Introduction

MeQanno enables you to construct models (guns, power-ups, monsters, etc.) for Quake on the Mac. It is not strictly a 3d modelling program, rather it allows you to assemble 3d objects (built in other applications) into Quake .mdl files.

It is best used in conjunction with Meshwork, a lightweight (and inexpensive) 3d modelling application by Joe Strout, or with a 3d modelling application that can produce compatible DXF files (Stratavision, Form¥z, Hash, etc.)

You will also need a means of accessing the models within Quake's PAK files (pak0.pak and pak1.pak), either Visage by Mark Enlow, or my own DePacker will do the job.

This reference is in three sections:

1. This introduction.
2. An overview of meQanno's controls and functions.
3. Building simple items.

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meQanno's controls and functions

The Menus (from left to right):

• Apple Menu
  • About meQanno

  A simple window about meQanno and Meshwork. Click it to dismiss it.

   

  • Register

  Enter the name and code from your registration confirmation e-mail here to register meQanno, which enables the export of multiple frame models and removes the registration reminder notices.

   

• File Menu
  • Open Model (.mdl)

  Opens a Quake .mdl file. Importing a model opens a model window, and a tool box.

   

  • Save Model

  Saves the model currently being edited as a Quake.mdl file.

   

  • Save Model As...

  Saves the model with Navigation Services.

   

  • Revert

  Throws away changes you have made and opens the most recently saved version of the model file.

   

  • Import DXF Model

  Opens a DXF format 3d file, and converts the contents to a Quake .mdl file. MeQanno's DXF import can translate objects stored as flat 3DFACE or POLYLINE (polymesh) objects. Most 3d apps can export in this format.

   

  • Import Meshwork Model

  Opens a Meshwork format 3d file, and converts the contents to a Quake .mdl file, Meshwork v1.5.2 poses are converted directly into animation frames, however MeQanno only uses the structure data from the Meshwork file, not any skin data.

   

  • Export Frame as DXF

  Creates a DXF format file (using flat 3DFACE entities) from the current animation frame of the current model.

   

  • Export Frame as Meshwork

  Creates a Meshwork format file from the current animation frame of the current model.

   

  • Import Single Frame (Meshwork)

  Opens a Meshwork format file and applies the vertex data within it to the current frame of your model. In order to do so, the Meshwork file must have the same number of vertices and triangles as the model currently being edited.

   

  • Import Multiple Frames (Meshwork)

  This enables you to import entire animations from Meshwork.

  You are asked to open a Meshwork file as above, but meQanno will go on to open any other Meshwork files it finds within the same folder. If a file's name matches the name of a frame within your model, then the data is imported to that frame. If the file name doesn't match a frame within your model, then a new frame is created.

  To reorder the animation frames after import you should use the Frame Browser.

  • Export All Frames (Meshwork)

  Effectively the reverse of the above. This exports all the frames of your model as individual meshwork files to the selected folder.

   

  • Close

  Closes the current window, if this is a model window and you have made changes to the model then you'll be prompted to save the model.

   

  • Quit

  Quits meQanno.

   

• Edit Menu
  • Undo

  May allow you to undo a recent change made to your model. Some functions do not permit the use of Undo.

   

  • Select All

  In the Frame Browser - selects all the available frames.

   

  • Select None

  In the Model Window - deselects all objects.

  In the Frame Browser - deselects all frames.

  • Cut

  In the Model Window - removes the currently selected object from the model. This is applied across all the model's frames. MeQanno's clipboard keeps a copy of the object.

  If you wish an object to only appear in certain frames it should be hidden from view in other frames by being shrunk and placed within a larger object, or, in the case of weapon view models, placed behind the player's viewpoint.

   

  In the Frame Browser - removes the selected frames from the model. A copy of the removed frames is kept in meQanno's clipboard.

   

  • Copy

  Makes a copy of the selected object (or frames in the Frame Browser) to meQanno's clipboard.

   

  • Paste

  In the Model Window - If meQanno's clipboard contains an object, this pastes it into the model.

  Note that you can copy and paste objects between models, and this enables you to reuse objects like the player's arm from the v_axe model in your own creations.

  In the Frame Browser - this pastes the frames from the clipboard into the model, replacing any frames that are selected.

  • Clear

  In the Model Window - Removes the selected object from the model, but does not make a copy of the object to the clipboard. Clear may be Undone.

  In the Frame Browser - Removes the selected frames without making a copy in meQanno's clipboard.

   

  • Preferences

  Opens the Preferences Window which is used to set the minimum and maximum sizes