DXF Surfaces
6 messages in this thread
John:
I read in your ICP info text file that you make a module for DXF objects.
I have yet to try using your module in the newest Toaster software (no
Toaster in my machine yet) so I thought I'd ask you here.
Here's my problem:
Generating a 3D mesh of the contour of land in an IBM package (wireframe).
Exporting as a 3d DXF file. Load DXF into Amiga and have it add
rectangular surfaces to the contour mesh rather than just wire frame.
Have tried several translators that claim to allow importing of DXF files
but none will automagically add the surfaces to the wireframe for me. I
know it's a witch to do by hand. (I did it in the old Modeller package
once for a 20 by 20 grid). But I'd really prefer an automated method.
Do any of your modules do this "auto surfacing". I hope to try the Toaster
modules on Tuesday at our local Toaster user group meeting (I attend with a
friend who has a Toaster). I hope the new ICP modules will handle it. I
need this capability for something I am working on currently.
Thanks,
Mike Fancy – LugNuts
Which program is creating this DXF file? Which DXF entities does it use to
make the squares? If you like, upload a sample file and I'll look at it.
There's a dozen different variables here; depending on how they make the
"squares", it might be possible or it might be impossible.
Well, the original data comes from an automated survey system called
Geodimeter. It gets transferred to an MS dos machine as an XYZ ascii file.
I then run the XYZ fiule through a program from RockWare called Gridzo
(similar to surfer). It takes the data points and makes a contour map from
them. I then generate a 3D mesh in Gridzo and export i{ as a DXF file with
its built in converter.
Sounds complicated but it really isn't.
Then I Dos-2-DOS it into the Amiga.
I'll upload a file in your section in a minute called DXFHELP.LZH
It is a sample of a typical gridded area. You'll note that the vertical
scaling is very small but when I render it, I will [A
exagerate the scale to make it look more "curvy"
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Mike Fancy – LugNuts
Mike, since the original data is in a XYZ ascii file, have you considered
just writing a small program (ARexx maybe?) that reads that original file
(XYZ data) and creates a Sculpt script file, Videoscape file, etc out of
it? That way you could just load the file directly into the rendering
program, rather than having to go through DXF first….
Imagine does not have a 'scripting' mode, but if you were to create the
file in Videoscape format, you could then use Interchange to convert that
file to Imagine.
If the data is pretty straitforward, then writing such a translate program
(XYZ—>Videoscape, etc) shouldn't be that tough. Just a thought….
–jp–seattle–
The DXF format description can be found in the Autodesk ACAD forum. I'm
sure you're smart enough to program this for Mike! 🙂
Well, I considered doing the Arexx routine to convert the data. As it is
in a rectangular mesh (MS-DOS prog automagically aligns the data onto a
rectangular grid for me) I could do it. I was hoping for an easy (already
done) utility to do it as I am not overly AREXX literate (just dabble) and
I'm also basically lazy that way.
It is looking though like it is the best way to go.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Mike