Data Exchange

Data Types

• 3D Models
• Texture Maps
• Scene Graph
  • Native Tables - CSV & MySQL
  • REST (JSON)
• OSC - Live IO

---

3D Models

3D Models can be used as geometries. Formats: 3DS, OBJ, STL, .STL, COLLADA, etc...) The .blend format is really complex and only well handled by blender, though assimp will try.

The models are IMPORTED using the ASSIMP library:

http://assimp.sourceforge.net/main_features_formats.html

Note: Currently, GLTF does not work well at all, but this will likely change when I update the assimp library (requires getting a newer copy of VS installed to compile the current version of the lib/dll ). Though I plan to do this anyways to start using the CGLM library (to implement our custom matrix stack = no branch level limit, and moving towards GLSL and maybe even WebGL.)

Models placed in the 'usr/global/models' folder are added to the geometry_id ('O' key) list at startup. You can also use the File Dialog ('L' key) to load models and auto-assign to the current node(s). At this time we support basic geometry mesh hierarchies and a single texture map per models file.

• np_models table stores the metadata: file path, orientation, scale, center, etc.
• np_texture table stores texture map info (file path, dimensions, offset, cropping, etc.)

Texture Loading File Search Order:

• First it tries the path specified in the 3D models file.
• Then it checks if the texture is in the same folder as the models file.
• Lastly, it searches the default 'usr/global/images' texture folder.

Note there are millions of paid and free models available on the web.

https://cgtrader.com (which does have some good free models, though can not be publicly re-distributed).

assimp lib has a few (which can be distributed) located in the folders: 'assimp.../test/models/' 'assimp.../test/models-nonbsd'

you can download the assimp library here: Download ZIP also, try searching "cc0 3D model download" and the links here:

https://devga.me/free/3d-models-and-textures/

---

Try 3DS MAX, which you can get the (full version) education license here:

https://www.autodesk.com/education/edu-software/overview?sorting=featured&page=1

Also Blender is now pretty good, as it has become relatively stable:

https://www.blender.org/download/

---

Future feature to EXPORT entire scene to a GLTF or COLLADA file. We plan to map our topo hierarchies to GLTF bones (and/or COLLADA kinematics) tree structures with closed (link) loops. Eventually, add track animation and support for shaders, geolocation, tags, etc. We intend to support export/import to 3D modeling programs (Blender, 3DS Max, etc.) and some GIS systems (such as GeoFusion) or view in a standard web browser using WebGL+GLTF.

• https://www.khronos.org/gltf/
• https://developers.google.com/kml/documentation/kmlreference/

---

Texture Maps

---

CSV & MySQL

Our Scene Graph is stored using a set of native tables that allow the dataset (all of the scene attributes) to be stored as either using a MySQL DB or a set of CSV files, for details see:

• Native Tables