Tutorial: How to Import Models In Your Map (TFT)

Tutorial: How to Import Models In Your Map (TFT)

Darky27 wrote a great tutorial on importing models. You can find it here.

Yeah your right.. but that seems to only work for that 1 download. Like for example... the Barbarian. Even after i import the files it still doesn't work. If you have a walkthrough for BARBARIAN or the NINJA it would be much appreciated.

Ninja
War3MapImported\Ninja.mdx --> Units\Creeps\Ninja\Ninja.mdx
War3MapImported\Ninja.blp --> Units\Creeps\Ninja\Ninja.blp
Barbarian
War3MapImported\Barbarian.mdx --> Units\Other\Barbarian\Barbarian.mdx
War3MapImported\Barbarian.blp --> Units\Other\Barbarian\Barbarian.blp
War3MapImported\HeroBladeMaster.blpUnits\Other\Barbarian\HeroBladeMaster.blp

Easier way

you guysknow there's a MUCH easier way of importing models? All you have to do is remove the
"war3mapImported\" part of the path and then save and close the map. When you open it again, the models will work.

hey, if I import models in my map, and i created the path like it told me at the download page, i've saved the map, restarted world editor but it DOESN'T show the models, only (error found: could not create (for example) barbarian.mdx) in yellow text below in the world editor... what to do? what do i do wrong? i just imported them with import manager , and after changing the path to correct i gave a unit the look a like of the model, saved the map, restarted world editor but it still DOESN'T work... someone plz help me and send me a message about how it could work... send message to Saigon1 this is not the correct account.

Did you import the skin with it?

I don't think the tutorial is too hot either... it doesn't explain the basic thing: What decides what path is right? And how do you figure it out? Isn't there some program for this?

Does it matter if its a unit or a building? Or does the program see all models as the same (a building is just a unit that can't move?)

Dark Dragon: How did you figure out where to place the ninja.mdx/Barbarian? Did you just guess at one of the locations of the blp?

I've tried with the HeavyCannon
http://www.wc3sear.ch/index.php?p=Models&ID=208&sid=

And couldn't get it work for ages, but then i tried Mirage8910s tip, and it seems to work!

if its units it shall be Units\Human\FootMan\FootMan.mdx

if its Buildings it shall be
Buildings\Human\Barracks\Barracks.mdx
etc

How do you know?

I just tried adding the pulselaser just in the root and it worked fine without being buildings/etc

For models you can use any path, but skins need the correct path because a model (in its data) has a field that has the file path to look for the skin, and the skin has to be the correct path or the model won't get wrapped by it.

I was beginning to suspect as much

What about unit sounds? Say you use the Ninja, could you give him all new ninja sounds?

arggghHGhGHhGhhHhhhHh i can't get these damn things working!i usually put the mdx in the model file bit,the blp in the icon-game interfcae path and msot of the time the skins work ,but i have many problems including they turning to those damn squares after a while,or coming up as shadows in game.as mentioned by someone above i regularyly get the message in yellwo that a mdl file ahs not been found/loaded please please please help me(looks to dark dragon)

oz02For models you can use any path, but skins need the correct path because a model (in its data) has a field that has the file path to look for the skin, and the skin has to be the correct path or the model won't get wrapped by it.

Yes but the question remains... is there a way to find out the skin paths? or just guess and check or hope that the author tells us??

In every download they tell you the path, whether they want to or not. Just go to the page where you downloaded the model and look for this part (This is the Drider model BTW, all models have an area simular to this)

Model Name: FemaleDrider.mdx
File Name: FemaleDrider.zip
Model Submitted by: garfield
Model uploaded: 11. June 2004
Last modified: 11. June 2004
URL: http://www.wc3sear.ch/?p=Models&ID=591
Model Name: FemaleDrider
Number of Polys: 549
Number of Skins: 4
Skin 1: units\FemaleDrider\DrowArcher.blp
Skin 2: Textures\star2_32.blp
Skin 3: Textures\gutz.blp
Skin 4: units\undead\cryptfiend\cryptfiend.blp
Animations: 10
Anim 1: Stand
Anim 2: Stand - 3
Anim 3: Death
Anim 4: Attack - 1
Anim 5: Walk
Anim 6: Decay Flesh
Anim 7: Decay Bone
Anim 8: Morph
Anim 9: Stand Alternate
Anim 10: Morph Alternate
Particles: 1
Particle 1: BlizParticle01
Download Counter: 95 times downloaded

Anywho, go to the bit where it says "Number of skins". Any custom skins on the model will be highlighted in yellow. Read their path, and use it when importing the corresponding skin

Now looking at the Raptor's one

Number of Skins: 3
Skin 1: Raptor.blp
Skin 2: grad3.blp
Skin 3: gutz.blp

So you would import the skins to those paths

Pretty easy no?

@Mecheon: Only some authors include that. If you look through all the models, not everyone has that whole paragraph.

Ok, if the author doesn't supply the path for the skin, and you have no idea what it could be, there is one way to find out the path for the skin.

First of all, you need War3File Converter.

Now, open War3File Converter, load the model you downloaded, and convert it to MDL. Now, open the MDL in Notepad. Press Ctrl+F and search for Textures. The first texture's file path is the path for the skin.