CompuServe Thread

#EDSMAC to 3DS transfer

10 messages in this thread
#180555From: Chuck RogersJul 17, 1995 2:31 PM
Hello All ! Anyone out there that can transfer EDSMAC data to 3D Studio ?
#181108From: Rick MillerJul 20, 1995 11:59 AM
Sorry I didn't see your message earlier, but I've been out of town for two weeks. I'm thinking that I remember Wesley Grimes (75234,3175) saying that he could use EDSMAC with 3DS. You might give him a try, I looked for the message but couldn't find it. Good luck!
#181431From: Chuck RogersJul 21, 1995 6:12 PM
Hi Rick "Wesley Grimes (75234,3175)" that's the one I was looking for. Thanks Very Much ! 🙂 Chuck Rogers (Reel Images)
#181465From: Rick MillerJul 21, 1995 11:02 PM
Chuck, Please report back here on the forum if you come up with some good news. It's always possible that I might need to do the same thing in the future. Regards…….Rick – Technical Animations
#181529From: Nancy Fulton, OpenCADJul 22, 1995 12:46 PM
Hi, Just thought I'd jump in: You can use the Keyscripter to convert EDSMAC data into Keyframes for vehicles in 3DS. In 3D Studio Applied, the Release 4 Supplement, the fourth chapter shows you how to create scripts that take data from an ascii file and convert it into keys for a vehicle. Modifying the script file that comes with the book would let you have a solution in a couple of days (assuming you have a passing familiarity with BASIC or almost any other scripting language). The book costs under $15 and you can get it over night from ADVANSTAR on (216) 891-3115. Were it up to me I would post you script file – except that such a violation of copyright would result in a $250 fine for each person that read the message. If you read the manual that came with 3D Studio I believe you'll find examples of data in and data out scripts. I hope this doesn't sound daunting – its really lots easier than you think to create the link between EDSMAC and 3D Studio. Cool? N.
#181554From: Rick MillerJul 22, 1995 5:09 PM
Nancy, >>In 3D Studio Applied, the Release 4 Supplement, the fourth chapter shows you how to create scripts that take data from an ascii file and convert it into keys for a vehicle.<< I've used Nodeftch.k3d to apply ASCII data from a spreadsheet to a vehicle, would that be the same thing? I've never seen what EDSMAC data looks like, is it just ASCII data. >>Modifying the script file that comes with the book would let you have a solution in a couple of days (assuming you have a passing familiarity with BASIC or almost any other scripting language).<< I have never done any programming, other than a few batch files if that counts<G>. Regards…………Rick – Technical Animations
#181645From: Nancy Fulton, OpenCADJul 23, 1995 12:15 PM
Dear Rick: Batch files count in this case. It's not rocket science. In fact, I have to say that the keyscripter is one of my favorite 3D Studio features. When I first got R4 I shied away from it. If I hadn't been writing a book and needed 3 chapters to fill, I think I would have never taken the time to figure it out. The words "C data structures" used early on, put me off. But, as it turns out, C data structures are the coolest thing since sliced bread. Really. You can assign all the information for a single key to one variable. It makes scripting a breeze. Yes, EDSMAC data can be ASCII data. That's how it comes into spreadsheets (at least in my experience). You know, spend a three days mastering the keyscripter and you become the 'wonder-man' of forensic animation. Not a bad career move. I really don't think you'll find keyscripting hard if you do forensic animation for a living. Its actually much harder to do forensic animation without the keyscripter (roll, spin and yaw simultaneous rotations on a single vehicle (i.e. plane or car)). Take a chance…. Cool? N.
#181369From: SyndesisJul 21, 1995 1:40 PM
You mean the transfer of the motion data? As I recall, the resulting files are very simple ASCII files, and someone could write a script extension to load them as keyframes…
#181433From: Chuck RogersJul 21, 1995 6:14 PM
Hi John "You mean the transfer of the motion data? As I recall, the resulting files are very simple ASCII files, and someone could write a script extension to load them as keyframes…" Got an idea as to how ? Chuck Rogers (Reel Images)
#181455From: SyndesisJul 21, 1995 9:12 PM
As I remember, EDSMAC spits out position and rotation info per-fraction of a second, per-object. I haven't tinkered with scripts myself. I also have a vague recollection that Schreiber Instruments once promised to make an IPAS for reading EDSMAC data… you might give them a call, both for motion capture and scripting.