ChapterIntroducing the dotXSI File Format
This chapter provides an overview of what comprises the SOFTIMAGE|XSI dotXSI file format and the SOFTIMAGE|XSI FTK, including a brief look at the dotXSI file format and the tools that complement it:
About the Softimage dotXSI File Format
The dotXSI file format is an ASCII file format defined by Softimage Co. to store SOFTIMAGE|3D and SOFTIMAGE|XSI scene data. You can use it to simplify the import and export of characters, models, and animation for complete customization of any game-development pipeline. The file format lets you include user data, making it straightforward to introduce new types of custom information.
The dotXSI file format is optimized for current game engine technology, and it can be easily:
- Imported into and exported from SOFTIMAGE|3D (v4.0 and later) and SOFTIMAGE|XSI.
- Exported from SOFTIMAGE|3D and SOFTIMAGE|XSI and imported into the XSI Viewer.
- Used to exchange scene data between SOFTIMAGE|3D and SOFTIMAGE|XSI.
- Imported into third-party software.
- Converted into other file formats.
- Extended and customized to meet any special needs.
SDK Support for the dotXSI File Format
The following tools and toolkits are available for use with the dotXSI file format.
XSI Viewer
The XSI Viewer is a visualization tool for dotXSI files. It supports dotXSI 3.0, 3.5 and 3.6 in both the text and binary compressed format. The XSI Viewer can load one or more files and display a subset of their content using either OpenGL or DirectX 8.0. It's usually used as an interactive content validation tool, a pre-visualization tool or as a 3D prototyping tool.
XSI Viewer Professional
The difference between the XSI Viewer and the XSI Viewer Professional is that the professional is designed to be extensible and customizable through its SDK. It includes:
SOFTIMAGE|XSI File Tool Kit (FTK)
The SOFTIMAGE|XSI FTK is an API designed to read, write and manipulate dotXSI files. It maintains both a low level, generic representation and a high level, semantic representation of the dotXSI file's content. The XSI Viewer uses this representation to maintain 3D data in memory.
It supports dotXSI 3.0, 3.5, 3.6 in both the text and binary compressed format.
Compatibility
The current version of SOFTIMAGE|3D can read and write versions 1.3, 2.0, and 3.0 dotXSI files. Note, however, that while an older version of SOFTIMAGE|3D can load more recent versions of dotXSI files, it ignores templates that it does not recognize.
SOFTIMAGE|XSI v3.0 can read and write v3.0, v3.5, and v3.6 dotXSI files.
* Only available with the Professional version of the XSI Viewer.
About the Binary Format
With v3.0, v3.5, and v3.6 of the XSI file format, you can create a binary file. The binary format provides an easy way to compress the data in the XSI file.
Downloading the FTK
You can download the SOFTIMAGE|XSI FTK from Softimage’s web site (www.softimage.com).
System Requirements
Windows
In order to build applications using the SOFTIMAGE|XSI FTK v3.6, you need to have the following software installed:
- SOFTIMAGE|XSI FTK v3.6
- One of the following operating systems:
- Microsoft Visual C++ version 6 service pack 5 or better
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For information on setting up your development environment, see Setting Up Your Development Environment in Visual C++.
Linux
In order to build applications using the SOFTIMAGE|XSI FTK v3.6, you need to have the following software installed:
What’s New for Version 3.6 and 3.6.2?
In addition to the enhancements listed below, with v3.6 you can now use Linux as your development platform.
A lot more functionality has been added as of version 3.5. The templates available for dotXSI have been upgraded and expanded, a new semantic layer has been added to the FTK, and the XSI Viewer has been extended with a new SDK:
SOFTIMAGE|XSI dotXSI
Version 3.6 of the dotXSI file format introduces a variety of new templates for storing SOFTIMAGE|XSI scene data:
- Global image library
- Support for image FX
- Support for image FX tree nodes
- Additional light information
- User data
- NURBS trims
- NURBS projections
- Additional custom parameter information
- Additional material information
- Additional cluster information
SOFTIMAGE|XSI Viewer Professional
3.6
The XSI Viewer has been extended with more platform support and an extended SDK:
3.6.2
The Viewer now runs on Linux platforms. With the Professional version, you can develop plug-ins on Linux to run on this operating system.
SOFTIMAGE|XSI FTK
3.6
The FTK has been extended with:
3.6.2
- You can now develop plug-ins on Linux to run on this operating system.
- You can now compile FTK tools in debug mode. The FTK now includes a debug library and .dll (XSIFTKd.lib and XSIFTKd.dll).
- The FTK no longer ships with the XSICore.lib and XSICore.dll files. You should remove these from your project settings before compiling with this version of the FTK.
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