Blender to Crystal

[HyperReal]

The tutorial

Author: HyperReal
Date: November/08/08

Blender2Crystal
Setup Tutorial(Windows)
*IMPORTANT: Be sure to do this as administrator.

Requirements:
(Install the following)
http://download.blender.org/release/Blender2.48a/blender-2.48a-windows.exe (Blender v.2.48a)
http://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.5.1/python-2.5.1.msi (Python-2.5.1)
http://b2cs.delcorp.org/files/PyXML-0.8.4.win32-py2.5.exe (PyXML)
http://effbot.org/downloads/PIL-1.1.6.win32-py2.5.exe (Python Image Library)
http://b2cs.delcorp.org/files/blender2crystal-0.6.0.zip (Blender2Crystal)
http://b2cs.delcorp.org/files/pycelstart-7.8.zip (CELStart)

*Note: If you are using Windows XP/2k, when installing Blender, be sure to use the installation directory, and not the Application Data directory. 

Extract:
Extract everything in the Blender2Crystal.zip file under the scripts directory. Usually, under Windows, your scripts directory will be here:

C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\.blender\scripts

If you can not find the *\.blender\scripts, it's because when you installed Blender v.2.48a, you placed these files under Application Data.  To make things less complicated, reinstall Blender v2.48a, and be sure to use the installation directory.  

Extract the PyCelStart.zip file anywhere on your computer.  But, remember exactly where you put it.  For demonstrational purposes, place it on your Desktop.  Inside your pycelstart7.8 folder, it should look like this:

Notice the “cel”, and the “cs” directories within the pycelstart7.8 folder?  Well, you're going to need to set Environment Variables to point at these directories, and I'm going to show you how to do this.  

Under the “TaskBar”, click “Start”.  Then open your Control Panel:

 Now, find “System”, and open it:

Under “System”, find “Advanced system settings” and click it:

       Under “Advanced system settings”, which will actually be called “System Properties” once you've opened it, look for “Environment Variables...” then click it:  

Finally, we will create our two Environment variables that will point to the cel directory, and the cs directory. Be sure that you’re running as administrator, because Windows XP does not have Environmental Variables for Limited users. You’re also going to want to follow these steps very carefully.

Under “Environment Variables....”, click “New...” so that we can add some Environment Variables:

After clicking “New…” a window will pop up called “New User Variable”. It will prompt you for “Variable name :”, and “Variable value:”. Under “Variable name :”, type in CEL. Under “Variable value:”, type in the exact location the cel directory is located. For example, mine was located at C:\Users\Edward\Desktop\pycelstart7.8\cel. To find the location of the cel directory, go to your desktop, open pycelstart7.8 directory, then right mouse button click it, then click on “Properties”. Under “Properties”, you’ll find information regarding it’s location:

Now, add another “New...” Environment Variable, except this time, under “Variable name:” type in CRYSTAL, and under “Variable value:” type in the exact location of the cs directory.  Mine was “C:\Users\Edward\Desktop\pycelstart7.8\cs” for example.  

After completing that, you're finished with Environment Variables.  So you can exit absolutely everything out besides this tutorial.  But!  We're still not finished.  


Load Blender, and change the Window Type to Scripts Window.  Then click “Scripts” in the Scripts Window, then click Export, and finally you should see “Crystal Space.  Click it. Hurray!  If you don't see Crystal Space, you've done something wrong.  Now under the Blender Buttons Window, in “Scripts”, make sure to have “Enable Script Links” is enabled.  Now, middle button click the side of the Scripts Window,  and do a Split Area.  In you're new area, make the Window Type 3D View.  Now, in you're 3D view, you should see a Blender2Crystal Overlay.  Have fun. :)

Regards,
H Y P E R R E A L

[FunkyWyrm]

Hiya. The Blender2Crystal script is notoriously difficult to get up and running, but I did manage to do it some time ago. Can’t remember the details though, make sure you read all relevant information concerning B2CS, CEL and CS and it shouldn’t be too bad.

The Blender scripts directory is in the folder “.blender” in the Blender directory. On my computer (also using Vista) it’s at the address “C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender.blender\scripts”

[HyperReal]

For some reason, my address is completely different that of yours. Mine views as C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\ stuff. No .blender\scripts… What version of Blender are you using? Anyone else familiar with the Blender2Crystal script?

[Alex_ADEdge]

Ah, you cant find the scripts folder? Im assuming thats that problem.

With the more recent versions of Blender the .scripts folder has been installed elsewhere as a default, which is annoying.

So you have 2 options:
(1) Find the .scripts folder, im not sure where it would be, perhaps in the application data folder elsewhere on your hard drive?

(2) Reinstall Blender and select the appropriate setting (shown in the pic below) Then the .scripts folder will be where u need it to be. Ive managed to get Blender2Crystal working before, its not to hard if you follow that tutorial, its a good one.

[HyperReal]

@Alex_ADEdge

Ah, you cant find the scripts folder? Im assuming thats that problem.

With the more recent versions of Blender the .scripts folder has been installed elsewhere as a default, which is annoying.

So you have 2 options:
(1) Find the .scripts folder, im not sure where it would be, perhaps in the application data folder elsewhere on your hard drive?

(2) Reinstall Blender and select the appropriate setting (shown in the pic below) Then the .scripts folder will be where u need it to be. Ive managed to get Blender2Crystal working before, its not to hard if you follow that tutorial, its a good one.

Thank you sooo… very much AD-Edge Where have I heard that before? Youtube channel? YES! It must be! You have a youtube channel right?

Edit: But oh NO! A newwww problem… for some reason, I can’f find the environmental variables for Crystal Space or Cel…

[matro]

I would love it if someone could explain how to get this working as I tried but got nowhere.

[HyperReal]

Welp, I figured it out I got the plug-in to work finally…

[matro]

Grats HyperReal, Can you explain how you got it working and I will try again.

[Alex_ADEdge]

@HyperReal

Thank you sooo… very much AD-Edge Where have I heard that before? Youtube channel? YES! It must be! You have a youtube channel right?

No problem! I do have a youtube channel, but i haven’t mentioned this stuff on it. I think there was a thread floating around about the problem a while back though.

Good to hear you got it working overall as well. It certainly takes a bit of work to get it going.

[HyperReal]

Note: I will be making a more in depth tutorial on how to set it up.

[FunkyWyrm]

Nice one, HyperReal

I didn’t know that the .scripts folder had changed position, so that should be helpful to me if I ever install Blender. (I usually just unzip a build to a handy location).

I look forward to your tutorial since the one posted on the B2CS site is probably a little out of date now, and there were a few steps that were skimmed over or incomplete. I’m hoping that the YoFrankie DVD has some useful tips on how to use the B2CS plugin since CS has some useful features for optimization of games (such as polygon culling, polygon masking etc.) that the BGE doesn’t have, though the recent improvements are excellent.

[HyperReal]

The tutorial

Author: HyperReal
Date: November/08/08

Blender2Crystal
Setup Tutorial(Windows)
*IMPORTANT: Be sure to do this as administrator.

Requirements:
(Install the following)
http://download.blender.org/release/Blender2.48a/blender-2.48a-windows.exe (Blender v.2.48a)
http://www.python.org/ftp/python/2.5.1/python-2.5.1.msi (Python-2.5.1)
http://b2cs.delcorp.org/files/PyXML-0.8.4.win32-py2.5.exe (PyXML)
http://effbot.org/downloads/PIL-1.1.6.win32-py2.5.exe (Python Image Library)
http://b2cs.delcorp.org/files/blender2crystal-0.6.0.zip (Blender2Crystal)
http://b2cs.delcorp.org/files/pycelstart-7.8.zip (CELStart)

*Note: If you are using Windows XP/2k, when installing Blender, be sure to use the installation directory, and not the Application Data directory. 

Extract:
Extract everything in the Blender2Crystal.zip file under the scripts directory. Usually, under Windows, your scripts directory will be here:

C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\.blender\scripts

If you can not find the *\.blender\scripts, it's because when you installed Blender v.2.48a, you placed these files under Application Data.  To make things less complicated, reinstall Blender v2.48a, and be sure to use the installation directory.  

Extract the PyCelStart.zip file anywhere on your computer.  But, remember exactly where you put it.  For demonstrational purposes, place it on your Desktop.  Inside your pycelstart7.8 folder, it should look like this:

Notice the “cel”, and the “cs” directories within the pycelstart7.8 folder?  Well, you're going to need to set Environment Variables to point at these directories, and I'm going to show you how to do this.  

Under the “TaskBar”, click “Start”.  Then open your Control Panel:

 Now, find “System”, and open it:

Under “System”, find “Advanced system settings” and click it:

       Under “Advanced system settings”, which will actually be called “System Properties” once you've opened it, look for “Environment Variables...” then click it:  

Finally, we will create our two Environment variables that will point to the cel directory, and the cs directory. Be sure that you’re running as administrator, because Windows XP does not have Environmental Variables for Limited users. You’re also going to want to follow these steps very carefully.

Under “Environment Variables....”, click “New...” so that we can add some Environment Variables:

After clicking “New…” a window will pop up called “New User Variable”. It will prompt you for “Variable name :”, and “Variable value:”. Under “Variable name :”, type in CEL. Under “Variable value:”, type in the exact location the cel directory is located. For example, mine was located at C:\Users\Edward\Desktop\pycelstart7.8\cel. To find the location of the cel directory, go to your desktop, open pycelstart7.8 directory, then right mouse button click it, then click on “Properties”. Under “Properties”, you’ll find information regarding it’s location:

Now, add another “New...” Environment Variable, except this time, under “Variable name:” type in CRYSTAL, and under “Variable value:” type in the exact location of the cs directory.  Mine was “C:\Users\Edward\Desktop\pycelstart7.8\cs” for example.  

After completing that, you're finished with Environment Variables.  So you can exit absolutely everything out besides this tutorial.  But!  We're still not finished.  


Load Blender, and change the Window Type to Scripts Window.  Then click “Scripts” in the Scripts Window, then click Export, and finally you should see “Crystal Space.  Click it. Hurray!  If you don't see Crystal Space, you've done something wrong.  Now under the Blender Buttons Window, in “Scripts”, make sure to have “Enable Script Links” is enabled.  Now, middle button click the side of the Scripts Window,  and do a Split Area.  In you're new area, make the Window Type 3D View.  Now, in you're 3D view, you should see a Blender2Crystal Overlay.  Have fun. :)

Regards,
H Y P E R R E A L