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COLLADA Files Viewer [closed]

UPDATE: looks like it's my own fault for not studying enough SketchUp's GUI. See my own answer.

Hi,

I'm planning to implement an "export to COLLADA" functionality in my mapping software, but I'm hampered by a lack of a good COLLADA files viewer. I've tried several applications:

  1. Google SketchUp provides the best viewing experience I've come across so far, but importing COLLADA files is very slow. I tried this sample I found, but it takes 2-3 minutes to load it into SketchUp, and I'm running this on a decent machine. Since developing an export code involves a lot of trials and errors, SketchUp is just too slow for experimental work.
  2. I've tried Blender, but the user interface is pretty alien for someone not doing day-to-day 3D games development. But I have to praise it for being able to load the sample file almost instantly, which makes me think SketchUp guys either do some deliberate slowing down of the import in the free version or they need to freshen up on their programming skills. (UPDATE: it turns out you can load it fast, see my answer, Sorry guys.)
  3. I also tried some other free viewers, but they are either not showing the sample properly or they have very limited viewing capabilities (no panning or orbiting, for example).

I'd be grateful for any hints, but I'm looking for first-hand experience, not just googling (I've tried that myself). I realize this is not a typical programming question, but I see no better place on StackExchange to ask this.

like image 799
Igor Brejc Avatar asked Apr 26 '11 16:04

Igor Brejc


People also ask

How do I open a COLLADA file?

You can open a COLLADA file on a Windows or Mac computer. Right-click on the name of the file. Then click on Choose default program, then Browse, to select an application to open it with. You can view a COLLADA file with Adobe Photoshop, Daz Studio, SketchUp, and Blender, among others.

How do I view DAE files?

You can open DAE files and view their contents in Adobe Photoshop (Windows, Mac) and Apple Preview (Mac). If you want to edit a DAE file, you should open it in an Autodesk application that supports DAE files, such as Autodesk Maya (cross-platform), or Blender (cross-platform).

Can you open Collada file in SketchUp?

COLLADA files use the . dae file extension, which stands for digital asset exchange. In SketchUp, you can import and export COLLADA files pretty easily. Note: SketchUp supports the COLLADA 1.4 specification and schema.


2 Answers

There is also MeshLab which is free and open-source, cross-platform (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux), it supports several formats (COLLADA, VRML 2.0, 3DS etc.) and has extensive viewing capabilities (e.g. panning/orbiting).

MeshLab example

like image 154
BenC Avatar answered Oct 05 '22 17:10

BenC


COLLADA had now been replaced by glTF format.

F3D can open glTF and many other file format. F3D is a free, opensource VTK based software.

f3d file.gltf
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Mathieu Westphal Avatar answered Oct 05 '22 17:10

Mathieu Westphal