FluidImporter free .obj importer Beta 1.0.5 Updated

Mainline411 · 9 Jul 2012, 20:55

Hi, I recently tried this .obj importer but it did not import textures I have tried all the different settings if someone could please work out what the error is even better import it and send me the .skp it would be most appreciated.

TIG · 10 Jul 2012, 08:53

To import materials associated with an OBJ file you need the matching MTL file.
These files are readable when opened in a plain-text editor like Notepad.exe.
Near the start of the OBJ code [let's assume it's called Filename.obj] there is a line specifying the MTL - saying something like mtllib Filename.mtl.
This MTL file should be in the same folder as the OBJ file, unless the line of code specifies a subfolder.
The MTL file defines all material e.g. name newmtl WoodColor, color Kd 0.890196 0.882353 0.870588, transparency d 1.000000 etc.
If a specified material uses a texture then the name of its image file is given in the material's MTL code on a line starting with map_Kd.
If there is a folder-path [given as say Textures**/**oak.png] then the image file is expected to be in that subfolder, that is itself in the MTL file's folder; however, if there is no subfolder given in the path then the image file is expected to be in the MTL file's own folder.

The Importer is not clairvoyant - it can only work with the data in the file[s] that you give it.
The most common reason for 'missing materials' is that they are simply missing!

Mainline411 · 10 Jul 2012, 11:49

@tig said:

To import materials associated with an OBJ file you need the matching MTL file.
These files are readable when opened in a plain-text editor like Notepad.exe.
Near the start of the OBJ code [let's assume it's called Filename.obj] there is a line specifying the MTL - saying something like mtllib Filename.mtl.
This MTL file should be in the same folder as the OBJ file, unless the line of code specifies a subfolder.
The MTL file defines all material e.g. name newmtl WoodColor, color Kd 0.890196 0.882353 0.870588, transparency d 1.000000 etc.
If a specified material uses a texture then the name of its image file is given in the material's MTL code on a line starting with map_Kd.
If there is a folder-path [given as say Textures**/**oak.png] then the image file is expected to be in that subfolder, that is itself in the MTL file's folder; however, if there is no subfolder given in the path then the image file is expected to be in the MTL file's own folder.

The Importer is not clairvoyant - it can only work with the data in the file[s] that you give it.
The most common reason for 'missing materials' is that they are simply missing!

I have the .OBJ .MTL and .TGA I have opened both the .OBJ and the .MTL withe Notepad and all paths and file names are set correctly but the textures I have tried ataching a .ZIP archive with the files attached to yesterday's post and this post but it will not work I will upload it to a different site later today

TIG · 10 Jul 2012, 12:36

Perhaps it's the TGA image format that's unsuitable ?
Try moving the origin of the TGA to top-left and re-saving... and/or having no TGA RLE-compression in the image [Gimp it].
If a TGA file's format is not suitable for use in a SKM texture it will fail.
I have just maually replicated this error by trying to use a bottom-left/RLE-compressed TGA as a texture - it fails... because there is no suitable image file specified...

Alternatively try making PNG versions of the files [with Gimp] and editing the MTL file to look for .PNG not .TGA file names...

See if these ideas works...

Mainline411 · 10 Jul 2012, 19:00

@tig said:

Perhaps it's the TGA image format that's unsuitable ?
Try moving the origin of the TGA to top-left and re-saving... and/or having no TGA RLE-compression in the image [Gimp it].
If a TGA file's format is not suitable for use in a SKM texture it will fail.
I have just maually replicated this error by trying to use a bottom-left/RLE-compressed TGA as a texture - it fails... because there is no suitable image file specified...

Alternatively try making PNG versions of the files [with Gimp] and editing the MTL file to look for .PNG not .TGA file names...

See if these ideas works...

Tried converting to the .TGA to a .PNG it converted fine but still the textures do not import. I do not know what GIMP is so I can't try the first one I have uploaded the files now (you can get them here: http://testsite21.weebly.com/uploads/5/5/0/6/5506080/sketchucation_trimble_sktechup_.obj_error.zip) if you could try and import them and send me the .SKP it would be extremely appreciated I did change it to PNG but I changed it back to .TGA I have included the .PNG in the zip still though.

TIG · 10 Jul 2012, 20:02

The MTL path is 'absolute' NOT relative
map_Kd **C:\**london_map.tga etc
For the code to find the image it must either be in the root of the drive [bad idea] or in the same folder as the MTL, so edit it to read
map_Kd london_map.tga etc
Can't guarantee the TGA file is 'good' but we won't know until you set the paths right...

Mainline411 · 10 Jul 2012, 20:09

@tig said:

The MTL path is 'absolute' NOT relative
map_Kd **C:\**london_map.tga etc
For the code to find the image it must either be in the root of the drive [bad idea] or in the same folder as the MTL, so edit it to read
map_Kd london_map.tga etc
Can't guarantee the TGA file is 'good' but we won't know until you set the paths right...

I put the files in the root of the drive.

TIG · 10 Jul 2012, 21:28

But... why ???
Keep them with the MTL file where they belong, and change the path to a relative path inside the MTL file's code.
Not even sure that a \ works in MTL absolute paths - it should be a / ???
The originator needs shooting for making the MTL file that way in the first place...

Does it work ?
Either way ??

Have you tried fixing the TGA file otherwise ???

Mainline411 · 11 Jul 2012, 17:14

@tig said:

But... why ???
Keep them with the MTL file where they belong, and change the path to a relative path inside the MTL file's code.
Not even sure that a \ works in MTL absolute paths - it should be a / ???
The originator needs shooting for making the MTL file that way in the first place...

Does it work ?
Either way ??

Have you tried fixing the TGA file otherwise ???

Fixed the problem by changing
map_Kd C:\london_map.tga
to
map_Kd london_map.tga

mingjae · 3 Mar 2013, 07:14

Hi, I want to uninstall the FluidImporter,
but I use revoUninstaller to do the job,
but revo is make a mistake, it even bold the vray registry to be deleted so i skip the registry deletion and i found this to verify if i can delete these 3 files:

are those fluidimporter files? is it save if I delete them?

coz fluidimporter is crashes with my vray so vray wont render any image from imported object..

TIG · 3 Mar 2013, 12:12

Do not remove any of the other Importer's .dll files.
If you have you need to reinstall the affected products...

To stop the Fluid-OBJimporter loading simply run its Uninstaller and it will be removed...

Lost_Arkitekt · 3 May 2013, 23:36

I have three .OBJ files I'm trying to import. The largest one imports without crashing, but half of all the facets are not filled in, so I can't really change the material.

The other two files (one without an MTL) crash as soon about 2 seconds after starting to parse file.

Here are the files that crash totally. (One isn't zipped...no MTL).

Thanks.

arne-jacobsen-ant-obj.rar

Lost_Arkitekt · 3 May 2013, 23:37

The other file didn't attach. Here it is.

chair-obj.rar

TIG · 4 May 2013, 10:23

Try checking that the units size is correct - very small facets cannot be formed in SketchUp.

Some app's make OBJ files in odd ways...
So if that doesn't work try importing it into another app - like Blender: if it is OK it that app, then re-export from that - the new OBJ format might be made more compatible with this SketchUp's importer ?

Vaile · 11 May 2013, 00:23

@thomthom said:

I'm getting crashes when I try to import an .obj file I got. (120MB)
I've tried different options - triangulate on/off, material on/off - but it bugsplats every time. Memory usage of Sketchup.exe doesn't exceed 300MB.

Any ideas?

I am having this very same issue.

macmac12 · 2 Jun 2013, 11:24

guys have you tried installing this in su 2013? I tried but I can't see it in file menu, wondering if anyone here installed it successfully inside 2013

TIG · 2 Jun 2013, 12:16

You haven't completed your User-Profile... OS, version etc ??
Help us to help you...

It is Win 32bit, by default it tries to install into the SketchUp 8 Importers folder, you can redirect it to SketchUp 2013, but when it installs the dll it doesn't load as the OBJ importer in the Import list...
I suspect that the author will need to make a v2013 compatible version...

Perhaps if you PM him he'll respond...

macmac12 · 2 Jun 2013, 12:45

thanks Tig for the reply. yah, sorry about my profile, I will complete them now.

Hope the author of this plugin release some update for 2013. I think this is the best importer for obj in sketchup

thanks Tig

TIG · 2 Jun 2013, 15:54

I've been in touch with the author...
He will look at a v2013 compliant version...
But don't hold your breath...

archigrafix · 4 Jun 2013, 08:09

I now always get bugsplat when using the obj importer...
I am on Win7Pro64 SU7
Anyone with the same problem?