An exporter for TrueSpace 5.x files
by Christopher BitWizard Bortz · in Torque Game Engine · 08/14/2001 (8:46 pm) · 11 replies
I was wondering if there was a need (or even the existence of) a tool to export dts and dsq files from Caligari TrueSpace. I imagine a lot of us are creating games on tight budget and 3D Studio Max just might not be in the budget. TrueSpace on the other hand can still be had for around 300 bucks which isn't too bad. What do you all think. Do we need a tool like that?
Thanks,
The BitWizard
Thanks,
The BitWizard
#2
http://www.radonlabs.de/
the plugin is located here, comes with source code i believe. may be of help.
http://www.ori.org/~aaronc/code/nebula/ts2tnd.zip
08/15/2001 (9:42 am)
You know, someone wrote a trueSpace importer for the nebula engine. http://www.radonlabs.de/
the plugin is located here, comes with source code i believe. may be of help.
http://www.ori.org/~aaronc/code/nebula/ts2tnd.zip
#3
Ted Southard
DigitalFlux Entertainment, LLC
http://www.DigitalFlux.com
Ted@DigitalFlux.com
08/15/2001 (1:05 pm)
I'm also looking for format information(didn't see it in the source, maybe I overlooked it) to create a trueSpace exporter. Also have a heightfield plugin for tS I want to add this functionality to. If anyone has the format info, I would be gratefull. Thanks in advance.Ted Southard
DigitalFlux Entertainment, LLC
http://www.DigitalFlux.com
Ted@DigitalFlux.com
#4
This is NOT complete, it's all I've managed to reverse engineer so far...I don't have the mesh data in the middle done yet, nor the sequencing (since I don't know what that is (: )
-bw
08/15/2001 (3:48 pm)
v12engine.tripod.com/dts_format.htmThis is NOT complete, it's all I've managed to reverse engineer so far...I don't have the mesh data in the middle done yet, nor the sequencing (since I don't know what that is (: )
-bw
#5
www.caligari.com/products/tsx/tsx_dev.htm
scroll to the bottom of the page...
08/16/2001 (2:50 am)
The caligari trueSpace .cob and .scn file format spec can be found here:www.caligari.com/products/tsx/tsx_dev.htm
scroll to the bottom of the page...
#6
-bw
08/16/2001 (5:44 am)
Yeah, I have the COB & SCN specs, and I have the Plug-in sdk... I just need DTS file formats from V12-bw
#7
easier said than done is to trace the code from the main.cc file and replace the calls to open and convert the .max file with calls to open/parse and convert a .cob file to the .dts format v12 uses.
being as .cob is stored in a chunky format I'm pretty sure this might be a moderatly difficult task but we've already got the code to write out dts files. No need to invent the wheel.
I'm not overly experienced in writing c++ code yet, though I have had training. I understand the language but can't seem to be able to apply it. I'll take a stab at writing my own conversion utility but it'll probably take alot longer than I'd like.
08/16/2001 (6:24 am)
well actually you're alot closer to a complete plugin than you realize. The max2dts sourcecode is available in the v12 SDK tool directory. easier said than done is to trace the code from the main.cc file and replace the calls to open and convert the .max file with calls to open/parse and convert a .cob file to the .dts format v12 uses.
being as .cob is stored in a chunky format I'm pretty sure this might be a moderatly difficult task but we've already got the code to write out dts files. No need to invent the wheel.
I'm not overly experienced in writing c++ code yet, though I have had training. I understand the language but can't seem to be able to apply it. I'll take a stab at writing my own conversion utility but it'll probably take alot longer than I'd like.
#8
Back to Monkeying Around with Code,
BitWizard
08/16/2001 (6:56 am)
I will attempt to create a tool similar to max2dts called ts2dts. As Craig mentioned earlier, the logic to do the actual conversion might be quite hairy. I am proficient in C++, have the TS Developer SDK and format specs, so we'll see how this goes. No spectacular promises yet but I'll make it my little tool making project. While I am scraping my hair code monkey knuckles across the keyboard on this, perhaps you all could tell me what versions of TrueSpace you would like supported (5.1, 5.0, 4.3, pre 4.3). At first I'm just going to attempt 5.1, so let me know if you need support for versions prior to that.Back to Monkeying Around with Code,
BitWizard
#9
Ted Southard
DigitalFlux Entertainment, LLC
http://www.DigitalFlux.com
Ted@DigitalFlux.com
08/16/2001 (7:02 am)
As far as file formats are concerned, tS 5.x can accept anything before it, but I would support 4.x and 5.x as choices. Reason being that 4.x is still being used widely by those who only need the polygonal modelling tools(which weren't upgraded in 5), and those who use version 5.x have other options like subdivision surfaces in their files. If anyone adds curved surface support to the engine, that would be another consideration, but I guess that's a ways off. Ted Southard
DigitalFlux Entertainment, LLC
http://www.DigitalFlux.com
Ted@DigitalFlux.com
#10
Why didn't I think of opening the max2dts file...
sigh... ok, stupid me. I'll look at it also tonite.
-bw
08/16/2001 (10:06 am)
** smacks head **Why didn't I think of opening the max2dts file...
sigh... ok, stupid me. I'll look at it also tonite.
-bw
Torque Owner Blayne Watt
I've been trying to find format info to try and write one, but it might be a bit out of my league (I've never written a TS plugin).
If you have the skill, we could definitely use it. If you need any assistance, or have the skeleton for one but not the time to finish it, I'd be more than willing to chip in some time
-bw