Bat4Max 2K edition V 4.5

[SimFox 804]

Another thing you could try is to switch to BSP2 as a rendering protocol - it is more memory efficient, although a bit slower than default BSP. Check your Help file for instructions how to switch (it could be somewhat different procedure in different versions of MAX). Remember to save your file after the switch before running preview again.

[Mayor of New Tokyo 0]

To Simfox,

How exactly to export into .sc4model files?

[SimFox 804]

to Mayor of New Tokyo:

it is a two stage project.

stage 1

File is created by exporting LODs from GMAX BAT. Since it is only LODs that are exported the file has no visible images (FSHs) in it. the are all black that color for game is like transparency in Alpha. So as such it is all but invisible in game. However all the necessary structure is created.

stage 2

Bat4Max creates rendered views of the actual model. there are altogether 20 views for day and (and if you desire) night. These large images (if they are large then 256pix in either direction at Zoom5 are then chopped by script in smaller chunks. "Empty" chunks are discarded. Rest are given appropriate names. BTW chunk/slap is considered empty not if it doesn't show any building, but if it doesn't cover any of the LOD (which is invisible) surface - so it is al math here, not visuals.

These resulting collection of images is converted to FSH standard - compressed images with alpha. Original FSHs are deleted from SC4modle file crated earlier and new ones are inserted.

And this is how you export into SC4Model files

If you have any more questions just ask!

[beppe46 25]

Very good work Simfox!

But I have a question about a problem that occurred exporting my bats... when i press DAT FSH insert I don't see any confirmation window (in trunite it appears) and when i try to put the building in a lot it doesn't work, i see only the plant but the building doesn't appear....  what it could be?

i have max 8 and Bat4max 4.5

thank you

[SimFox 804]

It could be that you've installed your Max into Folder with empty spaces in a path.

I've strongly suggested not to do so. There is some odd bug that prevent Dat Insert from working in such configuration despite the fact that all the necessary precautions had been there from get go. I didn't touch that part but as far as i can see it should work - everything is quoted out. Yet it doesn't...

I have found out about it just recently since I had to re-install my system and decided to go for Max Default installation. Anyway i do have a solution, but at the moment it is not all that easy to use as it quite different from what exists now and I haven't yet made it into "one click" script.

So you have two options:

1. to re-install your max into a folder with no empty spaces in a path.

2. wait a bit till I finish scripting a fix.

[beppe46 25]

I think the real problem was my english!!

thank you very much Simfox, now it works

[Heblem 600]

Hello,

Recently got my attention into this plugin, but i got a problem when exporting...

When I export a model, it generates a readable .SC4Model file, but the building is totally black, im, not sure what the problem is, any help?

I have checked the building model using reader, sc4pim and sc4tool...

As for I know, the black means something with the alpha, but im probably missing the insert FSH thing, i did, but nothing happens...

edit: I have found out that program direction was wrong, i had it as c:/3dstudio max 2009, but i think should be c:/3ds

edit2: The DAT FSH uinsert button doesn't work, tells that i have to render first then batch, but i did it!

edit3: Finally worked out!! I edited the .ini file to correct the problem, caused by change of folder name (directory), wow took me 2 hours to find out that small detail, lol

[Jasoncw 11,949]

Hi Heblem, I'm glad to see that you got 3ds Max.

If you got the most recent BAT4Max, which is linked to at the beginning of this thread, you can install max anywhere (even if it includes spaces in the path), and you don't need to edit the .ini file.

Try going back and undoing the changes you made, and make sure you have the most recent BAT4Max. It may be working now, but that it didn't work right away means that something is wrong, and problems might come up later because of it. Also, once you install a program (like 3ds Max, or any other program), you can't just move the files around, because the inner workings of the program may depend on the files being where they were installed. If you want to change where it was installed, you have to uninstall it and reinstall it.

If the .FSH insert button doesn't work, you can do it manually. Open the .SC4Model file, and select all of the black .FSH files, right click and delete them. Then right click again, and go to "insert files" and then navigate to your .FSH files, which are located in gamepacks/outputfiles folder.  My max is installed in program files, and I don't think the button works for me either, and I've been doing it manually.

[SimFox 804]

^^

Hold your horses Jason! Unfortunately that is not the case!

There are few separate issues with installation folder of 3dsMax.

1. Access rights to the folder in question.

I'm not sure when exactly this practice had started (I've noticed it only on Windows7) but by default all files in Program Files folder are accessible only for read, but not write! What this means in practical terms is that self-setting of Bat4Max Can NOT proceed, as it has to edit BatforMax.ini. Same issue may be at work in Windows Vista as well...

Solution:

it is possible to change access writes locally (say for gamepacks folder) to give full rights.

2.Empty spaces in Path name...

Unfortunately this issue is biting us on you know what once more! Just as Heblem reported, DAT FSH insert can't parse such path name, despite having appropriate syntax. I mean all teh path is surrounded with quote marks, still it wouldn't work.

Solution:

I have half made the new insert routine that solves this problem, but it isn't finalized or included into main script yet.

So in the end the best practice for now is to have Max installed outside of the Program Files folder and into one with NO empty spaces in the path.

For all those who has installed max in to default installation folder (that would be one in Program Files (or local language analogue of it) I think I'll have DAT FSH Insert solution in a week or so. As for the access rights - that has to be made manually by user!

If you re-install Max, you can move entire gamepacks folder to new location , just replace existing BATFORMAX.ini with fresh one from download. this will cause BatFroMax to reset itself on next load of Max.

Heblem:

you shouldn't really manually edit anything in Batformax.ini. If everything is set7installed right (meaning max in outside of Program Files folder and in the folder with not empty spaces in path, all will be working automatically.

[Heblem 600]

Thanks for help!

I meant I didn't edited the .ini file, just replaced it with a new one, which the old one was causing the error, i got everything working now and im doing my first bat4max, expect a render soon, of course suggestions are welcome.

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

I am having a problem(?) with the night rigs for LTBL such that the result is coming out much too dark. The box is a default gray Arch & design material with no settings changed. Everything is default in the scene except the mr physical sky environment map (plus I merged my model to make sure it wasn't that scene). Max 2010, fresh install of BAT4Max (which works perfectly with this exception).

Did I overwrite something (which would be odd since this is a fresh install of BAT4max)? Are my materials just too dark (day scene looks ok...)? Is it supposed to look like this (doubt it)? Its probably just something stupid on my part that I'm not seeing.

[SimFox 804]

well first of all things are pretty dark, also they are of a specific hue, namely warm (yellow-reds). In day time view they pick light from the Sun, but at night in a blue light of the night sky they revert to blacks... This is a side effect of having saturated a biased colors. That said your sample cube does have a bit strange appearance. It is way too blue in both day and Maxis night scenes. So this may add to the darkness of the building (again for the reason I've explained above).

Here is an overlay of your example of mine (also Max 2010):

As you can see the difference is subtle but still clear. Day scene has to much green in it. Top of My day cube is actaully very low saturated pink, yours is very low saturated blue. Nite ones are lucking slight amont of red. Make sure that you use the latest version.

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

Simfox: That is not exactly what I was expecting, but I'm glad its not just me who thought that it looked off. I installed the Jan 5th version form the STEX linked form the first message, but I'll try replacing everything and see what happens.

[nofunk 1,933]

Is the new Bat4Max 4.5 incompatible with Max 8? Jason and I have both tried installing it on my system on separate occasions, and both times came up with the following error when trying to open any model file:

File Open Error: Unknown class, no stand-in: SuperID =0xB60, ClassID =(0x4A0C66E1,0x1513165)

Then...

I'm trying to export some things in dark nite for you!

Thanks in advance.

[SimFox 804]

This is not the BAT4Max issue, but rather the issue of MAX itself. You are obviously trying to open in MAX8 files that hve been created (or re-saved) in newer versions of max. So now it complains that some of the plugins available in those versions are missing in your one. One very clear indicator of this is the very first one that refers to Arch&Design materials. THose were introduced only in Max 2008 if I remember correctly.

So, as I've said it has nothing to do with BAT4Max - that is version independent. Well as far as the version in question understands the MaxScript... But even then it will not show you such warning, since BAT4Max is NOT a plugin. It is just an external set of scripts.

If you wanna you could send those files to me and I can render them. I have a pretty powerful (pretty and powerful) computer...

[nofunk 1,933]

I am not trying to open files that have been created or saved in newer versions of max. The only version I have ever used is max8, and the file I tried to open when I got this error is one I created in max 8 and have already finished and exported with the previous bat4max. (It's my Logan Square Apartments.) When Jason tried to install the new bat4max on my laptop a month or so ago, he also tried to open a file I was working on that had been created and saved by me in max8. I only receive this error when I install the new bat4max files. When I remove them and reinstall the previous version of bat4max, the errors go away.

I can send you the file this afternoon.

[SimFox 804]

hm strange... Anyway the error message tels that certain plug-ins are missing. Those plugins themselves have nothing to do with Bat4Max. They are part of Mental Ray. And at least one of them - Arch&Design Materials(shaders) were ONLY introduced (I've checked it) in Max9.

Google list quite many complains about exactly same Open Error message "Unknown class, no stand-in: SuperID =0xB60, ClassID =(0x4A0C66E1,0x1513165)". None of them have anything to do with Bat4Max - (users don't have it) but all apparently related to attempts of opening files saved in later versions of MAX)

Anyway, send me files I'll render them and send ready SC4Models back to you.

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

Might as well chime in on my issue.

I completely overwrote my BAT4MAX 4.5 installation and yet the hue problems with the LTBL rigs still exists. That installation was a fresh installation on a fresh install of max 2010, so I don't know what could have even be there to interfere.

Is there anything I can do short of adjusting the hue/intensity of the IES sky (seems like a rather barbaric way of "fixing" the problem)?

[JDOG4545 1]

After i download the night n day mod none of the night lighting showed up on my skyscraper. What should I do?

[Xyloxadoria 1,098]

Originally posted by: JDOG4545

After i download the night n day mod none of the night lighting showed up on my skyscraper. What should I do?quote>

You will have to re-render your skyscraper using a darknite render.

[SimFox 804]

Xylo:

Sorry, mate, you in a sooo wrong ball park about that...

first of all DAY'n'NITE mod does nothing for turing on or off of night lighting of any kind.

second buildings rendered with GMAX or MAX but not in truNite mode will automatically translate into darker night. Not particularly well - some sever banding may appear on those (including maxis default buildings (Stock Exchange is a good example of that). Using DarkNite trunite export helps with precisely this issue. BATs exported with Bat4Max 4.4 DarkerNite truNite mode will look as smooth as they do in previews.

Those exported with Maxis night settings will remain as such - and hence will be too bright and too blue for darker night.

Jdog4545:

I'm afraid that you're wrong here. There is just NO way this could happen. I mean that DAY'n'NITE mode will in any way affect existence of night lighting on any of the buildings be them Maxis default stock or any custom content. It just doesn't work that way. I don't know what exactly have happened on your system; but I know that this is not it.

Your message is a bit vague... could you re-state it more precisely and descriptive (your skyscraper??), or, better still, include the picture of your city at night (same spot saved at same time with and without DAY'n'NITE mode) at zoom4?

[JDOG4545 1]

Originally posted by: SimFox

Xylo:

Sorry, mate, you in a sooo wrong ball park about that...

first of all DAY'n'NITE mod does nothing for turing on or off of night lighting of any kind.

second buildings rendered with GMAX or MAX but not in truNite mode will automatically translate into darker night. Not particularly well - some sever banding may appear on those (including maxis default buildings (Stock Exchange is a good example of that). Using DarkNite trunite export helps with precisely this issue. BATs exported with Bat4Max 4.4 DarkerNite truNite mode will look as smooth as they do in previews.

Those exported with Maxis night settings will remain as such - and hence will be too bright and too blue for darker night.

Jdog4545:

I'm afraid that you're wrong here. There is just NO way this could happen. I mean that DAY'n'NITE mode will in any way affect existence of night lighting on any of the buildings be them Maxis default stock or any custom content. It just doesn't work that way. I don't know what exactly have happened on your system; but I know that this is not it.

Your message is a bit vague... could you re-state it more precisely and descriptive (your skyscraper??), or, better still, include the picture of your city at night (same spot saved at same time with and without DAY'n'NITE mode) at zoom4?

quote>

ok.well most of my skyscrapers in my cites are hk/aisia bat team stuff. I downloaded all the dependancies but i guess the nightlighting didn't show up. What should i do and thanks for your help

[SimFox 804]

So, you never had night lights on custom buildings, right?

[JDOG4545 1]

Never mind, I got it to work. Apparently the sku update 1 wasn't deleted from my modem some how. Sorry for blaming your mod and thanks for your help. I love your works so keep making them!

[SimFox 804]

great!

[SimHoTToDDy 2,939]

So... any thoughts as to what might be causing the difference in my renders?

[SimFox 804]

The only culprit I could think of is white balance settings... But those are suppose to be set by script.. (are you sure you're using the latest LtbL script? and may be the ground plane if you have it in your scen... however it shouldn't really affect the color of the up facing face of the cube...

[LVenom 2]

OK its my first time around here so sry for the *****ish questions. I'm using Day

[SimFox 804]

Could you post a shot from the game, just to make sure that we are on the same page here...

[LVenom 2]