[droidkevin5]

Westwood released a w3d (westwood 3d, not shockwave 3d, which shares the extension .w3d) with renegade. The problem is that it has to be used with gmax, which has inferior tools compared to 3ds max. I believe everyone is using the renegade tools (gmax with w3d exporter) to make models for Generals. I know of a w3d importer for 3ds max, but not an exporter. The only way to make something in max and move it to gmax is through the .3ds extension, which is old, and messes up models somewhat. If anyone could write or modify a plugin for 3ds max that would allow for exporting westwood 3d files, I would love you very much

[Flyby]

Originally Posted by droidkevin5

Westwood released a w3d (westwood 3d, not shockwave 3d, which shares the extension .w3d) with renegade. The problem is that it has to be used with gmax, which has inferior tools compared to 3ds max. I believe everyone is using the renegade tools (gmax with w3d exporter) to make models for Generals. I know of a w3d importer for 3ds max, but not an exporter. The only way to make something in max and move it to gmax is through the .3ds extension, which is old, and messes up models somewhat. If anyone could write or modify a plugin for 3ds max that would allow for exporting westwood 3d files, I would love you very much

The real problem of making a 3dsmax exporter is that you need to know the w3D format.
Of the 2 importer scripts that exist, only the one made by Eric Morin (Abjab)
is capable of handling animation info.
From what I’ve gathered, he extrapolated his info from an very early alpha build that had the uncompiled C++ file file format included.(*.h file)
The sad thing is that he decided to encrypt his work, so that info is unavailable to anyone else except himself...

The first step for making a 3dsmax exporter is to get the structure of the w3d format... :/
If you can provide me that, i might have a go at it...

The current workaround is to save your work as *.3ds and import it in RENX, reapply the textures and export to *.w3d.......

Basicly, here is the full story:
First, westwood released the mod tools. This first release included the w3d_file.h straight from the code of renegade (there were a few bits missing that were in other files but a few answers from Greg Hjelstrom and we had the whole thing)
Then, westwood released a new mod tools, only difference was that the w3d_file.h was gone. Aparently, releasing it generally broke some licence with Discreet. Greg Hjelstrom said:
1.it was NOT ok to make a w3d->some format like 3ds converter (licence violation)
but 2.it was ok to make a w3d import script for gmax (he specificly checked with discreet on this)
Then, Abjab started working on his w3d->gmax converter. He wrote quite a bit of it. Around this time is when the untextured copies of e.g. l10 and others started showing up.
Next, there was a beta test (closed, script modified not to save anything and other stuff)
Then, sometime after that Abjab disappeared from the face of the earth (He hasnt been heard from since)
Next, Dante (who had the unencrypted script) gave it to me to work on.
Also, Seagle released an unrelated script that had only limited features.
Then, I released the encrypted script that we have now (with the encryption only being there because Abjab insisted on it way back when and hes not around anymore to say otherwise )

So, the w3d file format is documented (if you want to get all the info I have, go to http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/rentools and download the w3dump program, thats got the info you need in it (including the w3d_file.h & stuff)

[spider-man_2099]

where can I get this w3d to 3dsmax importer?
I can't seem to locate one, I really need it

[Flyby]

Thank you for clarifying the history of the script, Jonwill!

However, this still leaves me wondering to what extends a W3D exporter for 3dsmax would violate any licence agreement... :tard:

The most convenient thing would be that the original plugin programmers recompile the exisiting gmax plugin for 3dsmax. Not that i have high hopes for it, doh... :|
Besides, apart from a few rare exception (like me) nobody has a legal 3dsmax in this community. So very few "legal" request for a 3dsmax exporter would get to the WW guys...