Export Error: Flex controller limit

[GoblinCrusher]

I'm getting an error saying I've got to many flexes in my export even though I'm clearly below the limit.

Initially I did have too many flexes, since I had a bunch that I'd combined into Stereo Flexes and then added an underscore to the name to keep them as backups. Even after deleting all those, I still get the error.

Here's the console message:

Blender Source Tools: exporting eyeball_l
- Baking...
- D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\eyeball_l.dmx
- Writing DMX...
- DMX export took 0.15993642807006836


Blender Source Tools: exporting eyeball_r
- Baking...
- D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\eyeball_r.dmx
- Writing DMX...
- DMX export took 0.15994882583618164


Blender Source Tools: exporting Pao Pao
- Baking...
- D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\Pao Pao.dmx
- Loading flex controllers from text block "flex_Pao Pao.016"
 WARNING: 2096 excess weight links beneath scene threshold of 0.23 culled on "Pao Pao".
- 66 flexes (0 with wrinklemaps) + 0 correctives
- Writing DMX...
- DMX export took 10.496668577194214


Blender Source Tools: exporting Pao_Pao_Pawpads
- Baking...
- D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\Pao_Pao_Pawpads.dmx
- Loading flex controllers from text block "flex_Pao_Pao_Pawpads.004"
- 4 flexes (0 with wrinklemaps) + 0 correctives
- Writing DMX...
- DMX export took 0.2600069046020508


Blender Source Tools: exporting PaoPao_Earrings
- Baking...
- D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\PaoPao_Earrings.dmx
- Loading flex controllers from text block "flex_PaoPao_Earrings.001"
- 1 flexes (0 with wrinklemaps) + 0 correctives
- Writing DMX...
- DMX export took 0.2189939022064209


Blender Source Tools: exporting PaoPao_Hair
- Baking...
- D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\PaoPao_Hair.dmx
- Loading flex controllers from text block "flex_PaoPao_Hair.003"
- 8 flexes (0 with wrinklemaps) + 0 correctives
- Writing DMX...
- DMX export took 1.2087986469268799


Blender Source Tools: exporting PaoPao_Hair_Flower
- Baking...
- D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\PaoPao_Hair_Flower.dmx
- Writing DMX...
- DMX export took 0.18021726608276367


Blender Source Tools: exporting PaoPao_Hair_Jewel
- Baking...
- D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\PaoPao_Hair_Jewel.dmx
- Writing DMX...
- DMX export took 0.16298818588256836


Blender Source Tools: exporting PaoPao_Hair_Pins
- Baking...
- D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\PaoPao_Hair_Pins.dmx
- Writing DMX...
- DMX export took 0.17808151245117188

0 Errors and 1 Warnings
Warning: 2096 excess weight links beneath scene threshold of 0.23 culled on "Pao Pao".
9 files exported in 15.6 seconds with 0 Errors and 1 Warnings
Info: 9 files exported in 15.6 seconds with 0 Errors and 1 Warnings



Running studiomdl for "paopao.qc"...

qdir:    "d:\users\alfred\desktop\letstryblender\dmx\"
gamedir: "D:\Steam Software\steamapps\common\SourceFilmmaker\game\usermod\"
g_path:  "D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\paopao.qc"
Building binary model files...
Working on "paopao.qc"
DMX Model D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\/Pao Pao.dmx
DMX Model D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\/eyeball_l.dmx
DMX Model D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\/eyeball_r.dmx
DMX Model D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\/PaoPao_Hair_Pins.dmx
DMX Model D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\/PaoPao_Hair_Jewel.dmx
DMX Model D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\/PaoPao_Hair_Flower.dmx
DMX Model D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\/PaoPao_Earrings.dmx
DMX Model D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\/Pao_Pao_Pawpads.dmx
DMX Model D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\/PaoPao_Hair.dmx
ERROR: Line 0: Too many flex controllers, max 128, cannot add control Belly-SideRolls from source D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\/Pao Pao.dmxERROR: Aborted Processing on 'avalonsfm\paopao\paopao.mdl'
 ERROR: Compile of paopao.qc failed. Check the console for details
1 Errors and 0 Warnings
Error: Compile of paopao.qc failed. Check the console for details
Compiled 0 Source Filmmaker QCs with 1 Errors and 0 Warnings
Info: Compiled 0 Source Filmmaker QCs with 1 Errors and 0 Warnings

Anyone know what's up?

[Zappy]

What happens if you try to compile a model that only consists of the "Pao Pao.dmx" file, with no other mesh files being loaded?

Originally posted by GoblinCrusher:

- Stereo Flexes -

Keep in mind that a stereo flex uses two flex controllers. One called "right_[controller]" and one called "left_[controller]". So if you have 66 shape keys for a model that are all set up to be stereo flexes, that adds up to 132 flex controllers, which is more than the 128 that StudioMDL.exe says is the maximum allowed amount.

[xdshot]

Re-generate new controller if you did before.

[GoblinCrusher]

Mostly identical error, though the "cannot add control" line stops at a different flex than before.

Though I've generated a new Controller Source text file where I haven't marked any flexes as Stereo yet... Is there some way to purge the controller text files and start fresh? Maybe it's somehow reading from a previous version where there's too many flexes?

[GoblinCrusher]

Went back to an earlier file version where I didn't have any issues and I'm getting the same error.

[GoblinCrusher]

Re-installing Blender doesn't work.

[GoblinCrusher]

Bump. Sorry if I come off as nagging, it's just that this has thrown quite a wrench in my projects.

[xdshot]

A blender project uploaded would be nice to certainly investigate why it happens.

[GoblinCrusher]

Warning for NSFW:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/js9hfysvdqe19t4/PaoPao_SFM-Imported10.blend?dl=0

Have the QC as well:

$CD "D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\"

$modelname "avalonsfm\paopao\paopao.mdl"

$model "Body" "Pao Pao.dmx"
$model "Eye L" "eyeball_l.dmx"
$model "Eye L" "eyeball_r.dmx"
//$model "Pawpads" "Pao_Pao_Pawpads.dmx"

//$model "Hair" "PaoPao_Hair.dmx"
//$model "Ponytail" "PaoPao_Hair_Ponytail.dmx"

//$model "Pins" "PaoPao_Hair_Pins.dmx"
//$model "Jewel" "PaoPao_Hair_Jewel.dmx"
//$model "Flower" "PaoPao_Hair_Flower.dmx"
//$model "Earrings" "PaoPao_Earrings.dmx"

$bodygroup "Hair Pins"
{
	studio "PaoPao_Hair_Pins.dmx"	
	blank
}
$bodygroup "Hair Jewel"
{
	studio "PaoPao_Hair_Jewel.dmx"	
	blank
}
$bodygroup Flower
{
	studio "PaoPao_Hair_Flower.dmx"
	blank
}
$bodygroup Earrings
{
	studio "PaoPao_Earrings.dmx"
	blank
}
$bodygroup Pawpads
{
	studio "Pao_Pao_Pawpads.dmx"
	blank
}
$bodygroup Hair
{
	studio "PaoPao_Hair.dmx"
	blank
}

$mostlyopaque

$cdmaterials "models\avalonsfm\paopao\"
$cdmaterials "models\avalonsfm\paopao\extra"

$texturegroup "Body" 
{
	{"Nude.vmt" "Pao Pao Hair.vmt" "Eyes.vmt"}
	{"Nude_ALT.vmt" "Pao Pao Hair_ALT.vmt" "Eyes_ALT.vmt"}
	{"Nude_ALT2.vmt" "Pao Pao Hair_ALT2.vmt" "Eyes.vmt"}
	{"Nude_ALT3.vmt" "Pao Pao Hair_ALT3.vmt" "Eyes_ALT.vmt"}
}

$sequence "idle" "Pao Pao.dmx" {
fps 1
}

//start eye/face data

$eyeposition 0 0 70

$attachment "eyes" "Head" 0.00 -3.83 35.25 absolute

$model "body" "Pao Pao.dmx" {
	eyeball righteye "Head" -1.33 -3.83 35.25 "eyeball_r" 1.00 4 "grn_pupil_r" 0.63
	eyeball lefteye "Head" 1.33 -3.83 35.25 "eyeball_l" 1.00 -4 "grn_pupil_l" 0.63

	mouth 0 "mouth" "Head" 0 1 0     // mouth illumination

	flexcontroller eyes range -45 45 eyes_updown
	flexcontroller eyes range -45 45 eyes_rightleft
}

[xdshot]

I'd better not see it Line 5:
$model "Body" "Pao Pao.dmx"
Remove it

[xdshot]

You will also get ERROR: z:\tmp\letspretendididntseeit\qc.qc(73): - can't find eyeball texture "eyeball_r" on model further. Solution:

Leave only one $model. AFAIK only one allowed.
Group various objects, including eyeballs. Source Exporter will export them united as one dmx.

[Zappy]

Originally posted by GoblinCrusher:

- - D:\Users\Alfred\Desktop\LetsTryBlender\DMX\Pao Pao.dmx - 66 flexes -

Originally posted by GoblinCrusher:

- $model "Body" "Pao Pao.dmx"
-
$model "body" "Pao Pao.dmx" { - }

If I understand this correctly, "Pao Pao.dmx" has 66 flex controllers, and you load "Pao Pao.dmx" twice in the QC file, which loads the 66 flex controllers twice. 66 x 2 = 132, and 132 is more than the allowed 128.

It's generally not a good idea to have a model that loads the same DMX or SMD file as visible 3D mesh more than once in a QC file (your issue here is one of the reasons for that).

[GoblinCrusher]

Sucess, ha ha!

Two birds with one stone: I never thought about or looked too carefully at the QC code generated for the eye controllers, so I didn't realise it loaded the model again. I also was under the impression that the eyes had to be exported separately.

So in conclusion: everything works, yay! Though the eyes look properly fucked up, but there were some threads for that I'll look through to fix.

Thanks mates!

[Zappy]

Originally posted by GoblinCrusher:

- I also was under the impression that the eyes had to be exported separately. -

Unless you know exactly what you're doing, all eyes actually have to be part of the same mesh file. And unless you have a reason for it, you also shouldn't split eyes away from the head mesh file in the first place.