Product Description

Overview

PolyTrans-for-Softimage is a native plug-in system for Softimage that allows Autodesk Softimage to import/export (from within the Softimage user interface) 3D scene data of most other 3D software packages and file formats, such as 3ds Max (via PolyTrans-for-3dsMax and Okino .bdf format), Maya (via PolyTrans-for-Maya and Okino .bdf format), Autodesk Inventor, CATIA v5, Collada, DirectX, DXF/DWG, ESRI, FBX, IGES, JT Open, LightWave, OpenFlight, PARASOLID, PLY, Pro/Engineer & Creo, SketchUp, Solid Edge, SolidWorks, STEP, U3D, VRML1+2+X3D, Wavefront OBJ, XAML-3D and many others.

Unlike the sister PolyTrans-for-3dsMax and PolyTrans-for-Maya native plug-in systems which execute PolyTrans entirely inside 3ds Max or Maya, this PolyTrans-for-Softimage plug-in system runs PolyTrans as an "out of process server". In essense, PolyTrans-for-Softimage is a "front end controller" that coordinates the back-end server processes that convert various 3D file formats to/from the Softimage dotXSI file format; the dotXSI files are then imported or exported from within the Softimage user interface. This is explained in better detail in the next section. The PolyTrans-for-Director native plug-in system works in the same manner.

View the current PolyTrans-for-Softimage Windows CHM help file here. Due to Windows security you may need to do this to view the .chm file: (1) download the .chm help file to your machine, (2) right click on the file in Windows Explorer and choose "Properties", (3) click the "Unblock" button.

How Does PolyTrans-for-Softimage Work?

Okino's PolyTrans-for-Softimage works very differently, behind the scenes, than any other current Okino product. Internally it is highly dependent upon Microsoft's "COM" client/server technology (previously known as OLE).

Internally, within Softimage, the file process will appear to operate quite simply:

To import a file into Softimage via a PolyTrans import converter:

• You select "PolyTrans Import" from the "File/Import" menu inside Softimage.
  
  
• The "PolyTrans-for-Softimage" dialog box and list box appears.
  
  
• You press the "Import" tab located above the list box.
  
  
• You click on one of the import converters and select the desired file to load.
  
  
• Several status dialog boxes appear while the file is being imported.
  
  
• The "PolyTrans-for-Softimage" dialog box goes away and you are left with the imported file.

To export a file from Softimage to a PolyTrans export converter:

• You load up Softimage with the desired scene to be exported.
  
  
• You select "PolyTrans Export" from the "File/Export" menu inside Softimage.
  
  
• The "PolyTrans-for-Softimage" dialog box and list box appears.
  
  
• You press the "Export" tab located above the list box.
  
  
• You click on one of the export converters and specify the desired filename to save.
  
  
• Several status dialog boxes appear while the file is being exported.
  
  
• The "PolyTrans-for-Softimage" dialog box goes away.

However, in the background, the process is actually more complex. Understanding this process will help you comprehend the overall conversion pipeline. The key point to consider is that the conversion processes are actually handled by the stand-alone Okino PolyTrans or NuGraf software, via its exposed PolyTrans!ProServer interface, under control of the plug-in within Softimage, and not within Softimage itself

During an export from Softimage, a dotXSI file is temporarily written to the Windows TEMP directory. This file is then read into the stand-alone PolyTrans or NuGraf software (run as a hidden COM server) and it is converted to the desired destination file format. This process is made transparent to you.

During an import to Softimage, the stand-alone PolyTrans or NuGraf software (run as a hidden COM server) imports the desired source 3D file and writes it out to a temporary dotXSI file in the Windows TEMP directory. This intermediate file is then read into Softimage where it is displayed. This process is made transparent to you.

Alternative dotXSI Conversion Pipeline

As an alternative to using this plug-in, you can run the stand-alone PolyTrans or NuGraf software yourself and hand convert files between any Okino supported file format and the Softimage dotXSI format. Inside Softimage you can then import/export dotXSI files via the File/Import/dotXSI and File/Export/dotXSI menus. Both methods will produce the exact same results, although the PolyTrans-for-Softimage plug-in is more convenient to use.

You can also read/write dotXSI files from the PolyTrans-for-3dsMax and PolyTrans-for-Maya native plug-in systems