Trouble importing nif to 3ds MAX with plugin.

[Acronym2]

I've read the two "importing to max" tutorials and followed their instructions. However, I seem to only be able to import the models. The textures are not showing in the viewport. I am simply trying to import the Spy unit or the Watermill unit with textures as shown in the tutorials.

I once had a problem like this importing Warhammer DOW game models and it turned out that I had the texture tga's in the wrong folder.

Is there a specific file folder structure/location to be used when importing a complete CivIV NIF model? Perhaps I do not have the NIF import script ini configured properly to direct Max to the DDS texture files?

I know I'm probably missing something incredibly simple, but I'll be damned if I know what it is! Can sombody give me a little help?

 

[Refar]

The textures should be in the same folder like the imported model. They usually are with Civ4 models.

There is a checkbox with the importer "display texture" or something...

Otherwise you need to pick the material in the Material Editor and set "Show Textures in Viewport" from there.

 

[Acronym2]

Okay, I have found an answer to the problem that may be very helpful to other Modders here.

The MAX NIF Importer plugin is working fine. However, it seems that MAX 8 running on Vista cannot open dds texture files. This problem was never fixed by Autodesk until a later version (presumably MAX 2008) of 3ds MAX was released.

I have found a rescripted dds plugin someone has made for MAX 8 running on Vista to read the dds files correctly. It is in the last post of this URL:

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=37665

Perhaps someone could help add the files to the download section and create a new thread to keep this information available to Modders.

 

[Refar]

You should have mentioned you running Vista in your first post. Could have saved you some googling time

 

[Acronym2]

I sometimes forget that Vista is still a bit new and many things were not designed with it in mind. However, I think this thread should help others who will encounter this when using Vista. Maybe I should make a new one in another location and title it "dds plugin for 3ds Max 8 running in Vista"?

 

[Refar]

Might be a good idea. Perhaps in Tutorials & Reference subforum.

 

[woodelf]

That would be very helpful. I have max7 and was highly ticked when my new Vista laptop couldn't do the dds work. SO now I have to use my old clunker to finish any models.

Any idea if there is a max7/Vista plugin as well?

 

[kipkuhmi]

I have the same problem with Vista. However, the plugin doesn't help me. You have to copy the dds.bmi into the folder \stdplugs\dxplugins, right?

 

[kipkuhmi]

Hah, it worked!
I had to copy it into \stdplugs, not \stdplugs\stdplugins.
It's confusing, because there is already a file by that name in stdplugins, so I thought I had to replace it.