ok here's hope.
KSTREE_GROUP, ATTEMPT III
i've used our license at work to test 3dsmax 2022 (and far better computer...)
2022 seems to handle large number of objects a bit better (although it crashed my viewport couple times even with 64 of memory and a 2080ti..)
using all the trees on my islands i made with Forest pro plugin (that meant buying the up to date version compatible with 2022... sorry boss, that's for research
)
i used the tool (thx
@The-IC) to separate each tree (!!) into a unique object (rather than the scattered group)
there's some missing ones below but the count gives an idea, knowing above a thousand objects will give 3dsmax some slow time
The simple fact of selecting them all takes few minutes...
View attachment 462342
(close up) displayed as boxes so my computer doesn't die yet. But they are x-shape trees
View attachment 462343
(also making sure i renamed my objects so each future kstree_group won't reach the 65k limit)
The export selected into FBX took 15-20 minutes (coffee time)
the fbx is also a little bigger than regular...
Then the import into ksEditor is still happening as i write this, almost an hour later XD
View attachment 462345
So alternatively, i used the modded version V6 below :
With all my respect and appreciation, default ksEditor is terrible.
ascobash.wordpress.com
(there are limitations with it, such as transparency for some shaders etc.)
BUT it allows command line to execute an export from FBX to KN5 directly.
(That means having a persistence file already done, so better be using an existing fbx name and its ini, or else you'll loose transparency on your kstree material.)
example command line :
Code:
D:\PROG\ks_editor_v6\ksEditorAt.exe kn5track D:\bo\UnionIsland\_export\green2.kn5 D:\bo\UnionIsland\_EXPORT\green2.fbx
Which took less than 5min (better than an hour and counting ?)
And voila... that's just for the main trees around the terrain.
bushes are stlil regular normals up. And considering the bushes are probably 3 or 4 times more than my trees, i'd say they will most likely remain with normals up !!
But already, most of my hills will have trees receiving lights better and giving a better immersion
hills:
View attachment 462351 View attachment 462352
with bushes to compare :
View attachment 462353 View attachment 462354
Conclusion¹ : ben made trees, yay.
Conclusion² : i damn well better make sure it's all final once i decide to export those..
thank you for your attention
i may resume my actual work