X file convertion?

[Evan]

ALL of my X files I use in my game are in a text format,
and the program (truespace) wont write them in a binary
format.

Is there a converter out there that can convert the file
from text to binary.

I wanna save the space ya know.

[opus]

I'm a bit confused, if you want to save space on the harddisk, then ZIP the files. If you want to make an application store in binary instead of txt-format, you have to change the application.
So what is your real problem:changing files from txt to binary or changing an application?

[Evan]

Originally posted by opus
I'm a bit confused, if you want to save space on the harddisk, then ZIP the files. If you want to make an application store in binary instead of txt-format, you have to change the application.
So what is your real problem:changing files from txt to binary or changing an application?

no no no!

I dont care about space on my harddrive.
Its a game ive been making for about 4 months now.

(When I ship this app, and its a 2 GB download.. its
gonna suck. But if they are all in binary it wont be that
big, it will be ALOT smaller!)

I love truespace, and its a great app.

But all of my x files COULD be smaller.

Is there a seperate application out there somewhere that
convert my Text X files into binary?

[Machaira]

Why not just use VB to do it? Open the text file, read it, create a binary file and write out the data.

[Zaei]

If truspace can export to the 3ds format, you can use the conv3ds tool that is included with the DirectX8 SDK.

However, most of the information included in an X file you wont even use, and you can achieve much neater effects with your own format.

Z.

[Evan]

Very interesting idea about my own format.

Didnt think of it.

what would i convert it from a ascii text file?

[Zaei]

Originally posted by Evan
Very interesting idea about my own format.

Didnt think of it.

what would i convert it from a ascii text file?

That is what I do. I can be a bit of a pain to write the converter, but if you do it right, you can extend it to add special things to your models, such as weapon attachments, skeleton anchors, particle system emitters, etc.

Z.

[Evan]

I dont think its worth it though =\

I already wrote a Character File Maker that
adds all that information, and the mesh....

[Zaei]

Originally posted by Evan
I dont think its worth it though =\

I already wrote a Character File Maker that
adds all that information, and the mesh....

And your X files are skimming 10 megs, am I right? Even as binary files, you might not be able to getg lower the 500k, per model. Mine rarely top 10k, as all uneccessary information is taken out.

Z.

[Evan]

Originally posted by Zaei
And your X files are skimming 10 megs, am I right? Even as binary files, you might not be able to getg lower the 500k, per model. Mine rarely top 10k, as all uneccessary information is taken out.

Z.

wow.

Wouldnt I have to load the models face by face?
I cant do that from VB, cause it cant calculate fast
enough.

[Zaei]

No, Its just a binary file. You should be able to read in the vertices and indices in a single call.

Z.