ModelViewer: How To Auto-Load Model on Startup

As a repainter, I always have ModelViewer open, most always on a certain model. Having to load a model every time you start the program and set all of the arguments the way you want, especially when it's the same one every time, can be a pain. You can use the autoexec.lua for ModelViewer to do all of this automatically for you with any model in the game.

In the "Config\ModelViewer" folder, you find autoexec.lua. You can open it with Notepad ++ and in the file you will find several example lines.

--mount_vfs_liveries_path("Mods/aircrafts/Wunderluft/Liveries")
--mount_vfs_texture_path("Mods/aircrafts/Wunderluft/Textures/base_zip_package")

--LoadModel("Bazar/World/Shapes/A-10.edm")
--LoadLivery("A-10C","184th FS Arkansas ANG, Fort Smith (FS)")
--SetArgument(0,1)
--SetArgument(3,1)
--SetArgument(5,0.75)

LoadModel tells the program which model to load on startup. LoadLivery tells what folder in the "Bazar\Liveries" directory to open, and which livery in that folder to use. SetArgument is self explanatory: first number is argument, second is key frame for that argument (-1.00 to 1.00). There are also mount_vfs_texture_path and mount_vfs_liveries_path lines which tell the program to force-load texture or livery directories on startup.

Use these as a template to make your own auto-load (just delete the -- at the beginning of each line). Saves a lot of time, especially if you are a repainter. I've also uploaded my edited autoexec.lua as an example for those interested. In my file, I have the P-51 with Bare Metal load by default, with gear down, flaps down, canopy open, oil and coolant doors open, rocket pylons hidden and propeller static.

So when I load up the program, I get this:

Click for full-res.

Blaze

autoexec.lua

Nice found m8 ;)

Fantastic, thanks Blaze!

Maybe I'm stupid but where exactly do I have to install the ModelViewer?

In the DCS World folder or separatly?

Can someone tell me the folders you are using (DCS World and edModelViewer).

Thanks

Thanks for the help Blaze

Now its much easier to design a skin... I don't have to start the game and make screenshots to look what is wrong :lol:

For those interested: There's more, but I'm already in the hundreds. 'whoof'

Tail Wheel
0 - Lower & Raise
1 - Compression
2 - Direction
76 - Wheel Spin

Gear Strut & Door
3 - Right Lower & Raise
5 - Left Lower & Raise
4 - Right Compression
6 - Left Compression

Flaps
9 - Left Extend & Raise
10 - Right Extend & Raise

Ailerons
11 - Right Up & Down
12 - Left Up & Down

Stabilizers
15 - Up & Down

Rudder
17 - Left & Right

Canopy
38 - Eject / Slide
65 - Damage

Pilot
19 - Head Left & Right
50 - In or Out
99 - Head Up &  Down

3d Model
81 - Tail Section

Yeah, you could go on, but I just auto-loaded the animations relevant for making new textures.

Wow.. I had no idea.. I was wondering what the animations did because all mine did was lower the tailwheel.. So does this mean that now I can load my skins from the liveries folder directly ..?

Unzip and put this batch file in your main folder, then run ModelViewer from it.

Correct, and yes. In ModelViewer go to "View-Dialogs-Show Liveries Dialog", you can then choose P-51 and any liveries you have in that folder.

All this time I couldn't get this thing to do right because... I never knew there was a model viewer in the main folder... :doh:

I kept using the offline one ... :megalol:

Now it all makes sense.

For those interested: There's more, but I'm already in the hundreds. 'whoof'

 

Tail Wheel
0 - Lower & Raise
1 - Compression
2 - Direction
76 - Wheel Spin

Gear Strut & Door
3 - Right Lower & Raise
5 - Left Lower & Raise
4 - Right Compression
6 - Left Compression

Flaps
9 - Left Extend & Raise
10 - Right Extend & Raise

Ailerons
11 - Right Up & Down
12 - Left Up & Down

Stabilizers
15 - Up & Down

Rudder
17 - Left & Right

Canopy
38 - Eject / Slide
65 - Damage

Pilot
19 - Head Left & Right
50 - In or Out
99 - Head Up &  Down

3d Model
81 - Tail Section

What is this exactly? :helpsmilie: