FSX MDL viewer update + a few things I've been working on.

**decapod** · September 17th, 2009, 03:21

For those that haven't found it yet, here is an update to a .NET application I've been gradually writing for the past year to view true FSX MDL files (not for FS9 or earlier)
For thos that know me from the train sim community, this is basically an update for my MS Train Sim Shape file viewer.

http://cid-06b528339820717e.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Downloads/MDLReaderSetup.zip

I think you need to have the DirectX9c runtime update from October 2008 or later for it to work.

I've also been doing a bit of modelling for FS9 and FSX using the 3D Canvas (www.amabilis.com) tool - for which I have written a native FSX exporter.

A 1930's BA Swallow

and a few "Targets" for Chris Sykes RAF Bombing ranges - these images came directly from the MDL viewer screenshot option.

**decapod** · September 17th, 2009, 03:22

A few more....

**CG_1976** · September 17th, 2009, 04:23

3D Canvas, Thats the program my wife uses with TrainSim. Your saying it does FSX??

**decapod** · September 17th, 2009, 05:14

Originally Posted by CG_1976

3D Canvas, Thats the program my wife uses with TrainSim. Your saying it does FSX??

Version 7.1.2 of 3D canvas pro has an export plugin for FSX as well as animation helper plugin, all the material options are available and an attachment helper plugin.
All written with some support from ACEs when they existed - it was intended as the first draft for the MS Train Sim 2 export option.

The only thing it can't do just yet is bones. That's awaiting a fix to the bones system due in 3D Canvas 8.0

I also wrote a tutorial on building the BA Swallow...
http://forums.uktrainsim.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=88061

**Meshman** · September 17th, 2009, 07:19

Thanks for sharing the utility!

**gera** · September 17th, 2009, 07:31

Thank you, your tool sure looks promising.

**gera** · September 17th, 2009, 07:45

Hey Paul, I just took a look at some of your pages and found your tutorials for FSX. This sure looks wonderful for us making scenery. I use FSDS but have seen 3D Canvas used for MSTS and it is very nice. check your pm....thanks.

**italoc** · September 17th, 2009, 07:51

Hei Gera
your avatars are one better than others

Italo

**Chris Sykes** · September 17th, 2009, 12:53

damn there goes the SCUD sneeky preview! lol

oh just notice i havent got that barge!!!

EgoR64 · September 17th, 2009, 14:11

:ernae:

Please let us know if Ya get the Bones to work, That would be way cool, Could get some walking people in the Sim.

The Bones fix will it be for what version, Looks like 8.1 is the Latest !!

Thanks for your great Plugins !!

Many Cheers !!

***Navy Chief*** · September 17th, 2009, 14:11

I downloaded and installed the MDL reader software, but it crashes each time I try to boot it. It supposedly installed ok. But as I am running Vista 64, is that the problem?

Thanks.

NC

***Roger*** · September 17th, 2009, 14:55

Love the Swallow! When can we get to fly her?:ernae:

**PutPut** · September 17th, 2009, 14:59

I, also, can't get this program to run. It gives me the Microsoft "send a report" message when I try to open it. I am running XP SP-2 and do have .NET 3.5 installed and am running the latest version of DX9c.

Paul

MCDesigns · September 17th, 2009, 15:16

Originally Posted by EgoR64

:ernae:

Please let us know if Ya get the Bones to work, That would be way cool, Could get some walking people in the Sim.

The Bones fix will it be for what version, Looks like 8.1 is the Latest !!

Thanks for your great Plugins !!

Many Cheers !!

Bones are supported in Gmax and work in FSX, look at the arm animation for the trike pilot.

Cool idea, off to check out the MDL veiwer.

**N2056** · September 17th, 2009, 15:27

What a great tool!

Many thanks for sharing it, it will be quite useful to me

**decapod** · September 17th, 2009, 22:13

I'd love to know why the MDl viewer doesn't run on some but is fine on others. Of the reports I've had so far it doesn't seem to matter which version of windows is running.
Which really only leaves DirectX (and SlimDX) or .NET as the culprits.
The program is as "Standard" .NET 2.0 as it can be so it should be backwards compatible with 3.5.

I'd like to hear of any other failures, including video card type, DX version and .NET versions installed.
It could easily be my fault trying to do something like anti-aliasing on cards that don't support it.

Roger - The Swallow VC is in development, I'm hoping to have the FSX and FS9 versions done before christmas but I'm being a bit picky with it being my first aircraft.

**Bjoern** · September 20th, 2009, 14:07

Paul, maybe this will be of help:

Code:

Description:
  Stopped working

Problem signature:
  Problem Event Name:    CLR20r3
  Problem Signature 01:    mdlviewer.exe
  Problem Signature 02:    1.0.1.18558
  Problem Signature 03:    4ab20d31
  Problem Signature 04:    Microsoft.VisualBasic
  Problem Signature 05:    8.0.0.0
  Problem Signature 06:    4a277ad7
  Problem Signature 07:    6e
  Problem Signature 08:    e
  Problem Signature 09:    System.BadImageFormatException
  OS Version:    6.1.7600.2.0.0.256.48
  Locale ID:    1031

My OS is Win 7 Pro x64 RTM. The .NET Framework version is 3.5 if I remember correctly. DX is the latest one, video card (does that matter at all?) is a Geforce GTX275 with 190.62 drivers.

Upon googling "System.BadImageFormatException" I found serveral references to x86 programs not running correctly in the SysWOW64 container on x64 systems.

- Edit: I also get that error with Jon Masterson's Library Object Viewer, so it *has* to be something x64/x86 related.

**decapod** · September 21st, 2009, 00:31

Hi Bjoern,

Yes that's a great help - definitely related to x86/x64. I can do a temporary fix to force it to run 32bit mode only until I can work out a better way of running in 64bit mode.

**decapod** · September 21st, 2009, 00:54

One thing 64bit users could try is to install the SlimDX library runtime for 64bit systems, it might fix the problem:
Look for end user runtime on this page:
http://slimdx.org/download.php

DirectLink: http://slimdx.googlecode.com/files/S...9%20SP1%29.msi

**Bjoern** · September 21st, 2009, 09:27

Originally Posted by decapod

One thing 64bit users could try is to install the SlimDX library runtime for 64bit systems, it might fix the problem:
Look for end user runtime on this page:
http://slimdx.org/download.php

DirectLink: http://slimdx.googlecode.com/files/S...9%20SP1%29.msi

Nope, doesn't work.

Until MDL View gets fixed, one could use the demo version of Abacus' FS Repaint v2 as a model and repaint preview application, even though it refuses to display native SP2 models (full version only).

**some1** · September 21st, 2009, 09:49

Originally Posted by decapod

Hi Bjoern,

Yes that's a great help - definitely related to x86/x64. I can do a temporary fix to force it to run 32bit mode only until I can work out a better way of running in 64bit mode.

When compiling you have to set platform target to x86. If it is set to "any cpu", it will try to run as 64 bit on a 64 bit OS, and with some dependencies being 32 bit only, it will crash.

**crashaz** · September 21st, 2009, 10:34

Nice tool!! Thanks much... worked great on my x86 Win7 setup!

EgoR64 · September 21st, 2009, 12:43

:ernae:

Hi MC,

Actually the cool thing with Pauls Tool for 3d-Canvas is, you can take a Poser image that you design - me old ver 7, Throw a 30 frame walk in there, Export it as a BVH, Import it into 3d-Canvas and fuss around with the Bones, trying to fit them in the Skin of the Imported poser image, Use Pauls tool to export it and the animations, and you have a Walking little person in FSX, Except my little dudes skins breaks up during the walk, So Close...Yet....So.....

I have not played with it for awhile, that or anything else lost me entire puter, rebuilding Suxs, Slowly getting back into it, lost all me tricks -

**decapod** · September 21st, 2009, 13:47

After doing a bit more reading I think I can change the application install so it detects the system and will run in native 64bit mode with the correct slimdx version.
Might be a few days though as I'm off to a conference for a day or 2 tomorrow.

***Navy Chief*** · September 21st, 2009, 14:03

Originally Posted by decapod

After doing a bit more reading I think I can change the application install so it detects the system and will run in native 64bit mode with the correct slimdx version.
Might be a few days though as I'm off to a conference for a day or 2 tomorrow.

Yea!!! Thanks in advance!!!

NC