METASEQUOIA v2.3.4 - APPLICATION INTRODUCTION

Metaseqouia, or Meta, is a great App to use for basic editing of FFXI .DAT's. Certain things cannot be done with it because it will mess up the files, but the ease of use of this program well makes up for it. In fact, most of your editing will probably be done using Meta because of the easy to learn and use interface. Before just jumping right into Meta, though, let's take a look at some configuration settings and a description of some of the button commands. This will help to make your jump into modding less of an experimentation in headaches and lost time.

File Menus
Configuration Menu
Command Panel

Screen Layout

Main Editing Window - This is where your model will load for editing. Notice the X, Y, and Z axises as well as the ZX Grid.

File Menu - Same as every program. One exception is that there's not many commands you'll use the File Menu for while editing.

Command Panel -The Command Panel is well laid out and easy to get accustomed to. Here you will find shortcuts to just about everything you'll need while using Meta.

Command Panel Extension - Extra commands will be found here dealing with the selected tool from the Command Panel. Various settings can also be changed in regards to the tool selected.

Workspace View Tools - These buttons determine what you can view in the Main Editing Window.

Pt - Points or Vertices. Enable this to view Vertexes while working.
Ln - Lines or Edges. Enable this to view Edges while working.
Fc - Faces or Polygons. Enable this to view Textures while working.
Si - Simplify patches and blobs. You won't be dealing with this button while modding FFXI Models.
Fr - Front. Enable this to view the portion of the Model closest to you only, rather than all of the Model.
Img - Image. Used to place an image in the backgrounds instead of a solid color.

Workspace Movement Tools - Should you happen to lack a 2-Button Mouse with a wheel, these tools will help you maneuver your Model within the Main Editing Window. Just click and hold the icons and move your mouse around.

Workspace Window Select - Don't like working with only 1 perspective? This will give you 4 windows to work with... 1 for each axis and another for spatial views.

Sub Commands - These commands relate to the tool you have selected in the Command Panel. "L" is for left click on your mouse.

Vertex Count - This is a count of how many Vertexes you have selected. Useful when changing both sides of a Model simultaneously after a VRS conversion, or to make sure you haven't deleted any while you were working.

Face Count - Counts how many Polygons you have selected. Not particularly useful, but, at least it's there if you need it.

Select Lock - Enabling this after you have selected what you want will retain your selection regardless of where you click onscreen. Disable this for most editing work.

File Menus
The File Menu in Meta is about the same as any other program. I'll cover anything that's needed when working on a FFXI Model. However, the File Menu doesn't play a big part when working with the Models, as most of your commands being used will come from the Command Panel. Here's a breakdown regardless.

File

New - Start a new Model. Unused for FFXI Projects.
Open - Opens an existing Model.
Save - Saves WIP [Work in Progress]
Save As - Saves WIP as different name. Also used to verify that old file gets overwritten. It is recommended to use this method when saving.
Configuration - Pulls up the Configuration Menu.
Basic Mode - Checking this enable Basic Mode. Leave unchecked to get full ability of Tools within Meta.
Latest Files - Quick load your most recently opened Models.
Exit - Used to close the Application.

Edit

Undo - Takes back the last action or series of actions you last performed. Can be used repeatedly if configured properly.
Redo - Repeats the action you undid with the Undo selection. Useful when you get trigger happy.
Select All - Selects all Editable Objects within a Model. Editable Objects are set by you within the Command Panel.
Unselect All - Unselects all objects.
Lock Selection - Same as the "Select Lock" button on the Main Editing Window. Pretty much useless.

Attribute

Hide Selected Faces - Makes selected parts invisible so you can focus on what you need to work on.
Hide Unselected Faces - Makes everything you don't have selected invisible.
Show Hidden Faces - Restores all Hidden Faces.
Fix Selection Faces and Vertices - Locks selected objects so that they cannot be moved. Highly frustrating if forgotten about.
Unfix Selected Faces and Vertices - Fixes the frustration from above.
Fit to View - Zooms and Centers on the selected areas of your Model.

Selected & Object

I combined these two File Menu options to make this section short. If you use anything other than Invert [covered below] you are going to corrupt your Model. Plain and simple.
Invert - Some textures appear only on one side of a Polygon, giving them an invisible appearance. Selecting "invisible" faces and then clicking Invert will reverse the texture to the visible side.

View

Document Information - Let's you view stuff about the Model such as number of Vertices and Edges.
Set View - Resets your camera aspect for the selected Main Editing Window.
Grid - Let's you set specifics for the background grids.
Set Background Images - Let's you specify a background image or images to set.
Show Precisely - Toggles lighting effects.
Show Textures - Toggles Texture visibility.
Smooth Shading - Smoothes the edges of Polygons. Only useful for visual purposes.
Show Only Faces in Current Object - Shows or hides the faces of the section of Model you're not working on.
Show Only Lines and Vertices in Current Object - Same as above, only with Edges and Vertices.
Show Selected Parts Only - Hides all but the selected Editable Objects.
Lines Overwrite Faces - Makes Edges more visible when working on a close edged Model.

Panel

All Options - These Menu options is technically useless since everything can be accessed from the Command Panel. That is, unless you don't HAVE a Command Panel, in which case you would want to check this option to "ON".

Help

Index - View Help files straight from Mizno. Incomplete, but they're there if you want them.
About - View current version of Meta. This tutorial covers version 2.3.4.
About Plug-ins - View info about the Plug-Ins and let's you install other compatible plug-ins.
Error Window - Let's you try to understand any error messages you might get.
Rendering - Render and save your Model from the Current Spatial Window View. Makes cool Screenshots.
Benchmark - Test your computers strength with the current Model.
Homepage - Goto Mizno's Homepage.
Registration - Enter your registration code to enable the full version, should you acquire one.

Configuration Menu
Meta is pretty much click and play. It comes with some nice defaults already loaded the first time you open it, but there are some things you can mess with to customize your experience.

Screen

Align your Command Panel to either the Left or Right side of the Main Editing Window.

Either remove or move your Status Bar.

You can either anchor the Command Panel Extension inside the active window or disable to move outside.

View

Change the color of various Editable Objects within the Main Editing Window.

Change the size of Vertices as you view them. Makes them easier to see or out of the way.

Preview

Change your Direct3D setting here. Default works fine, unless you want higher Resolution Textures while editing. Higher is better...

Same as above, except for OpenGL. I never use it, so configure at your own risk, or something.

System

And important one. Max Undoes go up to 1000, with a Max Memory size of 256MB. I advise only setting them lower if Meta is lagging your system everytime you do something.

Here you can set default folders for Meta to open. Useful if you have dedicated Modding folders.

Autobackup and Application relation settings. If you're going to use Autobackup, I recommend using a completely different folder than what your Saved Model goes into. That way, if you corrupt something, you'll have your last good save.

Mouse

Change the action of your mouse buttons here. Default configuration is actually pretty nice.

Change the way your cursor looks.

Zoom strength. Lower is weaker.

I don't have a Tablet, so I don't know how this works out.

Action

You can change how sensitive Meta reacts to your mouse clicks. Lower numbers give you stricter sensitivity but better precision.

These are rotational view settings for your spatial aspect. Set to your preference.

Keyboard

These options aren't too incredibly important. Change your F1-F3 key if you want, but you don't really need to.

Command Panel
The Command Panel, in my opinion, is the best part about Meta. Here you have all of your functions, nicely arranged, and taking up little workspace with the Main Editing Window. I'll describe each section and buttons within from left to right and going top to bottom. So pay attention, damnit.

System

Open - Opens an existing Model.
Save - Saves your current Model.
SaveAs - Allows you to save your file... blah blah... confirm... blah blah blah...
Insert - Allows insertion of another Model. Will corrupt your FFXI Model!!!
Config - Opens Configuration Menu.
Doc Info - Opens Document Information.
ObjPanel - Opens your Object Panel. Here you can see how many Models yours is actually broken down into.
ObjProp - Opens the Object Properties Box.
MatPanel - Opens the Material Panel. This allows you to view and change which Textures the Model uses.
MatProp - Change Properties of the current material. Everything can be changed, but the only thing that's saved upon conversion is Texture and Alpha Mapping.

Edit

Undo - You'd think this did the same thing as the Undo option underneath the Edit Menu, and well, it does.
Redo - Same as the other Redo.
Sel All - Selects all Editable Objects within the Model.
Unsel All - Unselects all objects within the Model.
Sel Obj - Select an entire Model.
Sel Mat - Select the currently selected Material.
Hide - Hides selected or Unselected Editable Objects.
Show - Brings invisible items back to life.
Fix - Fixes position of selected Editable Objects.
Unfix - Aggravation Savior.
Store - Stores selections in case you plan to mess up a particular area. Will corrupt your FFXI Model!!!
Restore - Restores selections in case you do mess them up. Will corrupt your FFXI Model!!!

Command

Select - Generic selection tool. Pay attention to the Status Bar.
Rect - Rectangular selection tool.
Rope - Freedraw selection tool.
Move - Let's you move Editable Objects. You can use the mouse for general movements, and then use the Command Panel Extension for precision and symmetry.
Scale - Allows you to scale Editable Objects on all 3 axis, either all at once or individually. Mouse and precision movement available.
Rot - Gives your model a cool Rotting effect... no, I'm kidding. This is the Rotation tool.
UV - Brings up the UV Mapping. Allows you to move all, some, or one Polygon around on your texture to get that new Texture in the exact spot you want it.
Map - Allows you to rotate or move the entire UV Map of an object. Don't really see a purpose for this one.
Primitive - Allows creation of a blank 3D Object. Will corrupt your FFXI Model!!!
Create - Allows creation of a new Editable Object. Will corrupt your FFXI Model!!!
Del - Allows deletion of Editable Objects. Will corrupt your FFXI Model!!!
Invert - Same as Invert in the File Menu. Only works on Editable Object > Faces.
Extrd - Allows extrusion of Polygons. Will corrupt your FFXI Model!!!
Mat - Allows you to add a new texture to whatever Polygons you want. Technically not useful if you're using the UV Mapping option.
Pull - Allows Pulling of individual Editable Objects. Will corrupt your FFXI Model!!!
Bevel - Allows Beveling of individual Editable Objects. Will corrupt your FFXI Model!!!
Magnet - Allows you to warp your Editable Objects. Useful for long extending jobs... like Goblin Subligars.
Twist - Allows you to twist Editable Objects on an internal Axis set by you.
Bend - Allows bending of girders on a 3-point curved line axis set by you.
Shear - Allows pulling of Editable Objects on a 3-point straight line plane.
Lattice - Brings up a box. Haven't figured out much more than that with this tool.
Wire - Allows cutting of Polygons. Will corrupt your FFXI Model!!!
Knife - Allows cutting of Edges. Will corrupt your FFXI Model!!!
Wgt - Allows setting Skeletal Weights. Will corrupt your FFXI Model!!!
V-Clr - Not exactly sure what this one does either.
Blob - Allows you to create a Blob object. I'm thinking this has something to do with smooth shading for high definition Models, but regardless it Will corrupt your FFXI Model!!!
Paint - Nice tool. Allows you to paint directly on the Model. Useful for mapping out where you want to place new Texture elements.
BkImg - Allows setting of a Background Image. Still annoying.
View - Allows you to change your view if you don't fell like bringing up the View menu from the File Menus.

Edit Option

X - Lock or Unlock Editable Objects on the X Axis.
Y - Lock or Unlock Editable Objects on the Y Axis.
Z - Lock or Unlock Editable Objects on the Z Axis.
W - Enables editing along World coordinates. Slightly annoying.
S - Enables editing along Screen coordinates. Better for precision in my opinion.
Pt - Editable Object > Vertex. Lock or Unlock ability to edit Vertices.
Ln - Editable Object > Edge. Lock or Unlock ability to edit Edges.
Fc - Editable Object > Polygon. Lock or Unlock ability to edit Polygons.
Rc - Makes default selection tool a Rectangle selector.
Rp - Makes default selection tool a Rope/Freedraw selector.
CObj - Locks editing ability to current Object only. Annoying if forgotten about.
Grid - Allows movement of Editable Objects along Grid coordinates only.
Sym - Allows for editing both sides of an object at once, if the Editable Objects fall within the same symmetrical coordinates. Very useful after a VRS conversion.

View

GDI - Simple screen rendering of Model. Uses the least amount of system resources, but I don't think Texturing is allowed in the view.
MQR - Renders with App rendering plug-in. Best one for me, should be for you, also. Uses minimal resources.
D3D - Renders in Direct3D. App might not recognize higher versions of Direct3D.
GL - Renders in OpenGL.
YZ - Show or hide the YZ Axis on your spatial window.
ZX - Show or hide the ZX Axis on your spatial window.
XY - Show or hide the XY Axis on your spatial window.
Ax - Show or hide the Axis lines in your spatial window.
MQR - This option deals with the individual Axis-View Windows when you use the 4-Window configuration. However, I'm not sure that the plug-ins for this work too well.
Msh - Show or hide the Mesh in the Axis-View windows.

Lighting

Lighting Globe - Manually move the lighting aspect around the Model. Useful for checking for dead areas or weird spots after moving Objects.
Backlight Checkbox - Move the lighting aspect to the back of the Model.

�2006 Grumpy Rarab Ltd.