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Old 12th March 2009, 09:02 AM   #1
MaverickAlex
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Default exporting animations from AC3D into xml

Hi everyone, this is my very first post.

I have been using AC3D for sometime now to create Aircraft models for use in the Flight Simulator "FlightGear" which is an open source Free Flight Sim.

In many respects it uses very similar data to that of X-plane, however my understanding is that x-plane uses it's animations in .Obj format.

The major difference being that any animations done to my .ac files have to be done after i have created the objects in .xml.

This involves lots of trial and error on my part.

Does anyone know of any sort of plug in that could output in .xml format animations if created in AC3D?

an example of rotating an elevator
Code:
<animation>
    <type>rotate</type>
    <object-name>OuterElevonRight</object-name>
    <property>controls/flight/aileron</property>
    <factor>10</factor>
    <offset-deg>0</offset-deg>
    <axis>
      <x1-m>26.04</x1-m>
      <y1-m>16.01</y1-m>
      <z1-m>-0.44</z1-m>
      <x2-m>25.45</x2-m>
      <y2-m>9.77</y2-m>
      <z2-m>-0.11</z2-m>
    </axis>
  </animation>
it would be extremely advantagous and encourage many more people to purchase AC3D who use and create models for FlightGear if there was an exporter to .xml.

Is one already available?

many Thanks, and i look forward to being a valuable member of this forum

Alex
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Old 25th August 2009, 10:42 PM   #2
jonbourg
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Posts: 11
Default Re: exporting animations from AC3D into xml

Hey what a great idea!! I use FlightGear too!

Can someone write a script or make a plugin??? Here's a little more data for what we need.

1. Define animations like this:

<animation>
<object-name>something</object-name>
<type>rotate</type> <!-- I'm not sure if this is right, I think it is like that. -->
<axis>
<x1>0.130</x1>
<y1>0.149</y1>
<z1>0</z1>
<x2>0.130</x2>
<y2>-0.149</y2>
<z2>0</z2>
</axis>
</animation>


The first three x,y,z coordinates are correspondent to a vertex in an
object. The other three are the coordinates of a vertex in the opposite
side of the first one, horizontal or vertical.
2. X, Y, Z axes are exact the same in both FG and Blender in the coordinate system.

Also for some reason???
Word of caution....do note that Y and Z coordinates and swapped in FG

For the script or plugin the x,y,z coordinates are the important part the rest is up to the aircraft developer in FlightGear.

Here's a description of what the "FGFS Animation" script does for Blender:
Also if you are using blender, there is a fantastic export script (fgfs animation) that will spit out the <center> and <axis> elements. Select the item that you want to move, tab into edit mode, then select two vertices that run along a line of the axis that you want it to rotate on. Then export using rotation. This will create a text file in your home directory (on linux), then copy and paste the result into your model.xml file in the appropriate place.

Last edited by jonbourg; 25th August 2009 at 10:56 PM.
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Old 26th August 2009, 11:30 PM   #3
jonbourg
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Default Re: exporting animations from AC3D into xml

Yesterday I discovered SuperColdMilks Plugin "Vertex to Clipboard". It doesn't do XML but it makes it real easy. Just select a vertex click on the plugin name paste into notepad and voila!
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Old 25th November 2010, 11:36 AM   #4
fabrizio fracaroli
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Default Re: exporting animations from AC3D into xml

It would be very nice an Yasim.xml import in the AC3D.
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