Version Information


This chapter provides version-specific information from version 1.3 to the last version of the dotXSI format:

dotXSI v3.5 File Format

Starting with v3.0, dotXSI no longer reads or writes any prior file versions. Version 3.0 is only available to v3.0, v3.5, and v3.6. Only SOFTIMAGE|3D can read and write versions prior to v3.0.

New Templates

Version 3.5 of the dotXSITM file format introduces a variety of new templates for storing SOFTIMAGE|XSI scene data.

For materials and texturing
New templates in v3.5
Acts as a placeholder for both realtime and mental ray shaders in the dotXSI file format. May contain the list of connections and the name of the sources (if applicable).
This template is embedded inside the XSI_Material template and may include connection information

Changes to Existing Templates

Template
Change
Supports multiple UVs

dotXSI v3.0 File Format

New Templates

Version 3.0 of the dotXSI file format introduced a variety of new templates for storing scene data.

For storing
New templates in v3.0
Groups of vertices
Multi-joint 2D and 3D chains
Texture sequences
Instances
Global material settings
Nulls
NURBS curves
Node and branch visibility
Support for SOFTIMAGE|XSI actions
SOFTIMAGE|XSI curve list
SOFTIMAGE|XSI user data
SOFTIMAGE|XSI surface meshes

Obsolete Templates

Templates used in v2.0
Templates used in v3.0

Changes to Existing Templates

Template
Change
Includes support for Transformation, Camera, Light, Ambience, Fog, and Material animation.
Contains an originator field.
Supports SOFTIMAGE|XSI infinite lights.
Embedded SI_Material templates include SI_FCurve templates for Ambient, Diffuse, Specular, Decay, Refractivity, Reflectivity, and Transparency.

dotXSI v2.0 File Format

New Templates

Version 2.0 of the dotXSI file format introduced a variety of new templates for storing scene data.

For storing
New templates in v2.0
User data
2-joint chains
Groups of vertices
Meshes
Polygon lists
Triangles and triangle strips
Global materials
SRT Transforms
Animation
Persistent custom effects
custom effect template
Models and model hierarchies
Global scene info
General file information

Obsolete Templates

Version 2.0 of the dotXSI file format does not use any of the DirectX templates, such as AnimationSet or Mesh, and replaces a number of v1.3 templates (see table).

Templates used in v1.3
Templates used in v2.0
AnimationSet
Frame
MeshMaterialList
Mesh

Changed Templates

Some of the new v2.0 templates can be nested in v1.3 templates, such as SI_NurbsCurve, SI_PatchSurface, SI_Material, and SI_Material.

dotXSI v1.3 File Format

This table shows which v1.3 templates have been replaced by new templates in v2.0.

v1.3 template
v2.0 template
AnimationSet
Frame
MeshMaterialList
Mesh