Re: How do you guys make sure XSI files and Softimage 7.5+ files will open in 2016?
Update: Softimage 7.5 32bit on win7 x64 works. Thanks for making me give it another try, Luc-Eric. I re-installed Softimage 7.5 32 bit using the web installer on xin7 x64: Autodesk_Softimage_7.5_English_Japanese_WIN_32bit.exe I updated my License File with the new file provided by Autodesk and restarted the license server pointing to the new license. Restarted win7. Running the Softimage link in the Startmenu as Administrator makes win7 x64 swap it´s menu style to Windows 7-Basis and XSI.exe will properly start. I guess that step required by win7 was UAC blocked in my previous attempts. --- I also deleted the extra adsk_port infos from the Autodesk.lic in Softimage´s installpath\Softimage\Softimage_7.5\adlm\licenses making Softimage´s Autodesk.lic identical to a compareable Maya LICPATH.lic file Those are not the license files, those files tell a network licensed install where to look for a license. but that may not be neccessary, I just did it to make sure my 64bit LMTOOLS will be found by Softimage (instead of making it listening to port 2080) looking for a license on the hostname specified in that file. -- Cheers, tim Am 31.12.2014 um 08:39 schrieb Tim Leydecker: Hi Luc-Eric, I couldn´t get Softimage 7.5 32bit to run on win 7 64bit. The install went through but Softimage wouldn´t start on my machine, regardless of which compatibility options I tried to run it with. Could be I missed something. Also, the installer didn´t register with Add/Remove Programs. I´ll give it another try to see if I missed something. Cheers, tim Am 31.12.2014 um 04:36 schrieb Luc-Eric Rousseau: Why xp mode? XSI 7 32 bit runs on 64 bit win7 On Dec 30, 2014 4:59 PM, Tim Leydecker bauero...@gmx.de mailto:bauero...@gmx.de wrote: For opening SI|3D files using Softimage 7.5 32bit: One way would be to use Windows 7´s XP mode and use that 32bit XP to install Softimage 7.5 32bit (which has the SI|3D scene import option). Setting that VM´s RAM to ~4GB. I just did this using the 30 days trial (Standalone mode) of Softimage and successfully opened scenes from the year 2000. Also installed LMTOOLS on the Virtual PC to get an idea what ethernet ID that VM has and if it is possible to run a network license inside that VM. Autodesk is so kind to recreate/resend me my legacy network license for Autodesk Softimage 7.5. I´ve opted to get the license recreated for my current server, appending the license file info and serving from that. Due to valid security concerns regarding Microsoft no longer providing security updates to Windows XP32, some people may want to restrict the xp mode from getting any internet/network access. That would mean the license server would have to be set up and run off the ethernet ID of the VM instead, requring a license transfer/recreation AND an extra Host network adapter in the host not connected to the internet. Even then, the VM will assign random ethernet IDs (for each install of a VM) so it´s best to check the internet for ways to backup the VM´s hexcode of the adapter in case a VM breaks or needs a reinstall without having to recreate a new license file because the virtual PC´s ethernet ID changed. To avoid all this, I opted to use the VM Host as the license server and simply disconnect from the internet while doing SI|3D file salvages. A simpler alternative might be to use a different Virtual Machine Option instead of using the XP Mode in Windows Virtual PC. Or simply create a new XP mode + Softimage 7.5 32bit trial install every now and then when one just tries to get access to some files but that could be regarded shady, to say the least. Cheers, tim Am 29.12.2014 um 10:49 schrieb Tim Leydecker: Hi guys, after checking through a random selection of *.scn files, I am somewhat positive I´ll be able to open most if not all of my files with Softimage 2012/2014/2015. When I was refering to *.obj/*.fbx files, I didn´t mean to suggest that should be the prefered archive format, even thought in my case, there is a high percentage of *.obj/*.fbx files containing assets and easily enough (re)connected to their textures. Personally, I have decided to go through my projects, check for assets I like and then make sure I have at least an *.obj/*.fbx, ZBrush or Mudbox file, Photoshop texture base and finalized maps. Building a salvageable library of parts. That´s not archiving, that´s salvaging. Now my real problem is opening older 32bit files, from Softimage 3.9 *.dsc and *.hrc files. Any way to get access to that? Those scenes/files I missed to convert to *.xsi or *.scn around Y2k... Cheers, tim Am 26.12.2014 um 23:52 schrieb Luc-Eric Rousseau:
Re: semi OT : running SI on a Macbook Pro
Tiny ? Tiny how ? Ain't SI able to use the complete surface of the screen ? Or are 2880 pixels making too tiny buttons ? For the battery, well we have french electricity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oxEM2uWuts ;) Le 31/12/2014 04:41, Luc-Eric Rousseau a écrit : But the windows and xsi interface is really tiny on the retina display, and since power management doesn't work well under boot camp, the battery won't last long, it's just an unpleasant windows experience. It's good for occasional use of windows but not as a main use. On Dec 30, 2014 6:42 PM, Graham D. Clark mailgrahamdcl...@gmail.com mailto:mailgrahamdcl...@gmail.com wrote: nope just Bootcamp. Parallels is separate but worth being able to open Soft without re-booting into another OS for quick things. 7 works fine (may upgrade) On Tue, Dec 30, 2014 at 6:28 PM, olivier jeannel olivier.jean...@noos.fr mailto:olivier.jean...@noos.fr wrote: Thank you Graham ! Are Bootcamp or Parallels provided with the Mac ? And what windows version should I buy ? (7 is the less worst I think ) Le 31/12/2014 00:21, Graham D. Clark a écrit : Yes, very well. On various macbook pros over the last 5 years, I've been running Soft on Bootcamp and Parallels (some viewport shaders don't work in Parallels, so just switch to bootcamp when needed). It's not complex to setup or run at all. -- -- Graham D Clark, VP/Head of Stereography, Stereo D, Deluxe phone: why-I-stereo http://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamclark
Re: semi OT : running SI on a Macbook Pro
On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 4:18 AM, olivier jeannel olivier.jean...@noos.fr wrote: Tiny ? Tiny how ? Ain't SI able to use the complete surface of the screen ? Or are 2880 pixels making too tiny buttons ? Windows on a high DPI display is a nightmare. Most apps don't scale so the buttons are a 4 millimeter wide and the text is tiny. Worse, since there is that much more pixel to push, OpenGL performance is slow. Huge slow viewport, small UI - what's not to like! It's not a serious windows setup unless you hook it up to an external, non retina display, and a windows keyboard to have the ctrl/alt keys in the right place and a delete key. the power management issues are real. The macbook pro will run hot under windows and it will shorten its life. Other problem. Normally with the macbook pro you'll end up using thunderbolt, that's what's used with an external display for example. Well unlike OSX, thunderbolt is not hot-swappable on windows, so you'll need to reboot to connect the internet adapter. You get frustrating stuff like putting the macbook to sleep and sometimes the monitor is not detected, or everythign getting really confused when you switch between OS. I'm thinking it's better to buy a cheap PC than to bother with this. You have to buy a copy of windows anyway.
Softimage mailing list year in review
2014 year in review http://wp.me/powV4-38U
Re: semi OT : running SI on a Macbook Pro
Ok, so Graham said it works very well and Luc Eric describes the worst nightmare... I'm having hard time to figure... Le 31/12/2014 15:37, Luc-Eric Rousseau a écrit : On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 4:18 AM, olivier jeannel olivier.jean...@noos.fr wrote: Tiny ? Tiny how ? Ain't SI able to use the complete surface of the screen ? Or are 2880 pixels making too tiny buttons ? Windows on a high DPI display is a nightmare. Most apps don't scale so the buttons are a 4 millimeter wide and the text is tiny. Worse, since there is that much more pixel to push, OpenGL performance is slow. Huge slow viewport, small UI - what's not to like! It's not a serious windows setup unless you hook it up to an external, non retina display, and a windows keyboard to have the ctrl/alt keys in the right place and a delete key. the power management issues are real. The macbook pro will run hot under windows and it will shorten its life. Other problem. Normally with the macbook pro you'll end up using thunderbolt, that's what's used with an external display for example. Well unlike OSX, thunderbolt is not hot-swappable on windows, so you'll need to reboot to connect the internet adapter. You get frustrating stuff like putting the macbook to sleep and sometimes the monitor is not detected, or everythign getting really confused when you switch between OS. I'm thinking it's better to buy a cheap PC than to bother with this. You have to buy a copy of windows anyway.
Re: semi OT : running SI on a Macbook Pro
Hi Oliver, Not sure exactly what your needs are, but have you looked at the latest Alienware 13? It has the advantage that you can plug an external GPU amplifier. Have a great new year everyone! On Wednesday, 31 December 2014, olivier jeannel olivier.jean...@noos.fr wrote: Ok, so Graham said it works very well and Luc Eric describes the worst nightmare... I'm having hard time to figure... Le 31/12/2014 15:37, Luc-Eric Rousseau a écrit : On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 4:18 AM, olivier jeannel olivier.jean...@noos.fr wrote: Tiny ? Tiny how ? Ain't SI able to use the complete surface of the screen ? Or are 2880 pixels making too tiny buttons ? Windows on a high DPI display is a nightmare. Most apps don't scale so the buttons are a 4 millimeter wide and the text is tiny. Worse, since there is that much more pixel to push, OpenGL performance is slow. Huge slow viewport, small UI - what's not to like! It's not a serious windows setup unless you hook it up to an external, non retina display, and a windows keyboard to have the ctrl/alt keys in the right place and a delete key. the power management issues are real. The macbook pro will run hot under windows and it will shorten its life. Other problem. Normally with the macbook pro you'll end up using thunderbolt, that's what's used with an external display for example. Well unlike OSX, thunderbolt is not hot-swappable on windows, so you'll need to reboot to connect the internet adapter. You get frustrating stuff like putting the macbook to sleep and sometimes the monitor is not detected, or everythign getting really confused when you switch between OS. I'm thinking it's better to buy a cheap PC than to bother with this. You have to buy a copy of windows anyway.
Re: Softimage mailing list year in review
Brace yourselves ? :P On 31 December 2014 at 16:28, Stephen Blair stephenrbl...@gmail.com wrote: 2014 year in review http://wp.me/powV4-38U
Re: semi OT : running SI on a Macbook Pro
Thanks Graham for sharing your experience! In Parallels, you can set your VM rez and scale-up.. ... the screen will still shrink while the VM is "booting up," but once I log in to Windows, Parallels Tools kick in, and I can resize the VM's root window and everything will scale nicely. I can go into and get out of "Full Screen" and the screen also scale nicely as expected. And In bootcamp you can be at any standard rez you want, (say 1920x1080 or whatever suits you) Bootcamp Battery might be an issue if you plan on doing some ICE in the parc. :-] On 12/30/14 18:21, Graham D. Clark wrote: Yes, very well. On various macbook pros over the last 5 years, I've been running Soft on Bootcamp and Parallels (some viewport shaders don't work in Parallels, so just switch to bootcamp when needed). It's not complex to setup or run at all.
Re: semi OT : running SI on a Macbook Pro
There is a hack you can do make Windows 8.1 scale up an application, it's described here http://www.danantonielli.com/adobe-app-scaling-on-high-dpi-displays-fix/ That same problem exists on the Microsoft Surface, btw. which also has a high DPI display On a mac, you'll be paying for a copy of windows, plus Parallels, I just think it's a bit much. It's fine if you're just going to use XSI sometimes with the intent of eventually giving up on windows over time. You also can avoid the issue by not using the built-in display (although you can't turn off the LCD without closing the macbook's lid and using an external keyboard) You would never turn down the screen resolution of the retina display for graphics work, the display will be blurry. Windows 8.1 will scale up some standard widgets like the menus, title bars, and the apps it ships with will scale. But third party apps do not scale by default (as you can see in that adobe screenshot), and you should already know that XSI doesn't support the large font setting in windows: the menus don't scale up and the command panel resizes incorrectly. On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 12:11 PM, olivier jeannel olivier.jean...@noos.fr wrote: Ok, so Graham said it works very well and Luc Eric describes the worst nightmare... I'm having hard time to figure... Le 31/12/2014 15:37, Luc-Eric Rousseau a écrit : On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 4:18 AM, olivier jeannel olivier.jean...@noos.fr wrote: Tiny ? Tiny how ? Ain't SI able to use the complete surface of the screen ? Or are 2880 pixels making too tiny buttons ? Windows on a high DPI display is a nightmare. Most apps don't scale so the buttons are a 4 millimeter wide and the text is tiny. Worse, since there is that much more pixel to push, OpenGL performance is slow. Huge slow viewport, small UI - what's not to like! It's not a serious windows setup unless you hook it up to an external, non retina display, and a windows keyboard to have the ctrl/alt keys in the right place and a delete key. the power management issues are real. The macbook pro will run hot under windows and it will shorten its life. Other problem. Normally with the macbook pro you'll end up using thunderbolt, that's what's used with an external display for example. Well unlike OSX, thunderbolt is not hot-swappable on windows, so you'll need to reboot to connect the internet adapter. You get frustrating stuff like putting the macbook to sleep and sometimes the monitor is not detected, or everythign getting really confused when you switch between OS. I'm thinking it's better to buy a cheap PC than to bother with this. You have to buy a copy of windows anyway.
Re: semi OT : running SI on a Macbook Pro
My apologies Olivier, I should have mentioned the tiny text IF you run Windows at full retina rez or don't set the text display size correctly. Also should have mentioned the settings that I'm ok with, as Jason wrote, is to just run at 1920x1200 or 1680x1050 in boot camp, or parallels full screen 1680x1050 or 1920x1200, or parallels windowed with OSX display set to 'Larger Text which scales up everything on the mac including the windowed parallels view with Softimage in it, or just work Best for retina on Mac for full rez and a slightly small Softimage in a Parallels window. None of these options are blurry to me, just slightly softer than full retina. I do not have any of the monitor switching or other issues mentioned. It's the best option, as the only reason I have Windows is for Softimage, and when I'm done with the only reason I use Win/Soft, for ICE of course, then I'll move to Mac only. So with my setup, yes, I find it works very well. Going back n forth between soft on Windows and Nuke on Mac is seamless. On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 2:38 PM, Jason S jasonsta...@gmail.com wrote: Thanks Graham for sharing your experience! In Parallels, you can set your VM rez and scale-up.. ... the screen will still shrink while the VM is booting up, but once I log in to Windows, Parallels Tools kick in, and I can resize the VM's root window and everything will scale nicely. I can go into and get out of Full Screen and the screen also scale nicely as expected. And In bootcamp you can be at any standard rez you want, (say 1920x1080 or whatever suits you) Bootcamp Battery might be an issue if you plan on doing some ICE in the parc. :-] On 12/30/14 18:21, Graham D. Clark wrote: Yes, very well. On various macbook pros over the last 5 years, I've been running Soft on Bootcamp and Parallels (some viewport shaders don't work in Parallels, so just switch to bootcamp when needed). It's not complex to setup or run at all. -- -- Graham D Clark, VP/Head of Stereography, Stereo D, Deluxe phone: why-I-stereo http://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamclark
Re: semi OT : running SI on a Macbook Pro
There is a hack you can do make Windows 8.1 scale up an application, it's described here http://www.danantonielli.com/adobe-app-scaling-on-high-dpi-displays-fix/ your'e referring to using windows in High DPI but.. You would never turn down the screen resolution of the retina display for graphics work, the display will be blurry. ... I've seen both 1600x900 and 1920x1080 on (3k) retina displays, and although they aren't as extra crisp as retina, they are hardly blurry or distiguishable from displays that are natively in these rez (or hardly an issue) It's fine if you're just going to use XSI sometimes with the intent of eventually giving up on windows [and XSI?] over time. Imagine if Microsoft baught Mac (~10% (of desk/lap-top) share, or roughly former Maya/XSI proportions) I for one would not be -for- elimination of innovative products, even if by then, innovation would have greatly slowed if not essentially ceased. On 12/31/14 15:28, Luc-Eric Rousseau wrote: There is a hack you can do make Windows 8.1 scale up an application, it's described here http://www.danantonielli.com/adobe-app-scaling-on-high-dpi-displays-fix/ That same problem exists on the Microsoft Surface, btw. which also has a high DPI display On a mac, you'll be paying for a copy of windows, plus Parallels, I just think it's a bit much. It's fine if you're just going to use XSI sometimes with the intent of eventually giving up on windows over time. You also can avoid the issue by not using the built-in display (although you can't turn off the LCD without closing the macbook's lid and using an external keyboard) You would never turn down the screen resolution of the retina display for graphics work, the display will be blurry. Windows 8.1 will scale up some standard widgets like the menus, title bars, and the apps it ships with will scale. But third party apps do not scale by default (as you can see in that adobe screenshot), and you should already know that XSI doesn't support the "large font" setting in windows: the menus don't scale up and the command panel resizes incorrectly. On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 12:11 PM, olivier jeannel olivier.jean...@noos.fr wrote: Ok, so Graham said it works "very well" and Luc Eric describes the worst nightmare... I'm having hard time to figure... Le 31/12/2014 15:37, Luc-Eric Rousseau a écrit : On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 4:18 AM, olivier jeannel olivier.jean...@noos.fr wrote: Tiny ? Tiny how ? Ain't SI able to use the complete surface of the screen ? Or are 2880 pixels making too tiny buttons ? Windows on a high DPI display is a nightmare. Most apps don't scale so the buttons are a 4 millimeter wide and the text is tiny. Worse, since there is that much more pixel to push, OpenGL performance is slow. Huge slow viewport, small UI - what's not to like! It's not a serious windows setup unless you hook it up to an external, non retina display, and a windows keyboard to have the ctrl/alt keys in the right place and a delete key. the power management issues are real. The macbook pro will run hot under windows and it will shorten its life. Other problem. Normally with the macbook pro you'll end up using thunderbolt, that's what's used with an external display for example. Well unlike OSX, thunderbolt is not hot-swappable on windows, so you'll need to reboot to connect the internet adapter. You get frustrating stuff like putting the macbook to sleep and sometimes the monitor is not detected, or everythign getting really confused when you switch between OS. I'm thinking it's better to buy a cheap PC than to bother with this. You have to buy a copy of windows anyway.
Re: semi OT : running SI on a Macbook Pro
I've been using a macbook pro for three years, although mostly in OSX mode obviously. You can go ask a friend with one and check it out before paying 2,500$ if running the screen in 1.5 scaling works for you.I've suggested using an external monitor instead. On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 4:35 PM, Jason S jasonsta...@gmail.com wrote: There is a hack you can do make Windows 8.1 scale up an application, it's described here http://www.danantonielli.com/adobe-app-scaling-on-high-dpi-displays-fix/ your'e referring to using windows in High DPI but.. You would never turn down the screen resolution of the retina display for graphics work, the display will be blurry. ... I've seen both 1600x900 and 1920x1080 on (3k) retina displays, and although they aren't as extra crisp as retina, they are hardly blurry or distiguishable from displays that are natively in these rez (or hardly an issue) It's fine if you're just going to use XSI sometimes with the intent of eventually giving up on windows [and XSI?] over time. Imagine if Microsoft baught Mac (~10% (of desk/lap-top) share, or roughly former Maya/XSI proportions) I for one would not be -for- elimination of innovative products, even if by then, innovation would have greatly slowed if not essentially ceased.
RE: semi OT : running SI on a Macbook Pro
Will sadly no longer need to run Softimage from this year , but in the past have done so using bootcamp. I dont use it on the battery , Only at Home or at work. In both cases its plugged into 1080p monitors where there are no scaling issues and no perceptible performance issues Will miss Softimage but being able to run everything in Mac Os X now is a joy. From: Luc-Eric Rousseau [luceri...@gmail.com] Sent: 01 January 2015 12:40 AM To: softimage@listproc.autodesk.com Subject: Re: semi OT : running SI on a Macbook Pro I've been using a macbook pro for three years, although mostly in OSX mode obviously. You can go ask a friend with one and check it out before paying 2,500$ if running the screen in 1.5 scaling works for you.I've suggested using an external monitor instead. On Wed, Dec 31, 2014 at 4:35 PM, Jason S jasonsta...@gmail.com wrote: There is a hack you can do make Windows 8.1 scale up an application, it's described here http://www.danantonielli.com/adobe-app-scaling-on-high-dpi-displays-fix/ your'e referring to using windows in High DPI but.. You would never turn down the screen resolution of the retina display for graphics work, the display will be blurry. ... I've seen both 1600x900 and 1920x1080 on (3k) retina displays, and although they aren't as extra crisp as retina, they are hardly blurry or distiguishable from displays that are natively in these rez (or hardly an issue) It's fine if you're just going to use XSI sometimes with the intent of eventually giving up on windows [and XSI?] over time. Imagine if Microsoft baught Mac (~10% (of desk/lap-top) share, or roughly former Maya/XSI proportions) I for one would not be -for- elimination of innovative products, even if by then, innovation would have greatly slowed if not essentially ceased. = table width=100% border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style=width:100%; tr td align=left style=text-align:justify;font face=arial,sans-serif size=1 color=#99span style=font-size:11px;This communication is intended for the addressee only. It is confidential. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately and destroy the original message. You may not copy or disseminate this communication without the permission of the University. Only authorised signatories are competent to enter into agreements on behalf of the University and recipients are thus advised that the content of this message may not be legally binding on the University and may contain the personal views and opinions of the author, which are not necessarily the views and opinions of The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All agreements between the University and outsiders are subject to South African Law unless the University agrees in writing to the contrary. /span/font/td /tr /table
