Troubleshooting Modeling

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Trouble with Importing

XSI can't read my decompiled SMD, it says the file is invalid or corrupt

XSI's smd importer doesn't work if there is a space within a texture name(e.g. "crossbow dirtmap.bmp"). To fix it, open the smd file in text editor, and check texture names. If you find one with a space, replace the space with underscore(e.g. "crossbow dirtmap.bmp" to "crossbow_dirtmap.bmp"), and save. Now XSI can import it.

Trouble with Exporting

The export process currently works for XSI 4+ and is reported to work for 5.0, but not 5.0.1 or 5.1. There is currently no available fix for the Valve addon using the latest version of XSI.

Trouble with Compiling Models

Prop

I don't know how to make physics models.

Add prop_data section to your .qc. See Prop_Data and Physics Entities on Server & Client

I added prop_data, but still it doesn't work.

If you have $staticprop in your .qc, drop it.

Collision Models

Collision models are truncated if they are over 24 (affirmation plz) convex pieces

No they are truncated at 16, however I heard there is a qc command to increase it.

In-HLMV problems

I can't find my .MDL file

See model compile log, and check if the compile was successful.

My model won't show up in HLMV

Try wireframe mode. If you see your model in wireframe mode, it's possibly your texture that has a problem. See "My textures won't show up. It's just black" below. If you can't see anything in wireframe, open your reference .SMD with Notepad. Make sure it contains mesh information.

My model shows up, but size/shape is not right

Go back to the 3D program. If you are using XSI, freeze the model using Freeze and Transform > Freeze All Transforms commands. If you are using 3DsMax, apply the Reset XFrom modifier. Then export your .SMD and compile it again.

My textures won't show up. I see pink/black checkers.

If you see pink/black checkers, it means that HLMV couldn't find textures. There are two possibilities. Case one, .MDL's texture path is incorrect, so HLMV can't find .vmt files. Use Source MDL Texture Info and check your .MDL's texture path. Case two, HLMV could find .vmt, but .vtf texture path in .vmt is incorrect. This often happens when you have moved .vmt/.vtf file location. Open your .vmt, and check $basetexture value.

My textures won't show up. It's just black

Open .VMT file. If you use LightmappedGeneric, change it to VertexLitGeneric. LightmappedGeneric is for brush geometry, not for model geometry.

In-game problems

My model won't show up

Open the console, check the error log. Make sure your model is of the proper type (prop_physics, prop_static, etc.)

See Also

• Got Props? Article at VERC