[back]IMvu developer hints & tips - using Blender 3D

Contents ^

• IMvu Previewer tool bugs and work around's
  • Clearing file cache from IMvu's Messenger Window
  • Manually clearing IMvu's temporary file cache
• Troubleshooting Blender 3D CAL3D (*.xmf, *.xsf, *.xrf & *.xaf) exporting

Previewer tool and work around's ^

In the course of developing content numerous versions of a file will be generated which once submitted will need to be cleaned out of the IMvu chat clients temporary files cache - these are files that are downloaded from the IMvu product server on the Internet and stored locally in a temporary folder within one of IMvu's set-up directories.

This needs to done periodically when working because the actual chat client doesn't always automatically refresh it's contents with new versions of the working files; adding a new mesh section and then upload the file to the product directory for 'live' viewing may not actually show when previewed. Forcing a clean/refresh will solve this, although it does mean that everything related to using the chat client may be reset back to the defaults so you may have to set-up your outfits agains and so on.

There are two ways to do this;

• From the IMvu Messenger window
• Manually deleting files

Clearing cache from IMvu Messenger Window ^

A word of warning before doing this; using Clear IMvu cache like this will clear all temporary files from the local Messenger client, meaning that when you next log on it'll need to re-download all the pertinent files used for content to show when you chat with other people wearing/using custom content (clothes, items and scenes etc.).

You do not loose or delete anything account related because the IMvu product servers hold the original copies of the data associated with your account, all you're doing is deleting and refreshing your local copy.

As shown in the image above from the IMvu Messenger window (the 'buddy list' window) click on;

• Help > Tools > Clear IMvu cache

Once done exit from and then restart IMvu.

Manually clearing IMvu's temporary file cache ^

If you don't want to delete all the temp files then it is possible to remove specific files associated with the project being worked on. This may not be as 'fool proof' as the method above because IMvu saves product data references in a number of locations which is why it needs to be shut down before doing this operation otherwise the 'old' data held in memory will mean the forced refresh won't happen properly.

The first thing to try is a simple deletion of the product file itself. If IMvu is active and running then exit and close it down (otherwise the program may crash or lock up your computer).

Temporary file cache is;

• C:\Documents and Settings\[your 'profile' name]\Application Data\IMVU\products\

All products used and downloaded by the chat client are saved to the above folder so all that needs to be done it to track down the specific file by its product number, deleting it and the pickle files above will force IMvu to properly update the necessary files. If that doesn't work and the client is still not updating then a further 'force' is required by way of removing the various files that tell the client what's actually loaded into it. These are found in;

• C:\Documents and Settings\[your 'profile' name]\Application Data\IMVU\

Either rename the "*.pickle" files to "*.OLD", or delete them; the following files need to be removed specifically;

• productAuth.pickle
• productCflChecksum.pickle
• inventoryProduct.pickle
• myInventory.pickle
• inventoryCatgories.pickle

Troubleshooting Blender 3D CAL3D Exporting ^

Look out for the following

• Bone names are case sensitive so make sure you parent bones together using the correct spelling;

  • "Skeleton.Scene > Bone1" is not the same as "skeleton.scene > bone1"

• The Armature name can be anything but it's best to call it something clear for reference

• Meshes and other objects need to be Parented to the Armature not the bone;

• Mesh1 > Armature1 is correct
  Mesh1 > bone1 > Armature1 is not

• Vertex groups applied to a mesh need to be 'weighted' to the Skeleton.Scene (or a specific) bone of the scenes Armature (names are case sensitive);

• vertexgroup1 > bone1 > armature1 is correct
  vertexgroup1 > armature1 is not.

• Use Python 2.32 or lower (so as to 'match' Blender 2.36) or 'unlink' Python system variable (if installed) to force Blender to use internal it's modules.

• After updating or amending the mesh, if it disappears when being parented back to the files original Skeleton.Scene armature, version save the current WIP (so you don't loose the new mesh tweaks you've just done), close Blender and then restart the application (to make sure any old data is cleared from memory). Reload the working file just saved and delete the old armature that's still in the file. Add a new one and then re-parent the amended mesh to that (some corruption may occur during mesh updates that mean when parenting to the files original armature it breaks the file).

Error messages

• A vertex of object '[named export item]' has no influences.
  (This occurs on objects placed in an invisible layer, you can fix it by using a single layer)

  Above error usually means that one or more vertexes from a vertex group applied to a mesh object has not been weighted to a bone in the Armature.