Unexpected Filename from diffuseMap

[Anonymous]

I can't figure out where this filename is coming from in my output.
My scene has 2 materials. both have the diffuse channel mapped to an actual .dds file and should have readbale names in the output.

My script is saying the filename is {E39FE6C3-ABE1-40B6-AE4C-55F092CB08C9}, which looks more like a registry key than a filename! 😛

Anyone have suggestions on how that output is showing up?

The same script works on other scenes I have, but I don't see that value anywhere in the actual scene. I have one object - an asteroid. I have assigned my material to it several times to be sure, and that material has diffuse mapped to a .dds file.

Here is the material export part of my script:

global MATERIAL_START       = 0

-- Material type bytes
global STANDARD_MATERIAL    = 0 

-- Shader Types
global MAX_ANISOTROPIC      = 0
global MAX_BLINN            = 1
global MAX_METAL            = 2
global MAX_MULTILAYER       = 3
global MAX_OREN_NAYAR_BLINN = 4 
global MAX_PHONG            = 5
global MAX_STRAUSS          = 6
global MAX_TRANSLUCENT      = 7

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- ExportMaterial
-- 
-- @param rootMaterial - The root material to be written out to file
-- @param outFile         - The opened binary file to write to
--
-- @throws error message string, if there was an error
   
fn ExportMaterial rootMaterial binFile =
(
   format "   Exporting Material...\n"
   format "   {\n"

   writeByte binFile MATERIAL_START #unsigned
   format "      Material Start Marker\n"
   format "      Wrote Byte: %\n\n" MATERIAL_START

   -- Standard Material
 if classOf rootMaterial == standardMaterial then
   (
      writeByte binFile STANDARD_MATERIAL #unsigned
      format "      Standard Material Type\n"
      format "      Wrote Byte: %\n\n" STANDARD_MATERIAL
      
      if rootMaterial.shaderType == MAX_BLINN then
      (
         writeByte binFile MAX_BLINN #unsigned
         format "      Blinn Shader Type\n"
         format "      Wrote Byte: %\n\n" MAX_BLINN
      )
      else
      (
         throw "Unsupported shader type used"
      )
      
      -- Ambient
      if rootMaterial.ambientMapEnable == true then
      (
         writeByte binFile 1 #unsigned
         format "      Ambient Color Mapped\n"
         format "      Wrote Byte: %\n\n" 1
         
         texMap = rootMaterial.ambientMap
         if classOf texMap == BitmapTexture then
         (
            writeString binFile (filenameFromPath texMap.filename)
            format "      Ambient Color Filename\n"
            format "      Wrote String: %\n\n" (filenameFromPath texMap.filename)
         )
         else
         (
            throw "One or more materials mapped ambient to something other than a bitmap, which is not supported"
         )
      )
      else
      (
         writeByte binFile 0 #unsigned
         format "      Ambient Color Not Mapped\n"
         format "      Wrote Byte: %\n\n" 0
         
         writeFloat binFile (rootMaterial.ambient.r / 255.0)
         writeFloat binFile (rootMaterial.ambient.g / 255.0)
         writeFloat binFile (rootMaterial.ambient.b / 255.0)
         writeFloat binFile (rootMaterial.ambient.a / 255.0)
         format "      Ambient Color RGBA\n"
         format "      Wrote 4 Floats: "
         format "% " (rootMaterial.ambient.r / 255.0)
         format "% " (rootMaterial.ambient.g / 255.0)
         format "% " (rootMaterial.ambient.b / 255.0)
         format "% \n\n" (rootMaterial.ambient.a / 255.0)
      )
      
      -- Diffuse
      if rootMaterial.diffuseMapEnable == true then
      (
         writeByte binFile 1 #unsigned
         format "      Diffuse Color Mapped\n"
         format "      Wrote Byte: %\n\n" 1
         
         texMap = rootMaterial.diffuseMap
         if classOf texMap == BitmapTexture then
         (
            writeString binFile (filenameFromPath texMap.filename)
            format "      Diffuse Color Filename\n"
            format "      Wrote String: %\n\n" (filenameFromPath texMap.filename)
         )
         else
         (
            throw "One or more materials mapped diffuse to something other than a bitmap, which is not supported"
         )
      )
      else
      (
         writeByte binFile 0 #unsigned
         format "      Diffuse Color Not Mapped\n"
         format "      Wrote Byte: %\n\n" 0
         
         writeFloat binFile (rootMaterial.diffuse.r / 255.0)
         writeFloat binFile (rootMaterial.diffuse.g / 255.0)
         writeFloat binFile (rootMaterial.diffuse.b / 255.0)
         writeFloat binFile (rootMaterial.diffuse.a / 255.0)
         format "      Diffuse Color RGBA\n"
         format "      Wrote 4 Floats: "
         format "% " (rootMaterial.diffuse.r / 255.0)
         format "% " (rootMaterial.diffuse.g / 255.0)
         format "% " (rootMaterial.diffuse.b / 255.0)
         format "% \n\n" (rootMaterial.diffuse.a / 255.0)
      )
   )
   else
   (
      throw "Unsupported material type used"
   )
   
   format "   }\n\n"
)

EDIT:
I checked the name property of the material and it is indeed the correct material. The diffuse channel is mapped to "C:\users\cpisz.HOMENETWORK\documents\graphics\asteroid\asteroid02_diffuse.dds"

I am stupified.

[Steve_Curley]

It's a GUID - globally unique identifier. Wikipedia: guid
Often used in registry keys, but also used for many other things such as ClassIDs - you'll find some in the MXS help, especially in the SuperClasses sections.

What on earth one is doing in your filename I'm really not sure.

Ahh - I knew this had come up before.
See http://area.autodesk.com/forum/autodesk-3ds-max/maxscript/filenamefrompath-in-max-2010-does-somethin...

[Anonymous]

The link you gave is 404 :(

EDIT: Chopped the link, it looks like it got part of the url twice. Found the thread and it worked. TY.

I hope Autodesk is aware of this bug and plans a fix?

[Steve_Curley]

No idea what happened there - I re-inserted the link (having tried it manually) and it broke again - who knows...
Got rid of the URL tags and it now seems to work.

Glad you found it, and yes - bit of a problem that, if you're on x64.

It has been reported, of that I'm certain. How far up the to-do list it is I couldn't say.

You can report it as well - Defect Report Submission Form. The more reports they get the more chance there is of it being fixed.