CompuServe Messages

Jamie, Thanks for the positive response on the Sun Locator. GDS (Graphic Data Systems) is a software package that EDS markets. It runs on the VAX/VMS platform and has been successfully ported to OPEN VMS running on the DEC Alpha workstations. Its an object based system, not layer based like Autocadd. GDS has many modules that are similar to how 3DS is divided up (ie. Lofter, Shaper, Editor, etc.) There are modules for creating 3d solid models, for assembling the pieces and for viewing the whole. 3DS is the perfect addition to the system because GDS lacks any photorealistic rendering and lacks any animation capabilities. The modeller is double precision and I am very comfortable using it as opposed to the 3ds modeller which is a bit cumbersome. I am game to try a PC based modeller like Autocadd + AME but I need more info on the products. You'll see another message of mine regarding a conversion utility that I could use to ease my importing of models into 3ds from GDS. Unfortunately, GDS has never heard of 3d .dxf files. I have to jump through hoops to use 3ds but its definitely worth it. Thanks again, Bob