What is the MDL Converter?
The MDL Converter tool does three things:
It converts the MDL header of pre-CFS2 aircraft models to the new CFS2 format.
It fixes the payloads bug so you can use payloads on imported planes.
It optimizes the aircraft model to use the new CFS2 graphics format, resulting in
higher frame rates.
DOWNLOAD THE MDL CONVERTER TOOL
(convertMDL.exe)
(131 kb)
Right-click on the link above. Choose "Save Target As" and select a folder on
your computer in which to save the file.
How do I use the MDL Converter?
Open the MDL converter by clicking its icon.
This displays a dialog box with three tabs in the upper-left corner.
Click the Main tab.
On the Main tab you will see an edit box for the Input file name,
an edit box for the Output file name, and a drop-down list box for the Model
Type
.
Enter the name of the .MDL file you want to convert in the Input File edit
box.
You can use the Browse button to find the file in your computer's directory
structure. Note that if you use the Browse button for the Input File name the MDL
Converter automatically fills in the Output file name, which is the same as the
Input File name; you can edit the Output File name if you wish.
Select CFS2 Aircraft in the Model Type drop-down list box, which is
the default.
Click the Options Tab.
This displays two check boxes.
Check the Optimize Graphics (upper) check box.
A warning message appears: "Converting some aircraft with this option may cause
the game to crash." This means that if your plane was not constructed in the same
way in which CFS2 planes were made (as described in a forthcoming SDK article),
when you try to use the converted model in the game, it may cause the game to crash
or lock up your computer, requiring a reboot. In most instances, however, you will
simply get an error message upon mission loading that the aircraft can't be found.
Deselect the Optimize Graphics check box for this example.
Below the Optimize Graphics check box is the Convert in Place
check box.
Make sure the Convert in Place check box is checked.
Selecting the Convert in Place check box causes the MDL Converter tool to
name the Output File the same as the Input File, thus replacing it. Don't worry;
the tool automatically makes a backup of the .mdl file called _backup.mdl
in the same directory as the source file. The last tab is the Output tab.
On this tab you can see any message the tool generates as it processes the model.
Note also that there is a progress bar on the Main
tab.
That's all there is to it. Once you have the file names input and the appropriate
options checked, simply
Click Start.
The MDL Converter tool generates the files,
and you can use the newly converted aircraft in a CFS2 mission.
How do I know if I have a properly constructed model file?
To see if your model file is properly constructed
Convert it with the Optimize Graphics
check box checked. When you do this, the MDL Converter automatically makes a backup
of the original .mdl file in the same directory from which you selected the Input
File.
Try to use the model in a mission; make sure it works and looks as it should.
How do I restore the backup file?
Go to the directory where your source .mdl file is located, and look for the same
file name with "_backup" appended to it. This is your original file.
Delete the converted file of the same name.
Rename the backup file by removing "_backup" from its name.
That's it you're back to the original file and file name.
