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- SM2DKB Conversion utility
- By Dale P. Stocker
- Vs. 2.0 Apr. 1992
-
- This is a program that takes a Surface Model file and
- converts it into a DKB data file in the form of triangles. DKB
- and POV ray are two freeware raytracing programs that have a lot
- of capability over Surface Model. DKB also has a lot of support
- and now a group called the Persistence of Vision group that is
- working on there beta version. I can't run this yet because I
- don't have a coprocessor. I hope they come out with a version I
- can use, and I still have access to it. In any case DKB is a
- fully functional raytracer with a lot of power. I will not go
- into all of the DKB commands, he has his own book for that.
- What you can do is create a object with XYZ, or whatever,
- for Surface Model and then view it quickly, edit it as you need,
- and when you get what you want you can convert it to DKB for a
- full ray trace of the object, or combination of objects, is a
- full scene. All of it is in ASCII data so you can do whatever you
- want to it, like change the texture.
- This program is free and can be distributed free
- provided you make no changes and ask for no money. If you have
- the money to spare and find you would like to give something for
- the program you can send any amount you would like to encourage
- the programmer to continue to create free software. If you have
- some software you would like make for you, let me know.
- If you would like the source code for the programs in
- Quickbasic you can send me $10.00 for processing and disk and
- I will send you the program code. This includes the code for
- XYZ-EGA. Note that I may be moving soon. Send this to:
-
- Dale P. Stocker
- 3493 E. Cedar Lake Dr.
- Greenbush Mi. 48738
-
- The program is command line driven. just enter:
-
- SM2DKB <File_name.Extention>
-
- The program will then do it's best it make a DKB data file
- with the same name but extension .DAT. There may be some problems
- with degenerate triangles. The program ties to weed these out and
- you will be asked if you want to try to fix any that are found,
- or just discard that side. In most cases there is a point on the
- surface that is the same. Can't do that on a triangle. If there
- are more that three nodes you can remove one of the duplicates
- and press on. It will do it's best. The real test is when you run
- DKB on it. There may still be degenerate triangle. You will have
- to fix these on your own.
- No view, light, or other things are added to the DKB data
- file. You need to set up your own scene. The objects are in
- declare statements. A new object is made every time a change in
- surface model material is encountered.
-
- If you have ideas or other programs you would like to share
- send them to me. I have other programs I was selling as shareware
- that I may make freeware. If you would like one of these programs
- send me a disk with some freeware programs as well as return
- postage. I have some programs for fantasy and space adventure
- games, a program for banking, Michigan lottery, and one for basal
- thermometer charting. The space programs require three disks for
- all information. Other gaming materiel would be useful. Things
- like ship design and adventure ideas. I have quite a few if you
- are interested.
-
- The office of the AISB branch at Wurtsmith AFB Michigan has
- contributed to the final version of this program. This program
- is free to all government agencies. I do not have any direct
- access to bulletin boards of the Internet. This office has been
- able to distribute these programs to you. Thanks to TSgt Don T.
- Olsen for his help in this area. I will not have access
- to this for much longer. But I hope I can still get my programs
- out to you and get some of the great programs off of these
- places. My thanks the the creator of Surface Model, AutoMove, DKB
- raytrace, and others.
-
-
- This program is distributed as is and I am not responsible
- for any loss of data or other problems the program may cause. You
- use this program at your own risk. It is freeware and no
- registration is needed.