Anoyone else think 3ds Max 2012 is uterly useless?

[skwisdemon666]

Cat was buggy in 2011, and nvidia physx plugins aren't out for 2013. So this makes 2012 the obvious choice. But then, cue dramatic music, the skin modifier is utterly broken in 2012. How did it release with a core feature destroyed?? Oh well. No problem right? Just install the service packs. Oh wait, the service packs break your CAT rigs. I really don't want to get multiple versions and keep switching between them. If Autodesk had a face I would punch it. Does anyone else share my pain?

[darthviper107]

Nope, don't have that problem

[skwisdemon666]

Well, the borked CAT rigs are only if you made the rig before the service pack. It happens if you modified the hierarchy. I reinstalled max again and put the hierarchy back to how it would be by default. Hopefully I can update then redo my adjustments. Its just so frustrating.

Edit: nope, If I try to make the adjustments it borks it in real time.

[darthviper107]

So the issue is that Cat rigs made with Max before updates are screwed up after you apply updates?

I guess if that's the case then you might just have to redo the rig in the updated version of Max

I wonder if that has the issue in Max 2013, maybe you can open it in 2013 and then if it's all good you can resave as the Max 2012 version.

[McTune]

I use 2012 no problems with the skin modifier but i only use biped never bothered with CAT.

[skwisdemon666]

You probably got the update with your install. The weight tools are completely broke when you have no updates. They changed how CAT works, so im going to have to use updated version for animation and non-updated for mesh-export. Specifically, when you change segments of a bone to make a twist bone, you used to be able to link the next bone to the first segment but it stayed at the end of the second segment. This way you can still use skeletal controllers. But now you can't

[Graylord]

I've used Max 2012 all year, skin modifier works just fine.

[obihb]

Max 2012 isn't perfect but it sounds like you're having some unique issues there. I'd suggest, clean installation and I mean. clean. So uninstall all others, delete traces, and re-install. Also try in stead of "open file" try "merge file" with older max files. In many cases the merge is more successful. If all else fails you'll have to stick with your current version for any current files or remake certain things, like rig.. etc. I know CAT is not perfect and skinning, not sure what you're getting there but should work just fine.

An issue I've had with skinning is if you install Max 2012, then uninstall 2011 or 2010 or whatever.. the skinning is broken and will give a dll error. Which is why I suggest a clean re-install. But otherwise it should work perfectly fine. I've done lots of character skinning in 2012 and it works. I never use CAT though (custom rigs is my choice) although I did use it a bit and it seemed ok for fairly standard "human" type rig. But I have read many problems about CAT since it was first added to Max and up until now, so I expect some problems there. But I know it's usable. It may be certain features are broken or buggy. You may just need to start from scratch on that one, or try the merge like I mentioned before.

To me 2012 is definitely much better than 2011 or 2010.. I guess purely for speed, if nothing else. 2013 again.. better. They're not, more or less buggy with regards to my daily use anyway. But as you can expect it's not perfect.. never will be. I do think that you're having some unique issues though and should not have this much trouble. Can't say why really, of course.. but.. 2012 should be fine to work with.

[skwisdemon666]

Not unique, the very first update they released addresses the skin modifier issue. Its all over their forums. Not a dll error, just broken programming. The problem is that this fix now comes packaged with an update that changes how CAT works. Completely replaced the "CAT CORE" according to their release notes. It worked fine before the update, but now when you link bone A to bone B, it moves bone A to the end of bone B. So I have to clean install, put the heirarchy back to CAT standards, update, do skinning, then load on unupdated version, readjust hierarchy, then export mesh. At least I seem to have found a work around.

Here is a diagram of my issue.

[Buddhist Punk]

max is bloated!

[skwisdemon666]

Yeah, I know. The yearly release doesn't let their teams do all the cleanup they should. Useless may have been a bit of a stretch, but it can get pretty frustrating.