106 lines
3.8 KiB
Text
106 lines
3.8 KiB
Text
******************************************************************
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* NeL plug-ins for 3DSMAX 4.2 + MSVC.NET (VC7) compilation notes *
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******************************************************************
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** DISTRIBUTION NOTES **
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Given that Max plug-ins are linked to the 3DSMax SDK (which is not Gnu GPL)
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and to NeL (which is Gnu GPL), anyone distributing plug-ins in binary form will be in
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breach of the Gnu GPL.
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In English than means that you shouldn't distribute the plug-ins as binaries.
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You are, of course, free to distribute the source code.
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THIS PLUGIN HAVE BEEN TESTED ON 3DSMAX3.1 WITH CHARACTER STUDIO 3.
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1. Max/MaxSDK setup
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----------------
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You must install the MaxSDK on your machine. Let's say that <Maxpath> is the
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installation path of your 3DSMax software. You must add the following C++
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paths from the global settings of VC7 (Tools/Options/Projects/VC++ Directories):
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Library files : <Maxpath>\Lib
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Include files : <MaxPath>\Include
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<MaxPath>\Include\Maxscrpt
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Due to a conflict between a NT's include file and a Maxscript one (<parser.h>),
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you must insert the Max include files BEFORE any reference to the PlatformSDK
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includes.
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Upon compilation, the plugins and needed DLLs will all be output in the
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'code/nel/lib7/' folder. Update your <Maxpath>/plugin.ini file to add a this
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plugin path. Example :
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[Directories]
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Standard MAX plug-ins=C:\3dsmax42\StdPlugs
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Additional MAX plug-ins=C:\3dsmax42\plugins
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NeL plug-ins=C:\nel_cvs\code\nel\lib7
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Finally, you'll have to install some startup scripts. They reside in the
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'code/nel/tools/3d/plugin_max/script/startup/' folder, and they have to be
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copied in '<Maxpath>/scripts/startup'.
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Note (2002/08/07) :
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nel_material.ms and nel_multi_set.ms do not run well under Max4.2 for
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now, you should currently ignore them (don't copy them).
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2. Compilation
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-----------
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Open 'code/nel/tools/3d/plugin_max/plugin_max_public.sln'. It will build
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several targets, along some NeL dependencies. You should see the following
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files in 'code/nel/lib7/' :
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(Shared components :)
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nel_3dsmax_shared<suffix>.dll
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object_viewer.dll
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(Max plugins :)
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nelexport.dlu
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neltileutility.dlu
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nelconvertpatch.dlm
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The <suffix> part depends on your build profile ('rd' for ReleaseDebug, 'df' for
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'DebugFast', etc).
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3. Runtime
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-------
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In order that all DLL can be found at load time, update your PATH environment variable
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to add the full name (ie. including the drive letter) of your 'code/nel/lib7/' path.
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NT/2K/XP users : Config Panel/System/'Advanced' tab/'Environment variables' button.
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PATH should be defined in the global variables. You don't have to reboot, but you must
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restart the current running applications in order they notice this change.
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Win95/98/Me users : edit your PATH in C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT, then reboot (no alternative).
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Last step : the object viewer needs a config file at runtime, use the one provided with
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the distribution. Copy 'code/nel/tools/3d/object_viewer/object_viewer.cfg' into your
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'code/nel/lib7/' path (side by side with the Max plugins). You may edit it as fit.
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4. Simple test
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-----------
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Launch 3DSMax. It should load the nel_* startup scripts and maybe generate some errors
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due to Maxscript differences between 3.x and 4.x. You can 'safely' ignore them (for now).
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Create a simple primitive, like a 'teapot' : select 'teapot' from the primitive tab
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on the right, then click on the viewport to place it and size it.
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Select the 'tool tab' (little hammer, rightmost), click the 'More' button. The dialog
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should show a list of plugins, 'NeL Export' and 'NeL Tile Bank' being among them. Select
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'NeL Export'.
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Now click on the 'View scene' button in the bottom right panel. You should see the
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object viewer popup with a gray teapot. Max navigations shortcuts are available
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(Ctrl/Alt + middle mouse button, etc).
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