ok now just as a test i made a skin in Windows Paint but when i try to import it the picture doesnt show up. its in .bmp format. should I save it as something else?

Maybe, you have to set a skin first and create a mapping afterwards.
(Not every single step is logic, it is a bit about trial and error - although I use MED quite long.)
Did you import it in the Skin Editor?
Did you open the Skin Settings window?
did you choose in MED: View -> 3D View -> Texture & Gouraud?

Thats were im stuke when i go to the folder i saved the picture in to import it into the skin editor it is not shown in the file that i saved it. but it is there because when i open up the file under paint it is visible thats why i asked if i have to change its formate from .bmp to something else and if so how?

Choose in MED: Edit -> Manage Skins -> New Skin -> check Texture - > click Texture File -> click the button: [...], now you can choose the folder of your file etc.

Hope this helps! It is unbelievable, that it isn't documented in the manual!

now Thanks to Pappenheimer I finally have the texture and the model triangles on the same program but I'm still having trouble in a way im not sure I can explane cleary in words and ask if you know a way to take screen shots of MED? to give yous a clearer picture of were exacly I am because I know my explinations can get confusing. and if it helps my system is Xp ser. pack 2

The easiest way to get a screenshot is: push the button "print" on your keyboard.
Then open a paint editor, open a new file and paste the screenshot in that pic.
Look for the paste button or just press "Ctrl" and "V" on your keyboard.
If you can save it as png or jpg or gif it is good, because those files are quite small.
Don't know whether you know how to upload a pic in the net, though.

Ok well I finnaly figured it out (thanks to Pappenheimer)
And was gona post a screenshot of it but dont know how to upload the picture
I can see there is an image button but not sure how to use the window it brings up.

You have to upload it onto a free site in the internet first, and then you can add a link to the picture with the help of the image button.
I never did it myself, because I have my own homepage.
Search via Google for "free uploading for picture" or something like that!

BTW: Take a look at the tutorial forum!
There I found for instance this tutorial for Med:

http://exile123456.ex.funpic.de/

And there may be others, too.

Hi! I'm also trying to skin my models for the first time. I figured out how to create the mapping (like you just showed). But that's where I get stuck.
I would like to export the mapping as an image file, so I can texture in photoshop.
But I only seem to be able to export the actual texture (wich is still black at this point). How can I export the actual mapping? (lines & dots)

THX in advance

To get the UV's out to photoshop what you need to do is to select the UVs in parts so you know which ones are what, like the head for example, then select a colour in MED and apply the colour to the UV and so on.

When you have given colours to all UV componants, export that out and you will have exactly those colours to apply your texture base on so you will know which should be flesh, which should coat or pants etc by the colours you chose for them.