i-drop Enhancer Extension Developer

[#1]

i am working on a database driven i-drop library with primarily 3dsmax files as the i-drop assets...

my question is there any way to archive/bundle the texture maps into a .zip or .mzp file as the i-drop datasrc and have the textures come along nicely with the .max file?

I've read the Autodesk Viz tutorial which mentions using textures in the i-drop models:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=1869802
but nowhere can I see info on how to deliver the textures in the drop process...

any help greatly appreciated!!

[#2]

I create a website with i-drop that was created from the database driven.

What I did was I create a Java class that read the Database file and create HTML and XML file for i-drop of each drawing.

You can visit my website http://www.students.yorku.ca/~yu859sem

If this helps, let me know

Regards

Sem

[#3]

thanks Sem but that isnt really my question...
i have the database driven stuff working fine...

its how to get i-drop to drop/merge the .max file and textures nicely into 3dsmax...the documentation @ Autodesk alludes to textures being used but I cant see anywhere specifics on how to implement this (

[#4]

OK!

Since I am good on i-drop, can you send your XML file and then I can figure out where the problem is.

You can post the XML file or send to my e-mail address.

Regards

Sem

[#5]

thanks Sem.

i'm a little unclear as to how editing the XML will help me in this case? i.e. I am looking to deliver texture maps with a .max file in an i-drop package...and what the procedure is for this...

i have tried zipping up the .max file and texture maps using the 3dsmax archive command...this works to a point...
the .zip file has to be renamed to .mzp [3dsmax script archive format]

when you i-drop [or drag'n drop] the .mzp, max downloads the .max and textures into a windows temp directory if you choose 'open the file'.

this is ok but not ideal...the ideal workflow is to 'Merge the File' into the current open file but the problem is the textures do not come with the geometry from a .mzp merge [frustrating]...

I am wondering if its possible to deliver textures with the .max file via i-drop when one wants to merge...

what is the workflow?
the developer docs allude to viz files and textures being i-dropped but i cant see any specifics on how...