Blender 2.6 Import/Export Plugin

[Killabong]

Hi, i just wanted to drop a note here that I'm currently working on a Blender 2.6 Import/Export plugin for Warcraft MDL files. It's gonna be open source (zlib/libpng License).
Since there are Blender Import/Export plugins for the most common model formats, this plugin will not only enable you to model in Blender, but also to get models from other formats into Warcraft or to get Warcraft models into other formats.

I'm however not completely sure yet how exactly the MDL format works, so I'm gonna ask in this thread whenever I need to know something.

UPDATE: I created a git repository on github

 

[InsaneMonster]

Ehi man this is very interesting... What do you need? Some information are avaible on Wikipedia also...

PS: I use blender and this would be fantastic xD

PS2: Work state? Can you give us some update?

 

[Barade]

Please use warblender (which supports MDX) and finish unsupported stuff. I have a revised version which should support version 2.4.

 

[Killabong]

Okay, time for a little update:
I'm currently a bit short on free time as I am also involved into other open source projects, but I was able to do some work on this plugin lately. You can now basicly run the script from within Blender (although it does not use the loaded data yet but instead just prints it to the terminal).

I use blender and this would be fantastic xD

Thanks, glad you like the idea. Actually I was about to cancel the project until I read your comment ;-)

Please use warblender (which supports MDX) and finish unsupported stuff. I have a revised version which should support version 2.4.

The problem is that I want to create a plugin for Blender 2.5+. Since both the Python version and the complete Blender Python API have changed in Blender 2.5, I figured out it might be easier to write the script from scratch than to port warblender.

 

[InsaneMonster]

So, if I use this script, I can load mdl files into blender, isn't it? That's good... but when an export plugin?

For MDX, we can use a simply mdl converter... Of course it would be fantastic to have a plugin with export mdl-mdx and blp all togheter (like 3ds max 5 Warcraft III Art Tools)

 

[PurgeandFire]

Don't worry, I'm pretty sure Killabong intends for this to be both an importer and an exporter. =)

Good luck with the project, it would be awesome to have a blender mdl importer/exporter.

 

[Killabong]

Okay, these are the news:

The addon now is version 0.1.1. You can download it here.
Importing the mesh should already work, but if you encounter any problems, just drop me a note. Other features are not supported yet.

That's good... but when an export plugin?

My plan is to import UV coords and vertex normals in v0.2 (in fact, the data is already loaded, but not used yet). A simple exporter for static models might be possible in v0.3 or v0.4.

 

[Eaglemania]

This is great! I tried your script and it works excactly as it should so far.

Thank you for doing this, I really hope you continue your work.
I'm new to blender and really like(<3) the 2.5+ version, below that looks just scary...

Very hyped about the static models in v0.3/0.4 i will spent months FINNALY creating my own doodads, without all the fuss of gmax, milkshape, warblender and nowhere-to-be-found 3dsmax 5 and whatever else i forgot.

Out of curiosity i looked at the code, but i can't understand a thing. No wonders there, all i did in python is a pretty basic audio visualitation so far... with the help from a tutorial. :/

Anyway, hope all goes well with the UV's and normals.

Schöne Grüße und einen grünen Rutsch ins neue Jahr!

 

[The General]

i need a mdl exporter that would be great does it export yet?

 

[Eaglemania]

i need a mdl exporter that would be great does it export yet?

No, not yet.

Read Killabong's last post in this thread to get more info.

 

[Killabong]

Okay, importing the uv layout and the vertex normals should work now, so I tagged this v0.2. You can download it here. Feedback is welcome (as always).

For version 0.3 i've planned further improving the user experience by importing material data.

An exporter for static models will be featured in v0.4.

 

[Eaglemania]

i just tested the new version with a pig, uv works fine, textures are perfect, great job dude!

 

[Shead]

Dude fucking awesome been waiting forever for a blender plugin

... to bad I have no idea how to install it, I read the "read me" and it tells me to add a file to the addons folder but nothing happens, I still cant export/import xD... any suggestions for a poor newb?

 

[Shead]

bump ^^
please help me guys so I can make models for you

 

[Barade]

Okay, time for a little update:
I'm currently a bit short on free time as I am also involved into other open source projects, but I was able to do some work on this plugin lately. You can now basicly run the script from within Blender (although it does not use the loaded data yet but instead just prints it to the terminal).


Thanks, glad you like the idea. Actually I was about to cancel the project until I read your comment ;-)



The problem is that I want to create a plugin for Blender 2.5+. Since both the Python version and the complete Blender Python API have changed in Blender 2.5, I figured out it might be easier to write the script from scratch than to port warblender.

Have they really changed that much about the basic API for vertices, armatures etc.? For porting warblender to 2.4 I didn't have to do that much.
Anyway, you could checkout my version here but I didn't update or continue anything for a long time.
The last time I worked on it, I tried to get lights and particle emitters working but it seemed to be hard to get some equal properties for those used in MDX.

 

[Killabong]

Shead:
After dropping it into your addons folder, you should be able to activate it via File > User Preferences > Addons > Import/Export > Import WarCraft MDL.

Barade:
The API has pretty much changed completely, without any backwards compatibility in mind. Nevertheless thanks for the link to your repo, I'll take a look at it. I might be able to reuse some of your code, or maybe even port the whole warblender.

 

[kalipou134]

Doesn't work for me, I installed the addon with Blender 2.62 but when i go into open files i don't see mdl files.

 

[Killabong]

@kalipou134: That's because you can only load .blend files via File > Open. To load a custom model format you need to choose File > Import > [name of the importer].

General Information for everyone interested
I haven't worked much on this the last months, and I won't be able to work much on it the coming month because my exams are approaching. However, after that I'll have a good bunch of free time which I'll be able to put into this project.
I'd also like you to know that my focus has slightly changed. My new aim is to merge this with Barade's warblender (and to update warblender to Blender 2.5+, of course).

 

[SpectreD]

This will help alot of people when it comes to modeling wc3 models with blender,

 

[Theboywithnoheart]

I am physically excited with the news of this project.

 

[The General]

how much longer till version 4 it would be very helpful right now?

 

[eubz]

This is a nice import/export script for blender though I don't like Blender's Interface due to it being user unfriendly. I if this is completely done, I will try re-installing my blender and test this.

 

[RanchBurner]

A couple of issues that stop me in my tracks:

Traceback (most recent call last):
File "C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.63\s
cripts\addons\WarMDLImport.py", line 345, in execute
return di.run(self.filepath, context)
File "C:\Users\Administrator\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\2.63\s
cripts\addons\WarMDLImport.py", line 311, in run
texface.uv1 = (self.mgr.tvertices[face[0]][0], 1 - self.mgr.tvertices[
face[0]][1])
AttributeError: 'MeshTexturePoly' object has no attribute 'uv1'

The textures also show up in all triangle faces... (Same texture for all triangle faces)

 

[Bribe]

You may need to run the program as an administrator.

 

[Toun]

Hey, are you still developping this plugin or is this thread dead ?
Cause i was really interested !

 

[RanchBurner]

I was also wondering if you still plan to update it so that the animation sequences can be imported too.

 

[RanchBurner]

It currently appears to be broken, folks...