Installing the NVidia, COLLADA, and Ogre Plugins

Sirikata requires a number of plugins in order for your content to be imported into the engine. Instead of supporting multitudes of file types, these plugins allow for us to ensure that there is a standard way of creating content for Sirikata so that everything is uniform, making it easier to pinpoint problems (should there be any).

Installing the NVidia .dds file format plugin for Photoshop 32-bit

1. Go the NVidia plugin page and download the latest version.
2. Once you have downloaded the plugin, follow the on screen instructions for installation.
3. You will be asked to choose a folder for installation. It will use the default Adobe directory. If you have installed Photoshop anywhere else, please change it accordingly.
4. Finish the installation and open Photoshop. Go to File > New and create a new, blank document.
5. Go to File > Save As… and choose D3D/DDS (*.DDS). If you see this option, that means the installation of the plugin was successful.

Troubleshooting for NVidia .dds plugin

1. The plugin does not work with 64-bit versions of Photoshop. If you have a 64-bit version of Windows, you will need to install the plugin for the 32-bit version of Photoshop, installed by default in C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe.
2. If you cannot choose .DDS from the Save As… menu, the plugin may not have been installed properly. Go to your Photoshop folder, normally located at C:\Program Files\Adobe, or C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe for Windows 64-bit, and open your Photoshop directory. Go to Plug-ins and then File Formats. Inside this director you should see a list of files with the extension .8BI. You should see the file dds.8BI. If not, run the installer again and make sure you install to the right directory (the installer wants the root directory of Photoshop, so always install to there: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CSX).

Installing the Ogre Exporter for 3ds Max 9 32-bit

1. Download the Ogre Exporter for 3ds Max 32.
2. Open SirikataSceneExport.zip and open the folder “OgreExporter.”
3. Navigate to your 3ds Max 9 folder, located at C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 9 for 64-bit and C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 9 for 32-bit computers.
4. Open the 3ds Max 9 folder.
5. Go back to SirikataSceneExport.zip and copy the contents of “OgreExporter” into the main 3ds Max 9 folder. (See first image below)
6. Give Windows permission to overwrite any necessary files.
7. Start 3ds Max and open your file. When it is ready to be exported, go to OgreMax > Export Selected 0.1.3. (See second image below)
8. THE OGRE EXPORTER CAUSES 3DS MAX TO CRASH ON STARTUP. READ THE TROUBLESHOOTING SECTION FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Copying the files from SirikataSceneExport.zip to C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\3ds Max 9:

Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination

Finding OgreMax:

Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination

Troubleshooting for Ogre Exporter

1. The exporter currently has a bug which our team has been unable to fix. Every time the exporter is used, 3ds Max creates a .mnu file that is located in C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\3dsmax\9 - 32bit\enu\UI. The file, DefaultUI.mnu, causes 3ds Max 9 to crash the next time it is loaded unless you delete DefaultUI.mnu prior to opening the program. It is suggested that you make a shortcut to this folder and keep it on your Desktop or with your other Sirikata files so that it is easy to access. A fix for this problem is underway and will be released ASAP.
2. If you have any other problems with the Ogre Exporter, you may have installed it wrong. Make sure that the file OgreMaxSceneExporter.gup is in the plugins folder, found at C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 9\plugins. If the file is located in plugins but you are still having problems, read on below.
3. Even if all of the Ogre Exporter files appear to be in order, if it does not appear as it should within 3ds Max 9, try reinstalling the plugin by copying all the files over again. You may have originally placed them in the wrong directory.

Installing COLLADA for 3ds Max 9 32-bit

1. Download 1.4.1 plug-ins/ColladaMax_FREE_3.05B.exe/download COLLADA for 3ds Max 9. ColladaMax_FREE_3.05B.exe should download. When you open this file, it should automatically find your 3ds Max 9 file folder.
2. Follow the on screen instructions. You will be prompted to choose if you want to install the plugin for more than one version of Max. You may install as many options as you want as long as the plugin is installed for 3ds Max 9.