TGA Problem

[wolfpackleader]

I created an objeect in google sketch up. It now has an s and sd file, however when I try to load it in TGA it doesn't load nor does it load in shape viewer. Also the only file name I get for the image is gooogle sketch up, noyhing else. Someone please enlighten me on this. By the way this is my first object and it's becoming frustrating. Thanks in advance.

Rob

[baldwin]

Not used sketchup yet, but TGA only loads textures, not objects. If the object has no textures assigned to it, that might be why Shapeviewer refuses to load it.

Mervyn

[CARex]

Rob,

I presume you saw the thread that Hawk posted for you in your '1st object' thread. If not here it is again...

http://forums.flightsim.com/vbts/sho...d.php?t=272206

MSTS (SU also for that matter) are extremely frustrating things. Don't let either get you down. Stick with them and learn from your mistakes (read frustration). I dare say that we've all been through it. Folks around here used to refer to it as "hair pulling". Hang in there. If you get really stuck drop me a PM.

Have a sparkling holiday,
Bob

[Vince]

I created an objeect in google sketch up. It now has an s and sd file, however when I try to load it in TGA it doesn't load nor does it load in shape viewer. Also the only file name I get for the image is gooogle sketch up, noyhing else. Someone please enlighten me on this. By the way this is my first object and it's becoming frustrating. Thanks in advance.

Rob

TGATools I thought loads .ace and .tga files so they can be edited.

GSU=Google SketchUp.

I'll try to help as I have been using GSU to create dozens of simple objects for my route.

Okay, one problem is an object offset from the origin point.
Thats the dot where the Three Red,Green & Blue axis' cross.
I have found the green axis points N/S in the Sim,
An object in GSU built along the Green axis will align North South in the Sim.
I make bridges, tunnel portals and passenger platforms this way.

Red axis, aligns across the track, an E/W direction.
I make grade crossings, road over rail bridges, trackside HV wood power poles and pipe culverts this way.

Blue iaxis s Up/Down, height, if you will.

When you build in GSU I've found if at least one point on the object is not locked to the origin point (the 3 axis' crossing point) you get weird happenings in the Sim and also SFM shape failing to load, and in the SIm, the object will dissapear when view from certain angles.

So first make sure of origin point gets hooked to a point on your model.
Just go to edit->select all, all model lines go blue, then drag the model to the axis cross.

Another problem I used to have was forgetting that textures must be square, ie;256x256, 1024x1024, and so on. A lot of the textures in thr Google Materials Library are NOT square. Use them without resizing/resampling will give a problem.

Make things easy on yourself and better fit in the Sim, Set GSU to use METRIC mode. THe Sim is all Metric. Why would you not use it?

Did you know this dandy tip?
If you wish to draw a line EXACTLY 100 meters long, begin to draw the line along the desired axis.
Now let go of the mouse and look on the lower right of the panel.
The number in there is the length of line you've drawn so far, should be only a couple of meters, right? Good!
Now just type the number one hundred, like 100 and hit enter.
Bingo, a 100 meter line. It gets better.

Draw a square, it don;t matter which way it's aligned, flat or on edge is okay.
What size square you ask?
Well, as you're making the square, look at the numbers in the lower right again.
You will see something like 10.05,10.05
Your numbers will probably be different but if both numbers are the same, seperated by a comma, it's a square.
Ahh....turn loose that mouse again when you get a square, any square, size dont matter.

NOW....type the size of the square or rectangle that you want, seperated by a comma (i use comma followed by space followed by the number.
Bingo, a perfect square or rectange exactly the size you want.

Now for som fun...select the push pull tool.
click on the middle square, pull it out a little. . . .there's that box at the lower right again. . . with a number in it. . .the number of meters you just pulled the square shape.
Go ahead, type a number in there.
The push/pull tool works on all flat surfaces.

Uses...I needed a platform, 330 meters long by 7 meters wide and 2.5 meters high.
Just a simple long brick if you will.
1. draw standing rectangle 7 x 2.5 meters. save.
2. push pull tool, select, pull a bit along green axis, in the box, type 330 and hit enter.
3. now paint it, save, export as a shape...done.

Time to make, from opening GSU, making the model, exporting to the Sim, updating the ref file. . . I swear...10 minutes using the tips above for the push pull and uoing the type you dimensions in the little box. :D

So check if the origin is on some point of the GSU model.
Textures must be powers of 2 square 128, 256, 512, 1024 ect.
I'm still using the original Decapod plugin to export the S file.
Set that up to export to your desktop. Easier to wirk with until you get the Ref updated. Put the textures on desktop (DT) too so SFM can find them.
Put a shortcut to AceIt on your DT, this way to make the ace file for your model all you need do is drag a texture from the Google Materials folder and drop it on the AceIt Icon.
A texture will be created right on the desktop.
Now SFM has everything it needs to display your model.

Regarding the shape file name. Pauls shape file export plugin will name the shape file exactly what you called it in GSU. Heard somewhere it does not like numbers in the filename, like, 12Bridge15 or the likes.
I preface the name with the route I'm creating it for, for instance, a 45 meter steel deck 2 track rail bridge would be LIRR_Bridge_Rail_2T_45m.skp GSU filname.
The plugin would export to my DT, LIRR_Bridge_Rail_2T_45m.S and LIRR_Bridge_Rail_2T_45m.SD

You use any naming comvention you want but do try to keep it logical and hopefully, descriptive.
My military naming convention works for me and is easy for others to understand.

Have Fun :)