To Work with VRED Scene Files

Add a File to a Scene

You can add files of many types to VRED scenes; for example, other VRED scenes, XML or Python files, or files created by other applications, such as 3ds Max or Maya.

1. Optional: Select a node under which you want to add the file or animation.
2. Click File > Add.
3. Select a file to add to the scene.
4. From the Merge Project Options dialog, select the elements you want to import or merge.

   Import options include: Variants, Touch Sensors, Sequences, Animation Curves, Clips, and Annotations. You can also merge Materials and Environments. Merging compares the materials and environments of both scenes and eliminates duplicates.

   When merging environments, there are four options:

   • Use From Scene: The existing environments from the current scene remain. Environments from the imported file are only added if they directly reference a material in the common tab of the material editor. Added materials using the default environment switch from file uses the existing scene environment default switch.
   • Use From File: Environments from the file are added and environments from the existing scene are removed. Unless, existing environments directly reference a material in the common tab of the material editor. Otherwise, all materials use the new environments.
   • Add From File: The environments switch from the file is added as a new switch to the scene and the default switch is maintained. All materials keep their environment assignment. This may result in duplicate environments and switches.
   • Merge: Adds the child environments of the default environment switch to the existing default environment switch. Duplicates are excluded.

The file is added to the Scenegraph as a child of the selected node. If there is no node selected in the Scenegraph, the objects are added as children of the root node. All objects of any added file are grouped in a group node. Imported files are marked green in the Scenegraph.

When merging projects, viewpoints are preserved.

Note: Showcase files are not supported in VRED 2018 and beyond. You can open a Showcase file in a version of VRED before 2018, save the file (vpb), and open in VRED 2018.

Add an Animation to a Scene

You can add VRML animations to a scene, provided they include the objects being animated.

1. Click File > Add VRML Animation.
2. Select an animation to add to the scene.

Save or Publish a Scene

From the File menu, select the appropriate save option.

• Save or Save As: Save as you would other from other applications, using the supported VRED file formats:
  • VRED Essentials Project Binary: .vpe
  • VRED Project Binary: .vpb
  • VRED Project File: .vpf
• Save Selected: Save the current selection to a supported VRED file format.
• Save Package: Save the project with textures stored in a subfolder instead of inline.
• Publish: Publish a VRED project to a single file with a specified start and end date; the scene cannot be loaded outside the specified date range.

Import Information to a Scene

You can import various file types and meta information to a scene.

1. Click File > Import.
2. Select the type of information you want to import:
   • Rendering Meta Data: Images rendered with VRED (.png, .jpg, .tiff, .exr) contain Scene settings embedded as meta data in the Rendering Meta Data. These settings are applied to the loaded scene.
   • CAD: Supported file formats: .apf, .asm, .catpart, .catproduct, .cgr, .dlv, .dlv3, .dlv4, .dwg, .dxf, .exp, .g, .iam, .iges, .igs, .ipt, .jt, .mdl, .model, .neu, .prt, .session, .sldasm, .sldprt, .step, .stp, .wire
     Tip: When importing Alias files, first unify all the surface normals to face the camera in Alias. Set Visual normals rather than Geometric normals to avoid disturbing the history of the model.
   • Cosmo Binary: Cosmo3D/Optimizer Geometry .csb, Deltagen Geometry .rtx, Deltagen Animations .wrl, Deltagen Variants .xml
   • PLM XML: Imports product structure files with .plmxml file format.
   • Render Jobs: Imports jobs from Render module to the current scene. (XML Render Queue Description .xml)
   • Sequences: Imports arrangements from Sequencer module to the current scene (XML Sequencer Description .xml). A sequence setup for the sequencer module can be added to the scene.
   • Variants: Imports variants from Variants and Vsets module to the current scene (XML Variant Description .xml). A variant setup for the Variants and VariantSets module can be added to the scene.

Export Information from a Scene

Export various information from a scene, including geometry, images, sequencer batches, and variants.

1. Click File > Export.
2. Select the type of information you want to export.
   • Scene: Export the whole scene; supported export formats include:
     • VRML Geometry: .vrml .wrl
     • Wavefront Geometry: .obj
     • VRED Essentials Project Binary: .vpe
     • FBX Scene: .fbx
     • Maya® ASCII: .ma
     • Maya® Binary: .mb
     • Maya® Scene: .ma .mb .wire
     • FHS Geometry: .fhs
     • PovRay: .pov
     • OpenSG ASCII Geometry: .osg
     • OpenSG Binary Geometry: .osb
     • ProENGINEER Render Geometry: .slp
     • Python Script: .py
     • StereoLithography Geometry: .stl .stla .stlb
     • VRED Project Binary: .vpb
     • VRED Project File: .vpf
   • Selected: Export the current selection into one of the supported formats.
   • Switched Geometry: Export switched geometry data (*.osb).
   • CubeImages: Export the scene to a set of cube images. The export is based around a center point you create, such as with a standard primitive (which you hide using the Scenegraph). Cube Image render settings can be set in Preferences under Export.
   • Render Jobs: Exports jobs from the Render module to the current scene (XML Render Queue Description .xml).
   • Snapshot: Exports a snapshot of the viewport to the snapshot folder specified in Preferences.
   • Sequences: All sequences set in the sequencer module are in a separate xml file.
   • Variants: All variants and variants sets are in a separate xml file.

Optimize a Scene

Speed up rendering while lowering memory use.

Imported FBX and Maya files are automatically scene optimized.

1. Click File > Optimize Scene.
2. Select an optimization option.
   • Optimize Geometries: Optimize the geometry structure.
   • Optimize/Share Geometries: Optimize the geometry structure and try to share duplicate geometries.
   • Merge/Optimize/Share Geometries: Optimize by changing the Scenegraph structure.

For more advanced optimization options:

• Click Scene > Optimize to open the Optimize dialog.