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    SketchUp game exporter (Source)

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    • G Offline
      Gardentwine
      last edited by

      you having the same luck as me then lol

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      • G Offline
        Gardentwine
        last edited by

        i opened the file valve_sketchup_tools_config.rb and it says in here that build SMD file for import to the hammer engine is done for you but i tried to correct the Dir but it still dont work or perhaps valve release a duf plugin

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        • Z Offline
          zapwizard
          last edited by

          @gardentwine said:

          i opened the file valve_sketchup_tools_config.rb and it says in here that build SMD file for import to the hammer engine is done for you but i tried to correct the Dir but it still dont work or perhaps valve release a duf plugin

          The code in the Ruby file to automatically compile the SMD is old and inactive.
          I have actually been in contact with a employee at Valve who worked on this plug-in.
          He said they probably will be supporting it more in the future but current it is more of a in-between project. Also that the automatic compile stuff didn't make it into the public release, probably due to stability and the fact that more data would have be written into the model for the QC to work.

          If you don't know a SMD file is the geometry for a model, similar to a Collada file. It has a paint-by-numbers style UV map that a compiler can then apply a material to.
          A QC file is similar to the XML files packaged inside a KMZ. I describes the metadata for the geometry: Is this a static model? Physics model? Where do I find the textures? etc...
          See this page on writing the .QC file. Search google for many tutorials and tools on compiling them. Once you know the work flow it isn't all that bad. Models in-game use a different material lighting scheme that isn't as complex as the brush work. This increases the game speed.

          SMD files are blocks that make up the game world. These are the walls of buildings, floors, ceilings, trim work etc... And the majority of the game world. Each block or brush exported into the SMD file must be a convex object, have no lines splitting up a face, or any 2D surfaces. This is the primary purpose of the scripts we are trying to write.
          See here: http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/VMF

          So far most of the screenshots I have shown are SMD brushes. What makes sketchup so much more powerful to me is that I can create complex geometry models in SMD that mixes with the less complex brush work in VMF and have them meet seem lessly in the game world.

          For example I made the greenhouse model below in SketchUp.
          All the parts of the building are VMF blocks, along with all the glass.
          The many beams that make up the ceiling though would be intensive on the game engine.
          So they were made into a SMD model file, and compiled into a game model (.MDL)
          The model uses 100% in-game materials, so I didn't have to make anything new.
          Making this type of object in-game would be nearly impossible with all the angles. It would also take forever to tweak and modify. But SketchUp components and mirroring fixes all that.
          For example I wanted the player go be able to crouch and squeeze though the windows along the side. I had to make the windows 8 inches taller. Well in sketchup that takes about 15 seconds including adjusting the matching glass. In-game that would mean modifying about 100 object each by hand.

          SketchUp:

          http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3600/3783438319_62b0be4447.jpg

          In-game:

          http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3522/3783439153_f3dba34c70.jpg

          http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2424/3783438821_05e92a876b.jpg

          Real-world:

          http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3586/3783446271_eae3e8f246.jpg

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          • G Offline
            Gardentwine
            last edited by

            i managed to use the cannonfodder StudioCompiler to create my Mdl but now when i try and load hammer it come up with an error (failed to load default scheme) WTF is this, and is it cause of a bugged mdl or something

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            • Z Offline
              zapwizard
              last edited by

              It should not be due to a MDL file.
              See here: http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Failed_to_load_the_default_scheme_file

              Here is an example of model work that you can do in SketchUp. Both of these models were made in a few hours today.
              All the models used existing in-game model textures I imported into SketchUp.
              The white smoothed model behind each is the collision model that sets up the object physics.

              http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3516/3796578045_2f35cbfaa6.jpg

              http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2523/3797396608_6653e08c65.jpg

              http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/3797396796_61e2961acd.jpg

              Bonus:
              The toolbox is very fun to play with as the tank, as it weighs quite a bit.

              http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3488/3796578553_5d27778f49.jpg

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              • G Offline
                Gardentwine
                last edited by

                your so good at making stuff i only wished i could get it to work, most of today i reinstalled cause my vista 64 system was so buggy dew to my part and alot of apps crash so hopefull now i have a fresh install i may have better luck

                lets hope

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                • T Offline
                  timbo89
                  last edited by

                  Any new information on this topic?

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                  • Z Offline
                    zapwizard
                    last edited by

                    @timbo89 said:

                    Any new information on this topic?

                    I have been too busy using the exporter to write my tutorials yet.
                    However, I think the plug-ins are finally good for release. I have worked out most of the bugs.
                    I will get them uploaded tonight.

                    Here are some screenshots of a game map I am making based on a real theater near my house.
                    People will actually be playing the map of the theater while inside the theater on Halloween.
                    These images show just how accurate you can make a game map compared to the real-world.

                    Photo:

                    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3454/3880236196_6b6d4de88a.jpg

                    Sketch-up:

                    http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/3879441637_e6cbcabbcf.jpg

                    In-game:

                    http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3548/3896544817_7accf24286.jpg

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                    • Z Offline
                      zapwizard
                      last edited by

                      Attached are the plugins, styles, and template I use for Hammer.
                      I hope to get some tutorials made in November, I am currently too busy with a deadline project for Halloween.


                      SketchUp Hammer CleanUp tools -Beta

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                      • R Offline
                        RadioDead
                        last edited by

                        When I try to install the plugins by going to Sketchup Plugins under the L4D authoring tools and go into the sketchup folder all I have is the valve_library folder -- the valve folder and other files that I am supposed to copy into the google folder are not there, any idea why or how to fix it?

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                        • Z Offline
                          zapwizard
                          last edited by

                          @radiodead said:

                          When I try to install the plugins by going to Sketchup Plugins under the L4D authoring tools and go into the sketchup folder all I have is the valve_library folder -- the valve folder and other files that I am supposed to copy into the google folder are not there, any idea why or how to fix it?

                          Try to either re-install the authoring tools, or in steam right click on them, goto "Local Files", and "click on verify integrity of tool cache"

                          If they are still missing I would contact valve at: sketchuptools@valvesoftware.com

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                          • R Offline
                            RadioDead
                            last edited by

                            @zapwizard said:

                            @radiodead said:

                            When I try to install the plugins by going to Sketchup Plugins under the L4D authoring tools and go into the sketchup folder all I have is the valve_library folder -- the valve folder and other files that I am supposed to copy into the google folder are not there, any idea why or how to fix it?

                            Try to either re-install the authoring tools, or in steam right click on them, goto "Local Files", and "click on verify integrity of tool cache"

                            If they are still missing I would contact valve at: sketchuptools@valvesoftware.com

                            Yeah, I tried to uninstall the authoring tools and reinstall, but it still wasn't there. I have all my hidden files & folders showing too. I'll try to verify the integrity, which file do you right click on and go to Local files? The Sketchup Plugin folder in the authoring tool menu?

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                            • K Offline
                              Killuminati91
                              last edited by

                              hey zap, thanks for the plugins.

                              You still have to build everything like in Hammer if you want to export it as an vmf, right?
                              Each block still one group? 😞

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                              • Z Offline
                                zapwizard
                                last edited by

                                Yes, the exporter won't group things automatically.
                                Each single "Brush" in hammer is a single convex grouping of faces in SketchUp.

                                You can however group together other groups of convex objects in SketchUp into more groups and components and they will export as groups in Hammer. This makes moving them around in hammer much easier, they can then be un-grouped in hammer back into their smallest convex objects.
                                For example I would group together any objects in sketchup that I knew I was going to convert to a func_detail, or breakable window.

                                Components are also a HUGE help in Sketchup when laying out buildings.
                                Since most of the buildings in my Allegheny map are symmetrical I only had to model half the building, make that half a component and mirror it on the other side.

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                                • G Offline
                                  Gitaroo
                                  last edited by

                                  can someone teach me how to load up the model in cryengine 2 sandbox 2 editor? I group a mode then exported it with playup from sketchup to a .dae file, then I try to open the .dae file in sandbox 2, nothing happen. I tried the load a model option but it doesn't take any format beside .cgf

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                                  • G Offline
                                    Gardentwine
                                    last edited by

                                    hi back into the modding scene. RLP

                                    i was wondering if anyone has come up with some scripts, that can really help map making and modeling for source engine.

                                    PS you dont need the plugin to make model directly into source now, you can make the model or map and export it as a vmf (hammer map file) and dl a prog called Propper this can make any vmf into a model for source. once you made it restart hammer and it will be in you prop_static list of models

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                                    • A Offline
                                      alz
                                      last edited by

                                      I'm totally screeching in to the last page without reading previous ones. Having said that, has anyone looked at: http://playuptools.blogspot.com/?

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                                      • Z Offline
                                        zapwizard
                                        last edited by

                                        @alz said:

                                        I'm totally screeching in to the last page without reading previous ones. Having said that, has anyone looked at: http://playuptools.blogspot.com/?

                                        Yes, it has been mentioned in the thread. I haven't used it for a while now and they have made updates to it.

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                                        • D Offline
                                          dsarchs
                                          last edited by

                                          PlayupTools works very will with the new (free) Crynegine 3 (basically Crysis 2).

                                          I had been interested in the Source engine before, but it seems very cumbersome. You can't just export SketchUP models that you would normally make -- in my case, for architecture projects -- but instead would have to model them in a specific, and time-consuming way.

                                          Crysis (Cryengine 3, as above) works much better, for me. As long as your normals are facing the right way you can export normal models directly in to the engine. There's a fairly strict size limit on what can be exported, so complex models usually need to be sent in several different exports, but it's not too much of a hassle. The only real difference is getting a new texture library. You need DDS versions of square (256x256, 512x512, etc.) of the textures you want to use. Once you have these, though, the process is fairly automated.
                                          It CAN get much more complicated if you worry about optimizing models for (playing) the game engine and creating dynamic/moving objects -- but even without worrying about any of that I get good looking results that I can walk through with at least 60 FPS. That's all I need.

                                          Knowledge is a polite word for dead but not buried imagination.

                                          -e.e.cummings

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                                          • RichardR Offline
                                            Richard
                                            last edited by

                                            Mate are you suggesting you now don't need to use playup anymore?

                                            Can you give a detailed workflow?
                                            And DDS textures via conversion of existing maps?

                                            Would love to no more!

                                            [BUILTBRAND.COM.AU](http://builtbrand.com.au/)

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