help about Roadkill UV tools in 3dsmax 2k9

boyluya

Ok, I fairly know how roadkill works but only in maya. My problem is I can't get it to work in max 2009 (I just switched from maya to max so I'm a total newb when it comes to max's uv workflow), I always have this error (attached image). I tried to change the path but it still goes back to default one. I know a bunch of you guys use Roadkill, maybe you could help me out. Thanks. :poly121:

Btw, I'm using Roadkill v1.1, which is the free version. Thanks for the help.

renderhjs

haven't tried the plugin for max yet but have you tried:
- working with a poly instead of a mesh
- checked that it works with the prehistoric max 8?
- Generating a UV upon your first primitive start model (there should be a tick that says "generate UV's) otherwise you wont have a registered vertex Channel for the UV.

apart from that the window says that it can't temporarily create the OBJ to push it to roadkill,- are you sure that URL exists on your computer? and are you sure you have admin rights as it tries to write data directly into your max8 folder?

boyluya

@ renderhjs: Thanks man. I already tried everything you said except for trying it in max8 but still I can't get it to work.

About the url thingy, there's a setting there where you can change the path to save the file the problem is everytime I edit it it just goes back to the default one.

P.S. Thanks for the textools man, such a big help.

renderhjs

I looked at the script:
and this should be the spot where it stops for you:

exportFile OBJFilePath #noPrompt selectedOnly:true

the error message itself is not coded within the script so its the OS or Max that can't write the file to the distination. SO I think that either the URL is wrong or you have no rights.

also some of the URL's are hard coded:

local EdgeFilePath = "C:Program FilesAutodesk3dsMax8meshesedgList.edg"
local OBJFilePath = "C:Program FilesAutodesk3dsMax8meshesroadkillOBJ.obj"

maybe change them,

just open the script in notepad or any other texteditor and spot the lines:

local EdgeFilePath = "C:Program FilesAutodesk3dsMax8meshesedgList.edg"
local OBJFilePath = "C:Program FilesAutodesk3dsMax8meshesroadkillOBJ.obj"

and change them for example to:

local EdgeFilePath = "C:edgList.edg"
local OBJFilePath = "C:roadkillOBJ.obj"

so it writes it directly to the C: drive which in most cases and yours most likely too is available. So save the changes to the *.ms (maxscript) file and run the script again (in max F11, from that panel, file > run script... > choose your file, hit ok)


You haven't yet pointed it out but are you even working with max8 ? or max9 as I can see polyboost which was popular among the max 9 though 2009 releases of max.

boyluya

Ok I'll try it man and I'll let you know.

I'm using max 2009 so not sure if this roadkill version works.

boyluya

Damn man!! Amazingly it works! Thank you so much. Now I can use this in combo with your textools! :poly121: :thumbup:

renderhjs

you are welcome,- might be a good choice for the future though to dynamically detect any temporarily and writable paths- I had about just the same issue in TexTools i.e for writing images to the clipboard for which I need temporary files.

raul

This is awesome! i used to using roadkill in softimage, trying to get it to work in max. I select the edges i want the cuts and all, but when i come into roadkill my mesh doesnt seem to be cut or anything....what am i doing wrong?

Before export, i made the mesh into an editable mesh, prior to that i selected the edges using a editable poly.

When im inside of road kill, different edges are selected. im wondering if some how the point count is being changed or something.

renderhjs

try it with a mesh instead of a poly. Never tried this but I am not sure if the copy selected edges is supposed to be covered. After all the way I understand it so far only a OBJ is passed to the application. And OBJ can't save selection sets.

Just select the edges in Roadkill and unwrap it there, export it back and import it in max - done

vcool

Ha I could never get this work.

Figures why. Thanks

raul

Well....sighs...i guess i could do that.

Another question. Does this pluggin work on max2010? I tried it and it seems like the script runs, but its not really communicating with roadkill. Any suggestions.

renderhjs

@Raul: understood and read this?