README.TXT for IDUTIL3D.ZIP  - Beta 0.3

	Versions of idutils texmake and modelgen that take
	3dstudio .3ds files or Alias .tri files as input.

Author : Alan Blaine (pinkdogg@cgsd.com) & id Software
Date   : 31 jul 1996

Note: 
(a) The software is supplied free of charge.
(b) The software is experimental and not guaranteed
to work in your particular setup.

1.  Description
2.  Files
3.  Installation Instructions
4.  Working with QuakeME
5.  Credits
6.  Technical Issues
7.  Known Bugs and Limitiations
8.  History



1. Description

Allows importing of 3dstudio models and Alias models into Quake by way
of idutils texmake and modelgen, which id Software distributed the source to. 
Just use in the normal manner. Also, check out ids qcc release for the .qc files. 
You will need these to replace anything but static objects, like armor or weapons
in the game.

2. Files 

texmake.exe		put in path
modelgen.exe		put in path
palette.lbm		put this in dir with meshes
sphere.mdl		sample file
tori.mdl 		sample file w/animation
tori.qc			included on popular demand
player.qc		good ex. of a robust .qc file - from id
readme.txt		this file

3. Installation Instructions

Put em where you like. Make sure palette.lbm is in the same dir as the .3ds


4. Working with idutils texmake and modelgen

Dont have time to write QuakeModeling Manifesto right now. The basic concepts
are in a document published by Aftershock(which is no more), written by 
Steve Tietze of Rogue Entertainment - http://www.gamers.org/~rogue. 

Until I have a) the registered version of Quake - shipping tomorrow
	     b) some time to experiment with these more
	     c) fixed many bugs
 	- I will not write the Manifesto. 
Maybe someday.

5. Credits

idSoftware - great game, great utils
Steve Tietze - inspiration and instruction

6. Technical Issues
For a 3ds file:
	Keep it low polygon - I have imported 288 triangle meshes with 251 frames
		with the tools
	Keep a solitary object in the files - the reader looks for the first
		object by index. 
	
Changes to id Software code:
	Did a lot of this - including using Windows memory allocation functions
		rather than generic C functions. There are a few changes in the
		code that are basically hacks so the code compiles successfully.
		Not sure what effect this has, but the models are turning out OK.
		If there are any other programmers out there who have munged 
		through the idutils code - send me some email. I want to compare 
		notes.

7. Known Bugs and Limitations

Seems to work fine, except for :

	Haven't found a program that reads output from texmake except for 
		modelgen. This could be a problem with ids .lbms. Seems to 
		in the way it declares the pixel size of the file. Could somebody
		try opening a texmake-generated lbm in Deluxe Paint?



8. History

31 jul 1996  Version 0.3 Beta

	Fixed more memory problems. Were causing crash at some arbitrary number
	of frames, depending on mesh size. Now able to import 251 frames without
	crashing. There still are problems above this, but it will give plenty of
	leeway to artists until I correct the problem.

	Fixed on-the-fly mesh type determination in texmake.

23 jul 1996  Version 0.2 Beta

	Fixed vertex ordering problem, and file-access errors. Replaced Alias
	loading code. Progs should load correct type on the fly.

	Changed all of the existing generic C memory and file access code to 
	Windows code.

21 jul 1996  Version 0.1 SBeta

	Initial release.

