AseTransformGroup demo

Engines, Libraries and Tools Xith3D Forums
#1

What technique was used to create the model in the human.ase object file for this demo? In the tutorial it says to ‘group’ the various pieces of the model such as: hand + forearm = group A, hand + forearm + upper arm = group B, etc. However, when I try this approach in MAX the last group I create always kills the previous one. That is, after I make group A, I combine the hand + forearm + upper arm into group B, but then group A no longer exists!

Can someone please tell me what the right technique is. Should I be using ‘links’ insted? I just want to create the model properly so that I’ll be able to export it into ASE and manipulate the TGs as in the AseTransformGroup demo.

BTW, I tried importing the human.ase file into max but it won’t import, maybe corrupt ??

#2

As far as I know, you can’t import .ase files, you’ll need the .max file.

#3

Do you know where I can get it? ;D

#4

I don’t see it around in any of the tut directories, so you may want to contact William Denniss and see if he has it.

link to his profile for contact info:
http://www.java-gaming.org/cgi-bin/JGNetForums/YaBB.cgi?board=xith3d;action=viewprofile;username=divzero

Edit: fixed link…

#5

never fear, Will is here :wink:

This is more of a MAX than a Xith3D question, but I’ll answer it anyway.

Your sub-groups don’t dissappear but they do become part of the master group. By default then, when you click on it - you only see the master group. However, if you export to a .ASE file, and open it in your text editor - you will notice that the group names and structures are kept. In max, you can work with subgroups as well. I forget which option it is but you click “Group->Open”. This “opens” the parent group so you can move it’s children - but maintains the relationship. Once done, you can “close” the group again. You can also open up sub-sub-groups etc…

In Max - you can animate these sub groups (e.g. a hand moving) and animate the master group as well (e.g. human moving). By using the TGT’s - you can do this in Xith3D now too.

It appears that the .max file is missing from the tutorial files - thanks for telling me! I’ll try and fix that ASAP.

I strongly suggest getting a book on 3d max if you don’t have one - there’s a good beginner one in the “Quickstart” series for $20 bucks or so.

Cheers,

Will.

#6

I located the .MAX file, and have added it to the tutorials public cvs (in the xith-tk project).

Also uploaded here: http://xith.org/tutes/GettingStarted/examples/AseTransformGroup/human.max

Next time the tutorials are rebuilt, it will be included in the “Data” zip file of that tutorial.

Will.

#7

Thanks for the help Will, works great now! ;D

Man, I love being able to access those TGs inside the ASE object file. It makes things so much cleaner in the code. To think that I once upon a time I actually had to build the model ‘tree’ myself, or had to remove and then add each group to avoid the ever so famous "… child node already has parent… " error :stuck_out_tongue:
Thank-god for this ASE loader :slight_smile:

#8

you’re welcome :slight_smile: I too like being able to do it. Back in the Java3D days I was also building my own trees from the objects in the code.

Will.