How to view the mdl file extracted from vpk files on earth?

[ScoutB]

I tried hlmv 1.25, hlmv 2.0, hlmv of Left 4 dead 2 authoring tool, everything I could thought out, all failed.

Can you guys tell me how to at least view the model and then I can decompile into qc sma files to edit?

[Jessica Wethole]

You need to decompile the model with crowbar, then load the SMD into blender/maya/your tool of choice.

[ScoutB]

Originally posted by fruit brute:

You need to decompile the model with crowbar, then load the SMD into blender/maya/your tool of choice.

So there's no a viewer that directly view the mdl in l4d2 but to decompile and import into an editor like ms3d or maya?

[Tiny King Trashmouth]

To view the game's mdl files from pak01_dir.vpk without decompiling them all, which I assume you're trying to do, you'd need to extract the contents of the vpk to the game's root folders. For example, to view Coach's mdl file, you'd have to extract the files to the exact same location as it is in the vpk. I'd advise just grabbing the materials & models folders & extracting them to the left4dead2 folder so that you have all the models for use later.
Once you're done, you can use the models in HLMV. Then you can decompile with Crowbar as needed to get SMD/qc files.

[ScoutB]

Originally posted by Tiny King Trashmouth:

To view the game's mdl files from pak01_dir.vpk without decompiling them all, which I assume you're trying to do, you'd need to extract the contents of the vpk to the game's root folders. For example, to view Coach's mdl file, you'd have to extract the files to the exact same location as it is in the vpk. I'd advise just grabbing the materials & models folders & extracting them to the left4dead2 folder so that you have all the models for use later.
Once you're done, you can use the models in HLMV. Then you can decompile with Crowbar as needed to get SMD/qc files.

However I placed mdl and materials into right position and, the hlmv shows the origin one in the game instead of the mod I installed! How amazing!

[Tiny King Trashmouth]

Originally posted by ScoutB:

However I placed mdl and materials into right position and, the hlmv shows the origin one in the game instead of the mod I installed! How amazing!

To view modified versions of original files, it must have a different filepath or name in the $ModelName line in the .qc file. For example, to view a custom zoey, which is normally survivors/survivor_teenangst.mdl, you would have to change the mdl name or the "survivors" to a unique name. Otherwise HLMV will receive an error or prioritize the original.

[ScoutB]

Originally posted by Tiny King Trashmouth:

Originally posted by ScoutB:

However I placed mdl and materials into right position and, the hlmv shows the origin one in the game instead of the mod I installed! How amazing!

To view modified versions of original files, it must have a different filepath or name in the $ModelName line in the .qc file. For example, to view a custom zoey, which is normally survivors/survivor_teenangst.mdl, you would have to change the mdl name or the "survivors" to a unique name. Otherwise HLMV will receive an error or prioritize the original.

Still error opening mdl neither had I changed the mdl name(I added a '1' to the filename's end) nor change the "survivors"to"survivors1". Did I misunderstand something?