This is an archive of CompuServe forum messages from 1985 to 1995, as saved in transcripts by John Foust.
Search Results (43 messages)
I haven't worked with Vellum's DXF files, so I can't speak from experience here. From the symptoms you describe I suspect the DXF segments are not fully joined together. MacroModel will create endcaps for solid shapes, not open shapes. Even if endpoints for two different lines are coincident, they will…
Hi John, No, the answer isn't obvious…don't worry, you're right at the cutting edge! I've only worked with Showplace 1.x, and have not yet had time with version 2.0. Unless there's been a major change in its RIB file output, the following method should allow for CSG operations in Showplace.…
#CSG and Showplace
Message #8033
I have two questions (that I will ask in separate messages). 2) I am trying to make a model in MacroModel, and I want to take advantage of the Constructive Solid Geometry feature in MacRenderMan. I follow the steps in the example an it works fine. However, I want to…
#Closing sweeps
Message #8032
I have two questions (that I will ask in separate messages). 1) What does one do when a model created by the sweep function in MacroModel 1.5 for the Mac does not have capped ends? I have made sure "End Caps" in the Preferences is checked, but the sweep doesn't…
Holmes Hands
Message #7435
I tried using your hands with my Simple Body figure that comes with Lifeforms, but was unable to do so. The pivot points must be different. Too bad, as the fingers with the Simple Body figure only have two joints and are simpler. Any suggestions?
Hey Mark! Howya been? I'm not sure of the innards of ModelMover, as it was licensed from Kandu software…it's a subset of their CADMover program, designed to translate DXF, Sculpt 3D, Super 3D and IGES to 3DGF format for import into Macromedia Three-D. To the best of my knowledge, ModelMover…
Hi Dorian, Glad that the un-shadowed images are rendering well…thank goodness for small blessings, huh? 😉 First: the MacroModel shadowlight shaders (.slo) do lie in the "Shaders & Textures" folder in the System Folder, yes? (The .sl files are text files we can open, tweak, and recompile into new .slo's…
#macro model
Message #7278
(Previous sent letter, the software name used was incorrect. Model mover 1.5 is the software that I'm using to make a .works file for MacroMedia 3D software not macro model.) I'm having diffculty in saving large .dxf (2mb – 4mb or lager)files in model mover 1.5 into a .works files.…
macro model
Message #7267
I'm having diffculty in saving large .dxf (2mb – 4mb or lager)files in macro moder into .works files. I draw my 3-d files on a IBM, copy them to my removable hard drive, mount the dos removable onto my mac using access pc. Thru apple file exchange I translate the…
Painter X3
Message #7264
Say…you may wish to check out an announcement made by Mark Zimmer & Co. of Fractal Design…a new extension to their Painter program will apparently allow for painting of texture maps directly upon 3D objects. The implications of this are pretty important. No release date yet…GO COMART, section 10 for…
Bruce — ya, we're cool…2.04 is it for Swivel. jd
#Mmodel-ShadowsInRman
Message #7258
Hi Paul, I'm having a bit of a problem getting Macromodel1.5 shadows to render in MacRenderman1.3 I get an error: having problems reading texture file Logo.mm1.x MM outputs 3 files in their own folder, -Logo.mm.rib, Logo.mm.to and Logo.mm.te The mmlighting.slo files are in the system folder The mmlighting.sl files are…
#SwivelPro 2.04on840av
Message #7240
John, Thanks for the reply. I thought I read in this forum that there is an upgrade for Quadras and the number is 2.05.If I am wrong and 2.04 is the latest then I am OK.Thanks again. Regards, Bruce S. There is 1 Reply.
An important additional thing to remember is that some parts of a MM3D script just don't seem to matter. Zero, one, eleventy-jillion… the values are just ignored and MM3D will just write "0" or whatever on every output. Some values ARE preserved, yet still seem to be ignored. And some…
Well, it *is* possible, in a way, to write directly for Macromedia Three-D…take a gander at any 3D Works file. It's in text format. The first section describes the default attributes of various objects. The latter section describes how they act over time. The action is in the lines that…
Thanks for all the info. I knew about the Script Command Set and am in the process if modifying my FORTRAN simulation to write an output file that I can then import into Swivel to animate a 3d model of my vehicle. I just got confused when you talked about…
No Mickey was a program that was made by a fellow in San Diego ~~it was a modeler and aniomation program with an interface that was clearly spreadsheet-related. It was to be sold by… oh, what was that company down there that made transputer boards for the Mac? kb
Thanks! Since I have a Quad 950 – I am sure that I will appreciate 2.0.4! Keep up the great work in Customer Service!
Thanks for the Reply John! — What ever has been happening in Customer Service I hope it continues! Lately I have noticed a considerable improvement in quality! I had a problem that I have been pursuing tech support about for almost a month — two days ago I was referred…
Hi William, Yes 2.0.4 is higher than 2.0.11. 2.0.4 is the current shipping version. Regards, Doug Wyrick Macromedia Technical Support There is 1 Reply.
Hi William, Swivel 2.0.4 was a maintenance upgrade for people using Quadras and Centrises ("Centrii?")…anything with a 68040 chip. There aren't any differences in features between that and 2.0.11…it's just to take advantage of the '040 cache-writing scheme. Regards, John Dowdell Macromedia Tech Support
Hi Michele, Should be working fine together…do you have the same model(s) already imported within Swivel? Are you able to import motion for any of the other models? The "bad argument for FindObject" error means that the SwivelScript has motion instructions for a piece of geometry, such as "l_thigh_1", but…
Lifeforms help
Message #6107
I have the Lifeforms 1.0.1 software. I am having problems in exporting to swivel 3D 2.0 Pro. Whenever I use the simple skeleton map supplied with the product and I try to open the command file for the simple skeleton in the swivel I get a "bad argument for FindObject"…
Swivel 2.0.4
Message #6095
I have Swivel 2.0.11 and I see that there is now a Swivel 2.0.4? Did I miss something? — I have had 2.0.11 for some time. Is 2.0.4 a higher update?
Hi Clair, MacroModel 1.5 was released in June, and is a significant upgrade…besides adding new features, the engineering team collected reams of user suggestions and incorporated them into the interface. It's a biggie. Upgrade price may vary, depending on when you bought MacroModel 1.0. If you call our sales department…
#MacroModel Upgrade
Message #6060
We purchased Macromodel 1.0.0 about 4 months ago and now I hear that you have just released v. 1.5. What is the upgrade procedure to v 1.5? Thanks, -Clair- There is 1 Reply.
Was Mickey your project, Kevin? What was its main goal, features?
Hi Larry, Yes, external info can be brought into Swivel to manipulate both geometry and motion. The key is the small white booklet "Swivel 3D Script Command Set" that ships with the package. Most, if not all, of Swivel's commands can be specified in a simple text file that's imported…
Thanks for your note, Russell…appreciated. It was Doug Wyrick, though, who actually put the labor in on that project…I'll pass along your comment!
Hi John, Can you actually use a spreadsheet file to manipulate a file in Swivel? I'm currently working on getting my FORTRAN vehicle simulation to manipulate a 3d Swivel model of the vehicle to show actual vehicle behavior. It would be a lot easier if I could just import spreadsheet…
In effect, this (animated spreadsheets) is what the never-released program MICKEY did/does. And a bit like Wavefront channel math. There is 1 Reply.
#SwivelMan help
Message #6004
John, I just wanted to take a second to thank you and MacroMedia tech support for having uploaded update patches for all of you major products here on CIS. A half-hour of downloading sure saved days of waiting for things in the mail! -Russell There is 1 Reply.
Hi Bruce, Yes, I see what you mean…Swivelizer can be useful, but it's not as flexible as using the Swivel Command Script. Hmmm…I wonder what would happen if you took spreadsheet data that changed over time into Swivel this way, to create a series of models that could morph in…
John, Thanks for your prompt reply. The first and most basic thing I would like to do is create a shape in Canvas,e.g., and import it into Swivel through Swivelizer. However, Swivelizer, places the pathform off center, that is, one corner vertex of the converted pathform polygon is placed at…
#SwivelScript-X Section
Message #5825
Hi Bruce, As you found, the Excel Export Option in Swivel only gives the position of objects in the World, and does not provide any information about the actual construction of the objects. The pathform info is stored only in the Swivel native file, in the resource fork of the…
#4199-
Syndesis 3D-ROM
Message #4227
We've had similar postings in the past, and we're happy to have them so long as we feel the members of the forum would benefit. That is, while we're not looking to be swamped with junk mail, we DO want our users to know about products that might make their…
#3226-
Sketch! and Three-D
Message #3240
Yes, ModelMover has problems with some DXF files, not just ones from Sketch. My solution has been to do my own DXF translator hacks when I need them. Not entirely elegant, but very efficient.
#3125-
#Sketch! and Three-D
Message #3217
I have also experienced the same problem. A persusal of the Sketch!-generated DXF has shown it to be well-formed. kb There is 1 Reply.
#1565-
Objects out of Scripts?
Message #1593
The primitive objects are stored as resources of type 3DGF in the script. Objects read-in from files can also be stored this way, according to user preferences. The contents of a 3DGF resource are the same as a 3DGF file, header and all. The quadrics are tagged as "Private" chunks,…
I understand. Can you tell me a little about MacroModel? How does it fit into the scheme of your product line? Read action !
John, I must admit that this story is pretty sad. You did call the (800) 248 4477 number, right? All I can say is sorry and fortunately it is a toll free number. Scott Kildall Macromedia Technical Support Read action !reply Enter reply. (/EXIT when done) 1: I do understand……
I know tech support loves to hear tales of sales… I called the 800 number to get the update. The sales guy was severely confused about what to give me… I was put on hold for four to five minutes, he came back and was *still* confused… I distinctly said…
#1565-
Objects out of Scripts?
Message #1571
Hi John, The current version of Three-D is 1.2. You can get the upgrade free by calling our update hotline: 800 248 4477. The quadrics built into MM3D are mathematically derived, and MM3D is not capable of exporting their geometry. As you can probably understand, MM3D's whole environment is designed…