Freelancer CMP Exporter V0.2.1

==== Revision 1 13/01/2004

Turret rotation on single model exports now set at 360 degrees.

Special build 0.7 (Testing)

--------------- Credits

Mario Brito - Author of the original CMP exporter & VMesh guide.

redeye at Lancers Reactor - tutorial on Ships/Weapons with multiple components.


------------- Operating Details

Dialog 1 - File option Buttons
==============================

a)	Create a new CMP file
	---------------------

	Select file or enter new name in file dialog
	NOTE: any existing file selected will be replaced.

b)	Update Existing CMP File
	------------------------

	Select existing file name to be updated in the file dialog.

	The data from the model will be added or updated in the CMP file.
	Existing data in the "Cmpnd->Part_XXXX_lod1->Object Name" node will not be replaced.
	This is for multiple part models that use Fix data & .sur files from original
	Freelancer models. If no data is present, the part name will be used.


Dialog 2 - Model options
========================

Level Of Detail: Default = Level 0

	Select extension name of VMeshLibrary name. eg "MyFighter.lod0.vms"

	Adds Multilevel->Levelx node under the partname_lod1.3db node for VMeshRef data.

	NOTE: Separate Milkshape model must be created for each level of detail


Orientation: default = Upside Down

	Select orientation of model being exported.

	a)	Upside down with front of ship pointing down in top view.
		Bottom of ship is seen in top view.
		Standard method of exporting models

	b)	Back To front with front of ship pointing up in top view.
		Top of ship is in top view.
		Export model that has same orientation as a Freelancer ship
		imported into Milkshape3d.


Scale Down: Default = 92

	Select scale down value to export model	with.

	As a rule of thumb, I compare the model created against the Anubis,
	which is just over 1 grid long at full zoom out.

	Another option is to import the pilot model and try various scale up's of the
	pilot until the proprtions look right. This will give the scale down figure.
	i.e. scale pilot up 8 times = scale down model by 8.


Number Of Groups: Default = 1 (Maximum quantity is 18 - too many ??)

	The default value of 1 wil export model as original exporter - modified
	to use scale, Orientation & Level Of Detail.

	2 or more groups will display the appropriate number of text boxes to 
	enter the mesh quantities in each group.

	The first mesh name in each group will be used for the xxx_lod1.3db node etc.
	Hardpoints are only inserted on Level0 exports, ignored on level 1 & 2.


	NOTE: All hardpoint meshes should be after the model meshes in the Milkshape3d list.
	
	A check of the group quantity totals is compared against the total number of
	Milkshape model meshes excluding hardpoints. The program will exit with a warning
	to avoid a crash.


Settings.
	Model settings can be saved and loaded to save time re-entering all options.

	The settings file should be saved with the extension .ces (CMP Exporter Settings).
	Binary data is saved to the file in the following format

{
	DWORD Scale;
	DWORD Orientation;
	DWORD LevelOfDetail;
	DWORD NumberOfGroups;
	DWORD GroupQuantities[MAX_GROUPS];
}


Dialog 3 - TreeView
===================

	Displays generated nodes as original exporter

==========================================================================================

Hardpoints
----------

Hardpoint are linked to model parts using the tringle coordinates and VMeshRef bounding box.
If a hardpoint cannot be connected to a part (wing, fin etc) it will be added to the first
mesh in the list - should be the fuselage in the model.

example - HpMount is outside any of the bounding boxes, added in main model meshes.

There is an allowance for hardpoint meshes to be slightly outside the bounding box, such
as running lights and contrails.

HpTurret hardpoints will be set at a 360 degree rotation. All other revolute hardpoints 
will be set at approximately 45 degrees.

==========================================================================================

Please post bug reports etc. on Lancers Reactor general editing forum.

Colin Sanby


