so I've looked around the forums and what not and I've seen alot of threads asking how to do something in zmodeler or how to fix something

so instead of seeing dozens of help threads around content modifications and support we can just bundle them all here.

this will be the thread you go to if you need help with something in zmodeler, whether is be els, importing stuff or what ever.

this threads main purpose is to help zmodelers who just starting out or just need some guidance on something.

i will also try to update the original post as much as i can with answers to common question so that they don't arise multiple times and people dont have to search through pages of answers and questions to find what they're looking for.

Surely it's not official unless LCPDFR/Zmodeler themselves say so......

Good idea though, I'll probably be here often.

How do you add wig wags and things of that nature?

How do you add wig wags and things of that nature?

I can help you with that via PM.

However, my question is:

How do you add mutliple light bars? Like how do you combine them together before moving them into the chassis?

I may make some videos on creating wig-wags.

I can help you with that via PM.

However, my question is:

How do you add mutliple light bars? Like how do you combine them together before moving them into the chassis?

What I do is I import the lightbar, and move it into place...making sure i include the COL/FRAME/ELS lights in the move....then once you start putting things in place, attach them afterwards. I place my first lightbar then I use the frame of the lightbar, and attach everything that isnt going to light up..for instance...my laptop, pushbar, radar, watchguard...etc..frames for my box's that I create. I attach them as I place them into position. Move them one at a time, then attach them later. Your Hiarchey might be long, but I prefer that. Hope this helped!

Edited November 11, 201213 yr by VooDoobie_Studios

I feel like such a bug, How do you move a lightbar?

I feel like such a bug, How do you move a lightbar?

Modify>Move

Once you have the tool selected and on then select the axis you wish to move it on by simply clicking on it; X=sideways, Y=upwards/downwards, Z=opposite direction of view(don't use this one).

Also, if you're dragging over and selecting the objects then make sure your selected button is highlighted in orange(meaning its activated) in the right hand bottom corner. If this isn't activated then it will only move the object you're clicking on. You may also want to ensure all your LODs(Level of detail (L0, L1, L2)) is all ticked along with the COL parts too, this will ensure that you move the whole lightbar.

Edited November 11, 201213 yr by KevinDV

Modify>Move

Once you have the tool selected and on then select the axis you wish to move it on by simply clicking on it; X=sideways, Y=upwards/downwards, Z=opposite direction of view(don't use this one).

Also, if you're dragging over and selecting the objects then make sure your selected button is highlighted in orange(meaning its activated) in the right hand bottom corner. If this isn't activated then it will only move the object you're clicking on. You may also want to ensure all your LODs(Level of detail (L0, L1, L2)) is all ticked along with the COL parts too, this will ensure that you move the whole lightbar.

Thank You So Much!

Modify>Move

Once you have the tool selected and on then select the axis you wish to move it on by simply clicking on it; X=sideways, Y=upwards/downwards, Z=opposite direction of view(don't use this one).

Also, if you're dragging over and selecting the objects then make sure your selected button is highlighted in orange(meaning its activated) in the right hand bottom corner. If this isn't activated then it will only move the object you're clicking on. You may also want to ensure all your LODs(Level of detail (L0, L1, L2)) is all ticked along with the COL parts too, this will ensure that you move the whole lightbar.

Ticked in the hierarchy?

Also, how do you mere the two lightbar files into one before moving it into the vehicle chassis

Ticked in the hierarchy?

Also, how do you mere the two lightbar files into one before moving it into the vehicle chassis

Yes, in the hiarchy.

To merge two lightbars into one part simply delete both of the lightbars' L1 and L2 parts whilst keeping the L0 of both, then proceed to the modify tab and select the attach tool, once selected click on one lightbar and then the other lightbar and then should be merged into one part. After this process you can make 2 copies of your new merged part and rename them to L1 and L2 again.

Ensure your selected mode is not activated during this whole procedure.

Yes, in the hiarchy.

To merge two lightbars into one part simply delete both of the lightbars' L1 and L2 parts whilst keeping the L0 of both, then proceed to the modify tab and select the attach tool, once selected click on one lightbar and then the other lightbar and then should be merged into one part. After this process you can make 2 copies of your new merged part and rename them to L1 and L2 again.

Ensure your selected mode is not activated during this whole procedure.

Wait, all i want to do it merge them into a single file. I dont want to attach them together. But do i do with like the head and tail lights where I attach them to like extra1 on the original light bar?

WHAT DO I DO WITH ALL THE EXTRAS IN THE SECOND LIGHTBAR? When I delete them, all of the cells go away :(

Thanks

What I do is I import the lightbar, and move it into place...making sure i include the COL/FRAME/ELS lights in the move....then once you start putting things in place, attach them afterwards. I place my first lightbar then I use the frame of the lightbar, and attach everything that isnt going to light up..for instance...my laptop, pushbar, radar, watchguard...etc..frames for my box's that I create. I attach them as I place them into position. Move them one at a time, then attach them later. Your Hiarchey might be long, but I prefer that. Hope this helped!

Also, where in the hierarchy does the laptop, whelen siren box thingy, and camera go?

EDIT: MOVED LIGHTBAR. JUST NEED HELP WITH MERGING

Edited November 11, 201213 yr by Beckugan1

I exported my file and when I go into Open IV, its all white including the lightbar, and it crashes my game. What happened? Thanks

Edited November 11, 201213 yr by Michael V.

Does anybody know of a tutorial that covers the very basics of Zmodeler and editing cars? If so, please link me to it!

Does anybody know of a tutorial that covers the very basics of Zmodeler and editing cars? If so, please link me to it!

http://www.lcpdfr.com/page/tutorials/index.action/_/vehicle-modification-tutorial/basics-of-adding-materials-importing-models-correct-hierarchy-and-exporting-in-zmodeler-r25

Yo Dawg, I heard you like Z-Modeler problems...

So, I made my car and it works rather bad. First of all, I get these random screen glitches with huge silver things(I don't know how to explain it). Here is another problem:

I didn't even touch the wheels. I don't know why its doing this.

Wait, all i want to do it merge them into a single file. I dont want to attach them together. But do i do with like the head and tail lights where I attach them to like extra1 on the original light bar?

WHAT DO I DO WITH ALL THE EXTRAS IN THE SECOND LIGHTBAR? When I delete them, all of the cells go away :(

Thanks

Also, where in the hierarchy does the laptop, whelen siren box thingy, and camera go?

EDIT: MOVED LIGHTBAR. JUST NEED HELP WITH MERGING

My apologies. Ill take the vehicle im working on and import all of the police parts into the vehicle im currently working on. Everything thing that your going to add can be IMPORTED via File->Import. Make sure when you import ANYTHING that the textures for whatever your importing are added to the texture browser (little cactus).

Most of the extras that you see are dummys. In instances for adding 2 or might lightbars that have the extras set up, as I mentioned before, un link all of the extras, delete the dummy's that you DON'T need, and then attach them to the 1st lightbars extra1 , 2 ,3 ,4 etc. Your extras are set up as so...extra_1 ->extra_1_L0 and extra_1_L1. the extra_1 is going to do nothing when you un check it because its a dummy. The L1 is a copy, that you can delete(if its the second light bar) Work on trying to import just one lightbar for now. Try getting in correctly, and correclty unlinked. Once you do so, and understand how to import it and move it, then you can work on adding another.

My apologies. Ill take the vehicle im working on and import all of the police parts into the vehicle im currently working on. Everything thing that your going to add can be IMPORTED via File->Import. Make sure when you import ANYTHING that the textures for whatever your importing are added to the texture browser (little cactus).

Most of the extras that you see are dummys. In instances for adding 2 or might lightbars that have the extras set up, as I mentioned before, un link all of the extras, delete the dummy's that you DON'T need, and then attach them to the 1st lightbars extra1 , 2 ,3 ,4 etc. Your extras are set up as so...extra_1 ->extra_1_L0 and extra_1_L1. the extra_1 is going to do nothing when you un check it because its a dummy. The L1 is a copy, that you can delete(if its the second light bar) Work on trying to import just one lightbar for now. Try getting in correctly, and correclty unlinked. Once you do so, and understand how to import it and move it, then you can work on adding another.

Okay thanks.

I am going to focus on perfecting the attaching tool and wig wags.

When I finish that and want to try and better understand multi-lightbars, can I just PM you??

My problem is that while mapping a vehicle, if I want to pause the project and close zmod, it says Zmod has stopped working twice. Its not causing any serious issues, but its annoying. Actually it happens always if I try to close zmod with UV Mapper window open in any of the viewports.

How do you successfully launch the UV mapper so I can map the avenger lights?????????????????