Hi All,

3D Canvas 6.6.5.0 Beta 2 is now available for download: Download 3D Canvas 6.6.5.0 Beta 2

Unfortunately loading of file from previous version of 3D Canvas does not work properly in this beta release.

I also haven't updated the documentation of the plug-in interface.

The Readme file provided with 6.6.5.0 has a list of functions that do not work or are untested. It would be helpful to know if you try an untested function and find it working properly. It will save me time testing that function.

I am without test systems currently so I haven't been able to test the installation. The most likely cause of installation problems is that 3D Canvas now uses Microsoft's GDI Plus (gdiplus.dll).

Richard

Wahoo! something to play with this lunchtime

Thanks Richard.

Hello,
Here are some tests run on PC w/ Radeon X800XL / Catalyst 6.8

Windows menu says Beta1 (Help / about is OK : it says beta 2)

Readme : Minimum System Requirements : DirectX 8
Still true? Not DirectX 9 ?

Lath tool
Extrude
Object subtraction

Crop texture : shows a black window when selecting tga with transparency
UVMap
UVRemap

Set position / cancel: still stored in the object layers (pleeeeeaaaase don't store it Richard)

quote:

Unfortunately loading of file from previous version of 3D Canvas does not work properly in this beta release.

I did some old model loading though… and then operations as listed above (After loading the old model with the current limitations, is it OK to make some operations afterwards ?)
same texture / misplacements pb as beta1
Animation doesn't work

I rebuilt the animation: it looks OK but when animation is over, it takes more than 15s to have control again on 3DC.

After very few operations :
Run time error 0
Reload saved file: error -2147418105
Upon recovery: all textures were lost
Same error occurs quickly after few selections on the model

Edge operation not working on existing model (select 3 parallel neighbouring edges from the roof of one of my train model; choose edge operation: "please select 2 edges from each face")

My plugins seem to be working with beta 2.

It will take a few days to do them all, but they should be ready some time this week.

From the plugin inferface programming point of view we seem to be missing the GetUV() and GetUVCount() methods from the canvasobject and canvasface objects.

Otherwise all seems to be OK so far...

The last few days I have been working on getting the imports/exports working properly. I'm very close to having them done.

I'm really hoping to have the final version out this month.

Paul,

I'll add those two items.

DOM107,

What is being stored in the object layers that shouldn't be?

I really don't recommend modifying any existing models with this version. You can start new ones with it. That would be fine.

Richard

quote:

Originally posted by Amabilis Support:
I really don't recommend modifying any existing models with this version. You can start new ones with it. That would be fine.

Richard

OK.

quote:

What is being stored in the object layers that shouldn't be?

Richard

When selecting "Set position" (right clic on point selection) and then choose the cancel button (I often do it to get a point coordinates), the "set position" is stored in the object layers.

It takes time (when working on a big model) whereas the cancelation should be immediate.
It also needlessly takes some space in the file.

Here are my first few plugins.

It's taking a bit longer due to the updates I'm making.
I'm removing references to MSTS as they are now generic "TS" the DLL names are changing to group them on the menu

Butt objects - as before
TS Cab Builder & Buffer builder - now detect if you are working in feet or meters.
Entering 2'6" into a text box will convert to 2.5 feet or 0.762m depending on your current mode.


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A bug in 3DC Beta 2? The right click scale object option doesn't seem to work. The scale operation is OK though.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Paul Gausden,

tsplug1.zip (69 Kb, 14 downloads) A few TS Plugins for 6.6.5 beta2

I can't seem to delete any faces or point with 6.6.5 beta 2.

Just adding a cube to a new scene, selecting a face and pressing delete causes a crash.

3 more converted - non TS generic plugins...

Triangle count
Double Side
Flare extrude (now accepts european format numbers)

plug2.zip (28 Kb, 14 downloads) 3 more plugins

I've found and fixed many bugs over the last week, including the ones identified here. There were some significant problems with animation in particular.

I've written the importer for 6.5/6.6 models and I think it is pretty good. For those wanting to guarantee their model to look exactly the same in 6.6.5.0 as in earlier versions, you can choose "compact all" from the file menu in the old version of 3D Canvas before loading in the new version. Of course this means losing your layer history. I'm guessing this is the only way to guarantee importing to be perfect. At least for the time being. I'm going to write a plugin for 6.6/6.5 or perhaps a stand-alone program that will convert files to 6.6.5 or make them ready for 6.6.5. I probably won't have this ready for the initial release of 6.6.5.

I've also made some improvements to importing that I've wanted to do for years, which includes resizing while importing amoung other things. I'll give more information next time I post.

There were more bugs than I thought. In particular it's not possible to have multiple materials on one object (at least not with textures applied)

I'll look look at the delete/right-click scale/SetPoint operations.

I'm expecting either Beta 3 or an actual release by Friday. It depends on how confident I am in the release.

I'm working on something that is exciting to me. I'm trying to achieve improved rendering of non-flat and concave faces. I have my fingers crossed. This is another item that I've been wanting to do for years, but couldn't do until 3D Canvas had a new scene graph.

It all sounds like giant steps in the right direction - Looking forward to Friday...

When do you start taking requests for new functionality?
(env maps and control over alpha ref on materials)

Here are a few more of my plugins for 6.6.5 :

TSPLUG3.zip (77 Kb, 12 downloads) 3rd set of plugins including a couple of fixes from part 1

I'm really pleased with the new features. They may seem small to many, but they really are giant steps.

I'm taking requests for new functions as soon as 6.6.5 is out. I expect a week or two of small fixes and then I'm on to the next release.

Richard