My Case for a B3d exporter

Thanks Richard. Now why didn’t I think of that. <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –>

Bazza

Although intended for Richard I would like to get some feedback from other 3DC users. Would this be of any benifit to you?

Well here goes Richard, I fear this is going to be a long post but do hope you will take the time to read through and not close it down at the first mention of Blitz!!

I have been a user of 3DC for three years now and really enjoy using it. In its price range I consider it the best you can get.
However I feel there is one Major drawback, file formats. Now that Blitz has developed far beyond a piece of Games writing software, ( You can now write your own 3D Modeller using Blitz) and with the development of BlitzMax underway I feel both the 3DC and Blitz communities would benifit greatly if 3DC had a dedicated .b3d file exporter
.
As I see it, the 3DC community would have the added benifit of being able export their work quickly into a top of the range programming application, be it for use in animations/demo’s/games or whatever. While the Blitz community would have a top of the range 3D Modeller in 3DC that supported the .b3d file format. Something we don’t have at the moment.

Every time a new member appears on the Blitz forums the first question is usually ‘Which 3D modeller should I use?’. I always reply with ‘Try 3DC its great’ but the outcome is always the same. ‘I’ve looked at 3DC but how do you get your models into Blitz?’

Well, I reply what I have to do is:-
1) Save the model in .x format
2) Load it into Stickmans DX8 to B3D converter and save as .b3d
3) Load the file into Blitz
4) If you need to make any changes, do so and keep repeating steps 1 to 3.

The answere I usually get is ‘Thanks but I think I’ll try Milkshape or Quill3D they both support .b3d’
Both of these programs don’t even come close to 3DC, yet 3DC has lost a sale/member and the new Blitz member is going to end up with a low end modeller.

Surely this makes a good enough case for adding a B3D export feature within 3DC? Everyone benifits.

I hope you have managed to get this far Richard and would very much like to know your views. Plus of course anyone else
wether you are a Blitz user or not.

Bazza

I’ll have a look. But, I can’t promise anything.

Richard

Hi Richard, Pleased you had a nice holiday and that you will take a look at the .b3d issue. At least that gives me a glimmer of hope. One of my top ten wishes is that one day I will be able to put a post on the Blitz main page that 3DC now supports .b3d.

I’ve attached a file called B3D Specs. which I got from the Blitz site. I don’t understand file formats but maybe this will help in some way.
Also the Blitz support <!– e –><a href="mailto:support@blitzbasic.com">support@blitzbasic.com</a><!– e –>

The improvements the developers are now making to Blitz are fantastic, the latest upgrade now includes Mod2x and weighted bones.

Another consideration is that it would open up one other Fantastic tool to 3DC users that purchased Blitz, I’m talking about the GILE(S) lightmapper which again was written using Blitz. This program above all others can transform yor models and creations into works of art. It renders superb lightmaps that are attached to your model like a texture.
Although it supports .x the .b3d file format only requires one lightmap while .x needs two.

Thanks again for taking a look.

Bazza

I have an exporter for the previous version of 3DC… Take a look over at the projects section of my site at [img:vr3urmoc]http&#58;//www&#46;squeakyduck&#46;co&#46;uk[/img:vr3urmoc]
<!– m –><a class="postlink" href="http://www.squeakyduck.co.uk">http://www.squeakyduck.co.uk</a>&lt;!– m –>
I’ve not upgraded to the latest 3DC as yet, so no idea if it still works.

Thanks. I’ve tried your exporter with a basic cube but get the following:-

Run-Time Error ‘ Object required : Group (424) occured at line 403’

Scripts are a mystery to me, so I don’t know how to correct this problem. I can code demo’s, games, animations etc. with very little effort but file formats I can’t seem to understand.

Maybe Richard could take a look and get it working with the new version of 3DC.

It really would be a big help to have a dedicated .b3d exporter, and if possible import as well.

Bazza

There is a basic B3D exporter for version 6.5.0.5 available here: [img:1rc3ofl1]http&#58;//amabilis&#46;com/forumattachments?a=tpcands=2396098374andf=5496093974andm=55510321311[/img:1rc3ofl1]
6.5.0.5 Release Canadidate Available

Richard

Thanks Richard this is great news. <!– s:D –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!– s:D –>

I’ll download in the morning and give it a try. Pity about the plug-ins, I,m using these quite a lot at the moment.

Is it the usual with this version, uninstall everything, install the new 3DC then download the pro upgrade?

Thanks again

Bazza

Well I’ve got the new version up and running but one problem with the .b3d exporter is I don’t get a save file dialog box just a message ‘Export complete’.

In Graham’s original read me file it says I need a Visual Basic DLL to get the save dialog box to come up. But which one and where does it go on my computer?

Also in the original ‘read me’ it said that without the file dialog box the file would be saved as ‘Export.b3d’ but I’ve checked and the file isn’t saved under this name.

I’ve also checked all the .b3d files on my computer and can’t find anything new.

So although I seem to be exporting the file to .b3d under what name and where it’s located remain a mystery.

Any ideas?

Thanks Bazza

Solved it.

The file is exported as ‘Export.A3d’ <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –>

If you change the .A3d to .b3d you can load the file into Blitz and Gile(s) ok.

But its time for bed so will give it a test in the morning.

Bazza

For info,
I’m going back to doing some more work on the .b3d format in a month or so (an importer for another project) which means I’ll be getting back upto date with the format, and ‘hopefully’ work out how to support more features.
If I do I’ll pass on anything I find.

I’ve uploaded a new version of the exporter that exports to ‘c:export.b3d’ by default and indicates to the user the name/location of the exported file.

You can download it here: [img:uoel4xt4]http&#58;//www&#46;amabilisplus&#46;com/downloads/ExportB3D6505&#46;zip[/img:uoel4xt4]
B3D Exporter for 6.5.0.5

Richard

Its good news, bad news time. <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –>

First the bad.
This is the scene I used to test the .b3d exporter. Note the scene hierarchy.

Bazza

Next the file as imported into Gile(S).

Again note the hierarchy. I seem to have aquired an extra roof, door, window and stack!

The normals on the window and door are reversed but I can correct this in gile(s)

Bazza

Now the good news. <!– s:) –><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!– s:) –>

If I merge everything into one object and then use the export b3d everything exports ok.

Bazza