Creating DIVE Files
File Map
This is out of data - ac3d now imports VRML1.0 and exports
VRML2.0. The best 3DS->VRML conversion is probably 3DStudio VRBL
export followed by a quick prune of the KTX nodes you inherit. This
generates better files than Interchange, wc2pov and 3dsToIv. MAZ is
now a defunct format, it should be VDI.
Click on red links for comments about the conversion process.
Click on blue links for information about the file format.
Comments
Has some bugs. IndexedFaceSets, Cube and Texture2Coordinates seem to
confuse it at the moment (Dive 3.0.13). Textures can be loaded fine
for many types of object, but a particular failing is loading any VRML
file that was exported by AC3Dv1.48, since generates tri-strips and
Texture2Coordinate arrays.
Doesn't support texture mapping at all.
Can use this to convert VRML to AC3D since AC3D doesn't import
VRML. Unfortunately it looks like texture mapping is lost. Also, any
geometry that is not a polygon strip will be loaded by AC3D but
ignored for rendering/editting. It appears that it will be saved back
out again if you export to Dive, so nothing is lost. AC3D preserves
Dive properties and scripts, and also allows you to edit the scripts.
AC3D is currently at 1.48. This version happily generates VRML1.0
files, but since AC3D is triangle based, expect lots of tristrips and
no VRML polyhedral primitives.
Works very well. AC3D is quite powerful and supports texturing mapping
and the complete material specification. The preferred choice if
creating a new object for Dive.
Anthony Steed,
A.Steed@cs.ucl.ac.uk
Last modified: Thu Dec 4 19:44:59 GMT 1997