This allows you to save parts of the current scene to a separate file (different from the project scene file).
This operation allows you to create a library of objects, or save off multiple versions, or save off objects in different formats for use by other applications, while keeping the current scene uncluttered.
Options
You can set the following options for the export operation:
Save Options
You can save one of the following items:
Entire Scene
This option will cause the entire scene (including objects, lights, environment, etc.) to be saved to a file.
All objects
This option will cause all the objects in the current scene to be written out to a file. Scene information (such as lights, environment etc.) will not be saved.
Selected objects
This option will cause the selected object(s) to be written out to a file. This can be particularly useful if you are done working on an object and want to now concentrate on modeling another object. The file name for the object defaults to the object's name. Therefore all you have to do is to click on "Ok".
Hint: You will find it more productive if you model each object separately, save it off to a file after modeling. Finally, when you have modeled all the objects in the scene, you can use "File - Import" to read them all back in to assemble your final scene.
The file can be saved in one of the following forms:
Ascii Text: This format is useful if you want to save the file in a readable Ascii text form.
Binary: This format is faster to read and write than the "Ascii Text" format. The "Binary" option may not be available on some versions of Ez3d.
Decimal Places
By default, upto 6 decimal digits are written out for floating point
values. You can set it to any number from 0 to 8. The less the number of decimal digits per number, the more compact the file, and less precise the 3D description.
Hint: For high-precision design or ray-tracing, use more decimal places (or, don't change the default). For VR applications, esp. VRML/Internet, use as few decimal places as possible, because loading time will be reduced. Accuracy is not critical for VR browsing.
Optimize Output
(not available in Ez3d Junior, Ez3d VR Builder)
By default, the file that is written out preserves all object names, the object grouping hierarchy, and so on. While this may be good for a scene that is "under construction", it may not be optimal for fast browsing in VR, or other applications that will use the file. If you turn on "Optimize Output", the system does its best to merge several objects, get rid of unnecessary grouping hierarchies, and so on when it writes to the output file. The current scene remains unaffected.
Hint: "Optimize Output" is highly recommended for the final output of VRML files.
Compress After Save
If this option is turned on, the output file is compressed using the "gzip" utility. The resulting file will have a ".gz" extension. This option will save disk space, but loading the files back into Ez3d may be a little slower.
Hint: For VRML file creation, "Compress after Save" should almost be the norm. Compression is critical for reducing WWW download time.
Verify Local / Remote Links (VRML only)
If the option(s) are turned on, the system will check for undefined WWW Inline and WWW Anchor references to local and remote items respectively. The file will be saved anyway, but the system will provide a warning message on all undefined links. In the case of remote links, Ez3d actually tries to fetch the URL. If your machine is not connected to the Internet, you can get an error, even if your link is legitimate.
See "Model - WWW Inline" and "Attribute - WWW Anchor" for more details.
File Title (VRML only)
This sets a title for the output file. The VRML browser makes use of this information to set a title while browsing.
File Format
Finally, choose the file format to write to.
EZ3D-INVENTOR: This is the default native Ez3d format. It is recommended that you save all your work in this format, even if your desired output is some other format. This is because this format is the most "intelligent" format, and maintains Ez3d-specific information which may be lost when converting to other formats. EZ3D-INVENTOR files cannot be loaded or viewed by other Open Inventor programs.
OPEN-INVENTOR(.iv): This is the standard Open Inventor 2.1 format.
VRML(.wrl): The VRML format is rapidly becoming the standard for 3D data viewing and interchange on the Internet and beyond. There are vast repositories of free 3D clip art in VRML format, that you can directly import in Ez3d, by just typing in the URL in "File - Import".
The following are popular modeling formats that are used by other applications in animation, design and ray-tracing.
AUTODESK(.dxf): The most popular CAD 3D format
WAVEFRONT(.obj): A popular format for 3D modeling/animation
3DSTUDIO(.3ds): A popular format for 3D modeling/animation
You just have to type in a name (Example: "dinosaur"), and Ez3d will automatically add the extensions for file type and file format (Example: "dinosaur.iv", or "carbody.wrl"). If the file needs to be compressed, the name will have a ".gz" extension.
Format Info
This brings up some information on the selected format.
