CompuServe Messages

Gary, Here are the exact steps that I took tonight to duplicate the problem. I saw no need to provide you with a file since I was able to reproduce the exact same result several times. 1. Start 3D Studio as you normally would 2. In the editor, select the top viewport and activate snap 3. Create/Box (hold down CTRL ket to create a cube) @-100,100 create a cube of size 200 units 4. Accept the default name of Object01 5. Place an omni lightin front and above Object01 6. Assign Beige Plstc to Object01 7. Modify/Object/Attributes – click on Object01 8. Under External Processes – select Tornado, OK, OK 9. F4 – to enter the keyframer 10. Activate the User viewport 11. Render/Render View – Click in the User Viewport – select Single Frame, Render, OK – to render to screen only — no problems so far — 12. F3 – to enter editor 13. Activate thhe Top Viewport 14. F1 – to enter Shaper 15. Display/3D Display/On 16. Display/3D Display/Choose – select All, OK 17. Zoom out once 18. Create/Box – (hold down CTRL ket to create a square) place @ -40, -130 and make a square 100 units 19. Shape/All – to select the square 20. F2- to enter Lofter 21. Shapes/Get/Shaper 22. Objects/Make/+ – to create Object02 23. F3- to enter Editor 24. Assign Blue Plstc to Object02 25. Modify/Object/Attributes – click on Object02 26. Under External Processes – select Tornado, OK, OK 27. F4 – to enter the keyframer 28. Activate the User viewport 29. Zoom extents 30. Render/Render View – Click in the User Viewport – select Single Frame, Render, OK – to render to screen only Wham! -> Object01's external processes settings have been turned off – it renders as a solid cube while Object02 is the only tornado object. This is merely a way that I was able to recreate the problem I mentioned in my first message. I have not taken the time to check the range of steps that create a similar problem, but if I recall, it always happens upon returning from the shaper or lofter with some new geometry and assigning the new geometry some other external process. Good luck (or I guess bad luck in this case). Please let me know if you need more. I really want to help with this. If it would help, feel free to call me at work: (406) 442-5588 <MST> Chris