WHEN ? - Page 11

kona001 · 10-20-2003, 12:41 PM

Hi Jim,

I wish I was close by, I would be able to help you out. My only advice, is to make backups of all the things you are working on and format the drive. Install a fresh copy of the Operating system you prefer. About all those updates for windows, I have an easy solution that I use for emergencies. You know those America Online Disks you get in the mail for free and usually you just throw them away. They have on them all the upgrades you need that automatically install once you pop the cd in. I hope you didn't lose any important files already. Good luck Jim and let us know what is going on. I'm sure many of us can help with similar advice. -Kona

feldon34 · 10-20-2003, 12:58 PM

My offer still stands.

I'm up to the challenge as I just had to redo my computer and I didn't lose anything.

Frankly, I'd like to see Jim's PC rolled back to Windows 2000. Less B$.

Spiderman · 10-21-2003, 12:33 AM

Jim,

I'm sorry for the problems your having with your PC. If i could help i would do it, as i am a computer expert. But seeing that i live in the Netherland it might be a slight problem

.
I hope you'll get it up and running again soon.

Feldon

Could you please put a link to the tank picture you mentioned, i can't seem to find it. Thanks.

Yellow Tang · 05-12-2004, 05:39 AM

It's been a long time since somebody wants to know when its's done. Is it? Nearly? Far away?

Any news Jim?

Jim Sachs · 05-12-2004, 08:47 AM

I just got LightWave 8, and have been busy trying to learn the new program. I also need to write a LightWave-to-DirectX object converter, since I've never been able to get a handle on how Prolific's works. This has become more and more necessary now that the fish have more movable parts, and will be absolutely vital when I start adding invertabrates.

ESHIREY · 05-12-2004, 09:07 AM

Sounds like fun

But we all know you can and will do it .

Jav400 · 05-12-2004, 09:14 AM

There went $1,600, or did you get an upgrade option?

Jim Sachs · 05-12-2004, 11:36 AM

I upgraded for $500.

feldon34 · 05-12-2004, 03:24 PM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs
I just got LightWave 8, and have been busy trying to learn the new program. I also need to write a LightWave-to-DirectX object converter, since I've never been able to get a handle on how Prolific's works. This has become more and more necessary now that the fish have more movable parts, and will be absolutely vital when I start adding invertabrates.

When I get home, I'll give you a link to something that might work. The lightwave file format is maddening in my opinion.

Quick Death · 05-12-2004, 06:54 PM

Jim --

how about just an update? How many fish have you completed, how far on the background, etc....

-THANKS!

Jim Sachs · 05-12-2004, 07:10 PM

Four fish were completed, but then I decided to re-do them, adding mouth and gill movement and making the fins a permanent part of the body. The model of the Freshwater Angel has all this done, but now I need a better way of getting it over to DirectX from LightWave while retaining point sets. Before, I always wrote down all the coordinates for the vertices by hand, and matched them up manually with their new locations in the .X objects. That system has become unworkable with the new complexity of the fish, and invertabrates were WAY out of the question.

sunny · 05-12-2004, 08:26 PM

Originally posted by Jim Sachs
Four fish were completed, but then I decided to re-do them,

ahhhhh!!misery.....
guess we'll have to wait a longer time from now...

adding mouth and gill movement and making the fins a permanent part of the body.

STEVEPOON · 05-12-2004, 11:22 PM

It may be two more years later.......

IXNAY · 05-13-2004, 03:07 AM

sounds sad, but also sounds like the freshwater tank will be eye candy

Sergiales · 05-13-2004, 04:13 AM

Easy. If MA amazed us, FA will surely rock!

Quick Death · 05-13-2004, 08:19 AM

Thanks for the info. Looks like we have some time Papa Smurf.

Darkness2k · 05-18-2004, 07:07 PM

I assume none of the existing LW - DX converters do the job require?

I had a quick look around on google, but I'm no 3D modeller expert and I don't really know what to look for (apart from the obvious 'lightwave directx converter') lol

Came up with results like "DirectX Geometry Export Converter"

Jim Sachs · 05-19-2004, 01:41 AM

The beauty of the latest couple of LightWave versions is that you can grab a group of points and name them, like "topfin". The plug-in DX exporter throws away all these point-sets, so it is useless to me. I need the source code to a converter so that I can tailor-make the output to my specific requirements.

Darkness2k · 05-20-2004, 10:17 AM

Oh I see what you mean... so u can associate sections to a particular name (similar to parts of an object in Poser or Bryce etc). Well I hope you can design what you need

Sergiales · 05-21-2004, 02:01 AM

No sections?. I suppose that the DX exporter throws away the points because the DX model definition doesn't support point grouping itself...(?).
Do you really need the vertex list to be grouped?. Couldn't you divide the fish model into more that one object? i.e.: head, body, tailor, fins. I suposse you need the groups for animation purposes (?).

10-20-2003, 12:41 PM	#201
kona001 New Husband and new Aquarium Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 318	Some Advice to Jim Hi Jim, I wish I was close by, I would be able to help you out. My only advice, is to make backups of all the things you are working on and format the drive. Install a fresh copy of the Operating system you prefer. About all those updates for windows, I have an easy solution that I use for emergencies. You know those America Online Disks you get in the mail for free and usually you just throw them away. They have on them all the upgrades you need that automatically install once you pop the cd in. I hope you didn't lose any important files already. Good luck Jim and let us know what is going on. I'm sure many of us can help with similar advice. -Kona

10-20-2003, 12:58 PM	#202
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	My offer still stands. I'm up to the challenge as I just had to redo my computer and I didn't lose anything. Frankly, I'd like to see Jim's PC rolled back to Windows 2000. Less B$. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

10-21-2003, 12:33 AM	#203
Spiderman Registered Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2	Jim, I'm sorry for the problems your having with your PC. If i could help i would do it, as i am a computer expert. But seeing that i live in the Netherland it might be a slight problem . I hope you'll get it up and running again soon. Feldon Could you please put a link to the tank picture you mentioned, i can't seem to find it. Thanks. When falling down a cliff, remember. It's not the fall that kills you.......It's the sudden STOP!

05-12-2004, 08:47 AM	#205
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	I just got LightWave 8, and have been busy trying to learn the new program. I also need to write a LightWave-to-DirectX object converter, since I've never been able to get a handle on how Prolific's works. This has become more and more necessary now that the fish have more movable parts, and will be absolutely vital when I start adding invertabrates. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

05-12-2004, 09:07 AM	#206
ESHIREY Smilie Dragon Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Lebanon, PA Posts: 4,725	Sounds like fun But we all know you can and will do it . Thank you for taking the time to read this.

05-12-2004, 05:39 AM	#204
Yellow Tang YT Join Date: Jan 2002 Tournaments Won: 1 Location: Germany Posts: 729	It's been a long time since somebody wants to know when its's done. Is it? Nearly? Far away? Any news Jim?

05-12-2004, 09:14 AM	#207
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	There went $1,600, or did you get an upgrade option? Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

05-12-2004, 11:36 AM	#208
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	I upgraded for $500. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

05-12-2004, 03:24 PM	#209
feldon34 Forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 10,939	Originally posted by Jim Sachs I just got LightWave 8, and have been busy trying to learn the new program. I also need to write a LightWave-to-DirectX object converter, since I've never been able to get a handle on how Prolific's works. This has become more and more necessary now that the fish have more movable parts, and will be absolutely vital when I start adding invertabrates. When I get home, I'll give you a link to something that might work. The lightwave file format is maddening in my opinion. "Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations." - George Orwell "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal." - Emma Goldman

05-12-2004, 06:54 PM	#210
Quick Death Registered Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New York Posts: 106	Jim -- how about just an update? How many fish have you completed, how far on the background, etc.... -THANKS!

05-12-2004, 07:10 PM	#211
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	Four fish were completed, but then I decided to re-do them, adding mouth and gill movement and making the fins a permanent part of the body. The model of the Freshwater Angel has all this done, but now I need a better way of getting it over to DirectX from LightWave while retaining point sets. Before, I always wrote down all the coordinates for the vertices by hand, and matched them up manually with their new locations in the .X objects. That system has become unworkable with the new complexity of the fish, and invertabrates were WAY out of the question. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

05-12-2004, 08:26 PM	#212
sunny Registered Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Penang,Malaysia Posts: 277	Originally posted by Jim Sachs Four fish were completed, but then I decided to re-do them, ahhhhh!!misery..... guess we'll have to wait a longer time from now... adding mouth and gill movement and making the fins a permanent part of the body. .¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º>° °o°°Oo°oO° ><(((°>° °<°)))><

05-12-2004, 11:22 PM	#213
STEVEPOON Registered Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hong Kong Posts: 41	It may be two more years later.......

05-13-2004, 03:07 AM	#214
IXNAY Green Frog Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Germany Posts: 840	sounds sad, but also sounds like the freshwater tank will be eye candy IXNAY dreaming of the serene terrarium - My Private Homepage -

05-13-2004, 04:13 AM	#215
Sergiales Software Engineer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Spain Posts: 266	Easy. If MA amazed us, FA will surely rock! Sincerely, Sergio.

05-13-2004, 08:19 AM	#216
Quick Death Registered Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New York Posts: 106	Thanks for the info. Looks like we have some time Papa Smurf.

05-18-2004, 07:07 PM	#217
Darkness2k The Lord of Darkness Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Torquay, Devon, England Posts: 51	I assume none of the existing LW - DX converters do the job require? I had a quick look around on google, but I'm no 3D modeller expert and I don't really know what to look for (apart from the obvious 'lightwave directx converter') lol Came up with results like "DirectX Geometry Export Converter" Welcome to the Darkness http://www.darkness2k.dsl.pipex.com/Shared/TagMini.jpg (Visit it manually)

05-19-2004, 01:41 AM	#218
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,788	The beauty of the latest couple of LightWave versions is that you can grab a group of points and name them, like "topfin". The plug-in DX exporter throws away all these point-sets, so it is useless to me. I need the source code to a converter so that I can tailor-make the output to my specific requirements. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

05-20-2004, 10:17 AM	#219
Darkness2k The Lord of Darkness Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Torquay, Devon, England Posts: 51	Oh I see what you mean... so u can associate sections to a particular name (similar to parts of an object in Poser or Bryce etc). Well I hope you can design what you need Welcome to the Darkness http://www.darkness2k.dsl.pipex.com/Shared/TagMini.jpg (Visit it manually)

05-21-2004, 02:01 AM	#220
Sergiales Software Engineer Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Spain Posts: 266	No sections?. I suppose that the DX exporter throws away the points because the DX model definition doesn't support point grouping itself...(?). Do you really need the vertex list to be grouped?. Couldn't you divide the fish model into more that one object? i.e.: head, body, tailor, fins. I suposse you need the groups for animation purposes (?). Sincerely, Sergio.