Zmodeler doesn't really support actors as such , but it can be used to open and edit unlocked 4ds files
To unlock 4ds files, you need a hexeditor ( like XVI32 http://www.chmaas.handshake.de/delphi/freeware/xvi32/xvi32.htm ).
Once you get a hexeditor this is how you unlock the 4ds files
Open the 4ds file (actor models) with the hexeditor.
Open a few more files and you will notice that they all are not of the same format and the methods for unlocking them are also different.There are mainly two types, Type 1 is easy, Type 2 requires a little more editing.

These five steps are the same for the two types
1. After opening the 4ds file with the hexeditor , Search for a text string ' base ' using the search or find feature of the hexeditor.

2. Once you have found 'base' look at the corresponding space in the hexadecimal grid. You will see 80 3D two characters before 62 (hexadecimal for 'b' of 'base' ).
3. Now just change 3D to 09

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4. Next search for the hexadecimal value 03 before base. If you don't find 03 , search for 02 or 47 (for a few cases).
5. When you find it, change 03 (or 02 or 47) to 00 .

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(The above pics are from Tommy.4ds,Type 1)

Now to distinguish between the two types, look for text string ' notify ' or ' target ' before ' base '.
If you find these before base then its a Type 2.If not its a Type 1

If its a Type 1 you will find 03 like this in the hex grid 50 xx 00 01 03 00 2A 00 , after editing if the result is like this 50 xx 00 01 00 00 2A 00 , then the model is unlocked. (xx can have different values).

50 xx 00 01 00 00 2A 00 is the final result for Type 2 also, but in Type 2 target, notify and other data lie between 50 xx 00 and the rest 01 00 00 2A 00 .So it must be deleted.
First locate 50 (50 is hexadecimal for P of .BMP, so you can search for text string BMP instead).
Then delete from 00 of 50 xx 00 to 01 of 01 00 00 2A 00 . Take care not to delete 00 and 01 .
If 50 xx 00 01 00 00 2A 00 is the final result, then you've unlocked the model.

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(The above pics are from paulie.4ds ,Type 2)

The end result

EDITING AND EXPORTING THE MODELS

As said earlier zmodeler cannot create the smooth joints while exporting.So we will have to make the joints by seperating the different body parts and naming them accordingly.Here is the hierarchy

I hope its possible to distinguish the different parts.

Base is the waist portion.

Although I have only put 2 divisions for back, its better to put 3( back1, back2, back3, back3 being the shoulder portion.)

After detaching the parts the ends have to be rounded off.I have left it untextured in this pic so that it can be distinguished from the original mesh.

Then the axis have to be shifted towards the joints.
As there are two ends for a part, the axis has to be shifted towards the end closer to the base . for eg for r_elbow the axis must be shifted towards r_arm.

DUMMIES

r_shoulder
l_shoulder - Simple cubes at the place of shoulders.( Works without it too)

GUN1
GUN2 - dummies in both hands, its obvious what these do.

targetETRGT - Upper one
targetNTRGT - Lower one
I think these represent the crosshair or something about aiming
These are the ones in front of the actor.

BLND - Smaller one
NOTIFY - Larger one
Two dummies at the feet

Hope this helps. The result is nowhere near the original models but I believe it is possible to refine them.the pics shown here are just test models and the rounding off can be done with more polygons than shown here.

Author-GSTR
Joined: 06 Mar 2006