X, Y and Z axes have their "normal" meaning (Z refers to the height). What is causing all the confusion is just a naming inconsistency in the S3D.DLL's interface, which was propagated even to the reader's user interface.
- There is no documentation (help) for the new features yet, but you should be able to figure them out easily.
- The reorient operation works for models with 20-Z/R views only ("normal" BATs). It doesn't really change anything in the S3D files themselves, instead it renumbers their instance IDs, effectively "rotating" them by multiples of 90° - see the description in my previous posts. It has been implemented as a separate operation (and not under a more generic "rotation" operation), because otherwise it might cause confusion to some users. This operation might prove useful when you want to change some models so that they all have the same "orientation", for cases like making a prop-family.
- The scale operation can now be applied to each one of the three dimensions separately; can prove useful for "de-squashing" or "deforming".
- The tool now operates under Vista too, with some very few occasional crashes. Always backup your work before modifying it with this tool. Re-trying tp perform the same operation usually works though. The crashes are attributed to the very different versions of the tools used to make this application and S3D.DLL (and the reader). That tool was actually 3 versions older, and it's indeed a surprise that (S3D.DLL) still works with the newer tool (even if with some occasional crashes under Vista).
- The "Application Look" feature has been removed, and the native/default implementation has been chosen instead. This means that you will no longer be able to select "themes" like "Office 2007 - Aqua" or "Office 2003", but the application look will depend on your operating system. For example, under XP it will look like a "normal" XP application, under Vista it will feature the "aero" look, etc. I think this is very acceptable, and actually preferable to many users.
Credits:- Special thanks to Jayson (sithlrd98) for the detailed testing and feedback he has provided, making it possible to make this tool working under Vista too.
INSTALLATION- Download and install version 1.00 from the LEX, if you haven't already.
- Go to the installation folder and copy the executable somewhere else (outside of the installation folder). This way it will be much easier to revert to V1.00 later.
- Get the (new) executable from the download link and overwrite the original (in the installation folder).
- Run the program.
- All commands should appear in the toolbar and display tips, and all menu items (in both the main and the popup menus) should display the keyboard shortcuts (take a look at this pic).
If this is not the case, try using the "Reset", "Reset All" or "Reset my usage data" commands in the "Customize" dialog (right-click on the toolbar to open this dialog). Close and restart the application. If it still doesn't work, try uninstalling (from the Control Panel - Add/Remove Programs) and re-installing V1.00, and then overwrite it with the new version, without running the program (V1.00), so that it won't record any "usage data". Note: uninstalling the application removes everything in the installation folder and the registry, ie it leaves off no "garbage".
Others:- My evaluation version of MS-VStudio 9.0 expires in 8 days. So please report your findings before the 4th of June. No changes or fixes will be possible to be performed after that date.
- As time presses, it will only be possible to add one additional feature to the program. I'm considering a "Merge" or "Append" model command, or a "Material Replacer", but I'm open to suggestions too.
- But for this to happen, I need some help with the documentation. There is no documentation for any of the new features (since version 1.00) and these might prove quite time-consuming for a non-native speaker. It would be of great help if some member(s) could undertake writing the (missing) help topics for the new operations. Take a look in the help file and see how these are made for the Scale and Set Trnsparency operations. Then I would have the time to implement the new feature(s). Otherwise I will have to write them myself.
- After the expiration date mentioned above, I could disclose the application's code to anybody who could perform updates or additions. Requires knowledge of the MFC library (and working procedures employed by MS Visual Studio - wizards, document/view architecure, commands etc).
Happy Testing!
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Replies to your posts:
@sdc16064: Pls take a look at the documentation, esp the Topic "Further Modding Information", it contains some techniques and tips. Do not perform operations on the simcity dats, instead take (local) copies of the models you wish to mod, preferably with changed IDs. Also rotating "normal" BATs (with 20 Z/R views) is not possible, beacuse of the reasons deiscussed in previous posts in this thread (lack of back faces, stretched textures). For these you can use the Re-Orientate command instead (see description above).
