3ds Max - Troubleshooting & General Discussion

[DCMetro34 577]

Wow, thanks a lot Swat!! That worked out well.

[JakeMD 107]

I have a question of my own, now..

When I right click in a viewport, the context menu will often disappear and only show what's highlighted for a split second. I can usually solve it by restarting 3ds but it will usually come back after about 10 minutes (or right away). I wonder if this is some kind of driver/graphics driver issue? I'm not sure. Wondering if anyone else has had this problem.

3ds max 2011, 64-bit.

[wraithcat 0]

I've been trying to figure out how to make custom content, but all the links to tutorials are dead. gmax, BAT, and lot editor tutorials simply don't seem to exist anymore. am I not looking in the right places?

[JakeMD 107]

I've been trying to figure out how to make custom content, but all the links to tutorials are dead. gmax, BAT, and lot editor tutorials simply don't seem to exist anymore. am I not looking in the right places?

Have you tried the Omnibus?

[wraithcat 0]

no, thanks.

I have managed to create a simple box model. should be mentioned that models are .DAT files and not .SC4MODEL files that the plugin manager creates. I just need to learn how to use the gmax tool (or BAT, whatever) and I'll be fine. thanks for the link!

[smstevenms 7]

I've been trying to figure out how to make custom content, but all the links to tutorials are dead. gmax, BAT, and lot editor tutorials simply don't seem to exist anymore. am I not looking in the right places?

Have you tried the Omnibus?

I noticed no one responded to my question. However I was also waiting for Omnibus to be up again, hopefully some of my questions will be revealed there or at least answered. Thanks for the link.

[TowerDude 2,187]

Hello, and after some time I have finally got 3dsmax !

I do have a few questions though before installing all of it,

Does it work in Linux ?

Or is windows 7 better, I was also wondering if you need to be an administrator of PC to use it, let me explain

In Vista we installed SC4BAT and only my dad(administrator) could open it, as a user I got GMAXLOC variable unfidable, but GMAX is old, In 3dsmax do you need to a a pc admin to use it ? or does a user work aswell

Thank you for any responce

[Jasoncw 11,933]

If you have the Windows version of 3ds Max, then you need Windows XP or higher. There's also a Mac version.

I don't know about the admin stuff, but if you need to be an admin, couldn't your account be given admin powers? (I've only ever used a computer with one user)

[TowerDude 2,187]

Thank you, I have a Windows version running on Windows 7, my Dad wouldn't let me get admin powers on the family computer...

[CO2 59]

hi, i have a problem while exporting my bat, when exporting it, it only keep exporting one side again and again, the cameras that shoot the pictures in the exporting process, are always on the same position, wether they were shooting north or south or whatever, always shooting the same side

hi, i have a problem while exporting my bat, when exporting it, it only keep exporting one side again and again, the cameras that shoot the pictures in the exporting process, are always on the same position, wether they were shooting north or south or whatever, always shooting the same side

[DCMetro34 577]

Hmm, so in 3dsMax I have a subway entrance that is about 2.5 meters wide and 8 long. I made some LODs for it using BAT4MAX and exported the LODs. I opened the LODs in BAT, and the LODs were abour 1 meter long by 2.5 meters wide.

I am really confused about the scaling in 3dsMax. Is this normal, or how can I calibrate 3dsMax to have a correct scale for SC4? I thought 1 meter in 3dsMax equaled 1 meter in the BAT?

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

DCMetro34- Have you went to the Grid and snap Settings and to the area were it says Home Grid and type in 16.0m and grid size will change, each square is the same size as in the grid in the game, but don't forget the number you had it on. I you still have the same problem then Ican't say what's wrong.

I hope this help.

  Edited May 10, 2011 by Aaron Graham  

[DCMetro34 577]

Thanks much for the reply, Aaron!! The number I circled is the right number to change, right? Cause there are actually 3 different ones.

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Yes, that's the right one.

[DCMetro34 577]

Okay, so I changed the grid to 16 meters....

But now shapes barely show up in any views.... the grid is too big. I tried to go to the Units Setup.... but it was already like this.

Is there any way I can change the grid so I can make and see small details easier, while still keeping the same proportions for SC4? Like, in the same way BAT starts zoomed out really far, but you can zoom in closer. In 3dsMax, it doesn't really seem like I can zoom in any closer...

EDIT: I guess basically the question I'm asking is, how do you setup 3dsMax so that it works with SC4? What settings do you change, cause quite obviously, I am not smart enough to figure this out...

(I apologize for the newbyness of this question....)

  Edited May 11, 2011 by DCMetro34  

[Jasoncw 11,933]

tbh units are something that I can never keep straight in my head. I think both your system and display units should be in meters, in both max and gmax. I think BAT4Max automatically sets units up correctly although I think I had a problem with it recently (I forget the details or what I did about it).

And I think every file has its own units set up, so when you start up max and then you open a file, and it asks you about adopting the units, you'll want to adopt the file's units, if you correctly set up the units in that file.

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

I think, Bat4 Max does fix the settings, but here's a image of what mine likes like, I don't touch this becuase I do not want to face any problems in the future.

[DCMetro34 577]

Thanks very much for your responses!!!

I did get everything fixed correctly.. but I am still confused about this.

In the pic above, one small square on the grid equals 16x16 meters. Whereas, in the BAT each grid square is 1x1 meters. How can I change it so that it is the same way as BAT? I am sorry if you guys have said this in your replies, but if so, I didn't catch it.

Again, thanks SO much for all your help.

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

DCMetro34- Have you went to the Grid and snap Settings and to the area were it says Home Grid and type in 16.0m and grid size will change, each square is the same size as in the grid in the game.

Here's a picture of the Hogan Apartment scene, as you see I can changed the grid spacing to 16.0m. the Hogan Apartments is suppost to be on a lot of 2x2 in the game, this is good to start of with so your building does not end up being larger than the lot size you want it to be, most of my buildings are on a lot size of 2x2, the NYBT Park Towers Apartments will be a 4x3. I hope that helps a little, this is just to start you self off so it will be on the lot siz you want it to be. Now you will need to change the grid spacing when you start bating........

  Edited May 12, 2011 by Aaron Graham  

[DCMetro34 577]

Oh, yes, that's exactly what I have!! Thanks a lot; you really cleared that up!

One more question though.... if I were the change my home grid to equal 1 meter (so the model would be larger in 3dsMax), would 1 meter in 3dsMax still equal one meter in SC4?

Once again, thanks so much for all your help!

  Edited May 12, 2011 by DCMetro34  

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Are you talking about change the number to 1.0m in the Grid spacing??

[DCMetro34 577]

Are you talking about change the number to 1.0m in the Grid spacing??

Yes, I think so.

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

No it will not. Sorry it took me so long, i wanted to post a picture.

[DCMetro34 577]

Oh, no, you replied quickly!! Thanks for all your help Aaron (and Jason!!); I think I finally have the grid set up correctly now.

I really appreciate everything you've done!

DC

  Edited May 12, 2011 by DCMetro34  

[Aaron Graham 4,417]

Your welcome, I tried my best to help. Here's a picture, I did not want it to go to waste.

  Edited May 12, 2011 by Aaron Graham  

[Jasoncw 11,933]

In the grid and snaps window there's also a bit about "inhibit grid subidivsion" or something like that, which is checked by default. If you uncheck this, as you zoom in the big grids will be broken down into smaller grids. Just at first when you zoom in, double check the size of the grid you're looking at. If the grid spacing is 16 m and the major lines are every 10, then I think that when you zoom in your 16 meter grid will get divided into 10 grids (which means every grid is 1.6 meters which isn't what you want). I personally think it's easier to have both of those numbers as 10, since I think 10 is a simpler number to keep track of.

perspective view grid extent is how many chunks of grid there are in the perspective viewport. If you put in 100 the grid in the perspective viewport would extend much farther out, and if you put in a small number there would only be a little bit of grid and a lot of non-gridded space.

[DCMetro34 577]

Wow, thanks a bunch, Jason; this is exactly what I was looking for!! I'm learning something new every day!

DC

  Edited May 13, 2011 by DCMetro34  

[Jasoncw 11,933]

lol no problem.

[Ceafus 88 1,828]

Jasoncw I would just like to thank you for your hard work with B.A.T. 4 max.

[Jasoncw 11,933]

Thanks