July 7, 2008 08:15am pdt

1. ikework 31,990
2. JoseParrot 16,250
3. Infinity08 9,400
4. jgordos 6,500
5. ozo 6,000
6. NovaDenizen 4,150
7. evilrix 4,056
8. MASQUERAID 2,375
9. trinitro... 2,000
9. shirsoft 2,000
9. Interact... 2,000
9. AlphaDec 2,000
9. zemond 2,000
9. ranhell 2,000
15. jaime_ol... 1,850

1. ikework 80,354
2. ozo 68,611
3. JoseParrot 51,247
4. davebytes 50,840
5. sunnycoder 41,305
6. Interact... 24,900
7. joachimc 13,400
8. cybermike3d 13,014
9. NovaDenizen 13,000
10. fl0yd 12,581
11. Infinity08 11,670
12. thegilb 8,122
13. jgordos 7,100
14. enkimute 7,000
15. MASQUERAID 6,375

09.08.2000 at 12:38PM PDT, ID: 11230601

	[x] Attachment Details

[x]

The Solution Rating System

With so many solutions, how can you tell which solutions are most likely to help you and which ones are not? To provide you with a tool to use, we rate our solutions based on various elements that most accurately determine if a solution is a quality solution. To explain what factors affect the solution rating, here are the elements we take into consideration when formulating our solution rating.

The Grade of the Solution
The Zone Rank of the Expert Providing the Solution
The Number of Author and Expert Comments
The Number of Experts Contributing
The Feedback of the Community

Your Input Matters
Because of the way the system is set up, the most important variable in this equation is you. As a member of Experts Exchange, you are able to cast your vote on the quality of the solutions in regard to how complete, accurate, helpful and easy to understand each solution is. When you provide your feedback, each rating is adjusted accordingly. So, if you see a solution that has a poor rating that you think is a good solution, let us know by rating it. As you do, the rating will be adjusted and will become more accurate for other members of our site.

If you have any suggestions that you would like to make for our rating system, please ask a question in the Suggestions Zone of Community Support.

Thank you!

5.2

.3ds or .max with opengl

Zone: 3D Game Programming

Tags: 3ds, opengl, max

I'm making a program using c++ with opengl. I've created models in 3ds max and I need to load them into my program.
HOW ???

Start your free trial to view this solution

Question Stats

Zone: Programming

Question Asked By: qar

Solution Provided By: cybermike3d

Participating Experts: 11

Solution Grade: A

Translate:

Loading Advertisement...

Microsoft

Internet Protocols
Applications

Development
OS

Hardware
Windows Security

Apple

Operating Systems
Hardware

Programming
Networking

Software

Internet

Search Engines
File Sharing
WebTrends / Stats
Spy / Ad Blockers

Web Browsers
New Net Users
Web Development
Chat / IM

Anti Spam
Web Servers
Anti-Virus
Email Clients

Gamers

Tips
Online / MMORPG
Puzzle
Emulators

Action / Adventure
Role Playing
Consoles
Game Programming

Strategy
Sports
Misc
Computer Games

Digital Living

Hardware
New Net Users
New Users

Software
Digital Music
Gaming World

Home Security
Apple
Networking Hardware

Virus & Spyware

Vulnerabilities
IDS
Encryption
Anti-Virus

Operating Systems Security
Software Firewalls
WebApplications
Cell Phones

Operating Systems
Internet
Hardware Firewalls

Hardware

Handhelds / PDAs
Displays / Monitors
Components
Networking Hardware

Peripherals
Laptops/Notebooks
Storage
Servers

Desktops
New Users
Misc
Apple

Software

System Utilities
Industry Specific
Network Management
Photos / Graphics
Page Layout
VMWare
Misc
Web Development

OS
CYGWIN
Voice Recognition
Message Queue
Quality Assurance
Security
Firewalls
MultiMedia Applications

Development
Database
Office / Productivity
Business Management
OS/2 Apps
Server Software
Internet / Email

ITPro

OS
Storage
Encryption
Operating Systems Security
Apple Hardware
Laptops & Notebooks
Servers
Networking Hardware
Peripherals

Devices
Displays / Monitors
WebTrends / Stats
Search Engines
Firewalls
WebApplications
IDS
Vulnerabilities
Email Clients

File Sharing
Spy / Ad Blockers
Web Browsers
Web Servers
Networking
Anti-Virus
Chat / IM
Anti Spam

Developer

Web Servers
Web Browsers
Game Programming
Dev Tools
Industry Specific
Office / Productivity

Database
CYGWIN
Web Development
Search Engines
File Sharing
WebTrends / Stats

Programming
Content Management
Application Servers
Protocols

Storage

Removable Backup Media
Storage Technology
Servers

Grid
Remote Access
Backup / Restore

Misc
Hard Drives

Miscellaneous
Security
Development
Linux
VMWare

MainFrame OS
Unix
Apple
OS / 2
AS / 400

BeOS
Microsoft
VMS / OpenVMS

Database

Oracle
Miscellaneous
MySQL
Software
Sybase
Contact Management
PostgreSQL
Data Manipulation
Clarion
InterSystems Cache

Siebel
MUMPS
OLAP
SQLBase
SAS
GIS & GPS
4GL
Berkeley DB
DB2
Informix

Interbase / Firebird
FoxPro
Reporting
LDAP
Filemaker Pro
MS SQL Server
dBase
MS Access

Security

Misc
Web Browsers
Software Firewalls
Operating Systems Security
File Sharing

Spy / Ad Blockers
Vulnerabilities
WebApplications
IDS
Anti-Virus

Encryption
Anti Spam
Email Clients
VPN
Chat / IM

Programming

Editors IDEs
Installation
Handhelds / PDAs
Multimedia Programming
System / Kernel

Algorithms
Game
Signal Processing
Project Management
Open Source

Database
Misc
Languages
Processor Platforms
Theory

Web Development

Scripting
Blogs
Web Servers
Software
Search Engines
Web Graphics
Images

Internet Marketing
Images and Photos
Components
Document Imaging
Web Languages/Standards
Illustration
WebApplications

Fonts
WebTrends / Stats
Authoring
Digital Camera Software
Miscellaneous

Networking

Protocols
Apple Networking
Network Management
Message Queue
Application Servers
Content Management
File Servers
Email Servers
Misc
Java Editors & IDEs

Wireless
Networking Hardware
Backup / Restore
System Utilities
ISPs & Hosting
Web Servers
Storage Technology
Removable Backup Media
Servers
Broadband

Grid
OS / 2
Novell Netware
Unix Networking
Windows Networking
Security
Telecommunications
Operating Systems
Linux Networking

Other

Community Advisor
Lounge
Community Support
New Net Users

Philosophy / Religion
Math / Science
Miscellaneous
URLs

Expert Lounge
Politics
Puzzles / Riddles

Community Support

Suggestions
New to EE
New Topics
Community Advisor

CleanUp
Announcements
General

Feedback
Input
EE Bugs

09.09.2000 at 12:43AM PDT, ID: 4244665

matth:

Hi

Its not going to be easy. I export the scenes from Max2 using File->Export and then selecting ASCII scene export (*.ASE) from the file types. A dialog then pops up asking you what parts of the scense you would like to export. The exported text file contains all the info you need, although you will have to write a simple parser to convert the info to a more useable binary format.

Matth

09.10.2000 at 03:41PM PDT, ID: 4253646

AdrianBrown:

Best bet is to get hold of a .3ds file loader, or write your own. There are several on the net. If you want the file format goto www.wotsit.org. Loaders can be found by a simple yahoo search. You cant use the .MAX files directly as this is an undocumented format (Far to complex to try and hack as well). So export to .3ds is the best bet.

Oh, if your feeling adventurus and have the maxsdk you could write your own max exporter, but if your just starting out i wouldnt bother.

Oh, take a trip to www.gamasutra.com or www.gdmag.com or www.flipcode.com. These will give you all the info you will need.

Hope it helps

Adrian

09.16.2000 at 04:44AM PDT, ID: 4325211

qar:

Adjusted points from 100 to 150

09.16.2000 at 04:44AM PDT, ID: 4325212

qar:

I guess that ASE file is the right answer for my needs. (with this ASCII file I can convert and use the data however I want).

However, I couldn't find a document that cover ALL the information included in the ASE file (including textures, animation etc.).

Can someone tell me where to find such documentation ?

09.19.2000 at 08:58AM PDT, ID: 4359033

qar:

Adjusted points from 150 to 200

09.21.2000 at 07:04AM PDT, ID: 4388417

Lischke:

Hi qar,

you can download the 3DS file toolkit from my 3DS page at http://www.lischke-online.de/3DS.html. This toolkit loads each and every information you could need from *.3ds, *.prj and *.mat files and provides them via data structures. Converting them to OpenGL data should then be only half that difficult.

If you can use Delphi code then I recommend downloading my Opener sample application. This contains the only working (and to my knowlegde freely available) implementation to convert smoothing groups to vertex normals.

Ciao, Mike

09.21.2000 at 11:31PM PDT, ID: 4398583

qar:

Does .3DS file contain animation?
(it is very important)

09.22.2000 at 01:07AM PDT, ID: 4399129

Lischke:

Yes it does. Half of the chunks in a 3DS file have something to do with animation (called keyframer data). But be warned. This is non-trivial stuff. You get socalled keys for certain frames to translate, rotate or scale your meshes. For cameras and lightsources similar data is available. The keyframer stuff defines also the hierarchy of the scene (to reuse meshes instead of defining them several times).

Ciao, Mike

10.02.2000 at 04:08AM PDT, ID: 4530840

Poxmelio:

IF you need to convert 3ds file for Opengl C format you need this program: Okino PolyTrans. It will convert your 3DS file to simle C code.

10.02.2000 at 05:08AM PDT, ID: 4531489

Lischke:

Poxmelio,

May I friendly lead your attention to an important issue? Here in Experts-Exchange it is common practice to lock questions
with an answer only if you are the first expert in the thread, or if all other comments are evidently wrong. Otherwise it is
usual to post a *comment* only. This way the questioner can later easily choose which expert helped most. Additionally,
using comments only is more polite because:

- the question can easily be deleted if necessary
- it cannot happen that an answer is accidentally accepted
- you show that you acknowledge the work already done
- you give other experts a chance to post a better answer

Please, be so kind and use the option "withdraw answer" to convert your answer to a normal comment.

Thank you for listening... (-:

10.02.2000 at 05:54AM PDT, ID: 4532384

Poxmelio:

Poxmelio changed the proposed answer to a comment

10.02.2000 at 06:45AM PDT, ID: 4533380

Lischke:

Thank you :-)

10.02.2000 at 01:03PM PDT, ID: 4541120

qar:

Hello again,

I've managed to figure out most of the information exported by 3DS MAX to the .ASE file.

The missing part is that keyframe data.

Can someone be kind enough and tell me what exactly is that information stands for?

10.23.2000 at 11:53AM PDT, ID: 4866003

Goost:

Hi, I had the exact same problem. I solved it by saving the file in VRML format, which is possible to do in 3dsmax. VRML is easy to decode since its human readable.
Use VRML 2, and you will only need to implement the function that 3dsmax uses, if you know opengl, just go through this specification and it should be a problem:
http://www.vrml.org/technicalinfo/specifications/vrml2.0/index.htm

10.27.2000 at 01:23PM PDT, ID: 4949570

Chroma:

There is a ;ase loader source code at:
http://nate.scuzzy.net/ase/aseDemo.zip

Hope this help!

04.22.2001 at 10:16PM PDT, ID: 6025907

smitty1276:

The keyframes are specific frames in an animation where important "events" occur. For example...
You want a sphere to rotate 180 degrees over a period of 5 seconds...

KEYFRAME 1: Sphere begins rotating at 36 degrees per second.

...5 seconds later...
KEYFRAME 2: Sphere stops rotating.

In most cases, the keyframe info will basically tell you where everything is and how its oriented in each keyframe. Generally, its up to the software to take that information and determine what happens BETWEEN keyframes. HOWEVER, I don't know for sure what sort of keyframe info is in the .ASE files.

05.15.2001 at 07:46AM PDT, ID: 6081873

jccommandeur:

Just some additional info... You can export your model to either .ASC or .ASE ascii files. It seems (note: seems) that .ASE is the better choice when it comes to texturing of the model. That, plus the fact that .ASE holds much more info makes .ASE a good choice over .ASC files. However, if you only need vertice+face info, .ASC might be all you need.

Bye,
JC

05.31.2001 at 03:53PM PDT, ID: 6143670

astaec:

Greetings.

This question is still open today, perhaps it was overlooked or just lost in the volumes. Please return to this question to update it with comments if more information is needed to get your solution. If you've been helped by the participating expert(s), you may just convert their comment to the accepted answer and then grade and close. If an answer has ever been proposed you may not have this option to accept the comment as answer, if that is the case, ask the specific expert you wish to award to post an answer. This benefits others who then search our PAQ for just this solution, and rewards the experts who have provided information. A win/win scenario. Please DO NOT accept this comment as an answer, it is merely a reminder.

If you wish to award multiple participants, you can do so by creating a zero point question in the Community Support topic area, include this link and tell them which experts you'd like to award what amounts. If you'd like to delete this question, use the same process as above, but explain why you think it should be deleted. Here is the Community Support link: http://www.experts-exchange.com/jsp/qList.jsp?ta=commspt

You can always click on your profile to see all your open questions, in the event you also have other open items to be resolved. If your number of Questions Asked is not equal to the number of Answers Graded, choose to VIEW question history, and you'll quickly be able to navigate to your open items to close them as well.

I've had excellent help from experts-exchange through the years and find the real key to getting what I need is to remain active in all my questions, responding with results to suggestions until my solution is found, and recommend that highly.

Thank you very much for your responsiveness, it is very much appreciated.
":0) Asta

06.01.2001 at 11:22AM PDT, ID: 6146809

qar:

I exported my model to .ASE file. This file contains all the information I want. The only problem is the keyframer data. I tried to view the source file of the ase exporter provided with 3dsmax. It says that for rotation data, for example, the output contains the degree and the rotation vector (x,y,z), But it's not working at all. I heard rumors that the ase exporter code is broken and that the y and z axis must be switched..
Anyway, I tried to read the keyframer data in many different ways but none of them worked for me.
If you have any alternative, please tell me.
Thanx

06.01.2001 at 07:08PM PDT, ID: 6147973

astaec:

Now that you've updated this, I've let others also know that you have new information and still need help. Please stay with this through closure, I'll stay tuned.

Here's the pointer Q I posted on your behalf to find your solutions:

http://www.experts-exchange.com/jsp/qManageQuestion.jsp?ta=3dgames&qid=20128715

Asta

06.02.2001 at 01:03AM PDT, ID: 6148359

smitty1276:

Can you post a portion of the keyframe data in your file so I can be reminded of the format?

06.03.2001 at 08:00AM PDT, ID: 6150414

qar:

*TM_ANIMATION {
*NODE_NAME "right_hand_palm_bone"
*CONTROL_ROT_TRACK {
*CONTROL_ROT_SAMPLE 0 1.0000 -0.0000 0.0000 0.5226
*CONTROL_ROT_SAMPLE 800 -1.0000 0.0000 -0.0000 0.2945
*CONTROL_ROT_SAMPLE 1600 -1.0000 0.0000 0.0000 0.2254
*CONTROL_ROT_SAMPLE 2400 -1.0000 -0.0000 -0.0000 0.0027

06.06.2001 at 09:17AM PDT, ID: 6160277

cybermike3d:

Wont it be easier to just convert the .3ds file into a .x file using the conversion utility that comes with dx8 sdk ? U then have access to all aspects of the mesh and animation from within yr s/w without any long winded coding. Of course, extensive doccumentation on 3ds file format is available form www.wotsit.org, complete with code samples ... Must admit, when DX8 was released ... I trashed all my opengl work, and converted
to DX8 ... never looked back.
Best regards
Cybermike3D

Accepted Solution

10.20.2002 at 02:58PM PDT, ID: 7350324

zapaper:

You can easily reverse-engineer the keyframing symbols. I got a ASE keframe loader running well and there is no bug in the 3DS code. No, they didn't switch the x,y,z. I'll point out a few things which might help you along.

1) the frame transformation are cumulative. i.e. to jump to the 4th frame, you have to do ALL the prior transformation. (i.e. 1st, 2nd ,3rd.)
2) translate then rotate (duh)
3) each rotation is by the own objects local axes. (this is probably why people THINK 3DS messed up their code) some rotation seems totally wrong probably because you might have cloned/rotated some objects and their axes get inverted too. best way to avoid this is to reset each object local axes to the world axes.

good luck with your loader.
email me if you still need help: zlim@umich.edu

20080236-EE-VQP-29