View source for Talk:MDL

== Model format==
* By way of explanation, I'm working on fleshing out format information, since I have to parse MDL files for [[PackBsp]]. This should also provide some insight on how shared stuff (like *_shared.mdl files) are pulled in. (Via [[$includemodel]], I bet.) [[User:Terr|Terr]] 04:34, 21 August 2010 (UTC)

== model animation libraries ==
Several NPCs also make use of additional .mdl files to hold animation data. Usually the NPC classname is appended with a descriptive label, such as:
* _animations.mdl or _anims.mdl
* _gestures.mdl
* _postures.mdl
* _ss.mdl (scripted sequence?)
* _shared.mdl
These are obviously MDL files that do not fit the description in the article. Perhaps someone who understand model animation system could explain their relevance ? --[[User:Beeswax|Beeswax]] 19:50, 16 Mar 2008 (PDT)

There are also [[ANI]] files : eg ''classname.ani'', which I guess also contain animation data ... my guess is that a .ani file is structurally the same as a .mdl file, with the different extension used only to differentiate 'world.mdls' from 'animation_data.mdls' ? ie is there a functional difference between ''combine_strider.ani'' file and ''combine_strider_animations.mdl'' or is this just a legacy / coding style anomaly ? --[[User:Beeswax|Beeswax]] 08:38, 18 Mar 2008 (PDT)

Presumably all these animation libraries are @includes in the 'root' classname.mdl? I guess having several, smaller, 'specialist' animation libraries means the in-game model only loads the _animations.mdl (etc.) file as required; lightening the RAM load? --[[User:Beeswax|Beeswax]] 08:38, 18 Mar 2008 (PDT)

''props_combine/health_charger001.mdl'' has no (obviously) associated .ani or _animations.mdl (etc.), so where does it keep its animation data? --[[User:Beeswax|Beeswax]] 08:38, 18 Mar 2008 (PDT)

==merge [[Model]] with [[MDL]]==
see [[Talk:Model]] --[[User:Beeswax|Beeswax]] 10:59, 6 Apr 2008 (PDT)

== The differences in the formats ==

I suggest, by analogy with the article on BSP, write about the differences between different versions of the format.
::Well, for one, in the Potral 2 models (IDST1), the name only has 40 characters, not 64. --[[User:Tustin2121|Tustin2121]] 22:06, 18 April 2013 (PDT)