United3dArtists Archive

What are importers and exporters?

Import and Export functionality is important in a 3d application since oftentimes,
you will be have multiple 3d applications in your workflow.
Each application has its own native format for models, materials, and scenes.
For example, trueSpace saves models in the RsObj format, whereas 3dsMax
saves models in the .Max format. In order to get your model from trueSpace into
3dsMax, you need to export your model from trueSpace, using a format that 3dsMax
understands (i.e. a format which 3dsMax can Import). This applies in the other
direction as well: in order to get a 3dsMax model into trueSpace, you must export
your model from 3dsMax, using a format which trueSpace can Import.

There are a multitude of 3d formats out there. Two of the most popular are Collada and OBJ.

OBJ format has been around for quite a long time, but don't let the age fool you. You
can get a lot done with the OBJ format. Collada, on the other hand, is fairly new to the
scene, with more power and flexibility than the OBJ format. Almost all 3d applications
can import and export the OBJ and Collada formats.

ChMar has recently released an FBX importer/exporter, which includes support for OBJ and Collada.
It is available on these forums. I will be releasing a very thorough OBJ importer/exporter shortly.

One of the benefits of exporting your models in OBJ or Collada format is, you can market your
creations for sharing or purchase at 3d market websites, like TurboSquid. So that's another
reason for import and export plugins.

I hope this explains import and export capabilities!

Please feel free to ask questions!

Froo / Jason

Hi froo,

Thanks for working on the obj import/export plugin. I purchased your obj importer a few weeks ago and am looking forward to the exporter.

Questions:

• 1 - Do either the Collada or the Obj file formats have support for animation?
  
  2 - How careful do we need to be regarding version compatibility of the Obj file standard? Do we need to be concerned about exporting to 3D programs which support an earlier version or do we need to be concerned about importing a model that was created with a newer version?

Thanks again, First Light

Hi FirstLight.
OBJ does not import/export animation. I am not sure about Collada.
I do not think you will have any issues with OBJ import/export.

I am supporting standard geometry: verts, UVs, normals, and textures, alpha maps,
and bump maps in import/export.

thanks!

Froo

I´m not happy with the last answer !
Both obj. and Collada import and export animation if for obj. you export a series of obj. and if in case of Collada it uses
a version or slang of Collada that another application can read. In case of Blender you can both export cloth and fluid simulations
with a series of obj. one per frame.
Truespace Collada can export an animated object and even physical simulations including animations with wind.
which applications like Vue 7 inf can import but does not export transposes which daz studio does export (moving characters)
but I never got morphs to work from daz 3 studio.....
so ther are some incompatibilities.........
So to get animations out of Truespace you need an obj. per frame.......
In case of collada be ware of the existing slangs !

well I think animation support may be supported; I have to check the SDK.
I believe all the required animation components are available and in full working order.
Only the mesh will be exported though; not the bones. OBJ does not support
bones anyway.