StudioMDL (Source)

Studiomdl is the command-line tool used to compile models from the intermediate Studio Model Data format exported from modeling packages to the binary .mdl format that is read by the Source engine.

It can be found at steam/steamapps/<account>/sourcesdk/bin/[orangebox|ep1]/bin/studiomdl.exe.

Studiomdl is executed with a QC file as a parameter. For more information about compiling, see Compiling a model.

Output files

mymodel.mdl

Skeleton, animations, bounding/hit boxes, surface materials, lod index...

mymodel.sw.vtx

mymodel.dx80.vtx

mymodel.dx90.vtx

Vertex data optimised for DirectX 7, 8 and 9 respectively

mymodel.vvd

Remaining hardware-agnostic vertex data, including the UV map

mymodel.phy

Collision mesh data

See also

• Common errors
• Studiocompiler, a graphical interface for studiomdl
• GUIStudioMDL, another graphical interface