hide random home http://www.newtek.com/tech/answers.html (Amiga Plus Extra No. 5/97, 05/1997)

[LIGHTWAVE 3D]
Questions and Answers


GENERAL NOTE

If you are only familiar with the Mac platform you will notice two problems that may cause LightWave to crash. Firstly LightWave as yet does not come with much in the way of error trapping which means that LightWave can easily crash your Mac if something goes wrong. A good example of this is that normally on a Mac Application you can be two or three moves ahead with keyboard commands, the Mac will catch you up and perform them, but in LightWave using the keyboard faster than the application can cause the Mac to crash. Secondly LightWave does not have any onscreen progress notification (eg : a clock or a progress bar). If LightWave appears to freeze just after you perform a task, it is performing the task. A freeze is indicated by the user not being able to move the mouse on screen.

PROBLEM
I cannot import .DXF files

SOLUTION

First when saving the dxf in whatever program you are using save it with these qualities if you can

Ascii format
Exploded
Save all Entities

Open ResEdit and Get Info on the dxf (or whatever) file. There are two things they need to fill out. On selection will be 'Type' it needs to be set at LWOB (all caps) and the other is 'Creator' this should be LWMD (again all caps). Save the file. Modeler should now see the file and load it.



Then go to Modeler, go to the custom button, slide down to trans 3d options.

click on DXF and ok
check the convert all blocks box
convert with an arc segment of 16
click ok
click ok
Now try to load the object that you changed with RESEDIT..

ResEdit can be obtained from www.shareware.com

PROBLEM
I cannot import LWO and LWS files from my PC to my Mac

SOLUTION
Go to menu bar, click on apple and open control panels. Open pc exchange, click add and under dos suffix add .lwo. Navigate to programs folder in your NewTek folder and highlight the Modeler. Finally drag the document type to LWOB. Please note that the same can be done for lws files simply follow the same steps except the last one drag document type to LWSC.
PROBLEM
I cannot load QuickTime annimations after installing the QuickTime Plugin.

SOLUTION
The quicktime load plugin is not to load quicktime animations. LightWave doesn't support it at this time although you can break the .qt file into frames, then load each one in sequence.
PROBLEM
My plugins are not installed.

SOLUTION
When LightWave is installed it does not automatically install your plugins. To install plugins please refer to the plugin section of your manual. Please note that selecting a custom item representing an uninstalled plugin will cause a crash even though it appears in the open window.
PROBLEM
I cannot get past the Installer splash screen.

SOLUTION
The splash screen is too long for a 640X480 resolution monitor (the resolution normally found on a 14" or 15" monitor). At the bottom of the splash screen there is an [OK] button which you will not be able to see. Press the RETURN button to continue to the installers main screen.
PROBLEM
After Installation LightWave works fine, but Modeller will not launch.

SOLUTION
The Installer does not install all the required extensions in your System Folder. Copy the 'QuickDraw 3D RAVE' extension from the CDROM's Extensions Folder(path = [CDROM][NewTek][System Files][Extensions] into your Systems Extensions Folder (path = [HARD DISK][System Folder][Extensions]) and restart your Mac.
PROBLEM
My Macintosh Performa 5320 does not work with LightWave.

SOLUTION
Both Performa and PowerBook ranges work with LightWave. If LightWave will not launch the problem is usually to do with the extensions installed. Get Information (from the File Menu) on the QuickDraw 3D extension which is in your Extensions Folder and check that it is the same version as that in the System Files Folder on the NewTek CD.
PROBLEM
When I launch LightWave on my 9500 I get "Cannot Create off screen rasters" I am running an International System 7.5.2.

SOLUTION
Apple have released two system updates since this system release. 7.5.3 and 7.5.5 both add more native code (More of the system is PowerPC Native and therefore does not run in the Mac's 68K emulator). We recommend that you upgrade your OS to 7.5.5, then manually reinstall the system extensions from the CDROM.
PROBLEM
The QuickDraw Acceleration extension makes no difference to LightWave. Why do I need it?

SOLUTION
This is the QuickDraw 3D PCI Card acceleration extension. You do not need this if you do not have the Apple QuickDraw 3D Acceleration card Installed. This card is available from Apple resellers should you require it.
PROBLEM
I've installed LightWave, but cannot find an Application anywhere.

SOLUTION
LightWave is a multi-platform product. It was originally released on the Amiga platform which uses programs instead of Applications. When you install LightWave you will find a PROGRAMS folder on your hard disk. In it you will find both the Modeller and LightWave. Double click on these to launch.
PROBLEM
I opened the Surface Panel from within LightWave and now cannot continue back to the main window

SOLUTION
If you are in the Surface Panel window and you select the Surface Color window it will bring a new smaller window to the front. If you click on the background window without clicking continue on the smaller front window the Surface Color window will be hidden. If this happens you cannot click on the continue button. Currently the only way out of this is to force quit LightWave (command-option-esc keys).
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