Argh!!! help please.

[SimSchnaps]

Okay, so I created a sofa and figured out a way for SimPE to accept my Lightwave created obj file by converting it w/ another 3d software.  Great!

I go through the tutorial "The Sims 2 Start to Finish" and get all the way through.  Now, when I check in game, the object isn't complete...only the bottom cushions show up.  That's cool, except the frame and the rear cushions of the couch aren't there.  I have no idea what I've done wrong here...I'm making progress though.

Any ideas?

[marvine]

I don't know much about other software than Milkshape, still it would be interesting to know wich one you used to convert the obj file.
Mmm just a thought: are all your groups listed and showing up in the SimPE preview after the import?

[SimSchnaps]

Well, that might be part of the problem.  I'm not sure how lightwave does groups.  Lightwave works on layers, much like Photoshop.  So, I would assume that condensing all layers into one in Lightwave would be like "grouping" in other programs.

The program I used to get the obj into SimPE was DAZ Studio (free from Daz3d.com).  

My head is spinning here.  I want to create things that everyone can use and enjoy, and I feel that I am capable of doing so.  But I'm battling several things at once...new software (lightwave), simpe, and obj importing issues.  I'm close to giving up, but I'm not there yet.

[marvine]

I did a little search, and DAZ Studio is never mentioned as able to convert Lightwave obj files to something fully compatible with SimPE; I'm even surprised that you got a part of your mesh to show in game! It seems that the best tool for that would - again - be Milkshape; at least some people successfully use Lightwave and Milkshape in combination (for static objects only, of course).

Still, you don't tell me exactly how the groups show up in SimPE; if there's an issue with the naming and order, the texture files won't recognize them - which would be enough to explain that some parts don't show up in game.