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Maxwell for SketchUp
Version 2.6.11 Release Notes

This is just a small update, fixing a couple of bugs, and adding some new MXM-related functionality.

Changes

• Added ability to create an MXM file from an existing Embedded material.
• Notes contained in MXM files are now shown in the MXM Info popup.

Fixes

• Non-Watt Emitters were read and written incorrectly.
• Ruby exporter failed to identify emitter instances in some cases.

Notes

• To use the new MXM-creation workflow (the manual does not have this info yet):
  
  1. Open the material editor.
  2. Select an embedded material.
  3. Click the MXM button to switch to Linked mode.
  4. Click the Pencil icon (tooltip: Create).
  5. Use the dialog to specify a path for the new MXM file.
  6. The new MXM file will be created and opened in MXED.
  7. Upon closing MXED, the material will be linked to the MXM.
  Upon clicking OK in step (e), you may be asked if you want to copy resources to the destination (you will not be asked if nothing is referenced). This is basically just a Pack & Go performed for the new MXM as it is written, meaning that if your embedded material points to any files, they will be copied to a /textures directory next to the new MXM, with the copies being referenced in the MXM.

Downloads (please do not share these links)

• Render Suite - win installer, SketchUp 6
• Render Suite - osx installer, SketchUp 6
• Render Suite - win installer, SketchUp 7
• Render Suite - osx installer, SketchUp 7
• Render Suite - win installer, SketchUp 8
• Render Suite - osx installer, SketchUp 8
• Standalone - win installer, SketchUp 8
• Standalone - osx installer, SketchUp 8
• Standalone - universal zip, SketchUp 6+

The Create MXM-feature is really great!
- The Pencil button is a bit anonymous though, so one might only find the option by coincidence... Maybe the "X" for remove MXM-linkage could be hidden when no MXM is linked to a material, to offer the user the two main mxm-options; LOAD or CREATE.
- When clicking the pencil (EDIT) while FIRE runs, SketchUp seems to freeze and the MXED doesn't open.
- When the MXED-window is open during EDIT or CREATE, SketchUp "locks"/freezes and seems to wait for the MXED to be closed. Is this necessary?
- The plugin is now in the restricted free license-mode (which makes sense since all forum members can download this preview-build), but when issues are corrected (if any), will you then upload this 2.6.11 in the customer area?

/Stefan

You are a God! Love it!

The Pencil button is a bit anonymous though, so one might only find the option by coincidence... Maybe the "X" for remove MXM-linkage could be hidden when no MXM is linked to a material, to offer the user the two main mxm-options; LOAD or CREATE.

Yes, something could be done with the icon -- this was a really quick add; all I changed was the tooltip (it should read 'Edit' or 'Create' depending on the context). The red X, however, should be greyed-out whenever there is no MXM link to clear.

- When clicking the pencil (EDIT) while FIRE runs, SketchUp seems to freeze and the MXED doesn't open.

I can't reproduce this, whether clicking the button is being used to create a new MXM, or edit one that was already linked. Does it seem related to any particular scene, material, MXM, or any other unique factor?

- When the MXED-window is open during EDIT or CREATE, SketchUp "locks"/freezes and seems to wait for the MXED to be closed. Is this necessary?

Yes, it is the way that the plugin knows you are done editing the material.

- The plugin is now in the restricted free license-mode (which makes sense since all forum members can download this preview-build), but when issues are corrected (if any), will you then upload this 2.6.11 in the customer area?

Which plugin did you install (from the above links)? If Render Suite, is Maxwell Render installed and licensed? If Standalone, has the standalone license been validated on this machine? Upgrading from 2.6.10 to 2.6.11 should have no effect on standalone licensing. Upgrading from an older version could, though I'm not entirely sure, since I do not write the licensing code. You can check [documents]/Maxwell/SketchUp/logs/licensing.log to see if any reason for failure is given. You can also just try re-validating the license.

I used the wrong link and installed the standalone version
It's reinstalled and everything works perfect.
I was running windows through Parallels when experiencing that MXED would not appear while FIRE was running, probably because of memory shortage - I only dedicated 1 cpu to Parallels...
/Stefan

Great JD, thanks a lot for this. It is similar to my " embedded advanced settings" wish

One Question to another point.
I hide some of the ( Toolbar ) Icons which I do not really use every time. When you make changes in the plugin, effect these the toolbar.rb?
When not, it is easier to copy the older .rb and override the new one, instead of do it manually.

stefan_kaplan wrote:I was running windows through Parallels when experiencing that MXED would not appear while FIRE was running, probably because of memory shortage - I only dedicated 1 cpu to Parallels...

Just a heads-up on that, I do not support running on Parallels or any other VM. If it works, that's great, but if not, you're on your own.

Burkhard wrote:I hide some of the Icons which I do not really use every time. When you make changes in the plugin, effect these the toolbar.rb? When not, it is easier to copy the older .rb and override the new one, instead of do it manually.

That's fine, but just make sure to restore the file's as-installed state before reporting bugs (even if they do not appear to be related to toolbars). I do make changes when necessary, where running with an old file could cause problems.

... before reporting bugs ....

..for sure!

My emitters just stopped working. I am not 100% sure it has anything to do with the 2.6.11 version. I have been using it for the last week or so with not problems and earlier today my emitters worked. Now, nothing. I have tried everything from restart to reboot to new file. Emitters are not rendering light.

I can't think of any reason for that to happen. Since you say it can be reproduced using a new file, could you create a simple model that demonstrates the issue and upload it so I can take a look?

Downloaded a few weeks ago but just tested this new edit mxm option and it is just great! thanx so much! Maxwell for Su is growing in such nice and fast way it's becoming an absolute must! Just waiting now for the possibility to get an IBL sky and a real SUN at the same time, or an IBL system that is able to project Shadows (yes it was possible in Hypershot...)

The quality of shadows in an IBL-lit scene is dependent upon the quality (resolution & contrast) of the HDR image. Regarding using the sun with IBL, you need to switch the IBL Illumination channel to use Active Sky, then the sun can be active. You can still use images for the Background, Reflection, and Refraction channels.

Would be nice if you can mix IBL illumination and the SU sun. Like 35% SU sun and 65% IBL. That way you can quickly strengten the contrast of shadows without having to edit the IBL. SU sun can cause images to look a little simple with its hard shadows.
Francois

I don't disagree, but that's something that would need to be changed in Maxwell Render itself.

mixing IBL and sun is what I was asking for in my last question...
hum...needing to change maxwell itself will be long. How things are seen in maxwell conceptors? What we are after is something that can be logical in some way: IBL for the sky and Sun...for the sun.