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Script

Populate:Terrain

By Populate3d · Credited author: Marc Lorenz · 2011-09-07

Version
1.8
Version requirement
3ds Max 2010 or higher.
Date updated
2012-03-23
Votes
40
Homepage
http://populate3d.com
Download
Download
Description

Populate:Terrain assists in creating and optimizing terrain surfaces from contour lines or from existing meshes. The quad based output allows for easier later remodeling, for example using push/pull painting. The regular face size reduces rendering issues (GI, displacement) and you can use Turbosmooth on it.

Populate:Terrain is a scripted plugin for Autodesk 3ds max. It assists in creating and optimizing terrain surfaces for architectural visualization applications. Populate:Terrain fixes imported meshed CAD models or directly converts contour lines. The result is a clean quad based poly surface with user definable grid size.

1: Spline Shape 2: Converted to mesh with 3ds max 3: Converted with Populate:Terrain


1: Contour lines 2: Converted using the 3ds max Terrain Compound 3: Converted with Populate:Terrain

New feature in 1.8, trimming with a spline shape:


Screenshot

Tags: Grid, surface, architectural, CAD, Terrain, quads, Retopology, poly cleaner, populate, populate3d, contour lines, poly modeling

Comments (50)

ru123 · 2022-11-27

3ds Max 2023 version 1.8 WORKS!

versione 1.8

elle23 · 2019-03-19

Hello, I can´t find the new version 1.8 of Populate Terrain script. Can anyone help me?

Syntax error

Jón Benjamínsson · 2019-04-27

Hey there.

Im new to 3dsMax so probably I am doing something wrong, but when i run this script i get this message:

--Syntax error: at <, expected
--In line: < !

Have you any ideas what to do?

Regards, Jón

.

miauu · 2019-04-27

Attached to this post is the script, version 1.87, saved as ms file. I have no problems to run it in 3ds Max 2014.

Attachments

Spacelord · 2019-11-03

I have get the same syntax error.
Did you figure out how to fix it?
I'm using 3dsmax 2019

cheers

Spacelord · 2019-11-07

So the Populate Terrian needs the installer as well, it didn't work with the just the "populate-terrain 1.87.ms" script

updated for max2019

mxdsa · 2019-02-21

I received the source code and permission from the original author to update this to work in 2019. Find the script here:
https://github.com/mxdsa/populateTerrain

Stockson1 · 2019-03-14

Please help me, this script is not working in 2019 version, can anybody tell me why. Is there any other similar plugin?
Thank you good people...

StormBrig · 2019-03-15

Thank you for fixing it.

the script doesn't work

clarasallo · 2018-11-23

Hello, I can't download the script. Someone can help me? Thank you. You culd send it to my email: clarasallo@gmail.com

Dropbox link to Populate_Terrain 1.86

jla · 2018-06-13

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fveb2k65ajal0um/AACorZACSZ6Alh057hUbN-7Fa?dl=…

This link will stay up as long as dropbox allows and as long as people dont abuse it :D

it is for the 1.86 version i found in an old downloads folder while cleaning up, take it for what its worth, i don't know if it works with current versions of max, last i used it was in max 2016.

download and install at your own risk, i cannot be blamed if this breaks your max install :)

Link doesn't work

eviyo · 2018-05-04

Can anyone send me the script? email: e.giorspirou@hotmail.com

Installing

strakda · 2018-04-19

How do i instal this after downloading? Do i just drag and drop it in to the 3ds max file? thx a lot for help

Link doesn't work

Sushillan · 2018-02-17

It says "The requested URL /index.php was not found on this server." Can someone mail me the script to sushillan7896@gmail.com Thanks in advance

help

iceice · 2018-04-19

if you get the script, can you send it to me pls

helenistikyay@hotmail.com

-

ttus · 2018-02-16

ya , work fine.
if u Copy tract ENU folder
reinstall 1.86

Error with 3dsmax 2018

Spacelord · 2018-02-15

No "get" function for undefined

Does it work with 2018 ?

Thank you for the re-link

djayart · 2018-01-24

I have ESET no virus or what else found.
Work great.
This plugin is awesome.
Thank you

mischesn · 2017-11-03

Thanks for the link! Works perfectly. Definitely a false positive.

Link doesn't work

dabek9201 · 2017-09-24

Can anyone send me the script? The page doesn't work, there is no way to download the script. email - dombek9201@gmail.com

satishkumar · 2017-08-24

i did'nt get attachment

mxdsa · 2016-03-16

This is an incredibly useful script. Thanks so much!

Link doesn't work

dabek9201 · 2017-09-24

Can you send me the script? The page doesn't work, there is no way to download the script. email - dombek9201@gmail.com

Installation problem

I am from China · 2012-12-08

Hello, the building Lord, in China call for the sample its self-giving spirit, like your script, but I can't install, can hair tutorial?

useful script

oncire · 2012-12-04

can you add option to rotate the grid...or maybe option to edit the gizmo of grid...maybe in next update.

mxdsa · 2016-03-16

this would be helpful.

SUPERB!

kino · 2012-10-22

Great script, can't wait for 2.0! :) (I've got dozens of pointclouds waiting to be generated to mesh terrains..)

regarding 2009

paulov · 2012-02-08

yes, I would also love to see this runing under 2009. Does it rely on any main feature only available from on 2010+?

HomeCG · 2012-02-02

can you make support for 2009 next version,thanks

Multi-threading

Script_Butler · 2011-12-16

Hello.

This script has proved useful in my workflow.

Just a quick question/request....

Can the script use multiple threads? I've got eight cores but it only seems to utilise one when generating the topology. Multi-threading would be awsome for large terrains.

paulov · 2011-11-27

wow, I'm impressed. I'm building a massive land model with Microstation to be used in realtime and sure that this tools becomes handy. Thanks a lot.!!

Thanks thats really usefull

martinmb · 2011-11-10

Countless hours cleaning up after converting splines begone.

grasshopper · 2011-11-02

Hey thanks for this script it is awesome it's making a painfully annoying task simple.

If I could make a suggestion for your next update it would be to allow the user to adjust the set out point so that we can align the edges of adjacent pieces of terrain. (with a gizmo)

I'm using Max2010 64bit and it seems to work without any error

Point cloud support

Populate3d · 2011-09-28

Here is a teaser of what's coming in Populate:Terrain 2.0.

Voxel surface generated from point clouds (Points or Mesh/Spline verts).

This will allow clean surfaces from even the dirtiest imported CAD terrain data. 

With relax modifier:

1.2 works GREAT!

othoap · 2011-09-10

My issues were all due to my "control panel" was undocked. 1.2 works GREAT! NO issues. I got to say you've changed the face of poly modeling with this script. I think it's a real game changer.

Same results

othoap · 2011-09-09

Step 1 - Uninstalling v1.0 did uninstall somethings. Sorry the window was to quick to record. How ever it leaves the Populate:Terrain title in the win7 "Program and Features" list. Uninstalling it a second time removes the title but with this message (see uninstall01 image below)

Checking the "Scripts" folder I see the "populate-terrain" folder is gone. So I hope the complete uninstall was successful.

Step 2 - Installing 1.1 seam's fine. No error messages from win7.

Step 3 - Launch 2010. Then launch "populate-terrain". (see error00 image below)

Step 4 - In the front viewport I make a rectangle. I see the "Process" button on the PT ui is now unghosted. Side note(dose PT work on max splines?) So with default PT settings I click "Process" with this error message (see error01 image below)

Step 5 - Same as step 4 but I convert the max spline to an "editable spline" with the same error (see error01 image below).

Step 6 - Same as step 4 but I make a square with the "Line" tool. Same error (see error01 image below).

I've tried changing many of the setting to numerous to document. How ever with the same results as above. Hope this helps.

running; 2010SP1-win7proSP1-64

Attachments

Re: Same results

Populate3d · 2011-09-09

Damn...I was hoping that it worked for everybody now.
Can you do me a favour...when you get all that error messages, there should be more detailed logs in the maxscript listener (Menu -> Maxscript -> Maxscript Listener...)
Can you send me the content of the listener, especially line numbers.
my mail is: office [at] populate3d.com

thanks

ps...the splines should be created in the top view. it still shouldn't be crashing though.

Version 1.2

Populate3d · 2011-09-10

OK this was an interesting bug with the command panel.

I'm using some pretty low level methods to get performance that is usually not reached with scripts. The downside is that there can be bugs. First the Japanese 3ds max version crashing, now the docked off command panel crashing.
Anyway, it is fixed with version 1.2.

Changelog:

1.2
Fixed: Crash when the command panel docked off from the main screen
Fixed: “File missing – please reinstall” error

1.1
Fixed: Crash with localized (non-english) versions of 3ds max
Fixed: Crash when vertex index of base mesh out of range
Fixed: “Approximate Square” option sometimes not working
Fixed: Progress bar not updating
Fixed: Failed terrain creation when all normals of base mesh flipped downwards
Improved: Edge trimming quality with flat base meshes
Improved: Better result with heavily triangulated base meshes

DITO

othoap · 2011-09-08

Same problem as Jsrocha with 2010. Had to run uninstall twice "win7pro64" to work. Reinstalled as admin with same errors.

I can't wait to use this script. No more ugly geometry!

Updated to 1.1

Populate3d · 2011-09-09

Version 1.1 is ready.
I fixed most issues in 1.1. I'm not sure about the installer.
(The error "file missing - please reinstall")
I need more feedback on this. It's hard to track, because it seems to affect non-english installations only, which is something I can't test on my setup. ;)

error

jsrocha · 2011-09-08

Hi, i´ve installed the script (everything seems ok) and i got an error when trying to execute. First i got a message "files missing, please reinstall", and if i click in "process" button i got another message "--No ""get"" function for undefined". I attached two images of the errors.
I´m using max 2012, win7 64Bits.
Thanks,

Jsrocha

Attachments

Error

Populate3d · 2011-09-08

Hi,
The problem comes with localized versions of 3ds max (non english versions).
I fixed the second error "no 'get' function for undefined" already. I will release a new version tomorrow, with other improvements too.
If you want the fix now, please mail me: office [AT] populate3d.com

However, the first error is tricky. I'm not sure yet how to work around it. It's a problem with the installer, so it doesn't affect the script, but the menu entry.

jsrocha · 2011-09-08

Ok man, i´ll wait for the new version tomorrow.
thanks,

Jsrocha

Good luck with that!

Script_Butler · 2011-09-08

Sounds tricky to fix. I'm surprised the menu items don't get saved in to an ini like the layout does. Shame it's not that simple.

Thanks for the guidance. It worked by installing them, opening max and saving the MaxstartUI.mnu.

Perhaps you could write a bit of script that saves the MaxstartUI.mnu file the first time max oens after running your script?

Script problem

Script_Butler · 2011-09-07

Hello.

Firstly, great script! It will be very useful to me. Secondly, after running the installer, opening max a closing max. I creted an obhet using the script, no problem there.

But, when i closed max and opened again, the script has gone and i have to reinstall it. Then the same process continues. Any idea why this might be happening. I'm running max 2012.

It happens with Populate too......is there something in my max install that might be causing this?

Cheers.

Fixing lost menu entries

Populate3d · 2011-09-08

There are issues on some systems with the installer.
I have to figure it out. Automatically creating menu entries in 3ds max is a pain. No wonder it has to be done manually for most scripts.

It started with the user folders in 3ds max and got worse with Windows UAC, starting with Vista.

You can permanently set the menu items manually with "Customize" -> "Customize User Interface..."

Please let me know if this works for you...