Kuju Rail Simulator Export Plug-in Beta 1 Available

Take you time Richard <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –> We now it comming soon

Hi All,

It’s been long in coming, but I have a beta version of the exporter for KRS available.

I’ve attached the plug-in to this message. It needs to be copied to the PluginsImportExport folder where 3DC is installed. (If you are running Vista you’ll also need to use REGSVR32 to register it using a Command Prompt)

I have sent samples to Kuju for validation.

There are some limitations to this export:

1) it does not include the export of animation information.
2) The default shader exported currently is ‘TexDiff’. If you want to specify a specific shader you will need to add ‘KRS’ to ‘Material Custom Fields’ and then enter the shader name for each material you want to have something other than ‘TexDiff’. This is easiest by right-clicking on an object and choosing ‘Properties’, then updating the material in the Material Editor.
3) only the standard texture is exported. No shine maps etc.

Note that this is an export to the Kuju Intermediary Geometry Format. They have a tool that translates this into the final format for the game. If you have a beta version, you should have this tool. Unfortunately, I never received a beta for some reason so I can’t test it myself.

I’ve validated the export by hand and by writing an importer for the Kuju Intermediary Geometry format. Note that this will NOT import models provided with the game, or the models you publish. It really has no use except as a validation too.

In the upcoming days/weeks I’ll be writing a script to convert MSTS materials into KRS shaders so there will be fewer manual changes required to models. I’ll also be updating the MSTS export to allow direct entry of shader information.

There are lots more changes coming for train simulators. More on that later.

The export requires unique names. Fortunately there is a plug-in that generates them. I don’t know if this is a requirement or not. It may be for the purposes of distance levels. I forget off hand.

To export, select an object in the ‘root’ of your model, then select the export from the file menu.

I’m not very keen on all the message boxes if there are non-unique names.
Could you make it generate unique names?

I presume the export is for the whole scene or does it allow export of hierarchies?

EDIT – Found the answer by delving into the file…

Selecting an object in a group before export seems to only export that hierarchy.

I had the non-unique names error box to click through as well!
Next time I used the unique names generator plugin first, and that seemed to work fine.

Did have a couple of error messages about having to many child groups (24), but, otherwise seemed to work in Vista premium ok.

Now all I need is the game so that I can see what I have exported!!!

Cheers,
Kevin

It would have helped if I had provided instructions. <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –>

Improvement suggestions noted.

There will be lots of improvements over the next couple of weeks. As soon as Kuju gets back to me.

Kuju sent me a couple of sample files. My importer was able to import them correctly, so since it imports my exports also, I’m guessing I’m pretty close to being right with the file. Then it’s on to refinements.

Hi Richard,

It looks like I’m getting a ‘maximum child groups (24) exceeded’ error for every child group over 24

– can this be changed to just one message?

Any news on an update for the plugin?
KRS is released in a couple of weeks.

Another probable bug

– the end of the IGS files lists all textures in the scene, not just the ones in the hierarchy exported.

Some also appear more than once.

Paul,

I’ve sent them a sample export. It didn’t load properly into KRS and they are checking to see the cause. I’d really like the exporter available and finished by the release of KRS.

It’s all up to them now. I’m 100% available to do the work.

Unfortunately, I haven’t received any real information from Kuju since I sent them samples on August 27th. Which, as you can imagine, makes correcting problems with the exporter nearly impossible.

I can imagine that they are quite busy. Hopefully they’ll get to us soon.

According to the EA website, Rail Simulator is not available until the 12th. That gives me a little more time. Hopefully they’ll provide some more information by Tuesday and I can get to work. (I won’t work Monday since it is Thanksgiving here in Canada).

I appreciate the effort Richard.

Richard,

after some battering on the uktrainsim forums, Adam at RSDL conceded that all efforts are on the release at the moment, and that they will be allowed to liaise with you again only after the release.

Ian <!– s8-) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cool.gif" alt="" title="Cool" /><!– s8-) –>

I’m sorry to say I have been less than impressed by Kuju/RSDL and KRS itself (for various reasons) it would have taken them about 2 seconds to send the information Richard needed with a sample model.

I have cancelled my order for KRS and am taking a self imposed exile from UKTrainsim forums for a few months to concentrate on FSX and MSTS2.

I’ll still be around this forum and a few of the flight sim ones.

– If you want a new train sim get TRS2006, if you can wait a few more months, get MSTS2 (or play with FSX)

Hello,

I have the game. What can be done now to export from 3DC. Is it useful to test the current plugin?

While MSTS2 is not out, I wait with KRS <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –>

[b:35gw1wql]Paul[/b:35gw1wql]: you ‘concentrate on FSX and MSTS2’… Its looks like you have more information than most of us: You already know how to build a model for MSTS2? What do you mean by ‘concentrate on FSX and MSTS2’? From reading you it looks like MSTS2 is 200% sure to be released.