ShiVaTools for 3dsMax

Installation

Download the installer.

Launch the installer and select the 3dsmax root folder, ex : C:\Autodesk\3dsMax_2010\.
Launch 3dsMax, Main menu, select Customize > Customize User Interface > Toolbars > ShivaTools and drag'n'drop the ShivaTools Icon on the Toolbar.
Click on the icon to launch the tool.

It will help you to create a game engine ready model : advanced skinning correction, material optimization, baking, direct collada export

Interface

Menu

File
Open : open a scene
Save : save a scene
Save as : save a scene with a new name
Select object : launch the select by name window

Export
Quick export scene : export the scene in collada using the latest export parameter given
Quick export selection : export the selection in collada using the latest export parameter given

Options
Ask for backup : create backup file before each important operation
Ask to change max unit : force to use generic unit size to be compatible with ShiVa Editor
Ask for Collada : check for Collada availability
Save window position : upon each new launch, the window will keep its previous position
Save window size : upon each new launch, the window will keep its previous size
Check for update : check for plugin update on the web

Help
Check for update : check for plugin update on the web
Collada Info : check for Collada availability
Report a bug : open a web form to report a bug
Developer Network : Open the ShiVa Editor developer website
Help : Open this help page

About : display plugin version

Update Panel : refresh the plugin window to include object added after plugin launch

Character tools

Create Optimized Biped

Input a biped height and the plugin will create a real time oriented biped

Repair skinning

If you have troubles with character export/import, this tool will detect and repair mistakes on your object
Select your skinned object in the drop down list ( only object with the skin modifier will appear, use the Update panel option if the model is not in the list ) and click repair.

Options:
Delete Extra : will remove all object not skinned and not used for skinning
Pivot on origin : object pivot is bottom centered, depending of its bounding box
Un-parent object : the skinned object is not included in a hierarchy
Auto smooth normals : auto smooth normals with a 45° threshold
Disable unsupported modifiers : remove all modifiers not supported by ShiVa Editor/Collada like morph, physique, etc...

Normalize bones name

rename all bones using the selected type style, useful to use the same animBank/animClips in ShiVa Editor on multiple characters

Randomize animation

This tool will add a micro variation on each key at each frame to prevent exporter optimisation, use it if your animation is not in ShiVa Editor like in 3dsMax

Compatibility check

Summary

This will check all the known compatibility issues,here is the list:

- *** is a skinned object.Use Reinitialize skinning option in Character objects rollout
=> there is a special repair tool in the Character objects rollout, do not use the repair button for this type of object

- There is many objects in your scene you may have to attach them...
=> Your scene is full of small objects, you'd better have to attach them ( ex: a table must be one objects, not a compound object)

- Polygon count is important. Please verify your scene...
=> if your scene has more than 50 000 poly ( 100 000 triangles ), this may be ok for a big scene, not for a single objects, you are in real time... check...- Some Objects have the same name
=> You must have a name different for each object.- *** :: Shape will not be exported (extras)
=> There is no shape type in ShiVa Editor... you better have to convert it into polygone

- *** :: Light maybe different in ShiVa Editor
=> ShiVa Editor imports light, but some parameters may be different...

- *** :: Camera maybe different in ShiVa Editor
=> ShiVa Editor imports camera, but some parameters may be different...

- *** :: Is in figure mode, use only for edition => Use the Character rollout to repair
=> Your character is still in figure mode, this is not good for an export

- *** is a group head,use attach poly fonction instead of
=> ShiVa Editor imports group but if you have a table for example, this must be a single object, not a group.

- *** :: skinned object must have pivot centered (if symmetrical)
=> for a character for example, its pivot must be bottom-centered

- *** :: skinned object must have pivot on origin [0,0,0]
=> also its pivot have to be at the origin

- *** :: vertex *** > 4 bones | *** :: x vertex are affected by more than 4 bones
=> into the log : this vertex is affected by more than 4 bones, ShiVa Editor supports 4

- *** :: vertex *** = 0 bones | *** :: x vertex are not affected by bones
=> into the log : this vertex is not affected by a bone, This may be a probleme...

- *** :: this have a skin modifier, please delete
=> you have a skin modifier on an object wich is not a geometry

- *** :: There is xx sub-materials, use the material rollout to simplify
=> you have more than 30 submaterials, some may be the same, use the tool in the material rollout to simply it

- *** :: Some SubMaterials are not Standard, you should convert
=> some submaterials are not standard, some parameters will not be exported such as diffuse color for example, use the material rollout to auto-convert your material

- *** :: Material is not Standard, you should convert
=> like for submaterials info

- *** :: There is xx mesh errors, see with STL_check
=> STL_check is a modifier, it checks mesh errors like overlapped faces...

- *** :: Transformation are not frozen (Xform)
=> Transformation ( TRS) must be frozen ( 0,0,0), but it depends of what you want, export without freeze, if its not good, freeze.

- *** :: Skin morphing is not supported
=> ShiVa Editor doesn't support morphing, use additional bones to simulate morphing

- *** :: reactor is not supported, use ShiVa Editor dynamics
=> ShiVa Editor include a physics engine, use it instead of reactor.

- *** :: MeshSmooth increase PolyCount...
=> you have a meshsmooth modifier, this is not a good solution for real time

- *** :: MultiRes is not supported, Use ShiVa Editor LOD
=> ShiVa Editor include a MultiRes tool

- *** :: Physique is not supported, use Skin
=> Physique modifier is not supported, use the skin modifier instead of

- *** :: Cloth modifier is not supported, use Skinning
=> Cloth is not supported, you can simulate is using bones and skin modifier

Do not use the repair skinning for an animation export but you can plot...
=> Do not use this option is you want to export an animation, otherwise, if your animation doesn't look good in ShiVa Editor, use the plot option.

Repair options

To repair issues reported, do not use this tool if you have some skinned object in your scene

ResetXforms : push object rotation and scaling values onto the modifier stack and align object pivot points and bounding boxes with the World coordinate system.
Unique rename : all scene objects will have a unique name ( object01, object02...)
Collapse modifier list : result in a polymesh only type object
Disable unsupported modifiers : remove all unsupported modifier like morph, physique...
Ungroup : ungroup objects
Delete extras : remove unsupported objects type like shape, dummy...
Convert materials : convert vRay, Brazil, Mental Ray material to standard one

Material and Map

Simplify multi/sub-object material

Select an object in the dropdown list using a multi/sub-object material and click simplify to remove duplicated entry in your materials, based on colors and textures.
This tool will also re-organize the material id on the object

Quick Tools

Shortcut to useful functions for lightmap computation and baking, button name is explicit.

Map Auto Loader

Once lightmaps are computed, use this tool to auto load the lightmap in the selected material slot based on objects name, for the entire scene

Single Map Loader

Like the previous tool, load the selected map in the targeted slot on the selected object

RT Material Preparation

If you want to use the tools above, use this tool to set up your scene

Uvw transfert

Copy a map channel for the selected object, usefull if you target a complete baking.

Misc

Expert Mode : remove all tools to have a fullscreen 3d vue
Mesh Tool : quadrangulate ( experimental ) or triangulate the selected object

Export

Convert to poly : Only if you are not exporting a skinned object, avoid modifier conflict.
Center object on origin : Translate scene objects to origin
Pivot : Change objects pivot, centered, bottom centered, bouding box dependant