ModelViewer2.0 - loading custom skins how? - SOLVED

[jackd]

Hi i made some (ww2 plane) skins using the DCS ME to check 'em. Time consuming ...

Now i tried this Modelviewer2.0, but how do you load a custom skin from my F:\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\Liveries folder?

Is there some manual for this tool? thnkx

PS i tried a lot but i only found this UFO:

Edited December 4, 2023 by jackd

[razo+r]

At the top, Tools - Livery loader or something (Ctrl+L)

Edited October 25, 2023 by razo+r

[jackd]

Still does not work, but i found this info somewhere in the past. The model loads OK.

====================== ON LIVERY loading:

This is because the textures cannot be loaded. To fix this open the following file with a good text editor (e.g. Notepad++):

DCS World\Config\ModelViewer\autoexec.lua

Insert the two lines marked in red. You must adjust the path so that it fits your environment.

print("----------------------------------------------------------------")
print("scan for textures and liveries")
scan_for_textures("CoreMods")
print("----------------------------------------------------------------")
scan_for_textures("Mods")
scan_for_textures("C:\\Users\\kaltokri\\Saved Games\\DCS.openbeta\\Mods")
scan_for_textures("C:\\Users\\kaltokri\\Saved Games\\DCS.openbeta\\Liveries")
scan_for_environment_cubes("Bazar/EffectViewer/envcubes")
print("scan done")
print("----------------------------------------------------------------")

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

Now the notepad++ opened autoexec.lua file reads:

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

log.set_output('animator-log', 'ANIMATOR', log.ALL, log.MESSAGE)

--autoexecute sample for model viewer
--mount_vfs_liveries_path("Mods/aircrafts/Wunderluft/Liveries")
--mount_vfs_texture_path("Mods/aircrafts/Wunderluft/Textures/base_zip_package")

--LoadModel("Bazar/World/Shapes/A-10.edm")
--LoadLivery("A-10C","184th FS Arkansas ANG, Fort Smith (FS)")
--SetArgument(0,1)
--SetArgument(3,1)
--SetArgument(5,0.75)

animator =
{
    statistics_enabled = true;
}

local lfs = require("lfs")
local function service_file(file)
    return file == "." or
           file == ".." or
           file == ".svn" or
           file == "_svn"
end

function scan_for_environment_cubes(path)
    local lower_case = path:lower()    
    for file in lfs.dir(path) do
        if not service_file(file) then
            local fn = path.."/"..file
            local attrMode = lfs.attributes(fn, "mode")
            if attrMode == "file" then
                local ext = string.sub(file,-4)
                if '.dds' == ext then
                    AddEnvironmentMap(file)
                end
            end
        end
    end
end

print("----------------------------------------------------------------")
print("scan for environment cubes")
print("----------------------------------------------------------------")
scan_for_environment_cubes("Bazar/EffectViewer/envcubes")
print("scan done")
print("----------------------------------------------------------------")
print("mount extra stuff")
print("----------------------------------------------------------------")
mount_vfs_liveries_path     ("CoreMods/tech/USS_Nimitz/animations/liveries")
mount_vfs_animations_path   ("CoreMods/tech/USS_Nimitz/animations/animations")
mount_vfs_models_path       ("CoreMods/tech/USS_Nimitz/animations/models")
mount_vfs_textures_path     ("CoreMods/tech/USS_Nimitz/animations/textures")

mount_vfs_liveries_path     ("CoreMods/tech/Animals/Liveries")
mount_vfs_models_path       ("CoreMods/tech/Animals/models")
mount_vfs_textures_path        ("CoreMods/tech/Animals/Textures")
mount_vfs_animations_path   ("CoreMods/tech/Animals/animations")

mount_vfs_models_path       ("CoreMods/characters/models")
mount_vfs_textures_path        ("CoreMods/characters/textures")
mount_vfs_animations_path   ("CoreMods/characters/animations")
mount_vfs_animations_path   ("Mods/tech/WIP/Animations")
mount_vfs_models_path       ("Mods/tech/WIP/Shapes")
mount_vfs_animations_path   ("Mods/tech/WIP/characters/animations")
mount_vfs_models_path       ("Mods/tech/WIP/characters/models")
mount_vfs_textures_path        ("Mods/tech/WIP/characters/textures")

mount_vfs_animations_path   ("Mods/aircraft/AH-64D/animations/animations")
mount_vfs_liveries_path     ("Mods/aircraft/AH-64D/animations/liveries")
mount_vfs_models_path       ("Mods/aircraft/AH-64D/animations/models")
mount_vfs_texture_path        ("Mods/aircraft/AH-64D/animations/textures")

mount_vfs_animations_path   ("CoreMods/aircraft/FA-18C/animations/animations")
mount_vfs_liveries_path     ("CoreMods/aircraft/FA-18C/animations/liveries")
mount_vfs_models_path       ("CoreMods/aircraft/FA-18C/animations/models")
mount_vfs_texture_path        ("CoreMods/aircraft/FA-18C/animations/textures")

--here is textures for  Bazar/World/Shapes/air_closedguardhouse_03a.edm
mount_vfs_textures_path("Mods/terrains/Caucasus/Models/Communication/Communication.texture.zip")

print("done")
print("----------------------------------------------------------------")

--local f = LoadStaticCharacterModel;
--local file_name = "carrier_technician.chanimgpu";
--local file_name = "carrier_shooter.chanimgpu";
--local file_name = "carrier_tech_USA.chanimgpu";
--f(file_name);

--[[
LoadModel("d:\\Projects\\trunk\\LockOnExe\\Bazar\\World\\Shapes\\farp.edm");
Move(0, -1.22, 0);
local d = 10;
local f = LoadLodModel; local file_name = "tech.lds";
--local f = LoadStaticCharacterModel; local file_name = "tech_animation.chanimgpu";
--local f = LoadCharacterModel;
if f ~= nil then
    for i = -d,d do
        for j = -d,d do
            --f("d:\\Projects\\trunk\\LockOnExe\\Data\\tech_animation.lua")
            --f("d:\\Projects\\trunk\\LockOnExe\\Data\\tech_animation.chanimgpu")
            --f("tech_animation.chanimgpu")
            f(file_name);
            Move(i, 0, j);
        end;
    end;
end;
--]]

--LoadModel("d:\\Projects\\trunk\\LockOnExe\\Bazar\\World\\Shapes\\farp.edm");
--Move(0, -1.22, 0);
--AddModel("carrier_shooter.chanimgpu")

--LoadCarrierModel('c:\\Work\\Trunk\\LockOnExe\\CoreMods\\tech\\USS_Nimitz\\Shapes\\Nimitz_CVN_71.lods');
--LoadCarrierCrew('c:\\Work\\Trunk\\LockOnExe\\CoreMods\\tech\\USS_Nimitz\\scripts\\crew.lua');

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

Where should the adapted lines .......

scan_for_textures("C:\\Users\\kaltokri\\Saved Games\\DCS.openbeta\\Mods")
scan_for_textures("C:\\Users\\kaltokri\\Saved Games\\DCS.openbeta\\Liveries")

 .................. be inserted? I think at least the double \\ should be one \ ...

Edited November 25, 2023 by jackd

[Ironhand]

I think the easiest way to load the skin will be to add it to whatever folder modelviewer2.exe is already at for that aircraft’s skins. Obviously, the above mofication instructions no longer mirror what is currently in the lua file.

[SkateZilla]

Create a Repository Folder,
ie Drive:\\DCS LIVERIES\

Create Aircraft folder within it.
ie Drive:\\DCS LIVERIES\FA-18C_hornet\

Place Livery folder w/ description.lua and textures in that folder.
ie Drive:\\DCS LIVERIES\FA-18C_hornet\HORNET_TEST_LIVERY\

Open DCS MAIN FOLDER \ CONFIG \ MODEL VIEWER \ autoexec.lua

Add the line below to the LUA just before the "PRINT/DONE" Lines. ~Line 84:
mount_vfs_liveries_path ("<path to main liveries folder>") (obviously Drive = Driver Letter)
ie: 

mount_vfs_liveries_path ("Drive:\\DCS _LIVERIES")

print("done")
print("----------------------------------------------------------------")

Open Model Viewer, Load your EDM, and Select your Livery.

Edited November 24, 2023 by SkateZilla

[jackd]

Hi SkateZilla, i did all that, but how do you load the actual livery.

The ModelViewer2 drop down menu system, Tools-Livery Tools still only shows the standard liveries when the correct edm is selected ..

Opening container gets to the correct location, but shows only all default the dds files involved in a zip, clicking on one opens Photoshop.

Not my own created ones at my separate created and autoexec.lue addressed DCS LIVERIES folder as mentioned above.

 

ADDED i noticed something weird: two -- were added to my Saved Games folders, and only visible in the search bar .. .now where did that come from?

I.E. C:\Users\Administrator\Saved Games --- and in the moved one F:\Saved Games --- too. Had to use Take Ownership to get rid of 'em; starting all over again.

 

Edited November 26, 2023 by jackd

[jackd]

FINALLY THUS I FOUND THE CAUSE OF MY PROBLEMS due my saved games folder"s naming ..... there were hidden --- to it's name, only visible in the file explorer bar ...

When i removed them (only possible with correct permissions) all worked. Thanks for all your help ! My Liveries show up now in ModelViewer2 !!!

Now i need to fix the game probably since the moved Saved Games folder has the (hidden) --- removed from it's name.