project vs scene

[ThomasHelzle]

.fxs scene files are text files that link to objects, images etc.
They can be edited with a text editor (mass replacing objects for instance) and are the recommended format for working.
.mpj project files are compressed, include meshes and can include images too.
They are compressed binaries that are small and one file includes everything - cool for downloads.
They are also the only working format for networkrendering currently, .fxs has problems with finding images with the render.exe commandline renderer.

-> Use scene files for everything. Use project files for uploading and rendering for now.

Messiah has only one open command and finds out what you are loading automatically. Your example may simply be a broken download - try downloading again.
You may also try to load one of the mpj files that come with messiah in the content folder to make sure everything is installed correctly.

Cheers,

[Nervio Optico]

Thanks. Other thing that meave afect is that I only works with messiah animate linked with LWave 8.

[ThomasHelzle]

No i don't think so, I have also tried to download the file from the other thread about comic eyes and it is broken for me too. I can't even unzip it. :shrug:

But for mpjs in general, I would start messiah standalone.
fxs is the way to go for linked scenes.
I forgot that in my initial explanation, since I no longer use the plugins but work with PointOvenPro (www.ef9.com).

Cheers,

[DMack]

Agree. Kepping the scenes (fxs and lws) separated is the best way forward IMO. Point oven pro is the best way to transfer. Keeps scene overhead low and reduces the chances of creating a scene that won't open (as I've had numerous times with linked files)

[ThomasHelzle]

More than true.
All the plugins and their concept need a serious overhaul very badly IMO.

Broken scenes, lost object links and mixed up "ghost" objects that multiply with each opening of the scene have happened to me too often to let me trust them anymore.
I don't know if the Max and Cinema plugins are functional at all?

Since the old LW-plugin days I was suggesting a host-side interface for the plugins that lets you inspect, change and correct/repair what object is connected via which plugin (xform or dform) and to which messiah entity.

In one way, the old "linked scenes" paradigm was much better than the current "embedded" flavor, since you always had a .fxs to fall back onto (although it had it's own problems).
An improved kind of linked scenes could be much better than embedded ones.
As it stands now, you have to make sure you save an .fxs each time before you save in LW.

In the digital age, the security of files is the highest priority, since you don't have anything else to fall back to. Crashes on save, partly saved scenes or other such stuff is just impossible to live with.

If PointOven didn't exist, I wouldn't be using messiah anymore in real production I think.

Cheers,

[cousin it]

The max plugins are "kind of" working. Due to the nature of the max file system, the messiah scene gets embedded in the max scene. Once the link up is made, messiah gets his mesh-data from the max-scene. Unfortunately, messiah reads in the entire modifier-stack (instead of just the modifiers below the messiah:deform modifier), which can give freaky results, especially if you've got a meshsmooth modifier or something similar in there...

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