created a Kitten Billboard rendered in Gmax right but random bldgs in lot editor

[justinrpg]

I made a kitten billboard in gmax and it  was showing as a kitten billboard during the rendering but when it was opened in lot editor is was just a bunch of random buildings in the air.

[Girafe]

could you post a picture please

[threestooges]

If it's what I think it is, and your model has been replaced by parts of other, seemingly random, buildings, then you may not have all the needed updates. Near the top of the page here you'll see a row of buttons, one of them says "support" and has the EA logo on it. Click it, read through the terms/conditions, and check to ensure you have the Rush Hour update. Then go into the BAT part of that page and check to ensure you have the Buildings Update (second one down: Update 1.1.640.0). With those two installed, if the problem is what I think it is, that should solve it.

[Andreas]

I rather think you're missing the BAT Script Fix, available at the official SC4 website.

[RippleJet]

The "Texture Fix" (modelnames.ms) is also available in the section that threestooges pointed to, immediately beneath the 1.1.640.0 update.

[jmyers2043]

Everyone has given you the exact correct information. I'll do the same but differently.

There are two things you can do. The first is good practice. The second is necessary.

It is good practice before you export to open a new project and merge your model. Do not merge the TBC Handle file or any LODs. Doing a merge removes extraneous materials from the scene and just generally makes for a more tidy saved file. You'll be glad you did. Give it a new name, refit the LODs, and export.



The thing that will absolutely stop those bits and pieces of sides from other buildings from showing up when you look at your billboard in the lot editor is to download this script from the official Maxis web site



And place it in the scripts subfolder in gmax. The script files is called ModelNames.ms




Good Luck

- Jim

[justinrpg]

I updated BAT and SC4... and guess what it did it again!! so it isn't updates that is causing the problem

[jmyers2043]

Ok - let's do it this way

What is the size of this file ..  ModelNames.ms

in this directory .. \gmax\gamepacks\BAT\scripts

[justinrpg]

i know why, I needed a restart of the computer... things are working better... the update seemed to work after a restart... plus I can make bigger buildings without it erroring out... and also it wasn't replacing the script file until i lowered the security level of UAC, lowing UAC seemed to fix the problem. does UAC hinder script files in WIN 7? btw what was wrong with the old script that causes these building to show up?

[jmyers2043]

does UAC hinder script files in WIN 7?

I don't have WIN 7 so i can't answer the question.

btw what was wrong with the old script that causes these building to show up?

No idea. All I know that it absolutely fixes the problem you described.

BTW - after you have your bat the way you want it - it is still good practice to start a new project, merge the bat, and save it again prior to rendering. There are other quirky things that gmax can do to distort your bat. (the following examples are extremely intermittent but can happen nevertheless) Such as, make your bat look squished, or it will take one wall of your bat and render it in the wrong direction, or not get textures right .. things like that.

Good Luck the kitten

- Jim