Blender .s file imported?

[thegreatone1980]

I can find the exporter plugin, but no option to import a .s file? How to edit existing shapes using Blender? Google only shows the export plugin for blender.

[scottb613]

I can find the exporter plugin, but no option to import a .s file? How to edit existing shapes using Blender? Google only shows the export plugin for blender.

Hi Folks,

There's never been a widely accepted editor for shape files - there's one floating around but not for Blender specifically - but it's not discussed in polite company. The initial intent was to offer some form of protection for modelers.

Regards,
Scott

[thegreatone1980]

Hi Folks,

There's never been a widely accepted editor for shape files - there's one floating around but not for Blender specifically - but it's not discussed in polite company. The initial intent was to offer some form of protection for modelers.

Regards,
Scott

I understand the reasoning. But all I want is to simply want to change some basic texture parameters (to glow at night setting) to a model I downloaded and only for my own personal use.

[scottb613]

I understand the reasoning. But all I want is to simply want to change some basic texture parameters (to glow at night setting) to a model I downloaded and only for my own personal use.

Hi Folks,

Personally - I never really agreed with the community policy - the more tools we have available - the better. You can do some shape file manipulations with "Shape File Manager" - it will allow you to change the texture settings - as you desire. I know the program is in the Elvas Tower File Library - I don't know if it's here.

Regards,
Scott

[thegreatone1980]

Hi Folks,

Personally - I never really agreed with the community policy - the more tools we have available - the better. You can do some shape file manipulations with "Shape File Manager" - it will allow you to change the texture settings - as you desire. I know the program is in the Elvas Tower File Library - I don't know if it's here.

Regards,
Scott

Thanks. I tried using it . Not working properly in Windows 10 and seems to require FFEDit unicode which is not available in Open Rails.

I tried the alternative FFEDit , but that also gives compdlg32.ocx missing error. I guess there is some issue running older software on modern systems.

[thegreatone1980]

Come to think of it, I don't even need to edit the model itself. Only the texture render settings. Is that possible by editing the ACE file alone? I think only the model file has this setting (Normal, Halfbright etc)

[scottb613]

Hi.

No - it's a shape file modification.

Sorry - I can't be of more help with SFM - I don't use it very often - perhaps someone will be along who knows it better.

Regards,
Scott

[kapitaen]

For the desired work, the TK_Utils are completely sufficient.
Only requirement is that you have 'Microsoft .Net Framework v1.1' or later, the name of the installer is 'dotnetfx.exe'.
If you know the structure of the sFile you can change the texture modes with Archibald. Otherwise, use Zipper to decompress and change the texture modes in the text editor.

Normal = -5
HiShine = -6
LoShine = -7
Bright = -8
CrcForm = -9
HalfBright = -11
DarkShade = -12

TK Utils (Updated)





Finding the right states is sometimes a bit tricky. You use the Hierarchy and the Matrixes and then ...trial and error.

[eric]

As the site's current policy owner, it ultimately comes down to this: Rules against certain tools won't stop those who are going to break the rules regardless. But if you break the rules and share things that you shouldn't or take credit for things you didn't create, then don't be upset if there are negative consequences later. I won't knowingly facilitate it, and I'm happy to take action if it's discovered and reported.

All that disclaimer out of the way, I'm in general agreement with Scott on having tools available.

Marty Griffin did release a tool in the library here that can be somewhat useful for the texturing issue if you can't get Archibald or SFM to work -- MSTS ReCompiler

For those who want to just modify a texture property, it's suitable albeit intimidating if you don't know the .S file structure.

Another tool that Scott may be alluding to is ShapeConverter -- it can be used to transform .S files into the .3DS format, but honestly I've had mixed results with it. I never tried bringing a file .S -> .3ds -> Blender and suspect there are going to be issues with properties or animations being lost along the way. What's guaranteed is you'll lose all texturing, and may spend more time fixing that than it would take to just build your own model from scratch.

Some won't discuss it. I have and it's not a forbidden topic. And in years past, it's one of the few topics guaranteed to bring up some strong opinions...

The main problem is I don't believe it was ever formally submitted released to the file library here by its author, and is so old that it probably never will be. The references here for getting the file point to Altavista... which went away almost 10 years ago to the month.

[thegreatone1980]

For the desired work, the TK_Utils are completely sufficient.
Only requirement is that you have 'Microsoft .Net Framework v1.1' or later, the name of the installer is 'dotnetfx.exe'.
If you know the structure of the sFile you can change the texture modes with Archibald. Otherwise, use Zipper to decompress and change the texture modes in the text editor.

Normal = -5
HiShine = -6
LoShine = -7
Bright = -8
CrcForm = -9
HalfBright = -11
DarkShade = -12

TK Utils (Updated)





Finding the right states is sometimes a bit tricky. You use the Hierarchy and the Matrixes and then ...trial and error.

Thanks. This seems more complicated than I thought at first. Would require some study on my part.

[thegreatone1980]

As the site's current policy owner, it ultimately comes down to this: Rules against certain tools won't stop those who are going to break the rules regardless. But if you break the rules and share things that you shouldn't or take credit for things you didn't create, then don't be upset if there are negative consequences later. I won't knowingly facilitate it, and I'm happy to take action if it's discovered and reported.

All that disclaimer out of the way, I'm in general agreement with Scott on having tools available.

Marty Griffin did release a tool in the library here that can be somewhat useful for the texturing issue if you can't get Archibald or SFM to work -- MSTS ReCompiler

For those who want to just modify a texture property, it's suitable albeit intimidating if you don't know the .S file structure.

Another tool that Scott may be alluding to is ShapeConverter -- it can be used to transform .S files into the .3DS format, but honestly I've had mixed results with it. I never tried bringing a file .S -> .3ds -> Blender and suspect there are going to be issues with properties or animations being lost along the way.

Some won't discuss it. I have and it's not a forbidden topic. The main problem is that it was never released to the file library here by its author, and is so old that it probably never will be.

Agreed. I don't want to redistribute anybody else's work. But unfortunately the tooling seems very old and mostly MSTS vintage and also sparely documented. Very difficult to get started, even if I want to create my own work.

OR needs tools for content creators. TSRE 5 is great though.

[rdayt]

TSFV, Train Sim File Viewer, comes in handy. http://koniec.org/TSFviewer/
It's a little more modern.

Randy

[eric]

Well that's interesting. Another Goku tool?

[scottb613]

Hi Folks,

Eric - concur - "Rules against certain tools won't stop those who are going to break the rules regardless."

For Shape Converter - I don't know the full history of this but Blender stopped importing 3DS a while back - my guess is they probably received a cease-and-desist letter from Autodesk. That said - you can simply download and install an old version of Blender to do the 3DS import - save it - then open it with new Blender. I forget what version they left off on.

Thanks for the clarification on policy. IIRC - Wayne actually proposed adding an "Import" function to his Exporter on Elvas - this was a while ago - which was met with so much hostility and vitriol - I don't think he'll ever broach the subject again.

Randy - you rascal - that is an interesting find - new one on me. I just tested it - sure enough the saved OBJ will import into Blender - you do lose the hierarchy of the model which I'm sure would kill any animations - and - every face is detached from every other. The hierarchy and animations would have to be redone. The detached faces is easily fixed in Blender with "Merge Vertex by Distance" - 75,000 merged vertexes later - I had a presentable model.

Regards,
Scott

[pwillard]

For Shape Converter - I don't know the full history of this but Blender stopped importing 3DS a while back - my guess is they probably received a cease-and-desist letter from Autodesk

Well, actually no, it does not appear any sort of *cease* message from Autodesk was the reason. The most likely truth is that nobody was willing to make it work. The importer code was going to need to be rewritten to be able to work with 2.8+. The work was started and was then abandoned because they ultimately came to the conclusion that the limitations of the 3DS format, which originated in the 80s as part of the DOS 3D Studio software and that was also retired by Autodesk in 1996 with 3DSMAX, were just no longer suitable for current-day models. There is some partially migrated code out there, but it has bugs and nobody is willing to own fixing it.