FAQ
Eki's
ModPak - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are there Frequently Asked Questions about ModPak?
A: There's
not so many frequently asked questions about ModPak yet... it's brand new.
But have a look at the PlugPak FAQ: many things will apply just the same.
I will update this page as questions emerge, so check back regularily...
Eki's
PlugPak - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the system requirements for PlugPak?
A: The optimal
system for Eki's PlugPak 2.0 is a good graphic workstation with Lightwave
7.5. The scripts are not processor or memory heavy, so they should work
in anything you can run LightWave in...
Q: Do the scripts work on macintoshes?
A: The latest
plugpak release works on macintoshes with LightWave 7.5. The older ones
had serious compatibility problems, caused by bugs in earlier LW/LScript
versions.
Q: Do i ABSOLUTELY need LightWave 7.5 or better??
A: For PlugPak
2.0, *YES*, but there are versions for older systems too - most of the scripts
will work even on LW 6.5, but some will not. You CAN try running the LW6.5
compatible scripts with earlier LW versions (especially 6.0), but they haven't
been tested, and are not supported. Even though macs are not supported
with the old scripts, they may function to some extent. On OS9.1, there
is limited functionality. When you i.e. get "file not found" messages
when running the scripts, the missing scene elements can usually be found
from the content directory root.
There's a compatibility chart in the bottom of this
page.
Q: What's the difference between the "Unregistered" and
"Registered" versions?
A: The unregistered
versions are free, but have popups, prompting the user to register, as well
as a 1-30 seconed time delay before the script opens. The registration costs
$50.
Q: Didn't you use to give these away for free??
A: Well, i still
give everything i *used to* for free... if you want to have the older versions,
just join the PlugPak mailing list at Yahoogroups - all the older versions
(with documentation) can be found from the group's files section for free.
Also, the new unregistered versions ARE fully functional so...
Q: Why do they cost now?
A: Well, SO
many people encouraged me to charge something for these... so i decided to
give it a shot. I ain't got no false hopes of getting rich though ;-)
Q: Why did you rise the price from 25 to 50 bucks?
A: Because so
big a percentage of the $25 went to costs etc. Also, there's been a shitload
of work in making 2.0, so...
Q: Will the upgrades be free for registered users?
A: Yes and no.
If i make minor updates that do not add much functionality, the upgrade
is free for the registered users. If on the other hand there will be all
new scripts, there will also be a cost for the upgrade. The upgrades will
always be cheaper than purchasing the full PlugPak though. Well... update
from 1.0 to 2.0 is free also, even though there's major new features in
2.0 ;-)
Q: I get "File not found" messages - what does it mean?
It means that
for some reason the script has been unable to save an object to a correct
location.
I will use Can't
find object "Objects/SkyGen/Moon_preview.lwo" - Select another object?
error message (SkyGen) as an example, but similar steps apply to the other
scripts.
1. Are
you on a mac, with LW 7.0b or lower?
If you are
on a mac, the reason for the error is a bug. There's an incompability between
LW and MacOS, that makes many of the file operations not function in LScript.
The missing files are most probably in the content directory's root. If
you use LW 7.0, i strongly recommend upgrading to 7.5, which is a free update.
Fix: When
you get that message, browse to your content directory, move the SkyGen folder
from the content root to Objects folder. Move Moon_preview.lwo from content
root to Objects/SkyGen subfolder. Then answer yes to "Select another file",
and locate the Objects/SkyGen/Moon_preview.lwo.
2. Is your
content directory write protected?
If your content
directory is write protected, the script is naturally unable to write files
there, this will cause errors.
Fix: Make
sure you have full access to the content directory.
3. Is your
content directory pointing to hard disk root?
Fix: The scripts
will not retrieve path information correctly from a hard drive's root. Make
a folder (or many) and keep your content in it. Point your content dir there.
Q: Where can i find the _Ref and _Mixer objects for Overcaster, and the
other objects mentioned in the docs? They are not included in the Zips?!
A: They are
included (embedded) in the LScripts for your conveinience. When you run the
scripts, they will be saved automaticly in Objects/Overcaster subfolder,
if such folder doesn't exist, the scripts will make it automaticly. Much
like the PlugPak 2.0 installer script, which will extract all the PlugPak
scripts and necessary presets automaticly.
Q: When i have set up stuff with PlugPak accessories in
a scene, can i move the scene to another machine that doesn't have PlugPak
installed?
A: Yes. the
PlugPak scripts just automate stuff - the result is always just a regular
Lightwave scene. You could have done the exact same thing by hand in lightwave,
it would just have taken a little more time.
Q: So, i shouldn't have problems with network rendering
either then?
A: Of course
not. As said, everything is saved in the lightwave scene, and all plugins
that may be used in these scenes are shipped with Lightwave.
Q: Did you do these all by yourself??
A: In addition
to all the wonderful people in LightWave community who have given me *IDEAS*
and *HELP*, there's also some people who have actually given content in
for PlugPak. Graham Fyffe did the warp objects
for Refgen. The new PlugPak logo was designed by Robert Padbury - http://www.groovystudios.com. The "Chastity"
model embedded with the Scenes Script, as well as seen around this site
was modeled by Jeff Greulich. I'm 100%
sure i forgot someone... so thanks to him/her too!
Q: I have other technical problems with one of the scripts.
Will you help me?
A: If i can.
I do this stuff on my rather limited free time, and i can't promise i will
be able to solve each user's problems personally. You CAN e-mail me, but
i'd suggest joining the PlugPak mailing list at Yahoogroups - that way all the
list members will benefit from the solved problems.
The list can
also be used for sharing techniques, requesting features etc.
Q: Is it a long way to far?
A: I dunno.
I guess it depends on where you start your journey.
Q: What's up next?
A: I've been
thinking about rewriting everything to be modular.. that way the scripts
could be much better aware of each other, and it would be much easier and
faster to add new features to them...
Lightvawe version compatibility
chart
Note
that ALL PlugPak 2.0 scripts only work with LightWave 7.5.
| Name |
LScript
file name |
On PC |
On MAC |
| Overcaster
HUB |
Overcaster.lsc |
LW 7.0
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| Overcaster
Ambient |
OC_Ambient.lsc |
LW 6.5
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| Overcaster
Ambimage |
OC_Ambimage.lsc |
LW 7.0
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| Overcaster
Ambimage_b |
OC_Ambimage_b.lsc |
LW 6.5
only |
LW 7.5
and up |
| Overcaster
Sun |
OC_Sun.lsc |
LW 6.5
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| Overcaster
Spot |
OC_Spot.lsc |
LW 6.5
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| Overcaster
Tube |
OC_Tube.lsc |
LW 6.5
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| Overcaster
Screen |
OC_Screen.lsc |
LW 7.0
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| Overcaster
Window |
OC_Window.lsc |
LW 6.5
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| Overcaster
Shadower |
OC_Shadower.lsc |
LW 6.5
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| Overcaster
Exclude |
OC_Exclude.lsc |
LW 6.5
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| SkyGen |
SkyGen.lsc |
LW 7.0
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| RefGen1 |
RefGen1.lsc |
LW 6.5
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| RefGen2 |
RefGen2.lsc |
LW 6.5
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| Fakemetric
Camera |
Fakemetric_Camera.lsc |
LW 6.5
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| New Project |
NewProject.lsc |
LW 6.5
and up |
LW 7.5
and up |
| Rest On |
RestOn.ls |
LW 6.0
and up |
LW 6.0
and up |
| Center Pivot |
CenterPivot.ls |
LW 6.0
and up |
LW 6.0
and up |
|