3DS max 2016 Metasequoia (.MQO) Importer

Since the website with the Metasequoia importers/exporters for modern versions of 3DS max has disappeared I tried my hand at compiling sio29’s 3DS max 9 code for 3DS max 2016.

Writing GIMP Python plug-ins

Notes about writing Python plug-ins for the GNU Image Manipulation Program (GIMP).

The documentation for GIMP Python aka PyGIMP aka Python-fu is woeful.

The official docs are here, [link].

Some web pages for beginners to start with:

• http://zwell.net/content/pygimp.html
• http://www.neuraldump.com/2017/01/program-python-plug-ins-for-gimp-hello-gimp-world/
• https://web.archive.org/web/20150808044417/http://www.exp-media.com:80/content/extending-gimp-python-python-fu-plugins-part-1
• http://tinker.kotaweaver.com/blog/?p=81
• http://muras.eu/2012/05/06/Basic-python-script-for-Gimp/
• https://patdavid.net/2014/02/getting-around-in-gimp-plug-ins-and.html
• http://gimpbook.com/scripting/ (view the slides)
• http://gimpbook.com/scripting/notes.html
• https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/library/os-autogimp/
• http://wiki.elvanor.net/index.php/GIMP_Scripting
• https://gimplearn.net/viewtopic.php/How-to-write-Plug-in-for-GIMP-in-Python?p=10844#p10844

Github Desktop Program Tutorial

Github Desktop is a GUI program for git version control that is distributed by Github.com.

The video below explains how to use it the best in my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qXXAWsxldg




Markdown cheatsheet for writing readme.md is here. [link]

WIP: TR42PRJ

Version: 0.71
Status: Released

An attempt to replicate aktrekker’s TR2PRJ program for the TRLE community.

I noticed aktrekker’s program gets some of the geometry incorrect, especially some split sectors and some sectors beneath horizontal doors.

Unlike aktrekker’s program I only extract geometry so rooms will have to be manually reconnected, retextured, and triggers, objects and lights added.

aktrekker’s program seems to convert black in the textures to magenta instead of alpha to magenta so I fixed this too.

Source and release at GitHub. [link]

If building from source you need to download the Vampyre Imaging Library. The latest released version does not compile under Delphi XE7 so get the version from Mercurial repository. [link]

Since I don’t know how aktrekker extracted textures and created doors I may in future add ability to import TR2PRJ’s prj file and inject this data into the prj I create.

Usage:

• Open .TR4 file
• Click Save As to save .prj and .tga file

Delphi TOpenDialog option ofExtensionDifferent

ofExtensionDifferent doesn’t appear to be set in Windows 8.1.

The following example from [link] fails.

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
var 
Done: Boolean;
filenamestring : String;
begin
  OpenPictureDialog1.DefaultExt := GraphicExtension(TIcon);
  filenamestring := GraphicFileMask(TIcon);
  OpenPictureDialog1.FileName := filenamestring;
  OpenPictureDialog1.Filter := GraphicFilter(TIcon);
  OpenPictureDialog1.Options := [ ofFileMustExist, ofHideReadOnly, ofNoChangeDir ];
  Done := False;
  while not Done do
  begin
  if OpenPictureDialog1.Execute then
    begin
    if not (ofExtensionDifferent in OpenPictureDialog1.Options) then
      begin
      Application.Icon.LoadFromFile(OpenPictureDialog1.FileName);
      Done := True;
      end
    else
//      OpenPictureDialog1.Options := OpenPictureDialog1.Options - ofExtensionDifferent;
    end
  else { User cancelled }
    Done := True;
  end;
end;

CodeTyphon (Lazarus fork) doesn't have this problem. 

FBX ASCII 7300 (2013) File Format

• Each Object Type requires unique id number (uid) < 2**63 
• Each closing brace must be on its own line
• For Vertices, PolygonVertexIndex, Materials arrays need number of elements in array e.g. Vertices *(number of vertices  x 3) { 
• Negative polygon vertex index created by bitwise not of actual vertex index
• https://banexdevblog.wordpress.com/2014/06/23/a-quick-tutorial-about-the-fbx-ascii-format/
• https://github.com/mont29/blender-io-fbx/blob/master/io_scene_fbx/export_fbx_bin.py

WIP: WadViewer

Version: 0.4
Status: Released

WadViewer is TRViewer adapted to open/save .wad files.

It was created for the purpose of importing .3ds files directly into a .wad file so a lot of the TRViewer functionality has been disabled since it is incompatible with .wad files.

WadViewer.exe must be copied into an existing TRViewer folder to work.

WARNING: Use only on a copy of your .wad or have a backup of your .wad. The program has not been tested much.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/k85oxnm5k5i8vz7/WADViewer_4.zip