9

Exporting to ASCII 535
Animated Mesh—
Export s a complete mesh
definition of every n frames. The frequency
is specified by the Controller Output spinner,
described below. Each block contains the same
information specified in the Mesh Opt ions group
box, described below. Turning this on can result in
a huge file, even for small scenes.
Animated Camera/Light Settings—Exports the
animationdataforcamerasandlights,suchas
color, intensity, falloff, map bias, etc. Outputs a
block every n frames, as specified by the Controller
Output spinner.
Inver se K inematics Joints—Exports the IK joint
settings in the Hierarchy branch.
Mesh Options group
These items are enabled only when Mesh
Definition is turned on in the Output Options
group box.
Mesh Normals—Exports the face and vertex
normals. The normal of t he face is listed first,
followed by the normals of the three vertices
supporting the face. Turning this on results in a
much larger file.
Mapping Coordinates—Exports a list of mapping
vertices and faces, according to the TVert and
TVFace structures described in t he 3ds Max
Software Development Kit. If an object uses face
mapping, a face map list is exported containing
UVW coordinates for each face.
Vertex Colors—Exports vertex colors.
Object Types group
The items here let you specify which categor y of
object you want included in the output. You can
include geometric objects, shapes, cameras, lights,
and helper objects.
Static O utput group
Fr ame #—Lets you specify which f rame of the
animation will be used to export all static data,
whetherornotyououtputcontrolleranimation
data.
Precision group
Decimal s—Lets you specify the precision (the
number of digits after the decimal) of the values
exported to the ASCII file.
Controller Output grou p
Use K eys—Exports key va lues. If the controller
doesn’t use keys, then the Force Sample method
is used. In the case of transform controllers, the
Use Keys option works only if all of the transform
controllers are either Linear/TCB or Bezier. If one
of the transform tracks uses a different type of
controller, t hen the Force Sample method is used
for all transform tracks.
Force Sample—Samples controller values based on
the frequency specified in the Frames per Sample
Cont roller.
Frames per Sample group
Controllers—Specifies the frequency, in frames,
with which to sample controller values for export.
Animated Objects—Specifies t he frequency, in
frames, with which to output animation settings
and mesh definitions.