Blog

Disable Caddy Controls (Global Fix – Recommended)

This restores the classic dialog boxes for Chamfer, Bevel, Inset, etc.

1. Go to Customize → Preferences
2. Open the General tab
3. Find Caddy Controls
4. Uncheck: ✅ Use Caddy Controls
5. Click OK
6. Restart 3ds Max (important)

After restarting:

• Chamfer → classic dialog
• Bevel → classic dialog
• Inset / Extrude → classic dialog

Cocoa Poly Tools – Documentation
Version: 1.0 (2026)
Author: Edu Altamirano | cocoalopez.com

————————————————————————-
OVERVIEW
————————————————————————-
Cocoa Poly Tools is a compact floating toolbar for Autodesk 3ds Max designed
to speed up polygon modeling tasks. It consolidates essential modifiers,
advanced loop tools, and organic shaping brushes into a single interface.

————————————————————————-
INSTALLATION
————————————————————————-
1. Drag and drop the “CocoaPolyTools.ms” file into the 3ds Max viewport.
2. Go to “Customize > Customize User Interface > Toolbars”.
3. Under “Category”, select “MyCustomScripts”.
4. Drag “Cocoa Poly Tools” to a toolbar.
5. Assign a hotkey (optional) to toggle the menu on/off.

————————————————————————-
TOOL GROUPS
————————————————————————-

1. MAIN MODELING
Standard polygon operations placed side-by-side for speed.
– Extrude / Bevel / Chamfer: Interactive viewport tools.
– Connect: Connects selected edges or vertices.
– Bridge: Creates polygons between selected edges or borders.
– Weld: Welds selected vertices based on the threshold.
– [Set]: Small buttons next to each tool open the settings dialog.

2. LOOP TOOLS
Iterative tools designed to “massage” topology rather than snap it instantly.
– Circle: Turns selected edges or polygon borders into a perfect circle.
– Space: Iteratively evens out the distance between vertices (33% per click).
– Line: Straightens vertices between the start and end points.
– Regress: “Best Fit” straighten. Calculates the average line direction, ignoring outliers.
– Flow: “Set Flow” alternative. Aligns selection to the curvature of neighbor loops.

3. TOPOLOGY
Tools for fixing N-gons, poles, and edge flow.
– Remove: Clean remove (equivalent to Ctrl+Backspace).
– Split: Disconnects selected edges or vertices.
– Spin: Rotates the internal edge of a quad/tri.
– Zenith: Topological solver. Splits an edge and connects the new point
to the *furthest* vertex on the face. Useful for fixing quads/triangulating.
– Crease: Creates a “Diamond” termination (Kite quad) to stop a loop cleanly.
– Collapse: Merges selection to a single point.
– Relax: Smooths vertex positions to reduce tension.

4. UTILS
– Planar X/Y/Z: Flattens the selection along the respective axis.
– Grow / Shrink: Expands or contracts the current sub-object selection.

5. CONFORM TO SURFACE (Shrink Wrap)
Projects your selection onto another object (e.g., clothing on a body).
– Pick Target Surface: Select the object you want to snap to.
– Offset: Distance to float above the surface.
– Nrm (Normal): Projects geometry “Inward” (Reverse Normal direction).
– Cam (Camera): Projects geometry along your current Camera View.

*NOTE:* If you select Elements (Polygons), they move rigidly (keeping their shape).
If you select Vertices/Edges, they deform to the surface shape.

6. INTERACTIVE PULL
“Virtual Sliders” for organic tweaking. Click and drag the spinners up/down.
– Camera: Pulls selected components towards your eye view. Great for silhouette fixes.
– Normal: Inflates or Deflates selection along average normals.
– Logic: Supports Undo (Ctrl+Z). Dragging updates the mesh in real-time.

————————————————————————-
COPYRIGHT
————————————————————————-
Copyright (c) 2026 Edu Altamirano. All rights reserved.
www.cocoalopez.com

If you own a LilyGo T-Watch-S3 (2022 version) and you ever run the official “Factory Test” example from the LilyGo libraries… congratulations, you just discovered one of the most common (and frustrating) ESP32-S3 traps in 2025.

The Hardware & Software I Was Using

• LilyGo T-Watch-S3 (2022) – ESP32-S3 with 16 MB flash + 8 MB PSRAM
• Arduino IDE 1.8.19 (yes, the old one – this actually makes the problem worse)
• ESP32 board package inside Arduino: the old LilyGo fork (esp-x32 2411)
• TFT_eSPI + LilyGo libraries from their GitHub examples
• Windows 10

What Happened – The Soft-Brick Explained

The factory demo sketch enables native USB (TinyUSB) on the ESP32-S3.
That instantly disables the normal USB-to-UART bridge (CP210x/CH910x) you had when the watch was new.
Result:

• No more COM port when you plug it in
• Windows shows “The last USB device you connected malfunctioned” or “Unknown device”
• Arduino IDE can’t upload anything → you’re stuck
  Thousands of users think the watch is dead. It’s not – it’s just in native-USB purgatory.

The Recovery Path That Actually Worked (After Days1 of Pain)

1. Force bootloader mode
2. Hold the tiny BOOT button on the back → plug USB → keep holding for 10-12 seconds → release.
3. Sometimes a COM port (COM10 in my case) appears for 20-30 seconds.Lower upload speed to 115200 (921600 almost always times out in this state).The magic half-step: manual erase via esptool
4. This was the turning point. Even when Arduino kept failing, this command always connected and erased the flash:
5. esptool.py --chip esp32s3 --port COM10 --baud 57600 erase_flash
6. (At 57600 baud it finally worked without timeout. The erase takes ~90 seconds.)
7. Immediate Arduino upload right after erase
8. Board: LilyGo T-Watch-S3
9. Erase All Flash: Enabled (first time only)
10. Upload Speed: 115200
11. Sketch: any tiny one, e.g.
    void setup() { Serial.begin(115200); } void loop() { Serial.println("I’m alive again!"); delay(1000); }
    
    The first upload often “drops” at 80-90 % with “Write timeout” – this is normal.
12. The bootloader, partition table and most of the app were already written.
13. One final normal upload (no erase this time)
14. Hold BOOT → plug → hold 10 s → upload again.
15. This time it finishes 100 % in ~3 seconds with “Hard resetting via RTS pin… Done”.

The Happy EndingAfter that second successful upload:

• Normal COM port appears every single time I plug the watch in
• No more boot button gymnastics
• Uploads work at 921600 again
• Serial Monitor shows my victory messages

TL;DR – The Exact Commands That Saved My Watch

:: 1. Get into bootloader (hold BOOT 10-12 s while plugging)
:: 2. Erase everything (this breaks the native-USB curse)
esptool.py --chip esp32s3 --port COM10 --baud 57600 erase_flash

:: 3. Immediately upload once with Arduino IDE (115200 baud, erase enabled)
:: 4. Upload a second time normally → done forever

If you ever see “device malfunctioned” on your T-Watch-S3 after running the factory example, don’t panic and don’t throw it away. Just follow the steps above – especially the low-baud esptool erase – and you’ll be back in business in under 10 minutes.Hope this saves someone else the 26+ hours of head-scratching I went through! — Edu (November 2025)

So here’s how you can get the HEVC codec for free on windows.

1. Click “Get the link to the HEVC product from the microsoft store and copy it”
2. In my case HEVC link its: https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9N4WGH0Z6VHQ
3. Paste it on https://store.rg-adguard.net/ “Online link generator for Microsoft Store.”
4. You’ll get a list, download the latest .appxbundle
   • In my case is: http://tlu.dl.delivery.mp.microsoft.com/filestreamingservice/files/31d731be-1d08-4327-b74f-cfcfcea43d6e?P1=1763605664&P2=404&P3=2&P4=H6tB3R0wMjwOMcZBJJoVIgC56C4yBJM33I1RiWjoQGbY5W4fddmlksLWKJ%2bzu4gIm61nTNCKtcMi%2bARkeOSrFQ%3d%3d
5. If double clicking it does not install it-
6. Open powershell as administrator and run the following command. (if your appxbundle file is somewhere else, then you have to replace the path with the location, Eg. “C:\pathToFile\etc.appxbundle”)

Add-AppxPackage -Path "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads\Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtension_2.4.39.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe.AppxBundle"

METHOD 2

Method 2: If you get a dependency error (rare on Win10 22H2/21H2)Run these two commands one after the other:

powershell

Add-AppxPackage https://aka.ms/Microsoft.VCLibs.x64.14.00.Desktop.appx
Add-AppxPackage "$env:USERPROFILE\Downloads\Microsoft.HEVCVideoExtension_2.4.39.0_neutral_~_8wekyb3d8bbwe.AppxBundle"

So I’ve spend about 5 hours but finally nailed it. Got how to edit the save file and make it work for Helldivers PS4 version. Feel free to buy me a coffe https://ko-fi.com/cocoalopez

This short guide covers editing common stats in Helldivers 1 PS4 save files using a hex editor (e.g., HxD) and Apollo Save Tool. It’s based on the loose key-value structure in the save (.sav file), where stats are stored as 64-bit little-endian doubles (8 bytes) or 32-bit ints/floats (4 bytes). Always backup your save before editing—corruption can lock your profile. Use for single-player only to avoid multiplayer desyncs or bans.1. Process Using Apollo Save Tool (Jailbroken PS4)Apollo is a free homebrew app for PS4 save management/decryption. Download from github.com/bucanero/apollo-ps4-save-tool.Steps:

1. Install Apollo: Transfer the .pkg to your PS4 via USB/FTP (using PS4 homebrew enabler like GoldHEN). Launch from the app menu.
2. Locate Save: Go to Apollo > User Saves > Helldivers > Select your profile save (e.g., “USER_DATA_1.sav” ~20-50KB).
3. Decrypt & Export:
   • Highlight the save > Press Triangle > “Export to USB” or “Open in Hex Editor” (if integrated).
   • Or “Copy to USB” > Decrypt via Apollo’s “Decrypt Save Set” (enable in settings if needed).
   • This outputs a raw .sav to USB/PC—open in HxD (free hex editor).
4. Edit in Hex Editor:
   • Use Ctrl+G to go to offsets (decimal or hex mode).
   • Search text/hex as needed (e.g., for field labels).
   • Edit precise bytes (see below).
5. Save & Re-Import:
   • Save the .sav in HxD (overwrite).
   • Back to Apollo: “Import from USB” > Highlight imported save > Triangle > “Decrypt/Install” or “Copy to User Save.”
   • Refresh Apollo (R3 button) > Load game to test.
6. Troubleshoot: If load fails, restore backup. No checksums, but bad edits cause resets/glitches. Test small changes (e.g., +10).

2. Key Variables to EditStats are in a block ~offsets 1000–2000 decimal (search labels like “missions_fought” for context). Most are 64-bit doubles (8 bytes, little-endian) for precision—use an online converter (e.g., floating-point.net) for custom values. Game caps: XP ~1M (level 50), samples 318 total.

How to Find/Verify Offsets:

• Search text mode for field name (e.g., “research_samples”).
• Skip ~12 bytes (type 09 00 00 00 + 8 pad zeros).
• Edit the next 4/8 bytes.
• For doubles: Reverse bytes for little-endian (low first).

3. Warnings & Tips

• Risks: Edits can glitch loadouts or reset on mission end—spend samples immediately. Multiplayer: Others see edited stats; risk bans.
• Format: Use little-endian (reverse hex bytes). Test small (e.g., +10 samples: add 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 40 to original).
• Converters: floating-point.net (decimal → hex LE double/float).
• Advanced: Search for current value bytes (e.g., hex for 14.0 double) to confirm spot if offsets shift.
• Revert: Search hex for edited value, replace with original.

This unlocks full progression—happy diving for Super Earth! If issues, share hex snippet around offset.

UPDATE (STRATAGEMS LOADING)

USAGE EXAMPLE

You can use my savefile as base and edit the values from there

This tampermonkey script will block any bot from appearing on your timeline.

Use tampermonkey for it to work.

https://greasyfork.org/en/scripts/541560-twitter-x-bot-and-flag-post-hider

Did a tampermonkey script that uses ytm2spotify.com to parse any spotify URL when clicked, then it will send you automatically to the first result on the youtube page.

Install it here: https://greasyfork.org/en/scripts/538249-spotify-to-youtube-redirector

Once its installed, test it with this link. https://open.spotify.com/track/6gb4OcL7ILY32IE68rNpQN

It should open on youtube.

Found this on a forum and thought i’d share.

1. Your License warning Will Popup using acwebbrowser.exe
2. Uninstall maya
3. Reinstall Maya
4. Clear Hosts file from autodesk’s urls
5. Make sure Firewall does not block the browser, maya or acwebbrowser.exe
6. Open Maya
7. Select Enter Serial
8. After going through the Enter Serial the Serial Input window will show up
9. Close the Enter serial window
10. It may show a windows dialog saying that the product you are using requires a serial number and a product key to continue.
11. Just close it
12. Maya wont start
13. Block your internet or disconnect from any connection
    — OFFLINE FROM HERE —
14. Enter your Usual serial
15. Proceed with the medicine as usual
16. Launch Maya
17. Once it opens for the first time pŕoperly
18. Close it
19. Now add the urls to the hosts file to prevent the app to phone home
20. Open Maya again (you’re still disconnected from the internet)
21. Make sure everything runs
22. Close Maya
23. Now you can connect to the internet
    — NOW YOU CAN GO ONLINE —
24. If you get the license is illegal popup again, then you need to repeat all the steps in the same order and block acwebbrowser.exe on your firewall.

In case your tools or shelves dissapeared or are not showing, go to Window/UI Elements/Restore UI Elements

Remember if you’re going to install new Autodesk Apps, you need to clear out the hosts file and remove acwebbrowser.exe from your blocked apps in order to install.
acwebrowser and phoning home to autodesk servers is needed in order to proceeed with the serial window, if it can’t connect it wont allow you to continue.

Also Backup your preferences (copy the maya # version folder on Documents)
Remove your prefs folder and let it recreate a new one on start to avoid any tools dissapearing.

If you get

// Error: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2017/scripts/others/drInit.mel line 1961: Object '' not found. //

The way I fixed it was very simple. Just go to

Windows > Modeling Editors > Modeling Toolkit

And it seems to correct itself

These are the urls to add
0.0.0.0 126114-app1.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 94175-app1.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 94184-app2.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 96579-lbal1.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 a.gtld-servers.net
0.0.0.0 acamp.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 adeskdi3.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 adeskdmzpdc.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 adeskgate.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 adesknews2.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 adeskout.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 adobeereg.com
0.0.0.0 adsknateur.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 amernetlog.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 app5.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 aprimo-relay1.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 aprimo-relay2.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 aprimo-relay3.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 aprimo-relay4.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 autodesk.ca
0.0.0.0 autodesk.de
0.0.0.0 autodesk.dk
0.0.0.0 autodesk.es
0.0.0.0 autodesk.fi
0.0.0.0 autodesk.pl
0.0.0.0 autosketch.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 b.gtld-servers.net
0.0.0.0 blues.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 cbuanprd.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 cbuanprhcllb.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 cbuanqa2lb.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 ci3dwsdev-svc.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 ci3dwsprd-svc.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 ci3dwsstg-svc.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 community.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 cut.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 cvsprd01.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 discussion.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 eur.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 extcidev.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 extciqa.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 extupg.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 ftp-users.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 ftp2b.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 genuine-software1.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 genuine-software3.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 genuine-software*.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 genuine-stage.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 gisdmzpdc.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 hqaribasrf04.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 hqmgwww01.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 hqmgwww04.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 hqmobileweb01.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 hqprxsrftrn.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 hqpsweb01.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 hubdev-svc.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 hubprd-svc.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 hubstg-svc.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 itappprd01-svc.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 itappprd02-svc.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 its.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 jdevextv-new.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 jp.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 jstgextv-new.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 jstgintv-new.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 lbsvzw.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 lbsvzw1.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 lbsvzw2.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 library.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 liveupdate.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 locationservices.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 lsctsol04.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 mail-relay.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 mneprdext-svc.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 mut.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 nbugma-dmz.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 ns1.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 ns2.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 ns3.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 ns4.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 ns5.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 nut.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 otw-new.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 otwdownloads.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 partnercenter.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 partnerproducts.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 paste.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 pedidrq.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 pediqrx.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 petars1.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 petcp11ia-2nat.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 petcr12ihsrp2.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 phxgciv.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 phxgciv_dr.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 planix3d.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 pointa.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 register.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 registerallied-pr.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 registeronce.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 salestraining.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 searchnews.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 shop.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 spamster-bulk.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 sswwwp.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 trialdownload.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 usa.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 uspetcr12ie_198.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 uspetcr12if.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 uspetcr12if_198.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 uspetcrs12ia_ib_vlan500_2_hsrp.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 uspetcrs12ia_vlan500_2.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 uspetcrs12ib_vlan500_2.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 uspetne06ia_ib_untrust_dip7.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 usrelay.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 ussclout1.autodesk.com
0termilk0.0.0.0 vzwlpsrel.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 vzwlpstst.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 web.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 webservices.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 wormhole.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 www.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 www3.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 access.clic.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 api.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 api.userprofile.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 ase-cdn-stg.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 ase.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 asse-cdn-stg.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 auth.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 authn.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 autodesk-prod.okta.com
127.0.0.1 autologon.microsoftazuread-sso.com
127.0.0.1 cdn.accounts.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 cdn.web-platform.io
127.0.0.1 clm.clic.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 cur.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 developer.api.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 ectautodesk.com
127.0.0.1 genuine-software2.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 ipm-a.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 native.auth.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 profile.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 sso.accounts.autodesk.com
127.0.0.1 sso.connect.pingidentity.com
0.0.0.0 manage.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 accounts.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 licensing.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 entitlement.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 *.ocsp.digicert.com
0.0.0.0 *.crl3.digicert.com
0.0.0.0 *.crl4.digicert.com
0.0.0.0 *.digicert.com
0.0.0.0 identity.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 authn.api.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 sso.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 license.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 adlm.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 entitlement.api.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 ocsp.digicert.com
0.0.0.0 crl3.digicert.com
0.0.0.0 crl4.digicert.com
0.0.0.0 verify.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 sheerid.com
0.0.0.0 api.sheerid.com
0.0.0.0 desktop.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 connect.autodesk.com
0.0.0.0 cloud.autodesk.com