Collada load and display (dae file from google sketchup) example please

[MadMax]

Is there a simple example somewhere to just load and display a
collada .dae?

I've tried piecing together from other bits and pieces I have found
and I can't see the model. No compile errors, just not seeing the
model, so I figure I should just find a working simple example. The
dae file is something I downloaded off Google Sketchup repository.

None of the sample *.as files in the away3d source were useful to me
for this simple purpose (well none I found). There were 3 collada
related examples but they weren't what I wanted. Simple load and
display of a .dae.

Cheers for any assistance.
Max

[katopz]

you mean this example?
http://away3d.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/examples/Collada/src

--
katopz
http://www.sleepydesign.com

[MadMax]

What I have found is my code will load a sample dae file I found in
the away3d trunk (eg cow.dae, circle.dae) but won't load the dae I
downloaded from Google Sketchup.

Is this a known problem?


katopz: yes I tried those examples but they do more than what I want
for now. I needed an even more simple example, just load collada file,
display it, no bones no animation etc., thanks for the reply. I ended
up using an example in the svn called Basic_SceneSetup but it won't
load my sketchup dae but does for another couple I tried.

[katopz]

i blame Google Sketchup collada format, it's dirty especially for flash, you better try maya or max instead, just clean it and they will work

hth

2009/7/9 MadMax <lou...@hotmail.com>

--
katopz
http://www.sleepydesign.com

[MadMax]

No chance I could buy maya or max, could never afford those, nor have
the time to learn to use them.

I did try blender some time ago and didn't have the time or patience
to learn that either.

I've tried Sketchup and looks like I could use that with some outlay
in time. For the time being I just wanted to download and use existing
models to get my program working then eventually attempt to create my
own. Very sad if I won't be able to use this workflow. :(

[Ralph B]

We have also been very frustrated by Sketchup. In my group are trying
to use it to make technical diagrams in Away3D. It seems that almost
all of the models in the Google Sketchup library are not "clean" and
will not load into Away3D.

At the moment our workflow is: 1. Draw in Sketchup. 2. Extract the dae
(Collada) file from the kmz zip. 3. Import this dae into Blender. 4.
Clean up (random faces pointing the wrong way, etc.). 5. Save as dae.
6. Load into Away3D. 7. Export to AS3 with AS3Exporter. 8.
Instantiate the AS3 object in Away3D.

This generally works (with a lot of effort) except that we can't get
phong materials to apply to the AS3 object in the last step. Fabrice
is kindly looking at that problem for us.

Fabrice suggested using AC3D instead of Sketchup. I think it does not
read/write Collada but it will export an OBJ file, which you can load
into Away3D. Fabrice says that this is much more reliable and
efficient (low poly count) than Sketchup. AC3D is not free but it is
pretty cheap. However it does not seem to have the object dimension
input features that Sketchup has and that are important for making
technical diagrams.

Hope this helps... if anyone has a better suggestion I would be very
grateful!

Ralph

[Peter Kapelyan]

What Ralph said is on point.

I would suggest trying any other app except for Sketchup. If it's free/premade models you need, more LOW poly ones like OBJ,3DS,LWO can be found on turbosquid etc on the web.

Sketchup doesn't focus on optimization (or low poly), so you can go crazy, and something might look good, but that doesn't mean it's optimized and will run well in Flash.

For 3d stuff to run well in flash, it takes a bit of practice and patience, because optimization is key when it comes to 3d flash.

Like Ralph said, you might have to do so much work after Sketchup, that it might not even be worth it, and better off doing the modelling in some other lesser know or free app.

-Pete

--
___________________

Actionscript 3.0 Flash 3D Graphics Engine

HTTP://AWAY3D.COM

[Ralph B]

Hi Peter, can you suggest some "lesser know or free" apps to try?
Thanks - Ralph

On Jul 9, 10:36 am, Peter Kapelyan <flashn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> What Ralph said is on point.
>
> I would suggest trying any other app except for Sketchup. If it's
> free/premade models you need, more LOW poly ones like OBJ,3DS,LWO can be
> found on turbosquid etc on the web.
>
> Sketchup doesn't focus on optimization (or low poly), so you can go crazy,
> and something might look good, but that doesn't mean it's optimized and will
> run well in Flash.
>
> For 3d stuff to run well in flash, it takes a bit of practice and patience,
> because optimization is key when it comes to 3d flash.
>
> Like Ralph said, you might have to do so much work after Sketchup, that it
> might not even be worth it, and better off doing the modelling in some other
> lesser know or free app.
>
> -Pete
>

[Peter Kapelyan]

Unfortunately I use Lightwave and Maya (not free). Blender was a bit too much for me to learn, and I'm not big on 3dsmax.

If you are doing pro work it's worth checking out some pro apps like 3DS, MAYA, Lightwave, MODO, and Blender.

Often they have free evaluation version or you can find Student versions for sale a lot cheaper.

For instance here a free evaluation of Lightwave (my favorite 3d modeller):
http://www.newtek.com/lightwave/lwtrial.php

Here are some free apps I have used to create low poly stuff/animations. They aren't the fanciest but they will get a job done if you are doing low poly stuff:

3d game Studio - MED (model editor) - it's free
http://www.conitec.net/english/gstudio/download.php

Quake Model Editor
(hard to find but it's the same as above basically)

Milkshape
http://chumbalum.swissquake.ch/ms3d/index.html

Fabrice mentioned AC3D. Also Blender if you have the guts to learn it.

Again a pro tool like mentioned above (even evaluation or student version) is worth it to learn it.

-Pete

[MadMax]

I won't be buying any expensive 3d modellers as I just can't find the
consistent amount of time it requires to learn them (nor afford them).
Sketchup just seemed a bit easier than blender which is why I liked
it.

I did try some other software, I think it was called XSIMod or
something like that. and found some docs on the workflow to be able to
load into flash, although that may have been a papervision3d workflow
back then, but no reason why it wouldnt work in away3d I think. It had
a youtube video lesson too.

Ok I did a search and found it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uKWo3P-M58

[MadMax]

Occasionally I see mention in threads of people using Google Sketchup
models....

Does this mean they have created the models themselves and know how to
avoid creating the model in such a way as to break in away3d loading?


what I would like to see in away3d:

An entire documentation area based solely on model creation/
importation workflows, including sample source code to get the model
loaded and displayed, and with an FAQ.

Eg Build a list of all the software and what works and doesn't work
for people, that people could contribute their experiences to. Then
when people like me come in asking these questions they can be
referred initially to that documentation. I think it would make away3d
far more friendly as it is such an important area and hurdle when
learning a 3d engine.

[Rob Bateman]

Hey MadMax

sorry to hear your collada export from skecthup doesn't work. Are you getting a runtime error when loading, or do you just see a blank screen when you attempt to import into away3d?

I'd like to know the specifics of the problems facing these models, so any information you can give would be very useful. The problem with some google sketchup files exported to collada is their propensity to include random coloured triangles over the surface of a model - it's hard to tell whether these artifacts are problems with the collada format, google's exporter or both. Either way, the unpredictable export options makes it not something i would recommend doing - plus some of the editing options for things like texture mapping are appalling to use!

If you are really set on sketchup then i would recommend considering the pro upgrade, which among other things gives you many more export options, inlcluding obj and 3ds (both supported by Away3d)

cheers

Rob

--
Rob Bateman
Flash Development & Consultancy

rob.b...@gmail.com
www.infiniteturtles.co.uk
www.away3d.com