BAT - Mega FAQ

[Jasoncw 11,840]

BAT - Mega FAQ

Hello, this thread is the BAT - Mega FAQ. Look here for answers to your questions. If the answer isn't here, post your question in one of the troubleshooting threads stickied to the top of this forum. Some of the information in this thread is outdated, but isn't worth deleting, so feel free to ask for clarifications (or any other questions in general) in the other stickies.

Keep in mind that the posts here are not in any particular order. You'll need to look through all of the entry titles to see if your question is here.

If you have anything to add to this thread, please write to one of the moderators.

The moderators for the BAT - Open Discussion forum are Jasoncw, T Wrecks, Cockatoo-210893 and Xyloxadoria.

Resources

The following is a listing of tutorials.

BAT Essentials Tutorial:

This tutorial is the best starting point for the new BATer. No prior knowledge required!

• BAT Essentials

General Resources:

• Quick and Dirty 1:1 [Roof] Texture Tutorial

• BAT Help - General BAT Problems (original 2005 help thread)

• BAT Help - Render Related Issues (original 2005 help thread)

• BAT Help - Lighting (original 2005 help thread)

• BAT Help - Modelling Issues (original 2005 help thread)

• BAT Help - Texturing Issues (original 2005 help thread)

• BAT Help - LODs and Miscellaneous BAT Problems (original 2005 help thread)

• Random Roof Junk

• Unwrap UVW

• How to Mirror an Object

• Converting Microsoft Flight Simulator Aircraft into Props • BAT Lot Development 101 :A Compendium of Information

• Scaling, Maxis, BAT and You • To Stretch or Not to Stretch

• How to Make Semitransparent Glass

• The Material Editor in Depth

• Blender 2.43 to Gmax

• Building an Adobe Cantina

• Texturing Tutorial

• Glass Texturing Tutorial

3ds Max Specific Resources:

•

• Night Window Textures

• Anti Aliasing in the Game

• How to Add Neon Lighting to your BAT

• Realistic Window Reflections

• Using Vertex Painting to Enhance Procedural Textures

• 3d Studio Max BAT Version 2 Released

• How to Add Neon to your BATs

• Forces of Light and the Geometry of Shadows

• Gmax to 3ds Max

Other:

• Maxis References

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Where do I get Gmax?

You can download Gmax for free at www.turbosquid.com/gmax.  Follow the instructions at that website.  Note that you need to install Gmax before you install the BAT.

Where do I get the BAT?

You can download the BAT for free at simcity.ea.com/coolstuff/bat/index.php.  Follow the instructions at that website. 

What are Gmax and the BAT, and what's the Difference?

Gmax is a free 3D modeling tool based on 3ds Max.  The BAT (Building Architect Tool) is a gamepack that Maxis made for Gmax that lets you export your 3D models as .SC4Model files.  You'll need both to make BATs.

The two terms are generally used interchangeably within the Sim City 4 community, but keep in mind that they are two different things.

"BAT" can also be used as a verb and a noun.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

What is a .SC4Model file?

A .SC4Model file is the file type associated with BATs.  These are created by the BAT when you export a scene from Gmax.

But a .SC4Model is actually a container file, meaning that it is not a file itself, but something that holds other files.  The extension is just for the convenience of the user.  .SC4Lots, .SC4Props, SC4Descs and .Dats are all container files.

A .SC4Model container holds the following types of files:

• .S3D File:  These are your LODs, the 3D objects that appear in the game.  There are 4 rotations and 5 zoom levels, making 20 files.  Zoom 6 is just an enlarged zoom level 5.

• .BMP File:  This is a normal .bmp image file.  These are used by the Official Maxis SC4 Exchange, and are not needed for your buildings to function properly in the game.  There are two of these, one for night, and one for day.

• .JFIF File:  This is another image file used by the Official Exchange.  It is not needed for your building to function properly in the game.  There are two of these, one for night, and one for day.

• .FSH File:  This is another image file, but this one is important.  These are the rendered images of your building, which are assembled and mapped onto your .S3D files.  These files also contain the transparency information which blocks out the black background behind your building.  There are a lot of these.

• .DIR File:  You might be wondering how the game knows which file's are supposed to be associated with each other.  Each file has its own number, called an Instance ID (IID).  The .DIR file has a directory of IIDs which describes their relationship with each other, and other content for the game.  There is only one of these files for each .SC4Model file. 

• .XML File:  This file contains information for the lot editor and plug-in manager.  There is only one of these.

Files can be looked and, moved around, deleted, edited, and more using The Reader.  Understanding how a .SC4Model file works is very important in working with LODs, and 3ds Max.

Deleting unnecessary files can reduce the file size of your model, letting the game run faster, and can prevent your .SC4Model file from being uploaded to the offcial SC4 exchange.

Sometimes modders manipulate and repackage these files, so a .SC4Model file might not be easy to recognize, but remember that all that matters are the files contained inside of a .SC4Model, not how they are packaged.  It is possible to break a .SC4Model file into smaller files, or merge it with .SC4Lot files, for example, and it will still work properly in the game.

How Do I Open a .SC4Model in Gmax?

You can't.  A BAT is a simplified model with pre-rendered images applied to it.  A building would look something like this.

To learn more about .SC4Model files, read the entry here, titled, "What is a .SC4Model File?"

If you'd like to edit a .SC4Model, you can contact the creator, and ask for the original Gmax file.  They might give it to you, which you could then modify and re-export.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

How big is a SC4 Tile in Gmax?

A lot tile is 16x16 meters.  To adjust your grids in Gmax, go to Customize>Grids and Snap Settings.

How do I Protect Myself from Corrupt BAT Files?

Once your file is corrupted, there isn't a lot you can do about it.  Check C:\gmax\autoback for your file.

To help protect yourself from corrupt files, you can use the "Increment on Save" feature.  Go to Customize>Preferences, and under the Files tab, check the "Increment on Save" check box.  Now, when you save, it will actually "Save As" a new file, with a number added to the end of the filename.  For example, Untitled01.gmax, Untitled02.gmax, etc.

This way, when one of your files is corrupted, you can go back to the most recent un-corrupted file.  To save storage space, you can delete old files when you know you don't need them anymore.  This feature is also useful for when you simply make mistakes, you can go back to an earlier version.

How Tall Should I Model my Floor Heights?

Maxis used a variety of scales on their buildings.  Some of the R§ houses are the same size as the cars in the street.  Other Maxis buildings have a more realistic scale.

If you model your building using realistic dimensions, your building will look too short in the game, because SimCity 4's view is a parallel projection, and will distort the appearance of your building.  Vertically scaling your model by 133% will overcome this squashing effect.

Modeling with realistic dimensions, and then vertically scaling by 133% (or modeling with the scaled up dimensions as you go along) will make your buildings visually proportional.  It will also keep your building's scale consistent with other buildings you do. 

But ultimately your buildings will be used in the game.  Another way to judge your building's scale is to do a test export, and plop your building next to similar buildings.  For example, if you are making a R§ house, you might choose to under scale your building, so that it fits in with its environment of other under scaled R§ houses.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Why aren't BAT Night Lights/Nitelites Showing up in the Game?

If you made night lights, and can see them in preview renders, but they aren't showing up in the game, check the following:

1. Make sure you have the BAT Nitelites update from the official SC4 website.
2. Make sure the building is powered, occupied, and you have waited long enough.

If you did not make the BAT yourself, make sure that the BAT has night lights.  If the creator did not create night lights, there will be none to show in the game.

 

Where do I find the Night Lights/Nitelites Update?

This update was released by Maxis, and enables night lights for BATs.  You must be product registered at the official site to download it.

The update:

Click Here to Download

Link to the page it's on:

http://simcity.ea.com/coolstuff/bat/index.php

"B.A.T. has opened up possibilities with custom buildings in SimCity 4 Deluxe like no other tool before it. To get the most out of your B.A.T. when you play SimCity 4 Deluxe you will want to apply this new update to your game. The update will enable those custom buildings that have night time effects to display properly in the game.

To get this update click on the "SimCity 4 Update" link found right here."

How do I make Night Lights/Nitelites?

To create a light in Gmax, go to Create>Lights, and choose a type of light.  If you'd like to make Night Windows, create any object like you would normally.  Either way, after creating it, add "nite" to the front of the object's name.  For example, if your object was called, "Omni01" it should be renamed to "NiteOmni01" or if your object was "Plane01" it should be renamed to "NitePlane01." 

Adding "Nite" to the front of any non-light object will add a Nite Map to it, which is the standard method for lighting windows.  Adding "Nite" to a light will make the light only shine during night time, instead of during both day and night.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

My export screwed up!  How do I fix it?

Export failures are a complicated thing, but the following actions will remedy most exporting problems.  First, select all of your building, and go to File>Save Selected, and save it as something.  Then, create a new scene, and go to File>Merge, and merge what you had just saved into the new scene.  Export your building.

I created a light, and then my viewport got really dark.  How do I fix it?

Right click on the label of that viewport ("Top" "User" "Right" "Perspective" etc.), and go to Configure.  Check the check box labeled "Use Default Lighting" and select the radio button labeled "2 Lights."

This problem occurs when the viewport's crude lighting system can not properly render the light. 

How do I change my Display Driver?

Go to Customize>Preferences, and go into the Viewports tab.  OpenGL is generally recommended for less viewport lag.

Changing your display driver may resolve viewport glitches.

I Opened Gmax, but I Can't Find any of the BAT Tools.  What happened?

You need to open Gmax through the BAT icon, instead of the Gmax icon.  If you open Gmax through the Gmax icon, you will open Gmax, but it will not load any of the BAT stuff with it. 

[Jasoncw 11,840]

What are the Error Codes for BAT4Max?

        Here is an incomplete list of the error codes for BAT4Max.  This is not for Gmax.

100	Problem deleting old directories (deletetree).
102	Problem setting render type.
104	Problem setting cameras.
106	Problem resetting cameras.
108	Model name structure failed to initialize.
110	Problem cleaning out temp folder.
112	Problem cleaning up destination folder.
114	Problem deleting temporary meshes left over from previous renders.
116	Problem creating .bat file.
118	Problem creating temporary light.
120	System.bmp file missing from BAT directory.
122	Failed to find or create LODs.
124	Failed to get the LOD for the current zoom level.
126	Failed to set up render viewport.
128	Problem deleting temporary light, or resetting camera rig after rendering complete.
130	Problem creating .fsh files/updating .SC4Model file.
150	Problem sacing temporary day material library.
152	Problem adding scene materials to temporary night material library, or temporary material library is empty.  (Possible cause: scene is empty or has no materials).
154	Problem saving temporary night material library.
156	Problem adding scene materials to temporary night material library or temporary material library is empty.  (Possible cause: scene is empty or has no materials).
158	Problem initializing temporary night alpha material library.
160	Problem building the night alpha library (Possible cause: Bad or incomplete material in scene.  Standard materials work best with night library render).
170	Problem getting night window opacity.
174	Problem setting night window opacity in file properties.
180	Problem getting night window texture map.
190	Problem getting name of night window texture file.
196	Problem getting truncated filename of night window texture.
204	Failure to get LODs.
210	Failure to create LOD.
220	Failure to create LODs 3, 4, or 5.
230	Problem setting up LODs/setting render region.
250	Problem backface culling LOD shell.
260	Problem slicing LOD shell.
300	Failure to apply screen region UV mapping.
320	Failure to apply diced region UV mapping.
400	Pre-render set up problem (day render).
404	Problem making or cleaning up daytime render directory.
410	Rendering problem for daytime render (may be 3ds max or memory problem).
412	Problem processing daytime alpha map.
416	Problem processing daytime render or converting to .bmp.
418	Failure deleting source render (.tga) files.
490	Problem enabling/disabling nitelites.
500	Problem making or cleaning directories for night render.
510	Incorrectly set render type.
511	Problem loading night library or assigning night library materials to objects.
513	Problem setting up nitelites.
514	Problem setting main lighting rig for night renders.
516	Night renders failure (nitelites) (may be memory problem).
518	Problem restoring lighting level.
590	File preparation problem for Nightwindows processing.
592	Problem converting day render to night colors.
594	File handling problem, post day -> night conversion (nightwindows).
600	Problem loading temporary alpha library or assigning alpha materials to objects (for nitelite or night library alpha render).
602	Problem disabling lighting rig.
604	Night alpha render failure (may be memory problem).
606	File handling problem (night alpha).
608	Problem during alpha adjustment.
610	Night alpha file handling problem, post-adjustment.
612	Failure restoring lighting rig or camera rig.
614	Failure loading temporary day materials library, or reassigning day materials to objects.
700	Nightwindows post-processing setup.
703	Problem setting texture tiling parameters.
704	Failure opening night window texture file.  (Possible cause:  File name doesn't conform to standard).
705	Problem tiling nightwindow texture.  (Possible cause:  Image size not 256x256).
706	File handling problem, nightwindows.
707	See 706.
708	See 706.
709	Failure placing nightwindows onto night render.
710	See 706.
800	Night Alpha post-processing, file handling problem.
814	Alpha compositing problem.
815	File handing problem, post compositing.
816	See 815.
817	Problem deleting temporary camera, or memory cleanup.
900	Image dicing initialization problem (pre-render).
910	Problem rendering the 256x256 dicing source image.  If you get this error, try disabling the render viewport, or pan the render viewport until all geometry is far outside of the viewport.  This will save memory (and reduce render time).
912	Problem initializing file names for image dicing.
914	Problem creating temporary bitmaps for dicing.
950	Night dicing initialization problem.
952	failure deleting source files (source file missing?).
954	Problem during dicing of temporary daytime or daytime alpha bitmap.  Problem could be occurring while:  Making or cleaning out directory for .fsh slice, pulling grayscale bitmap (gbuffer channel) from dicing source image, writing pixels to daytime slice, or daytime alpha slice, writing lines to .bta file, writing index.fsh file, or writing .tgi file.
960	Same as 954, except night time.
968	Problem during post-dicing cleanup.

Return to BAT FAQ main page.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

I Opened Gmax, but I Can't Find any of the BAT Tools.  What happened?

Link to this Post:

        You need to open Gmax through the BAT icon, instead of the Gmax icon.  If you open Gmax through the Gmax icon, you will open Gmax, but it will not load any of the BAT stuff with it. 

Return to BAT FAQ main page.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Where is 3dsmax.ini on Windows XP and Vista, and for 3ds Max 9?

Link to this Post: 

       .ini files are "Initialization files," which holds configuration information for when the program starts up.  You need to edit this file for BAT for 3ds Max to work.

        In both cases, 3dsmax.ini is a hidden file.  Your computer must be set to view hidden files.  In Windows XP and Vista, go to your control panel, and go to the Folder Options.   In the View tab, there is an option to hide or show hidden files and folders.

       Location of 3dsmax.ini:

Windows:  C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3dsMax8\

Vista:  C:\Users\[Your user name]\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsmax\9 - 32bit\enu\

3ds Max 9:  C:\Documents and Settings\Your User Name\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\3dsmax\9 - 32bit\enu\

Return to BAT FAQ main page.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Night Lights/Nitelites in 3ds Max:  Interior Lights

        With this method, you simply use transparent glass, and you place lights inside, and the interior will be lit.  You should probably model the interior.  It is also resource intensive, so be careful with how many lights you add.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

Night Lights/Nitelites in 3ds Max:  Night Libraries

       SimFox has written a tutorial about it which can be found here.  It is about two thirds down the page.

       In the future I'll make an illustrated tutorial.

[Jasoncw 11,840]

What is BAT4Max?

 

BAT4Max makes 3ds Max usable for BATing purposes.

 

What is 3ds Max?

Gmax is a free version of 3ds Max, created so that gaming communities can create custom content for their favorite games (if the game publisher also released a gamepack, such as the BAT).  3ds Max is a professional program and an industry standard, used to create movies, video games and more.

Where do I download BAT4Max?

The most recent version can be found in a thread at the top of the BAT - Open Discussion forum.