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editorial
== 1) Tools required: ==
== Tools required: ==
*Autodesk's/discreet's 3d Studio Max (tested on 5 and 8 only, may work on others, too)
*Autodesk's/discreet's 3d Studio Max (tested on 5 and 8 only, may work on others, too)
*A generic text editor like Notepad. I however suggest downloading [http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/ Notepad++], which is a free, powerful and fast text editor with a tabbed interface.
*A generic text editor like Notepad. I however suggest downloading [http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/ Notepad++], which is a free, powerful and fast text editor with a tabbed interface.
== 2) Preparations ==
== Preparations ==
Create a folder called C:\RA2, you'll store all the files needed in there. Extract the reference.zip to that folder, and you'll get three files: reference.gmf, reference.max and reference.txt. Extract the GMF compiler to the same directory.
Create a folder called C:\RA2, you'll store all the files needed in there. Extract the reference.zip to that folder, and you'll get three files: reference.gmf, reference.max and reference.txt. Extract the GMF compiler to the same directory.
[[Image:3dsmaxreference.PNG]]
[[Image:3dsmaxreference.PNG]]
== 3) Creating the display mesh. ==
== Creating the display mesh. ==
The display mesh is how your component will look in the robot.
The display mesh is how your component will look in the robot.
== 4) Creating the collision mesh. ==
== Creating the collision mesh. ==
A collision mesh is the mesh RA2 will calculate how does the object react with the environement. The more the collision mesh looks like the display mesh, the more accurate it is, but it's also slower. You could just clone the object, but it's better to use a primitive that will act as a bounding box to the object.
A collision mesh is the mesh RA2 will calculate how does the object react with the environement. The more the collision mesh looks like the display mesh, the more accurate it is, but it's also slower. You could just clone the object, but it's better to use a primitive that will act as a bounding box to the object.
The collision mesh is done.
The collision mesh is done.
== 5) Exporting the geometry ==
== Exporting the geometry ==
Open the Tools Tab, then click on MAXScript. next, click on Run Script in the panel that just showed up. Select the file we downloaded earlier.
Open the Tools Tab, then click on MAXScript. next, click on Run Script in the panel that just showed up. Select the file we downloaded earlier.
In 3dsmax, select your collision mesh and export it again, but this time, make sure main_display IS checked! You'll end up with a new test.txt. Paste it right after the nsippet you pasted earlier. Again, make sure there are no excessive lines in between the snippets.
In 3dsmax, select your collision mesh and export it again, but this time, make sure main_display IS checked! You'll end up with a new test.txt. Paste it right after the nsippet you pasted earlier. Again, make sure there are no excessive lines in between the snippets.
== 6) Creating and exporting attachement points ==
== Creating and exporting attachement points ==
Let's create an attachement point. The hard part of this is, depending which way you want the point to face, you'll have to create it in different viewports. So, select the Create tab, and in Helpers select the Point object.
Let's create an attachement point. The hard part of this is, depending which way you want the point to face, you'll have to create it in different viewports. So, select the Create tab, and in Helpers select the Point object.
Here is how you make the point face the proper way, by creating it in the proper viewport:
Here is how you make the point face the proper way, by creating it in the proper viewport:
''Top:'' The attachment point faces north of the top view
* ''Top:'' The attachment point faces north of the top view
* ''Front:'' The attachment point faces south of the front view
''Front:'' The attachment point faces south of the front view
* ''Left:'' the attachment point faces west of the front view
''Left:'' the attachment point faces west of the front view
After that, you want to export your point data. Select the point, and in the export tools under GMID attachement click Export. Again, copy the contents of c:\test.txt into the reference.gmf file, after, the previous two snippets. Again, make sure there are no unnecessary whitespaces.
After that, you want to export your point data. Select the point, and in the export tools under GMID attachement click Export. Again, copy the contents of c:\test.txt into the reference.gmf file, after, the previous two snippets. Again, make sure there are no unnecessary whitespaces.
[[Image:3dstut8.PNG]]
[[Image:3dstut8.PNG]]
Type = Attach precises that the point is an attachement point.
Type = Attach precises that the point is an attachement point.
ID = 1 says which attachement point is it (we'll cover multiple attachement points in another tutorial)
ID = 1 says which attachement point is it (we'll cover multiple attachement points in another tutorial)
Attach = Generic_F says what type of attachement point will it be. Possible values are base_f, base_n, axle_f, axle_m, generic_f, generic_m. I can say Generic_F goes to extenders, Base_F goes to chassis, and Axle_F goes to motors.
Attach = Generic_F says what type of attachement point will it be. Possible values are base_f, base_n, axle_f, axle_m, generic_f, generic_m. I can say Generic_F goes to extenders, Base_F goes to chassis, and Axle_F goes to motors.
== 7) Finishing the [[GMF]] and compiling ==
== Finishing the [[GMF]] and compiling ==
Make sure that in the [[GMF]] file at the bottom in the RBCollection section the values correspond to the collision and display mesh names.
Make sure that in the [[GMF]] file at the bottom in the RBCollection section the values correspond to the collision and display mesh names.
description - ''the component description.''
description - ''the component description.''
== 9) Give yourself a pat on the back ==
== Give yourself a pat on the back ==
That's it! You made it! Power up RA2, and enjoy the pure awesomeness of yourself!
That's it! You made it! Power up RA2, and enjoy the pure awesomeness of yourself!
[[Image:3dstut10.PNG]]
[[Image:3dstut10.PNG]]
[[Category:Modification Tutorials]]
[[Category:Modification Tutorials]]