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{{update|This article contains links to the now defunct Oni Central Forum. Sections: Selected Wisdom}}
Autodesk's Mod Tool used to be the main choice for modders when working on level and character models (at least in Windows, since it's Windows-only). It was a free and accessible program, but has long since been discontinued. Nowadays, modders are encouraged to use [[Blender]] instead.
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==General information==
==Installation==
Full name: [http://www.moddb.com/downloads/autodesk-softimage-mod-tool-75 "Autodesk Softimage Mod Tool"]. Usually we just call it "Mod Tool" or "XSI" (old name of the program).
Full name: "Autodesk Softimage Mod Tool". Usually we just call it "Mod Tool" or "XSI", the old name of the program.


Beside the free version, there's also the retail and [http://www.autodesk.com/education/free-software/softimage student version] "Autodesk Softimage [year]"
'''Download'''
: [http://www.autodesk.com/products/softimage/overview 2015 is last version.] Autodesk's development will focus on Maya and 3ds Max.
* '''Get it from [https://www.moddb.com/downloads/autodesk-softimage-mod-tool-75 Mod DB].'''
: Those versions are also available as 64-bit versions.
* It's no longer possible to download Softimage from Autodesk because the [https://www.autodesk.com/products/softimage/overview software was discontinued] by Autodesk in favor of their major software packages Maya and 3ds Max.


But in the very most cases "Mod Tool" is enough to modify Oni.
'''Newer Windows installations usually require .NET 2.0 to be installed before the XSI installer can fully run.'''
: Downloading and installing .Net 2.0 manually from the internet might not work.
: '''Therefore use the Windows search and look for "features".''' (Enable/disable Windows features.)
: From the Windows feature page install '''".NET framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)"'''.


There's also the possibility to get files that extent Mod Tool's range of functions.
There are various ways to extend Mod Tool's range of functions: scripts (.vbs, .js), toolbars (.xsitb) and addons (.xsiaddon). They can be created on one's own and also shared with other users.
: Those are scripts (.vbs, .js), toolbars (.xsitb) and addons (.xsiaddon).
: They can be created on one's own and also shared with other users.


 
===Extensions===
'''Wanted knowledge:'''
* How to setup particle in Mod Tool? We still need an Oni particle editor!
* How to rig models and then extract the animation data?
* How to make complex new UV-maps?
 
 
==Extensions==
'''links'''
'''links'''
* [http://www.si-community.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=796 "Roadkill" UV Tool]
* [https://www.si-community.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=796 "Roadkill" UV Tool]
* [http://www.xsidatabase.com/content/drag_and_drop_obj_files_jscript drag and drop support for OBJ files]  
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20121001104022/http://www.xsidatabase.com:80/content/drag_and_drop_obj_files_jscript drag and drop support for OBJ files]  
* [http://www.si-community.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=797 OBJ exporter]
* [https://www.si-community.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=797 OBJ exporter]
* [http://mods.oni2.net/node/210 OBJ + OFGA exporter] for Oni
* [http://mods.oni2.net/node/210 OBJ + OFGA exporter] for Oni
** might need the regular OBJ exporter to be installed first
** might need the regular OBJ exporter to be installed first
* [http://mods.oni2.net/node/210 adjusting existing fw throws] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcbv7y5HvRI (instructions)]
* [http://mods.oni2.net/node/210 adjusting existing fw throws] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDTPYfvMf4M (instructions)]
* ''put more links here''




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  end if
  end if
  end function
  end function


==Selected wisdom==
==Selected wisdom==
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** B) goto Model > Modify > Poly. Mesh > Bridge Boundary Points/Edges (if blue lines appear try to disable the checkbox "Angle > 90")
** B) goto Model > Modify > Poly. Mesh > Bridge Boundary Points/Edges (if blue lines appear try to disable the checkbox "Angle > 90")
* merging two objects at blue lines: merge the objects at first, then proceed with the point above "filling a hole"
* merging two objects at blue lines: merge the objects at first, then proceed with the point above "filling a hole"
* '''merging two objects with UVs''': Create > Poly. Mesh > [http://cryrid.com/images/temp/XSI/merge_materials.jpg Merge]
* '''merging two objects with UVs''': Create > Poly. Mesh > [https://web.archive.org/web/20160225163131/http://cryrid.com/images/temp/XSI/merge_materials.jpg Merge]
** extracted Oni characters have their materials and hence textures directly grouped under the mesh (see Explorer)
** extracted Oni characters have their materials and hence textures directly grouped under the mesh (see Explorer)
** when adding (merging) a new part to the existing mesh, the materials/textures will be grouped under (Explorer again) mesh > Polygon Mesh > Clusters > ...
** when adding (merging) a new part to the existing mesh, the materials/textures will be grouped under (Explorer again) mesh > Polygon Mesh > Clusters > ...
** Samer reported that saving the file via fbx solves a problem when trying to convert TRBS
** Samer reported that saving the file via fbx solves a problem when trying to convert TRBS
** one would need to [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd09YP_Bl9M&t=1m15s move the content by hand] in the explorer to bypass the fbx
** one would need to move the content by hand in the explorer to bypass the fbx
* hiding some objects/polygons: select object/polygon and hit [H], use [Control] + [H] to unhide all
* hiding some objects/polygons: select object/polygon and hit [H], use [Control] + [H] to unhide all
* mirroring an object: select object, Modify > Poly. Mesh > Symmetrize Polygons
* mirroring an object: select object, Modify > Poly. Mesh > Symmetrize Polygons
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Things to test:
Things to test:
* http://vimeo.com/67783125
* https://vimeo.com/67783125




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Here are a few videos:
Here are a few videos:
* '''http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xC31Q7zpM0'''
* '''https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xC31Q7zpM0'''
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njLrAIpDOFU
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njLrAIpDOFU
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRDZaEo5CGo
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRDZaEo5CGo




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* [http://web.archive.org/web/20160803061035/http://softimage.wiki.softimage.com/index.php?title=Scripting_Tips_and_Tricks_%28XSISDK%29 xsi wiki page about scripting]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20160803061035/http://softimage.wiki.softimage.com/index.php?title=Scripting_Tips_and_Tricks_%28XSISDK%29 xsi wiki page about scripting]
* '''[http://web.archive.org/web/20170616035120/http://softimage.wiki.softimage.com/sdkdocs/scriptsdb/scriptsdb/scrdb_vbscript.htm many vbscript examples]'''
* '''[http://web.archive.org/web/20170616035120/http://softimage.wiki.softimage.com/sdkdocs/scriptsdb/scriptsdb/scrdb_vbscript.htm many vbscript examples]'''
* '''[http://ss64.com/vb/ vbs commands]'''
* '''[https://ss64.com/vb/ vbs commands]'''
* [http://www.activexperts.com/activmonitor/windowsmanagement/adminscripts/filesfolders/files/ objFSO/objWSHShell: Scripts to manage Files] (replace "Wscript.Echo" with "logmessage")
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070510173452/https://www.activexperts.com/activmonitor/windowsmanagement/adminscripts/filesfolders/files/ objFSO/objWSHShell: Scripts to manage Files] (replace "Wscript.Echo" with "logmessage")
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150504221146/http://activexperts.com/activmonitor/windowsmanagement/adminscripts/other/textfiles/ objFSO/objWSHShell: Scripts to manage Text Files]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150504221146/http://activexperts.com/activmonitor/windowsmanagement/adminscripts/other/textfiles/ objFSO/objWSHShell: Scripts to manage Text Files]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20080905102848/http://www.kxcad.net/softimage_xsi/Softimage_XSI_Documentation/script_basics_IncludingExternalScripts.htm using external scripts]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20080905102848/http://www.kxcad.net/softimage_xsi/Softimage_XSI_Documentation/script_basics_IncludingExternalScripts.htm using external scripts]
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[[File:XSI_Mod_Tool_PPG.PNG|thumb]]
[[Image:XSI_Mod_Tool_PPG.png|thumb]]


  ' '''[23] building a form (PPG)'''
  ' '''[23] building a form (PPG)'''
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[[File:XSI_Mod_Tool_UserDataBlob.PNG|thumb]]
[[Image:XSI_Mod_Tool_UserDataBlob.png|thumb]]


  ' '''[24] UserDataBlob'''
  ' '''[24] UserDataBlob'''
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  ' '''[33] getting bounding box values'''
  ' '''[33] getting bounding box values'''
   
   
  ' this could be useful to create a bounding box for [[OBD_talk:OFGA#XML|OFGA files]]
  ' this could be useful to create a bounding box for [[XML:OFGA|OFGA files]]
   
   
  ' let's get the bounding box of a simple cylinder
  ' let's get the bounding box of a simple cylinder
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  ' this could be used open an output folder ...
  ' this could be used open an output folder ...
  strPath = "[http://support.microsoft.com/kb/152457 explorer.exe /e]," & XSIUtils.ResolvePath("$SI_HOME/")
  strPath = "[http://web.archive.org/web/20150212074443/http://support.microsoft.com/kb/152457 explorer.exe /e]," & XSIUtils.ResolvePath("$SI_HOME/")
  Set objShell = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
  Set objShell = CreateObject("Wscript.Shell")
  objShell.Run strPath
  objShell.Run strPath
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[[File:XSI_Mod_Tool_SelectNeighborObj_obj_5.png|thumb|SelectNeighborObj obj 5]]
[[Image:XSI_Mod_Tool_SelectNeighborObj_obj_5.png|thumb|SelectNeighborObj obj 5]]
  ' '''[35] working with hierarchies'''  
  ' '''[35] working with hierarchies'''  
   
   
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'''tutorials:'''
'''tutorials:'''
* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioMQ2rBVO4g
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioMQ2rBVO4g
* http://dot3d.blogspot.com/2009/10/softimage-ice-tree-building-step-by.html
* http://dot3d.blogspot.com/2009/10/softimage-ice-tree-building-step-by.html
* [http://www.si-community.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=1707 an ICE tutorial thread]
* [https://www.si-community.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=1707 an ICE tutorial thread]
* [http://download.autodesk.com/global/docs/softimage2013/en_us/userguide/index.html?url=files/ICE_trees_DebuggingICETrees.htm,topicNumber=d30e269791 ICE trees Debugging]
* [https://download.autodesk.com/global/docs/softimage2013/en_us/userguide/index.html?url=files/ICE_trees_DebuggingICETrees.htm,topicNumber=d30e269791 ICE trees Debugging]
* <nowiki>https://support.solidangle.com/display/SItoAUG/ICE</nowiki> (dead link)
* <nowiki>https://support.solidangle.com/display/SItoAUG/ICE</nowiki> (dead link)


==Wanted knowledge==
* How to set up particles in Mod Tool? We still need an Oni particle editor!
* How to rig models and then extract the animation data?
* How to make complex new UV maps?


[[Category:Modding tutorials]][[Category:Windows-only modding tools]]
[[Category:Modding tutorials]][[Category:Outdated modding tools]][[Category:Windows-only modding tools]]
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