From: bcsaic!chrise@cs.washington.edu (ChrisEsposito)
Subject: Re: Swivel 3D: Conversion among 3D formats?
Date: 30 Jun 91 22:36:56 GMT
Organization: Boeing Computer Services Advanced Technology Center




In article <1991Jun28.181944.24717@milton.u.washington.edu> dtj@sumac.cray.com
(Dean Johnson) writes:
>
>Does anybody know the format of Swivel 3D files? I was thinking that it might
>be useful to be able to convert between some 3D formats.

There are actually two formats of interest here - one is a text file that
contains commands in the Swivel scripting language as described in the manual
for that topic; there is also a binary file format that Swivel uses as its
native format for saving worlds, but I don't know much about that one.  I
don't know of any object or relationship between objects that is in a binary
file that cannot be specified in the command language.  A coworker (with some
assitance from me) was successful in converting a CATIA surface model of a 747
exterior into the Swivel text format for later export into Isaac.

The text/command language approach might be easier to work with than trying to
get the scoop on the binary format.  The text file is much more readable and
easierto modify.  Also, VPL may or may not be wiling to part with the details
of the binary form.  

Chris Esposito
chrise@atc.boeing.com
-- 
"Anybody want to trade heads?"  -- Eric Haines, Ray Tracing News, Vol. 4, No. 1
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Chris Esposito                            | Internet: chrise@atc.boeing.com
Boeing Research & Technology, Comp. Sci.  | uucp: ...!uw-june!bcsaic!chrise