XSI DTS Exporter Beta 2 Download

Whats New:

This is an updated version of the XSI DTS exporter which corrects issues with exported animation transforms, adds support for exporting .DSQ animation files, and fixes several other small bugs. This version of the exporter now also requires adjustment of the bounds axes for proper export. (see basic setup section below for more information)

The file download includes the new plugin, 2 sample scenes in XSI 7 and XSI Modtool 6 format, and 2 sample DTS shapes exported from XSI 7 using the exporter for reference.

The 2 sample files that are included with the exporter are the TGE Orc rigged with a simple null based skeleton that will export and work with the default player .DSQ files, and a simple example of an animated object using XSI bones. More sample files are in the works and will be made available as they are completed.


XSI Modtool Support:

The XSI DTS exporter is fully compatible with the latest version of [ XSI Modtool ]. Modtool is lightly stripped down version of Softimage XSI 6.x that is free for non-commercial use. View the full list of Modtool Version Limitations [ here ].

The default UI of Modtool has been setup to be more first time user friendly, but you can also choose to use the stock XSI UI instead by going to the Modes menu and choosing the "XSI default (pro mode)" UI preset.



Basic Scene Setup:

Scene setup needs to be done manually until the exporter UI is completed. This involves creating a DTS shape using nulls, creating a bounds mesh, detail markers, and a mesh object with a detail size number at the end of its name. Scene setup is almost identical to the that of the Max and Maya DTS exporters.

Create two null objects named "base01" and "start01" parent them so that "base01" is the parent node and "start01" is the child node. Parent your mesh object to "start01" and then add a bounding box around your object and name it "bounds". The bounds mesh should be either at the scene root or parented to one of the nodes or mesh objects in the scene.

Bounds Axes Orientation

You must also rotate the center of your bounds so that the Z axes points up, the Y axes points forward, and X axes points to the right. Your shape should face forward in the Y axes of your bounds. (as in the image to the right)

Detail Markers

You then need to add a detail marker to the scene named "detail(x)" where (x) = the pixel size value that this detail level should be displayed. The detail maker is just a named null object that is parented to the "base01" node. You will also need to make sure your mesh objects have a detail size at the end of their name. You can then go to file menu / export and choose export DTS.

Example: simple object scene setup

Scene Root
|
+ -bounds {mesh}
|
+ -Base01 {null}
        |
       + -Start01 {null}
        |     |
        |    + -mesh2 {mesh} (detail size 2)
        |
       + -detail2 {null} (detail marker for size 2)

[ Orc player scene setup ] | [ Simple bone animation scene setup ]


Exporting Animation

To export animation from your scene you must add one or more sequence markers to the root of your scene. A sequence marker is a named null object with a Custom Parameter Set that contains at minimum 2 custom parameters; an integer property named startFrame and an integer property named endFrame.

Sequence markers should be named "sequence_" followed by the name you would like to give the animation. (example: sequence_ambient)

If a sequence marker is present in the scene, on export to DTS the named animation sequences will be embeded into the DTS shape. You can optionally click the "export DSQ" button on the exporter window to export the animation(s) seperately as .DSQ files.

Quote:Note: make sure to freeze the transforms on your bounds and mesh objects before exporting. Because the exporter supports scale animation object scale is read by the exporter and as a result if there are scale transforms on the exported shape when the object is loaded as a static shape it will appear at its un-scaled state and If it is loaded as an animated shape it would shrink down to its scaled size.

This build of the XSI DTS exporter is compiled using the XSI 6.x SDK and is compatible with the 32-bit versions of XSI 6.x, 7.x and XSI Modtool version 6.x and 64-bit versions of XSI 7.x.

[ Download The Exporter (Beta 2.5) ]