gmax help files?

[angelah]

Does anybody know where I can find the gmax help files. Clicking on Help in the prog does nothing at all.
Are there add-ons for this?

I do have Trainz Studio installed and working.

But there are times when it's impossible to find the tab mentioned, like the Hierachy and Affect Pivot only, oh, and Centre to Object.... where on earth do they live?

So yes, I have been fiddling. I spent the morning looking at Blender but the book I have doesn't seem to know what the program is doing at times. And explanations are not the same as the image I get on screen.... Tried 5 times trying to do the box into the motorway support cube and it vanished every time without fail!

Gmax looks okay, if only there were some guides. The targa image they mention isn't in the files for start, which isn't a great help. It has to be a certain size.

So any advice is most welcome before I go completely crackers.....!!

Angela

 

[mezzoprezzo]

Angela,

Do a search in your PC for these files

Those are the help and tutorial files.

If you don't see them, you can download them from Turbosquid on this page:

http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax

Cheers
Casper

 

[angelah]

Cheers

Thanks for that link Messo, I am downloading now.

Might have a bash, see how I get on.

Angela

 

[johnwhelan]

Does anybody know where I can find the gmax help files. Clicking on Help in the prog does nothing at all.
Are there add-ons for this?

I do have Trainz Studio installed and working.

But there are times when it's impossible to find the tab mentioned, like the Hierachy and Affect Pivot only, oh, and Centre to Object.... where on earth do they live?

So yes, I have been fiddling. I spent the morning looking at Blender but the book I have doesn't seem to know what the program is doing at times. And explanations are not the same as the image I get on screen.... Tried 5 times trying to do the box into the motorway support cube and it vanished every time without fail!

Gmax looks okay, if only there were some guides. The targa image they mention isn't in the files for start, which isn't a great help. It has to be a certain size.

So any advice is most welcome before I go completely crackers.....!!

Angela

Basically ignore the books they cover too much information. Both aren't easy but Blender is at least a little easier.

Try this tutorial for Blender

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trainz/Tutorial_for_Blender#Newcomers_start_here

then go onto Paul Hobbs ones.

Before making the decision to go GMAX read Paul Hobbs first Blender tutorial.

GMAX Paul Hobbs ones have more detail in them than you would ever want to know.

Cheerio John

 

[itareus]

........I spent the morning looking at Blender but the book I have doesn't seem to know what the program is doing at times. And explanations are not the same as the image I get on screen....

Angela,

There are some Blender Video tutorials here:

http://www.gryllus.net/Blender/3D.html

They do tend to cover some aspects of the program that you don't need / can't use in Trainz but they are the best I have found.

Have you seen the basic Blender for Trainz tutorials on the Wiki here:

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Trainz/Tutorial_for_Blender

The Trainz Resources Directory lists a good few tutorials for Blender here:

http://trainzresources.com/directory/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=7_213

There are also tutorials for GMAX but personally I would not spend time learning GMAX (because it's unsupported etc...).

HTH

Chris

 

[angelah]

Nope!

Angela,

Do a search in your PC for these files

Those are the help and tutorial files.

If you don't see them, you can download them from Turbosquid on this page:

http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax

Cheers
Casper

Cannot find those files on that site! A search on Google didn't produce much either. Did get some tutes off the gmax siye and a Help file but after installing they only open gmax and then do nothing with an object in frame. What to do next? I haven't the faintest.... I thought they might have had a commentary or run a sequence or something.
The Help file hasn't improved either, only that it now open a small menu with nothing in it.
So plainly I got the wrong files...

Never mind, I'll try John's suggestion next.

Angela

 

[angelah]

John Whelan

My problem is I cannot remember what's said in a video when I open up either gmaz or Blender, which is why I bought the book at 34 Euros, so I would like to use it!
On opening Blender I get the cube with pretty pink edges, which according to the book should (a) not be pink and (b) have the corners marked with yellow dots, which it doesn't. So how the hell are you supposed to work with the stupid thing if even the first and most basic action is all wrong?
The idea is to make a pillar from this cube so I am supposed to select just 2 of these non-existent yellow dots, use B Key to caprure them and the X Key to delete. But doing that deletes the whole cube every time, regular as clockwork. I have tried this very simple action using the directions very carefully around a dozen times but zilch, it does not just remove the 2 dots (which aren't there anyway so how can it?).
The idea I think is the exapnd to several sides and then reform the cube, which is a bit daft considering it just told me to destroy it....
This is very basic and I am not a complete idiot, so something is wrong somewhere along the line, or vertice in this case.

That's my problem. when you start Blender I expect you get a cube, but it won't have yellow dots at the corners, which it seems it's supposed to.

Angela

 

[NikkiA]

That's my problem. when you start Blender I expect you get a cube, but it won't have yellow dots at the corners, which it seems it's supposed to.

Angela

The dots at the corners would be suggestive of 'edit mode', whereas the default is 'object mode', by default the key to switch between them is TAB.

As far as I know, blender has always defaulted to starting in object mode, and thus have 'pink edges', so I don't understand why the book would suggest otherwise.

 

[mezzoprezzo]

Turbosquid site is fine.

Just been there. When you get to the page on this link, http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax you need to choose:

(Don't click on this page though!:hehe: )

 

[angelah]

yep

Turbosquid site is fine.

Just been there. When you get to the page on this link, http://www.turbosquid.com/gmax you need to choose:

(Don't click on this page though!:hehe: )

Yep, got those, but they are the ones that just sit there, they don't actually run anything nor explain how to do things.

Angela

 

[angelah]

Right on

The dots at the corners would be suggestive of 'edit mode', whereas the default is 'object mode', by default the key to switch between them is TAB.

As far as I know, blender has always defaulted to starting in object mode, and thus have 'pink edges', so I don't understand why the book would suggest otherwise.

That's what I thought. I used the Tab key to switch in and out but still cannot work out how to revome just two vertices. All anything I do does, is to highlight all vertices (edges) in pink so when doing what the book says the cube does the disappearing act. I've tried loads of times using different key presses to see if it will work another way but it never does.
Like the A Key A, which switches everything all on or off. Yes, I did the first part of the book successfully, which is why this part is such a puzzle. It's not as if it's complicated even!
The text definitely states that objects start life in Edit mode....

I got the CD packet out of the back of the book, and doing that nearly destroyed the ruddy book because they had glued it in so well it's practically impossible to get it out. So now the back of the book is all raggety... I am getting very unimpressed with the Blender lot.
A CD stuck in with quick drying cement and the wrong instructions!! Not a good start.

Angela

 

[mezzoprezzo]

When you say you've got them, where are they?

Can you do a search. Hit the windows, 'Start' button, lower left of your screen and, 'start search' for each of the files.

If/when you find them, click on 'em, one at a time, and they'll open.

I've set mine up with shortcuts, which makes life a bit easier.

Station master has just announced that it's mealtime. I'll look in again after the washing up!

 

[angelah]

Know where they are

When you say you've got them, where are they?

Can you do a search. Hit the windows, 'Start' button, lower left of your screen and, 'start search' for each of the files.

If/when you find them, click on 'em, one at a time, and they'll open.

I've set mine up with shortcuts, which makes life a bit easier.

Station master has just announced that it's mealtime. I'll look in again after the washing up!

Done that, been there! As I said, they open then nothing, gmaz just sits there with a wire fram in the segments, no instructions, no guide, nothing happens. I mean, I can do that myself and be just as mystified.... ha ha.

Angela

 

[johnwhelan]

My problem is I cannot remember what's said in a video when I open up either gmaz or Blender, which is why I bought the book at 34 Euros, so I would like to use it!
On opening Blender I get the cube with pretty pink edges, which according to the book should (a) not be pink and (b) have the corners marked with yellow dots, which it doesn't. So how the hell are you supposed to work with the stupid thing if even the first and most basic action is all wrong?
The idea is to make a pillar from this cube so I am supposed to select just 2 of these non-existent yellow dots, use B Key to caprure them and the X Key to delete. But doing that deletes the whole cube every time, regular as clockwork. I have tried this very simple action using the directions very carefully around a dozen times but zilch, it does not just remove the 2 dots (which aren't there anyway so how can it?).
The idea I think is the exapnd to several sides and then reform the cube, which is a bit daft considering it just told me to destroy it....
This is very basic and I am not a complete idiot, so something is wrong somewhere along the line, or vertice in this case.

That's my problem. when you start Blender I expect you get a cube, but it won't have yellow dots at the corners, which it seems it's supposed to.

Angela

To make a pillar you probably just need to change the shape. Press N and you get transform properties box on the screen. Check which view you are looking at I prefer side view, now type in the height into the dimZ, width goes in dimX, length goes in dimY. Any object you create has three dimensions. If you start deleting vertices you end up with a plane not a 3d object.

That will give you a square pillar. Start with a cylinder to get a round one. Using the B key and messing with vertices is not recommended for your first creation.

Blender needs a bit of setting up and since I haven't got mine set up yet on the new machine and the old machine is tied up copying files and will be for the next four hours or so it tells me I can't get in and spot them. Have a look at Paul Hobbs first blender tutorial. I think he has a bit where you grab the top and pull it down to reveal all sorts of options. It works better with some set but I can't recall which ones.

Cheerio John

 

[angelah]

In gmax

In gmax on the learner box mesh and when choosing Material Assignment and after I do what I am told and click New, a menu open on the right with 2 icons in it, one black/white, the other all one colour, I think that's Standard.
When I select the top one another image selection menu opens but there's now't in it and I have tried looking all over for something but come up empty.
Closing it changes the Material menu so I cannot get to the Diffuse Factors bit and then am forced to close gmax and start again.
Trouble is in the Trainz Studio blurbs they miss out a set of instructions here on how to do this, which rather leaves you in the lurch.
So I am able to create meshes, I just get stuck with what to do with it without any 256x256 .tga files.
If I make some where should they live?

Angela

 

[clam1952]

In gmax on the learner box mesh and when choosing Material Assignment and after I do what I am told and click New, a menu open on the right with 2 icons in it, one black/white, the other all one colour, I think that's Standard.
When I select the top one another image selection menu opens but there's now't in it and I have tried looking all over for something but come up empty.
Closing it changes the Material menu so I cannot get to the Diffuse Factors bit and then am forced to close gmax and start again.
Trouble is in the Trainz Studio blurbs they miss out a set of instructions here on how to do this, which rather leaves you in the lurch.
So I am able to create meshes, I just get stuck with what to do with it without any 256x256 .tga files.
If I make some where should they live?

Angela

Put the texture files anywhere you like I have a folder named textures.

When you open the material navigator on the left are some tick boxes, tick file system you then get an explorer type Window, then just browse to wherever you put the textures. you then have to drag the texture file to the round thingy? on the Material editor.


The help files assuming they are in the correct place may need to have their paths set up in Customise > Configure Paths

If it says anywhere else other than where you installed them highlight and click modify and change the path.

 

[johnwhelan]

In gmax on the learner box mesh and when choosing Material Assignment and after I do what I am told and click New, a menu open on the right with 2 icons in it, one black/white, the other all one colour, I think that's Standard.
When I select the top one another image selection menu opens but there's now't in it and I have tried looking all over for something but come up empty.
Closing it changes the Material menu so I cannot get to the Diffuse Factors bit and then am forced to close gmax and start again.
Trouble is in the Trainz Studio blurbs they miss out a set of instructions here on how to do this, which rather leaves you in the lurch.
So I am able to create meshes, I just get stuck with what to do with it without any 256x256 .tga files.
If I make some where should they live?

Angela

I always found texturing GMAX to the be most complicated part to explain to some one new.

Cheerio John

 

[mezzoprezzo]

Back again!

The tutorial & help cannot be called up from the Gmax screen on my setup.

That fooled me initially - daft, but it can't.

That's why I set up desktop icons which can be opened as separate windows and called up from the tabs as required. This screenshot may help.

Good luck. It took me a long time to master, but I got there eventually. I also had lots of help from the experts in the Content Creation Support forum.

 

[angelah]

Made some tgas

Put the texture files anywhere you like I have a folder named textures.

When you open the material navigator on the left are some tick boxes, tick file system you then get an explorer type Window, then just browse to wherever you put the textures. you then have to drag the texture file to the round thingy? on the Material editor.


The help files assuming they are in the correct place may need to have their paths set up in Customise > Configure Paths

If it says anywhere else other than where you installed them highlight and click modify and change the path.

Hi,
I made some targas and did exactly what you have just suggested, only before you suggested it.... ha ha, beat you to it.
Got the texture on and eventually Exported then used the Resource Collector and it seemed to work. The round thingy did have a brick texture in it.
But have done what Trainz Studio said and put it in Custom, it doesn't show. Now there's a big surprise!!
But getting used to it a bit at a time. The problem is with directions from the 'experts' is they forget somebody like me hasn't the foggiest idea where all these things are they talk about, and worse they tend to take short cust without saying anything. It will take some time but I did at least get a little further along.

Thanks for your help.

Angela

 

[angelah]

An exercise

I always found texturing GMAX to the be most complicated part to explain to some one new.

Cheerio John

John, this pillar is an exercise designed I suppose to get one used to changing set objects to something else, that's why they say delete the box and then make another exactly like it, it's just getting the new user used to where things are and how they work. Yes, it is supposed to get you back to a flat surface I think and then the idea is to rebuild the box. It is then supposed to have a cylinder 'leg' on top of that to hold a road up, but I didn't get that far. In fact I am unable to get past this silly box and taking out 2 of the vertices, they all just go. Again it's somebody that's very used to the program trying to teach a dummy but not putting all the facts in and the ones they do are wrong! It doesn't help much....
I haven't given up yet, just need to work out why the actual program is doing things differently to the instructions, then I might make progress.

Angela