Exporter for Max 9, 2008, 2011 and 2012

nerseus · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: USA - AZ

New Exporters for use in Max 9, Max 2008, Max 11 (32bit and 64bit) and Max 2012 (64bit):
This page contains info about plugins for use by 3ds Max 9, Max 2008, Max 11 (32bit and 64bit) and Max 2012 (64bit).

See Also: 3ds Max Plugin FAQ.

The IMVU supplied 3ds max exporters only work for Max 7, Max 8, Max 2010 (32bit) and Max 2011 (32bit). Below you will find new plugins that will work in 3ds Max 9, Max 2008, Max 11 (32bit and 64bit) and Max 2012 (64bit)

NOTE: These files do NOT work with Max 2009 or Max 2010.

Disclaimer:
IMVU will not support the following plugins. These files are provided as-is and are without warranty of any kind. While the developer (nerseus) has gotten them working on their local machine, he cannot guarantee they will work on yours. nerseus sincerely hopes they will work for you, but if not... let him know.

Where to get the files:
To get the nerseus TEST exporters, download from here (size=1.3mb).

NOTE for Vista/Windows 7 Users:
To copy the exporter files you will have to have administrator rights to copy files to your c:\Program Files\ folder

The zip contains a README.txt that I'd highly recommend reading. Manual instructions are in the readme as the ZIP file above only contains files with no setup.

Install Requirements:
If you install my exporter and get an error when launching 3ds Max like "Failed to Initialize" then you may need to install the following DLL package from Microsoft:
Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86)

64 bit OS with 64 bit Max (XP 64bit, Vista 64 bit, Windows 7 64bit):
Make sure you choose the appropriate version of the plugins to go with your version of Max and your Operating System. To help determine what Operating System you have:

1. If you do not have "c:\program files (x86)\" then you probably have a 32bit OS. Use the 32bit files (see the readme.txt)
2A. If you have "c:\program files (x86)\" then you probably have a 64bit OS.
2B. Check which version of 3ds Max you have by looking at the following:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\ <- put the 32bit files here
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\ <- put the 64bit files here

Updates:
04/30/2008 - created initial version
05/01/2008 - updated. Vertex colors now working
05/02/2008 - news. Exporter does NOT work in 2009.
05/06/2008 - Bug fix. Exporting mesh was crashing on step 3 of export wizard if no vert colors were painted.
05/09/2008 - Added link to VS 2005 DLLs
05/14/2008 - Note: Lights and SeeThrough nodes for rooms do NOT currently export. Should be fixed very soon.
06/11/2008 - Added link to VS 2008 DLLs
07/02/2008 - Complete overhaul of the exporter code. Compiled in VS 2005
06/21/2011 - Compiled in VS 2008. Include Max 2011 32bit and 64bit, Max 2012 64bit.

-ner

nerseus · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: USA - AZ

Small update:
Peeking at the Max SDK help, I've found out how to read the vertex color information. That means I should be able to export vertex lighting "soon" Smile

In addition, I've seen the code for reading the ambient light color and that may be possible to add as well. It doesn't add much as you can always change that value in the previewer and it's only valid for rooms, but still - I'd rather leave IN as much functionality as possible.

-ner

crystaldiamond · Joined: 21 Feb 2007 Posts: 577 Location: United Kingdom

Thanks Ner

Will let you know how it goes Smile

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Lassarina · Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 2564 Location: USA - TX

are you and borris working together because i sent him some files. Razz

still havent figured out the vertex lighting yet, when i do if that is the file that you need i will send you one.
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nerseus · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: USA - AZ

Nope, not working with anyone Lassarina. I saw that Boris was attempting to document the file formats. I've looked at them myself for a long time now. I actually make a lot of my files "by hand" using a text editor Razz

I have the vertex lighting down - no need to send any files. I know how to set up the lighting in Max, how to export and how to use them the previewer. I know how the values look in the XMF file. I just need to work out how to read the vertex lighting information from 3ds max and get it put into the exported files. I've never worked with the 3ds Max SDK before so I'm learning on the fly Smile

-ner

BorisTheEngineer · Joined: 04 May 2007 Posts: 794 Location: United Kingdom

Yep... I'm not actually working with anyone at present.

The difference is I don't have 3DSmax at all so I'm exploring alternative routes to mesh generation.

Regarding sample files I'm still looking for an example of an XMF with morphs in, (NUMMORPHS > 0) and a CAL3D spec that describes morphs.
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Duck!!

nerseus · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: USA - AZ

Small update (details were updated in the top post).

The vertex colors are now exporting.
To get the latest version, simply download the zip from the link above and copy the files.

ashantaey · Joined: 26 Jul 2007 Posts: 916 Location: Netherlands

Thank you very much!
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stuzzy · Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 398 Location: USA

very nice.. Thanks!
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mechadollie · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 566 Location: USA - CA

Okay so hold on... This WORKS? omg!!! The things I would do to you if I didn't have a boyfriend... xD I'm so happy to see this.. max9+ has some great new features.

That's too bad about the morph code though, cause I'm really planning on using it in the future. So I'm just going to add to your cry... SOMEONE... PLEASE!!! Or, as I'm reading this again, do you need a .xpf/.xmf with the morph data in it? I'm willing to come up with something for you.
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nerseus · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: USA - AZ

I was playing with the Morph code a little, getting my feet wet. I'm still hoping IMVU might "donate" their exporter code but I wouldn't get my hopes up. My plan is to go through the IMVU docs and export the sample head and animation. The trouble is mostly with my lack of ever having used the Max SDK before.

For now, give the exporter a try in Max 9 (or 2008 if you have it). Max 2008 is WAY faster than Max 9 - I love the optimizations they've made. If you come across any issues, let me know!

-ner

crystaldiamond · Joined: 21 Feb 2007 Posts: 577 Location: United Kingdom

I've got sad news on my front>

Tried making hair in 2008 which proved difficult due to lack of colour. Decided to import it into 8 which threw up an error code.
Just tried to open 2008 to try again and got error code 14001 - Plugins\cal3d_max_exporterDL3D.dle failed to initialize. I have to reinstall 2008 and see if this fixes the problem, but for now, no joy for me Sad

crystaldiamond · Joined: 21 Feb 2007 Posts: 577 Location: United Kingdom

Update
Managed to sort out hair colour problems without reinstalling Smile

Yay!

Haven't tried exporting again - maybe later (when I awake) If all goes well I can ignore that error message Smile

nerseus · Joined: 27 Mar 2007 Posts: 1649 Location: USA - AZ

Are you still getting the error with the dle when launching Max 2008?

-ner

Ydreece · Joined: 12 May 2005 Posts: 59 Location: Philippines

aw.... you've made it... yayiness!
i will try this, but maybe sooner or later when i finally am familiar with max 7... so jumping would be easy...
thankish ner!
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