Intro

3DWin is a small utility for Win95/98/NT4/W2K to convert 3D files to a number of other 3D formats.
3DWin provides the following keyfeatures:

runs under Win95/98/NT4/W2K
easy installation
plugin architecture
updates via support web page
clear and comfortable user interface
full help support
robust and fast conversion routines
reliable handling of large scenes
detailed statistics about each conversion process
supports polygon meshes including normals and uv vectors
supports light and camera conversion
supports material and image map conversion (registered version only)
batch processing (registered version only)

Help Index

Intro
Main Dialog
Options
Quick Tour
File Formats
Plugin Interface
Object Modifier
Scene Modifier
Batch Dialog
Installation
Registration

Main Dialog

3DWin provides an easy-to-use interface which makes the conversion process fun and easy.

Overview:

The left pane shows the object list. Below it are some buttons to modify single or multiple objects or even the whole scene.
In the middle pane are some buttons for program control.
In the right pane are the import and export controls.

>> Left pane:

The left shows the object list.

Object list:

The object list shows the names of all imported objects. Each name has an object type attached:
    (M) -> Mesh
    (R) -> Reference object
    (S) -> Solid object

Double clicking on an object in the list opens the statistics dialog:

The name of the object is editable.

Select one or more objects in the object list and click on the "Modify Objects" button. It opens the object modifier dialog.
Click on the "All" or "None" button to select all or no object(s).

Note: the object list does not show lights, cameras, or textures; only geometry objects.

The "Modify Scene" button opens the scene modifier dialog.

>> Middle pane:

The bottom shows short scene statistics.

Common section:

The top shows the "Common" section:
    -> 3DWin Options
    Help -> Opens HTML help file
    Clear -> clears memory of 3DWin
    Dump Statistics -> Dumps detailed statisitcs into a text file and opens it with the default text editior.

>> Right pane:

The top shows two buttons:.
    -> Plugin Info
    Quit -> Close 3DWin

Import Section:

The "Import" section is directly below the quit and plugin info buttons.
The drop-down list selects the current import format.
The "Options" button opens a file specific dialog.
The "Help" button shows file specific help information.
The "Import" button starts the file import.

Export Section:

On the bottom of this pane is the "Export" section.
The drop-down list selects the current export format.
The "Options" button opens a file specific dialog.
The "Help" button shows file specific help information.
The "Export" button starts the file export.

Help Index

Quick Tour
 

(original 3DS rendering)

1. select import file format "3DStudio 3ds"
2. press "Import" - button
3. navigate to the installation folder of 3DWin, open the folder "samples", select file "3DWin.3ds" and press "open".
   Now a progress dialog pops up showing the conversion status.
   After import you see some names in the object list on the left

4. click on the  "Dump Statistic" Button.
    The text editior will pop up with detailed information about your scene.

5. double click on the object "engine1" in the object list. Change the name from "engine1" to "engine3". Close the dialog.

6. now click the "all" button
7. press the "modify objects" button
8. enable the "split surfaces" checkbox
9. press the "process" button
   You have just split every object in your list. That means that every object now has only one surface attached.

10. select export file format  "POV-Ray *.pov"
11. click the option button of the export section, select "UV POV-Ray" in the drop-down list, click the "Image handler" button
12. enable the "Enable Copy" checkbox, enable the "Enable Image Conversion" checkbox, select "TGA" in the drop-down list, click "OK" twice
13. press the "export" button
14. find a suitable place and filename for the output files
15. If POV-Ray is installed, go to the directory where your output files are and doubleclick on the *.pov file, then press alt-g

(Mega POV rendering)

Congratulations! You have converted a 3DStudio scene into a fully renderable POV-Ray scene.

Help Index

Fileformats

3DWin supports following file formats:

 

Application	Extension	Import	Export	Comment
-	*.raw	X	X	generic ASCII format
3DStudio	*.3ds, *.prj *.mli, (*.asc)	X	X	*.asc only export
Autocad DXF V13	*.dxf	X	X	supports all polygon primitives
Lightwave	*.lwo, *.lws	X	X	V5.6
Alias Wavefront	*.obj	X	X
POV-Ray	*.pov		X	POV-Ray 3.1 and MegaPOV
Renderman	*.rib		X	Renderman and BMRT
Lightworks	*.py		X	Phython files
OpenGL	*.cpp		X
VRML	*.wrl		X	1.0 and 2.0
Protein Data Bank	*.pdb	X		ATOM/HETATM and Connections
Direct X	*.x	X	X

3DWin Options

This dialog provides settings for the 3DWin application.

The "Plugin Path" scetion sets the current plugin folder.

Help Index

Batch Dialog

This dialog allows the user to convert multiple files in a row.

The big listbox lists all outstanding jobs. First the import and export file formats, next the source file name and last, the target folder is listed.
On the bottom you can select import and export fileformats and each´s option buttons. Additionally, there are two buttons to setup the object and scene
modifiers for your session.
On the right are the buttons for adding and deleting jobs. Additionally, you can load and save your job list.
On the bottom right, the "Go" button starts the conversion process.

Procedure:

Step 1:
Usually, the joblist is empty. Before you add new files to your list, setup your import and export file formats. Then press the "Add ..."
button and select one or more files. Then the browse dialog pops up. Select the target folder where you want the conversions for your previously selected files to end up.
By repeating step one, you can select several import/export fileformats and target folders.

Step 2:
If you are finished setting up your joblist, setup the object and scene modifiers next. You can correct your import and export options for all fileformats.

Step3:
Press the "Go..." button. 3DWin uses all current settings for import/export formats and settings for object and scene modifiers.
3DWin then processes each item in the following list in order of appearance:
        -> import file
        -> modify objects
        -> modify scene
        -> export file to target folder

Hints:
* If one line is processed you can abort the process by pressing the "control" key (strg or ctrl). Just press it slightly before the line is finished.
* You can select for each export file format the "subdir" option. It will create the following folder structure for every converted file :
         <target folder>\<filename>\<filename.xxx>.This option is very helpful in order to find your files after a big conversion session.
* If you need different format options and object/scene modifier options please setup different job lists.

Help Index

Plugin Interface

Each file format is processed by its own plugin:

On the left there are common import options. On the right there are
file specific options. Please click on the "Help" button to get more
information.

This dialog shows detailed information about all loaded plugins. The button "Save"
writes the content to a text file.

Help Index

Object Modifier

During the conversion process it is possible to process one or more objects.
 

Please note, that each selected object is processed in a specific order.
Starting with "Split surfaces" to "Normalize", then "Scale" to "Translate".
You can process one or more objects several times with different settings each time.
There are different object types:
(M)    Polygon Meshes
(R)    Reference Objects
(S)     Solid objects

Several modifier options are only possible with polygon meshes.
 

"Split Surface"        Splits objects with multiple surfaces attached into
(M)                             objects with only one surface attached

"Unify"                    Change vertex order of all faces so that the face normals point
(M)                            in one direction. Normals attached to face vertices are not affected.
                                 This options is prerequisite for the "Flip" option

"Flip"                      Change vertex order of all faces so that the face normals point inward
(M)                            or outward.

"Smooth"                Generates normals for each vertex index of  each polygon.
(M)                            Smoothangle:
                                     -1.0           use normal of all neighbor polygons to build normal
                                    0.0            use face normal to build normal
                                    > 0.0        calculate normals depending on the angle between 2 polygons.

"Weld"                    Weld vertices, normals and uv vertices depending on distance
(M)

"Center"                Translate object to the origin <0,0,0>
(M,R,S)

"Normalize"          Scale object down to Unit Box size <-1,-1,-1>, <1,1,1>
(M,R,S)

"Scale"                  Scale object
(M,R,S)

"Rotate"                Rotate object (in degrees)
(M,R,S)

"Translate"           Translate object
(M,R,S)

"Verbose"              Enable logging during object processing

"Load"                   Load modifier setting from disk

"Save"                    Save modifier setting to disk

"Process"                Start object processing
 

Help Index

Scene Modifier

During the conversion process it is possible to process the whole scene
including objects, lights and cameras.

Please note, that the scene is processed in a specific order.
Starting with "Center" and going to "Translate".
You can process one or more objects several times with different settings each time.

"Center"                Translate scene to the origin <0,0,0>

"Normalize"          Scale scene down to Unit Box size <-1,-1,-1>, <1,1,1>

"Scale"                  Scale scene

"Rotate"                Rotate scene (in degrees)

"Translate"           Translate scene

"Verbose"              Enable logging during object processing

"Load"                   Load modifier setting from disk

"Save"                    Save modifier setting to disk

"Process"                Start object processing

Help Index

Installation

1. Start 3DWin_Setup.exe.
2. Start Demo_Reg_Setup.exe and install into the 3DWin installation directory.
3. Double Click on "3DWin.reg"

Deinstallation

1. Delete 3DWin installation directory
2. Open Regedit, delete "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\TB Software1"

Content of 3DWin folder

README.TXT        release information
3DWin4.exe            main program
imgdll.dll                image conversion dll
3DWinDll.dll          3dto3d core dll
MFC42.DLL           MFC dll
samples                  samples for quicktour
html_help               help files
opengl                    OpenGL support files, VC6 project, OpenGL framework
rib_shader             various RIB shader for RIB export
PLUGIN                plugin folder

Help Index

Registration and Shareware Information

3DWin V4 is now shareware. 3DWin is fully functional except for texture processing.
3DWin V4 registration can be ordered online at www.stmuc.com/thbaier

How to register:

Order your registration at www.stmuc.com/thbaier.
You will get a reg file and reg dll via Email.
Close 3DWin.
Copy both files in your 3DWin installation directory.
Double click on the reg file to import the registration info in to the registry.
Start 3DWin.

Why you should register:

- Get full version of 3DWin (including material processing)
- Get instant Email Support
- Get free updates
- Support development of 3DWin

Differences between demo and full version:

- Unregistered version does not support material, texture and image map conversion; a valuable tool for keeping models textured throughout conversion the way they were originally created

Help Index