What is CVA plugins

CVA plugins now consists from two plugin modules for FS Design Studio - CVA_Export and CVA_Import. With these plugins you can transfer objects between FSDS and big amount of other 3D modeling softwares. There is support of DXF format on both sides (import/export) and on the side of import, there is too support of LWO format.

• LWO Import (Lightwave 3D) - it can import only objects without layers from LW version 5.6 and earlier. If it can read objects from new versions of LW I don't know, because I don't have these new Lightwaves or objects saved in these new versions.

• DFX Import/Export (AutoCAD, 3DStudio and many other 3D modelers) - it can read aprox. 80% of polygon types which can be in DXF. We have tried objects exported from AutoCAD and 3D Studio and both read this plugin well. There is only a little problem, that when you export object from 3DStudio into DXF, it splits all polygons into triangles, so it don't make the plugin, but 3DStudio. When you export object from FSDS into DXF, it writes there all polygons in the same form as it is in FSDS, so it don't split it into triangles or something else. Polygons with 3 and 4 vertexes are writen as 3DFace, others as 3D Polyline. We have tried to import DXFs from FSDS into AutoCAD, 3DStudio and LightWave 3D (using 3D Translator plugin) and in all cases it works well.

It was written for Design Studio version 1.5b - in earlier versions it don't work, this I know. If it works in later versions of FSDS I don't know.

Instalation

Place CVA_Import.tpi, CVA_Export.tpi and CVA_Prefs.exe into plugin directory of your FSDS. Then run CVA_Prefs.exe and set there the preferences as you want. After this, you can choose CVA_Import.tpi or CVA_Export.tpi from FSDS plugin menu and try, if it works. You can try in on the examples, which you can find in examples directory.

Preferences

Preferences you can set with CVA_Prefs.exe - you can run it directly by double click on icon or from FSDS Plug-in menu. There are two ares - one for Import, one for Export. So, what you can set there:

• Don't show file dialog (Import/Export) - it's there for speed up your work - default is, that plug-in show normal file dialog, you choose object, and it import/export it. When you check this option, it don't show dialog and without some questions opens/saves object, which you have filled in textfield Path.
• Do always part update (Import) - when you import some part with the same name, which you have used in FSDS, it can do two things - update part (change the shape of part) or add new part with different name. Not cheecked = show dialog update/add, Checked = do always update.
• Show info after import (Import/Export) - when checked it shows after import/export window with some informations about object transfer - how many points, polygons, parts was imported/exported etc..
• Flip polygons (Import/Export) - with this option you must try, if check it or not. Import/export object and if it looks, that polygons are fliped in wrong direction, switch this option to the second state.
• Change part names (Export) - this option must be usually checked - DXF don't like in names of layers dots and other special characters. If you don't change the names, AutoCAD will show you some error message and Lightwave don't import all polygons. But there is one case, in which you can use same names as in FSDS - when you import objects into 3D Studio - there is special characters no problem and you can uncheck this option. It's good when you import object back in FSDS - it can do directly part update.
• Save - no comment - it save preferences to Windows registry
• Create LScript - it create simple LScript for use with LW3D, which only save object with filename mentioned in Path to LWO/DXF. When you assign this LScript in LW to some key shortcut, you can transfer object from LW to FSDS only with two clicks...

Using plugin

Using is very easy - choose CVA_Import or CVA_Export from FSDS menu, in file dialog click on object which you want to import in/export from FSDS and plugin import/export it. Here are some important comments about import and export - both works on the same principle:

• Surface in LW = part in FSDS
• Layer in AutoCAD = part in FSDS
• In LWO import there is not supported layers.
• In DXF is not supported some not very often used types of polygons.
• 1 unit in DXF = 1 unit in FSDS, so you can use units as you want.
• 1 meter in LW = 1 unit in FSDS, so you must have FSDS set to use meters, not feets to see object in right dimensions.
• If you don't see textures after part update, go to dialog where you assign textures and click there on OK.
• It don't import/export textures.

If you use my plugin to build your airplanes, please write somewhere in your readme sentence like "I used CVA plugins by Jiri Masnik to create this plane" - it makes me happy and encourage me in next plugin development.

About author

About CVA Design: CVA Design is a group of people from the Czech Republic who make Czech/Slovak airplanes, panels and sceneries for Flight Simulator. We try to make our works as real as posible. In the future we want to make most of the significant airplanes which were flying or fly in Czech/Slovak Republic and also make more detailed scenery.

Legal disclaimer

• Commercial (for building airplanes which you will sell) use of this plugin is not allowed without the written permission of the author.
  
• This package may be freely copied and distributed as long as no charges are made for the distribution.
  
• Selling this package or part of it is not allowed without the written permission of the author.
  
• Putting this package or part of it on CD-Rom is not allowed without the written permission of the author.
  
• The archive must be distributed without modification to the contents of the archive. Redistributing this archive with any files added, removed or modified is prohibited.