Hi All, I've been fooling around with amapi, modeling urns, vases and asst'd stuff to bring into Bryce, I exported the models in .dxf format. But when I try to import, Bryce suddenly encounters a 'problem' and closes, every time, and not just with my models, but any model with .dxf extension. What's really weird is I exported a few models (the very same ones) in .3ds format and they import blindingly fast and just fine, although upside down...can anyone explain this... In a quandry...Zhann

Brycetech is the expert here on Amapi. He can tell you better than I. I don't have Amapi loaded on this partition so I'll try this another time, but... Most export functions allow you to alter the xyz axis and that might be possible in Amapi. I know it is in Metasequoia. I've experienced the upside down thing too and never really looked into it cuz flipping it around was easy enough. As for the file formats, I have noticed some formats take the ground plain with them and others don't, which makes for a huge file. Poser has that problem simply because the default export boxes are set differently between the different types of export. Again, i don't know of Amapi has that problem or not. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

No problem, I'll just export as .3ds, the files are smaller than the .dxf of the same thing...I'm just happy I can model stuff at all. Have you used C4D or Carrara for modeling? I have both and just haven't gotten around to doing much in either...:-)

It might be a problem with the version of DXF file. Tried running it through Crossroads? Or saving with layers, without layers, whatever?

Nope, no layers. I can import spirals (obviously) in .dxf format, I was thinking of opening the files to see if there's coding missing, or if there's a corruption somewhere...this is when I have time, so much to do, so little time...first priority is getting the texture download page on my site up and running, then clean the house, model some more, get 'em zipped, and on infinitum...I have enough projects for the next 1500 years...:c)

No solution/or answers here, just wanted to chime in and mention I have had the same thing happen to me. But, I can import .dxf's from Spiralizer and Elefont all day, but once in a while I'll get a .dxf from say, 3D Cafe and Bryce will just mysetriously shut down. Since you are doing the mesh creation yourself, it's no problem, obviously to just go to .3ds. Some of my (free) problem .dxf's couldn't be solved with anything(crossroads, etc), except for...bringing it into Poser, and then exporting as something else, then it would work in Bryce. Weird, weird. AgentSmith

well, I noticed when downloading from several models sites that the .3ds files were way smaller than the dxf, since I'm on dialup, I always go for the smaller file. And if Bryce has no problems with 3ds, I'm a happy camper...:o)

I've heard some people say that they have no problems with .dxf files. Personally, I have never been able to import one of any size into B5 without crashing things. So I always use 3ds or obj and have never had a problem with them.

Here's a question. Anyone see a site that describes 3d file formats and if there is any one better than another, or is the 35 or more file formats that are floating around just a result of each company wanting their "own" file extension?

Try http://www.wotsit.org/search.asp?s=ALLFILES http://www.extsearch.com/ http://www.matisse.net/files/formats.html http://www.filespecs.com/index.jsp **This one looked really good, http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/home/mxr/gfx/3d-hi.html *** http://www.uni-koeln.de/themen/Graphik/ImageProcessing/fileext.html, these all deal with the extions and the one thats "" seemed to have descriptions also...

extions=extensions, boy we really need a spell checker here...LOL