[Plugin] Import OBJ with Materials v2.1 20131118

Birner · 6 May 2013, 17:37

Hello and Excuse me please!
I'm from Germany and my English is a little rusty.
So my problem lies in the implementation of the import OBJ files of tree[d] generator.
So I followed their instructions inserted into the missing images folder and tried to import but it does not work for me.
I also downloaded and installed your FixtreeD.rb but somehow everything works for me does not.
Maybe they have a video how does that make exactly would be really great
greeting
Tobias

TIG · 6 May 2013, 18:16

@Tobias

Now I understand [a bit].
Ensure the OBJ and MTL files are in the same folder.
Make sure the missing image files - as they are listed in the MTL file - are named exactly as the ones in the copied folder [folder/image].
Also ensure that the copied folder is with the MTL and named as the folder in the MTL images' paths...

Once we have an imported OBJ file with textures applied we can talk about the issues that the tool tree[d] can create...

Birner · 6 May 2013, 19:55

Hello
Yes, I created a folder that I have 3D tree gennnt since I have the OBJ file and MTL file the two images so inserted the bark and the leaves.
Well hope it's the right thing?
greeting

Tobi

Zacchia · 18 Jul 2013, 07:50

Hi
I tryed to import in SU 2013. Nothing happends, the obj seams not to import. Not working on SU 2013?

TIG · 18 Jul 2013, 08:36

It works in v2013 just as it did in v8.

Do you mean you can import the file in v8 but it fails in v2013 ??
If that is the case, what other plugins do you have in v2013 compared to v8?

Alternatively...
What is this OBJ file you are importing?
Can you open it in alternative apps like Blender?
Any errors in the Ruby Console?

Can you get this very simple test OBJ to work in v2013?
Extract the obj & mtl from the attached ZIP.
For simplicity there are no textures, only colors defined in the mtl
It's a 1m cube, units are Meters with YZ flipped.
Its RGB colored faces are on the axes.
I just retested it in v2013 and it worked fine.

PS: Please update your User-Profile with OS, Version etc - it helps us help you...

test.zip

Zacchia · 18 Jul 2013, 08:53

Thanks TIG
It works. I found out the problem on my files: It was a path with an bad letter: ö! I correct this and now your importer works fine!!
Thanks and sorry for trouble.

TIG · 18 Jul 2013, 08:57

That is an important point.
SketchUp's older version of Ruby on PCs doesn't care for non-ASCII characters in folder/file-paths...
Making it return an incorrect 'false' when testing that such a file exist?...
Many plugins can fail because of this.

Zacchia · 18 Jul 2013, 09:35

...mmmh. Not finished yet... I corrected the path but still not loading, here the path, whats wrong?: F:\Bruno_Zacchia_Kopie_H\Designmoebel_Objekte\Eigenes\Pflanzen
Loading it from desktop it works.

TIG · 18 Jul 2013, 09:49

In the Ruby Console, test this code:
File.exist?('F:\Bruno_Zacchia_Kopie_H\Designmoebel_Objekte\Eigenes\Pflanzen')
???
Perhaps add the OBJ file name on the end and retest !?
It should return 'true' if the file exists.
Test it with a non-existent name and you get 'false' ?

Are you sure there are not any non-ASCII characters in this path [including the file names themselves].
I guess you are German ?
So the the 'oe' can't be a œ, o+umlaut [ö] etc
Also watch out for ß etc...
If it works from your Desktop it suggests so character issue still exists in this new path...

Also check for texture names [subfolder with OBJ/MTL] these can't have non-ASCII characters in them and the MTL specified file paths must match the .png/.jpg names exactly...

Zacchia · 20 Jul 2013, 12:56

Hi TIG
I think your importer is OK, It works today, maybe it was something wrong with material folders or the original files. Sorry about trouble and thanks fpr feedback.

DDrock · 17 Sept 2013, 17:00

Hi TID.. to where i can download your plugin FixtreeD ?? i still cant fix empty texture on my mesh from treeD.. thanks

TIG · 20 Sept 2013, 17:08

My FixTreeD.rb is in this post: http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=306529#p306529

jackwatson · 30 Sept 2013, 16:15

Hi there,

I'm having trouble getting the materials to import with the model. The mtl file is in the same folder as the obj file, but it seems to replace the materials with random colours. I did tests with free models, but they're from designconnected which seems like a reputable site so I'm not sure what's stopping the import correctly. This is the chest which is supposed to be wood/iron.

Any ideas what might be causing this?

Regards

Jack

TIG · 30 Sept 2013, 17:01

Without seeing the relevant OBJ and MTL how could I say
Can you ZIP them and attach them to a post or PM them ?

It's likely something wrong with the MTL etc - both files are human-readable so you should be able to see issues ?

Zylescozar19 · 13 Nov 2013, 04:07

Hi TIG, this is a AWESOME PLUG-IN!
But when i try to import this simple cube (see image)
there is no object that have been imported.

Thanks.

Zylescozar19 · 13 Nov 2013, 04:11

Hi TIG. this is a AWESOME PLUG-IN!

TIG · 13 Nov 2013, 11:18

What units are you using?
If the imported object is very tiny geometry can't be created.
So a number like 0.1 might be very tiny in mm but x1000 using m !
The radiused edges look very faceted ?
Try using meters ?
The imported object might then be enormous, but can be scaled.
Can you attach the OBJ/MTL to a post or a PM ?

Zylescozar19 · 14 Nov 2013, 02:29

I did try all of the units.

Ok ill send you the copy of obj. file.
BTW im using WINDOWS 7 ULTIMATE - 32 BIT

Thanks TIG!

TIG · 18 Nov 2013, 11:26

OK

I now have your ZIP file by PM for this OBJ.

I note that there are no materials specified in the OBJ, by referencing an associated MTL file ?

Also the 'object' seems to have some tiny facets.
I think it was exported in 'mm' - but there's no units info in the header !
It does now import OK in 'mm'.

There are 68,000 lines of code in the OBJ file - which seems a lot for such a simple thing !

BUT... you have discovered a typo in my script's code.

This typo causes a failure - with a message in Ruby Console - but only when a particular rare combination of definitions in the OBJ file occur - that is when there are negative [-ve] values for 'f' face vertices specification: most OBJ's make +ve values to count the vertices when referring to v/vt/vn down the list etc... but -ve ones are allowed to count up the list... and my code did try to trap for that possibility... however, with certain combos of v/vt/vn it does fail because of this typo with the 'vn' counter...
However, your OBJ file's format is odder still in that it makes 26 subgroups [one for each external cube] and it restarts the vertex negative count back up the file for each subgroup it defines, rather than counting through the the whole file - making it awkward to 'reverse-engineer' it to the more normal [logical] downward count which always runs from the top and is always ignoring any subgroups - so '1' is always the very first vertex defined and any grouping is ignored - but it is trappable...

Also I note that many faces are 'reversed' in this OBJ's code.
These need fixing manually...

Frankly you could more easily make and assemble these cubes in SketchUp - there are only 3 variants for corners, centrally and mid-side, with 3d rotation etc and suitable face coloring [which is entirely missing from this OBJ anyway]...

However, you reported issue has made me make the script work better for these -ve values

I have fixed the script and an update will be published shortly...

TIG · 18 Nov 2013, 11:43

There is an update available: http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=172790#p172790
or http://sketchucation.com/resources/pluginstore?pln=obj_importer
Previously unpublished:
v2.0 20130321 'Blender-quads' now import as two tri-facets. The OBJ file must contain header-text "# Blender" or similar.
Recently fixed:
v2.1 20131118 Import of OBJ files using a -ve counter for 'f' vertices within sub-groups fixed. View now refreshes with each group completion.