Wall Worm Forums

So 3ds Max 2019 has been out for a several weeks. As is customary for me, I'd like to share a few thoughts on the new release.

The most important new feature in 2019 is, in my opinion, support for OSL (Open Shader Language). It opens up the material editor in a whole new way. It adds a whole new dimension to creating shaders similar to Substance Designer. Not only does it add an entire array of new basic texture nodes, it adds the ability to create (programmatically) new shaders in a way never before possible in Max. Before OSL, new texture nodes required creating new texture classes in C++. While I've now gained more experience building Max plugins in C++... I can say with authority that it's not always easy and is certainly time consuming. With OSL, the process is quick. In fact, in the last week while doing OSL R&D I've already written three OSL shaders to mimmick some Source shaders that I'll be adding to WW in the near future.

OSL kicks ass!

And, of course, there were many great additions in the 2018.1-2018.4 updates that were all early exposures to 2019 features. Those include Fluids, MaxBatch, Boolean updates, New Spline Tools and several MAXScript enhancements (that improved Max in general and Wall Worm specifically).

2019 is certainly worth your time. This year is the first year (to my knowledge) where almost all mainstream plugins have been recompiled for an SDK-breaking release within the first couple of weeks. Wall Worm is among the list of 3rd Party developers that have already supported 2019..

I look forward to moving some projects to 2019 ASAP.

Version 3.731 released on 4-22-2018

   * VMF Exporter: Added a new button in the utilities section to update scene classification cache.
   
   * VMF Exporter: Added a right-click function to the export button in the VMF Exporter. When right-clicked, will reclassify the scene nodes before exporting.


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Version 3.73 released on 4-21-2018

   * Materials: Added support for materials using OSL maps (3ds Max 2019+). Now will utilize these standard OSL Maps in places previously requiring BitmapTextures: Uberbitmap.osl and oslbitmap.osl. Most transformations from UberBitmap.osl are honored--however, using the global Scale parameter with Rotated bitmap will not export properly. Otherwise, Rotation, Offset and Tiling all work as expected in the exporters.
   
   * WWMT: Added checks for duplicate bone names when not exporting a staticprop. Will warn user and stop export if duplicate bone/node names detected.
   
   * SMD Exporter: Added checks for duplicate bone names when not exporting a staticprop. Will warn user and stop export if duplicate bone/node names detected.
   
   * Displacements: Fixed bug launching the Displacement Floater before some functions had already been loaded.


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Version 3.725 released on 4-16-2018

   * WWMT: Updated the Export Multiple WWMT function to not open a messagebox when done. Now prints the results to the MAXScript listener instead.
   
   * RAD Worm: Updated RAD worm to work more efficiently (faster collection of data).
   
   * Materials: Updated some functions dealing with materials to work faster.
   
   * Materials: Fixed bug with the Get Dimensions button in the WW Pro VTF Custom Attribute when deriving texture from a Substance2 texture.
   

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Version 3.724 released on 4-15-2018

   * Settings: Added new global setting for Models labeled Open HLMV with MDL after Exporting WWMT Model. When on, the WWMT batch file will include a command to open the exported MDL in HLMV after compiling.
   
   * WWMT: Added support for automatically opening the exported WWMT in HLMV after compiling. Dependent on new global setting for this feature.
   
   * WWMT: Updated WWMT compile batch file to use forward slashes instead of backslashes. Alleviates some path problems due to special characters.
   
   * Problem Checker: Fixed Problem Checker bug.
   
   * Problem Checker: Added check for materials not yet exported into game for WWMT Helpers.
   
   * VMF Exporter: Fixed VMF Exporter skipping the auto-generated CordonSolid brushes from active cordons.
   
   * Cordon Manager: Added two new buttons: Tag as Cordon and Untag as Cordon. Will allow using any arbitrary brush as a cordon solid (effective deleting anything within the volume of that brush).
   
   * VMF Exporter: Added support for cordonsolid brushes.

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Version 3.721 released on 4-14-2018

   * Macros: Added new macro to view a selected MDL or WWMT in HLMV.
   
   * Menus: Added new menu under Wall Worm > Wall Worm Model Tools for View in HLMV. Will view selected MDL or WWMT in HLMV (if MDL exists in game/models folders).
   
   * MDL: Added new button in WallWormMDL Utilities rollout in modify tab to view the MDL in HLMV.

Version 3.72 released on 4-13-2018

   * VMF/MAP Importer: Fixed bug when importing and the viewport isn't using Nitrous.
   
   * Entities: Fixed the Entity Editor floater to not exclude output value property in the columns.
   
   * Settings: Added new option in the Expanded Object Colors setting to Honor Entity Colors. When on (now default) copying an entity will force that entity to use the wirecolor for that entity as defined in the FGD.

Version 3.717 released on 4-11-2018

   * WWMT: Added support for LODs when using the One $model Per Mesh option.
   
   * WWMT: Added new parameter for LODs: Remove Model on nodes in main model list that don't have a LOD mesh defined and the $model Per Mesh option is on. Found in Modify Tab of the LOD Point Helper.
   
   * WWMT: Added new parameter for LODs: Remove Mesh. This lets you defined triangles to delete from the LOD based on material name. Found in Modify Tab of the LOD Point Helper.
   
   * WWMT: Added new parameter for LODs: Bone Tree Collapse. This lets you pick nodes in the scene for the roots of bone trees to collapse in the LOD. Must pick bones that are actually used in model or there will be a compile error. Found in Modify Tab of the LOD Point Helper.
   
   * Convert Scene to Model: Fixed bug introduced in last update.

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Version 3.716 released on 4-11-2018

   * WWMT: Fixed bug opening WWMT Floater in 3.715 due to an incorrect image path.

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Version 3.715 released on 4-10-2018

   * WWMT: Added new option to export one $model per mesh in the WWMT. Default is off which will keep all meshes in the $body.

   * Hull Helper: Updated Hull Helper floater to be dockable.
   
   * Hull Helper: Updated several Hull Helper functions to force a viewport redraw. This alleviates some functions not displaying results until the mouse is moved.
   
   * Scripts: Updated $scripts/WallWorm.com/WallWormUtilities/selectEntitiesByMDLFileList.ms to work better when searching WWMT Helpers.
   
   * Utilities: Hide All LODs function updated to work more quickly.
   
   * Convert Scene to Model: Saves last used settings as default for next time.

   * Convert Scene to Model: Checked for hidden target layer being hidden (making results not visible).
   
   * Problem Checker: Fixed MAXScript error when loading problem checker.

Version 3.713 released on 4-6-2018

   * Proxy Tools: Made Proxy Tools floater dockable and moved it from the Level Design Sub-Menu to the Wall Worm Model Tools Sub-Menu.
   
   * Model Utilities: Added the WWMT Scene functions to a new dockable floater found in the Wall Worm Model Tools menus. Previously was only found in the models tab of Anvil.

   * Utilities: Added new script to select all entities (WWMT/entities) that match names of MDL nodes found in a text file where each line lists a MDL file. To use this function, you must manually run this script: "$scripts/WallWorm.com/WallWormUtilities/selectEntitiesByMDLFileList.ms".

New video for Gmod using Wall Worm 3.71+ and 3ds Max 2018. Also updated the docs for Wall Worm and Gmod.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXHB9-cjeJI

Wall Worm / Wall Worm Pro 3.71 Released today. The Gameinfo parser has been updated to more intelligently find assets from the search paths. Improves support for games that had minimal support including Gmod, Day of Infamy and CSS.

Version 3.66 released on 3-28-2018

   * MacroScripts: Added new macros for removing entities from WWMT Helper geometry. Found under Wall Worm Model Tools menu.
   
   * Problem Checker: Added check for WWMT Helpers that have entities tied to their geometry objects.
   
   * Problem Checker: Made the Problem Checker floater dockable.
   
   * Problem Checker: Added check for valid Game Info path.

Version 3.65 released on 3-11-2018

   * SMD/DMX Exporter: Added support for the Crop parameters in a BitmapTexture to be calculated in the SMD/DMX UVs when the diffuse BitmapTexture is using Crop.

   * Utilities: Fixed Parse BSP Log not returning correct message when no problems found.
   
   * Worm Face: Added some better logic for dealing with the soon-to-be-released Overlay functions in the Detailer plugin.
   
   * Batch Tools: Added new parameter makeContainer that will generate MAXC files for the scenes.
   
   * System: Updated the system managers to be more efficient when classifying objects in a scene using XRef Scenes. No longer classifies xref scenes until after the root scene is finished loading.
   
   * Settings: Added new setting in Level Design tab for Multiple Cordons. Now this parameter is controlled via the game's global settings instead of per-file.
   
   * Settings: Added new setting in Level Design tab for Escape Outputs. Now this parameter is controlled via the game's global settings instead of per-file.
   
   * VMF Importer: Updated the VMF Importer to set the cordon of imported instances to inactive.
   
   * VMF Importer: Added support to set global cordon active state from imported VMF in event of multiple cordons.
   
   * VMF Exporter: Fixed bug that could happen when changing between game settings and rootNode export properties don't match from previous game.
   
   * VMF Exporter: Updated VMF Exporter to use the current global setting for Multiple Cordons instead of the per-scene setting.
   
   * VMF Exporter: Updated VMF Exporter to use the current global setting for Escape Outputs instead of the per-scene setting.
   
   * VMF Exporter: Updated the time reported in MAXScript listener to report more accurate times. Previously, was taking into account time it took user to browse for a file name to save to.
   
   * Entity Manager: Updated UI with alphabetized entity list.
   
   * Convert Scene to Model: Updated the UI to warn about hidden active layer that can block the tool under some situations.
   
   * Convert Scene to Model: Updated Convert Scene to Model floater to be dockable.
   
   * Convert Scene to Model: Added support for new Carver Functions to use smart cleaning for booleans. Improves boolean results in complex landscapes.

Version 3.64 released on 2-27-2018

   * Plugins: Added support for 3ds Max 2019.
   
   * Textures: Added native I/O support for PFM image format in 3ds Max 2015+.
   
   * Sky Writer: Added new PFM exporting functions into Sky Writer.
   
   * Entities: Updated most functions dealing with Decals/Overlays to utilize the new Decal setting in the Detailer plugin if the latest version of Detailer (v1.3+) is installed.
   
   * VMF Importer: Added support for the new Decal/Overlay functions in the Detailer plugin if the latest version of Detailer (v1.3+) is installed.
   
   * VMF Exporter: Added support for the new Decal/Overlay functions in the Detailer plugin if the latest version of Detailer (v1.3+) is installed.
   
   * Worm Face: Added support for the new Decal/Overlay functions in the Detailer plugin if the latest version of Detailer (v1.3+) is installed.
   
   * VMF Importer: Fixed bug where imported entity float values were being set as integers.
   
   * Entities: Added better support for binding native parameters with default object parameters (colors in lights, fade values in WallWormMDL, etc).
   
   * Entities: Changed the Point Entity floater to launch Worm Face when trying to create overlays or decals.
   
   * Entities: Fixed error running Edit Entity macro before some functions had been run.
   
   * VMF Importer: Fixed bug where NPCClass entities were not getting their angles set.
   
   * VTF Exporter: Fixed a bug exporting VTFs in WW Pro.

Version 3.593 released on 2-11-2018

   * Displacements: Optimized Sculpt Mesh function to assign materials to displacements from sculpt mesh functions.
   
   * Displacements: Fixed a bug when clicking the paint 4way function on a sculpt mesh.
   
   * Materials: Fixed a bug that could manifest when exporting models with no materials.

Version 3.592 released on 2-1-2018

   * Displacements: Fixed bug in function to convert displacements to generic meshes.
   
   * Level Importers: Fixed some props not rotating correctly in VMF/MAP/RMF Importer.

Version 3.591 released on 1-28-2018

   * Lightmaps: Fixed lightmap floater to allow assigning lightmaps to sculpt meshes.
   
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Version 3.59 released on 1-26-2018

   * VMF Exporter: Fixed error where entity parameters could be skipped during export.
   
   * Menus: Added new function Floor Plan From Selection in Level Design Rollout that utilizes ShellVex, CorVex and an upcoming plugin from Wall Worm.
   
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Version 3.58 released on 1-22-2018

   * VMF Importer: Fixed VMF Importer not showing displacements. In recent versions, WW was hiding all displacements in the imported scene.
   
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Version 3.57 released on 1-16-2018

   * Level Exporters: Fixed MDL Nodes sometimes being skipped from VMF/MAP/RMF exporters when tied to entities.

Version 3.56 released on 1-11-2018

   * Batch Tools: Updated the batch VMF/MAP/RMF importer to accept multiple command-line switches to control/configure how the importer works. Documentation on this does not yet exist.
   
   * PAK: Updated the BSP PAK function to now include several files in BSP PAK that previously only were included with the RES file maker.
   
   * Batch Tools: Updated the batch Level Importer to have an option to write out the asset PAK batch file for imported VMF files or a FBX file.

See the Batch Level Importer docs for more info.

Version 3.52 released on 1-6-2018

   * Exporters: Added a RMF exporter. Exports brushes, entities, world. Groups and Visgroups not yet supported.
   
   * MDL: Fixed bad rotation on WallWormMDL nodes that are using a WWMT Helper as the data source to not rotate improperly if the WWMT Helper has the Rotated origin option turned on.
   
   * RMF Importer: Updated the RMF Importer code under the hood.
   
   * VMF Exporter: Fixed problem where WWMT Proxies could be skipped at export time.
   
   * VMF/RMF/Map Exporter: Updated the exporter for game levels to only default to the current engine type, but still allow saving to other types.
   
   * Entities: Fixed bug where the properties to export in an entity would not update when tying to a new entity until after the scene was re-opened.
   
   * VMF Exporter: Fixed VMF Exporter UI forgetting the Vertex/UV precision values.
   
   * MAP Exporter: Fixed MAP exporter ignoring the vertex/uv precision values.
   
   * MAP Exporter: Updated the Map exporter to support compiling directly into Goldsource.
   
   * Settings: Added new fields into paths settings: xwad and WADs.
   
   * Anvil: Added WADS property to the World > Map Properties rollout.
   
   * MAP Exporter: Fixed WAD paths being written into incorrect property "wads". Now correctly goes to "wad" property.
   
   * MAP Exporter: Updated the WAD list exported into the the MAP file's wad property: Now exports [mapname].wad,  wad list in Anvil's World > Map Parameters < Wads fields and wad list in global settings WADs list. Checks for the wads to exist before adding.
   
   * MAP Importer: Updated Map Importer to store the map's WAD list into the map properties.
   
   * MAP Exporter: Updated the Map Compiler to derive CSG compile parameters from the VBSP options. Use the tag "<CSG>" in the VBSP options to set CSG. All text after the <CSG> tag will be used in the CSG compiler. Goldsource-only.
   
   * Menus: Added "Classify Scene Nodes" to the Wall Worm Utilities menu. Function will reset/reclassify all nodes in the scene in the event that the level exporter data needs to be reset.

Version 3.449 released on 12-28-2017

   * Importers: Added RMF Importer V1. (Exporter pending.)
   
   * Entities: Fixed bug in entity custom attributes related to some entities loaded from Goldsource. Requires Entity Cache Reparse in global settings.
   
   * Entities: Fixed bug with changing an entity from one class to another.
   
   * Entities: Fixed some bugs with setting some entity values when the FGD did not set value type to an expected data type.
   
   * VMF/Map/RMF Importer: Fixed a recursive bug that could cause importing a VMF take a very long time.
   
   * VMF/Map/RMF Importer: Fixed a bug importing proper UVs when the global settings in WW are set to use relative paths on imported textures.

All Wall Worm products are on sale through January 2.

Version 3.44 released on 12-14-2017

   * System: Moved several plugins out of the startup subfolder to fix a critical bug that affected Slate Views getting wiped. This bug appeared in last week and may be due to a Windows Update.
   

Version 3.435 released on 12-13-2017

   * Entity Manager: Updated entity manager to show model name of WWMT Helpers.
   
   * Entity Manager: Fixed bug that could happen with some filters that produce a MAXscript error.
   
   * WWMT: Moved the $shadowlod parameter into the WWMT Custom Attribute instead of the older userprop data.
   
   * Menus: Added new LOD Tools floater in the WWMT Menu.
   
   * WWMT: Fixed LOD generation making default vertex count to 100% for all new LODs. Now follow a default progression of less vertices per LOD without forcing user to manually lower the count after generation.
   
   * Settings: Fixed bug in the Export Preset function.

Version 3.43 released on 12-5-2017

   * XRef Scenes: Fixed a "System Exception" error when loading some files with XRef Scenes.
   
   * XRef Scenes: Optimized startup functions to run faster when a file uses XRef Scenes.
   
   * VMF Exporter: Fixed a bug related to exporting scenes with XRef Scenes and grouped geometry.
   
   * WWMT: Updated the WWMT Floater to be dockable.
   
   * Settings: Fixed slow opening of Miscellaneous tab with scenes that have many nodes.