TGO Reader - Revision history

Redmaw: Changed references to file extensions ending in OBJ and .obj to TGO and .tgo where applicable.

2025-11-03T21:53:26Z

Changed references to file extensions ending in OBJ and .obj to TGO and .tgo where applicable.

Redmaw: Update File Read and Sequence tabs. Conformed parameter descriptions to align with OBJ Reader parameter descriptions.

2025-11-03T21:30:59Z

Update File Read and Sequence tabs. Conformed parameter descriptions to align with OBJ Reader parameter descriptions.

Matt: Formatting of Recalculate Normals

2020-08-25T06:28:26Z

Formatting of Recalculate Normals

Redmaw: Updated to reflect the node's latest parameters and added example images.

2020-08-19T17:04:33Z

Updated to reflect the node's latest parameters and added example images.

Show changes

JavaJones at 23:03, 3 June 2012

2012-06-03T23:03:51Z

Jo at 08:34, 16 May 2012

2012-05-16T08:34:28Z

JavaJones at 18:46, 1 June 2011

2011-06-01T18:46:58Z

JavaJones at 02:50, 18 May 2011

2011-05-18T02:50:26Z

127.0.0.1: jrfconvert import

2010-07-11T02:56:16Z

jrfconvert import

New page

[[Category:IMPORT]]
='''TGO Reader'''=

[[Image:drex_module_196_image_0.png|485pxpx|TGO Reader]]

==Additional tabs for TGO Reader==

* [[TGO Reader - Angular Position Tab]]

* [[TGO Reader - Surface Shaders Tab]]
__NOTOC__

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 '''Settings:'''
-<ul><li>'''Filename:''' This parameter shows the path to the file used by the OBJ Reader. You can use the file button at right to load a different file but this isn't recommended as the materials for the new file won't be loaded. To use an OBJ file sequence you can use a limited set of C-style format strings to automatically insert the frame number, for example "MyObject_%04d.obj" may result in "MyObject_0023.obj" on frame 23, depending on the options on the Sequence tab.</li></ul>
+<ul><li>'''Filename:''' This parameter shows the path to the file used by the TGO Reader. You can use the file button at right to load a different file but this isn't recommended as the materials for the new file won't be loaded. To use an TGO file sequence you can use a limited set of C-style format strings to automatically insert the frame number, for example "MyObject_%04d.tgo" may result in "MyObject_0023.tgo" on frame 23, depending on the options on the Sequence tab.</li></ul>
 <br />
 == Sequence Tab ==
 [[File:OBJReader_04_SequenceTab.png|none|460px|Sequence Tab]]
 '''Settings:'''
-<ul><li>'''Sequence first:''' When a supported frame insertion pattern is used in '''Filename''' to load a file sequence, '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' control the range of numbers that are allowed in the file sequence. If you have files with names MyObject_0001.obj to MyObject_0010.obj and want your animation to use them all, you would set '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' to 1 and 10 respectively. <ul><li>  For example, when set to a value of 1, MyObject_0001.obj will load on frame 1, when the '''Offset''' value is zero. If an '''Offset''' value other than zero is present, that value will be added to the '''Sequence first''' value to determine which geometry is loaded.  For example, with an '''Offset''' value of “4”, MyObject_0005.obj will load on frame 1.</li>
+<ul><li>'''Sequence first:''' When a supported frame insertion pattern is used in '''Filename''' to load a file sequence, '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' control the range of numbers that are allowed in the file sequence. If you have files with names MyObject_0001.tgo to MyObject_0010.tgo and want your animation to use them all, you would set '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' to 1 and 10 respectively. <ul><li>  For example, when set to a value of 1, MyObject_0001.tgo will load on frame 1, when the '''Offset''' value is zero. If an '''Offset''' value other than zero is present, that value will be added to the '''Sequence first''' value to determine which geometry is loaded.  For example, with an '''Offset''' value of “4”, MyObject_0005.tgo will load on frame 1.</li>
 {|
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 | [[File:OBJReader_05_SequenceTab_SequenceFirst_1-10LoopOffset0.gif|none|400px|Ten sequential objects, looping, no offset.]] || [[File:OBJReader_06_SequenceTab_SequenceFirst_1-10LoopOffset4.gif|none|400px|Ten sequential objects, looping, offset is four.]]
 |}
-<li> Terragen can cycle through a subset of the total available sequential geometry by specifying the range to use in the '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' values.  For example, if the '''Sequence first''' value was set to “4” and the '''Sequence last''' value was set to “8”, then Terragen would cycle through the sequential objects named MyObject_0004.obj through MyObject_0008.obj.  MyObject_0004.obj would load on frame 4 and MyObject_0008.obj would load on frame 8, if the '''Offset''' value were zero.  Note, that frames 1, 2 and 3 would load MyObject_0006.obj, MyObject_0007.obj, and MyObject_0008.obj respectively if '''Loop''' where enabled, and MyObject_0005.obj, MyObject_0006.obj and MyObject_0007.obj if '''Ping pong''' were enabled.</li>
+<li> Terragen can cycle through a subset of the total available sequential geometry by specifying the range to use in the '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' values.  For example, if the '''Sequence first''' value was set to “4” and the '''Sequence last''' value was set to “8”, then Terragen would cycle through the sequential objects named MyObject_0004.tgo through MyObject_0008.tgo.  MyObject_0004.tgo would load on frame 4 and MyObject_0008.tgo would load on frame 8, if the '''Offset''' value were zero.  Note, that frames 1, 2 and 3 would load MyObject_0006.tgo, MyObject_0007.tgo, and MyObject_0008.tgo respectively if '''Loop''' where enabled, and MyObject_0005.tgo, MyObject_0006.tgo and MyObject_0007.tgo if '''Ping pong''' were enabled.</li>
 <!-- using a table for the images that need to be side by side -->
@@ Line 51: / Line 51: @@
-<li>'''Sequence last:''' When a supported frame insertion pattern is used in '''Filename''' to load a file sequence, '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' control the range of numbers that are allowed in the file sequence. For example, if you have files with names MyObject_0001.obj to MyObject_0010.obj and want your animation to use them all, you would set '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' to 1 and 10 respectively.  </li>
+<li>'''Sequence last:''' When a supported frame insertion pattern is used in '''Filename''' to load a file sequence, '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' control the range of numbers that are allowed in the file sequence. For example, if you have files with names MyObject_0001.tgo to MyObject_0010.tgo and want your animation to use them all, you would set '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' to 1 and 10 respectively.  </li>
-<ul><li>If an '''Offset''' value other than "0" is present, that value will be added to the '''Sequence last''' value to determine which geometry is loaded, factoring in the number of available objects in the sequence and cycling through them based on the '''Loop''' or '''Ping Pong''' mode selected.  For example, with an '''Offset''' value of “1” in a object sequence numbered 1 through 10, MyObject_0001.obj will load on frame 10 if '''Loop''' is enabled, or MyObject_0009.obj will load on frame 10 if '''Ping Pong''' is enabled.</li>
+<ul><li>If an '''Offset''' value other than "0" is present, that value will be added to the '''Sequence last''' value to determine which geometry is loaded, factoring in the number of available objects in the sequence and cycling through them based on the '''Loop''' or '''Ping Pong''' mode selected.  For example, with an '''Offset''' value of “1” in a object sequence numbered 1 through 10, MyObject_0001.tgo will load on frame 10 if '''Loop''' is enabled, or MyObject_0009.tgo will load on frame 10 if '''Ping Pong''' is enabled.</li>
 </ul>
@@ Line 63: / Line 63: @@
-<li>'''Frame offset:''' This value provides a way to load files with sequential numbers that are different from the rendered frame numbers, to shift the timing of the animation or to account for differences in how the frames are numbered in the object filenames. Terragen adds '''Frame offset''' to the project's current frame number to determine which file number to load (with the actual file number being limited to the range defined by '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' with optional looping or ping-ponging). For example, if the '''Sequence first''' value is "1", the '''Sequence last''' value is "10", and the '''Offset value''' is "4", then MyObject_0005.obj would be loaded on frame 1, MyObject_0006.obj on frame 2, etc. Negative offsets can be used. For example, if the '''Offset''' value is "-1000" (negative), then MyObject_0001.obj would be loaded on frame 1001, MyObject_0002.obj on frame 1002, etc.  </li>
+<li>'''Frame offset:''' This value provides a way to load files with sequential numbers that are different from the rendered frame numbers, to shift the timing of the animation or to account for differences in how the frames are numbered in the object filenames. Terragen adds '''Frame offset''' to the project's current frame number to determine which file number to load (with the actual file number being limited to the range defined by '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' with optional looping or ping-ponging). For example, if the '''Sequence first''' value is "1", the '''Sequence last''' value is "10", and the '''Offset value''' is "4", then MyObject_0005.tgo would be loaded on frame 1, MyObject_0006.tgo on frame 2, etc. Negative offsets can be used. For example, if the '''Offset''' value is "-1000" (negative), then MyObject_0001.tgo would be loaded on frame 1001, MyObject_0002.tgo on frame 1002, etc.  </li>
 {|
 |-

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 '''Settings:'''
-<ul><li>'''Filename:''' This parameter shows the path to the file used by the OBJ Reader. You can use the file button at right to load a different file but this isn't recommended as the materials for the new file won't be loaded.</li></ul>
+<ul><li>'''Filename:''' This parameter shows the path to the file used by the OBJ Reader. You can use the file button at right to load a different file but this isn't recommended as the materials for the new file won't be loaded. To use an OBJ file sequence you can use a limited set of C-style format strings to automatically insert the frame number, for example "MyObject_%04d.obj" may result in "MyObject_0023.obj" on frame 23, depending on the options on the Sequence tab.</li></ul>
 <br />
 == Sequence Tab ==
 [[File:OBJReader_04_SequenceTab.png|none|460px|Sequence Tab]]
 '''Settings:'''
-<ul><li>'''Sequence first:''' This value controls both the geometry and the frame on which that geometry is loaded.  <ul><li>  For example, when set to a value of 1, MyObject_0001.obj will load on frame 1, when the “Offset” value is zero. If an “Offset” value other than zero is present, that value will be added to the “Sequence first” value to determine which geometry is loaded.  For example, with an “Offset” value of “4”, MyObject_0005.obj will load on frame 1.</li>
+<ul><li>'''Sequence first:''' When a supported frame insertion pattern is used in '''Filename''' to load a file sequence, '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' control the range of numbers that are allowed in the file sequence. If you have files with names MyObject_0001.obj to MyObject_0010.obj and want your animation to use them all, you would set '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' to 1 and 10 respectively. <ul><li>  For example, when set to a value of 1, MyObject_0001.obj will load on frame 1, when the '''Offset''' value is zero. If an '''Offset''' value other than zero is present, that value will be added to the '''Sequence first''' value to determine which geometry is loaded.  For example, with an '''Offset''' value of “4”, MyObject_0005.obj will load on frame 1.</li>
 {|
@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 | [[File:OBJReader_05_SequenceTab_SequenceFirst_1-10LoopOffset0.gif|none|400px|Ten sequential objects, looping, no offset.]] || [[File:OBJReader_06_SequenceTab_SequenceFirst_1-10LoopOffset4.gif|none|400px|Ten sequential objects, looping, offset is four.]]
 |}
-<li> Terragen can cycle through a subset of the total available sequential geometry by specifying the range to use in the “Sequence first” and “Sequence last” values.  For example, if the “Sequence first” value was set to “4” and the “Sequence last” value was set to “8”, then Terragen would cycle through the sequential objects named MyObject_0004.obj through MyObject_0008.obj.  MyObject_0004.obj would load on frame 4 and MyObject_0008.obj would load on frame 8, if the “Offset” value were zero.  Note, that frames 1, 2 and 3 would load MyObject_0006.obj, MyObject_0007.obj, and MyObject_0008.obj respectively if “Loop” where enabled, and MyObject_0005.obj, MyObject_0006.obj and MyObject_0007.obj if “Ping pong” were enabled.</li>
+<li> Terragen can cycle through a subset of the total available sequential geometry by specifying the range to use in the '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' values.  For example, if the '''Sequence first''' value was set to “4” and the '''Sequence last''' value was set to “8”, then Terragen would cycle through the sequential objects named MyObject_0004.obj through MyObject_0008.obj.  MyObject_0004.obj would load on frame 4 and MyObject_0008.obj would load on frame 8, if the '''Offset''' value were zero.  Note, that frames 1, 2 and 3 would load MyObject_0006.obj, MyObject_0007.obj, and MyObject_0008.obj respectively if '''Loop''' where enabled, and MyObject_0005.obj, MyObject_0006.obj and MyObject_0007.obj if '''Ping pong''' were enabled.</li>
 <!-- using a table for the images that need to be side by side -->
@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
-<li>'''Sequence last:''' This value controls both the geometry and the frame on which that geometry is loaded. <ul><li>  For example, when set to a value of "10" and using an object sequence numbered 1 through 10, MyObject_0010.obj will load on frame 10 when the “Offset” value is set to "0".  </li>
-<li>If an “Offset” value other than "0" is present, that value will be added to the “Sequence last” value to determine which geometry is loaded, factoring in the number of available objects in the sequence and cycling through them based on the "Loop" or "Ping Pong" mode selected.  For example, with an “Offset” value of “1” in a object sequence numbered 1 through 10, MyObject_0001.obj will load on frame 10 if “Loop” is enabled, or MyObject_0009.obj will load on frame 10 if “Ping Pong” is enabled.</li>
+<li>'''Sequence last:''' When a supported frame insertion pattern is used in '''Filename''' to load a file sequence, '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' control the range of numbers that are allowed in the file sequence. For example, if you have files with names MyObject_0001.obj to MyObject_0010.obj and want your animation to use them all, you would set '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' to 1 and 10 respectively.  </li>
 </ul>
-<li>'''Loop or Ping Pong:''' Upon completion of the sequential object cycle determined by the “Sequence first” value and “Sequence last” value, Terragen can either “loop” back to the “Sequence first” object and cycle through the objects as each frame advances, or it can “ping pong”, that is, reverse the object sequence order until the “Sequence first” object is encountered. </li>
+<li>'''Loop or Ping Pong:''' After Terragen applies '''Offset''' to the current frame number, if the resulting frame number falls outside the range defined by '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' then '''Loop''' and '''Ping Pong''' are two different ways extend the cycle infinitely, both before the beginning and after the end of the sequence. Upon completion of the sequential object cycle determined by the '''Sequence first''' value and '''Sequence last''' value, the objects can either “loop” back to the '''Sequence first''' object and cycle through the objects as each frame advances, or “ping pong”, that is, reverse the object sequence order until the '''Sequence first''' object is encountered. If neither '''Loop''' nor '''Ping Pong''' are checked then the object will be held at the first or last file in the sequence when the requested frame number falls outside the defined range. </li>
 {|
 |-
@@ Line 62: / Line 63: @@
-<li>'''Frame offset:''' This value provides a way to load a different sequential object.  Its value is added to the “Sequence first” value and “Sequential last” value.  For example, if the “Sequence first” value is "1", the “Sequence last” value is "10", and the “Offset” value is "4", then MyObject_0005.obj would load on frame 1.  </li>
+<li>'''Frame offset:''' This value provides a way to load files with sequential numbers that are different from the rendered frame numbers, to shift the timing of the animation or to account for differences in how the frames are numbered in the object filenames. Terragen adds '''Frame offset''' to the project's current frame number to determine which file number to load (with the actual file number being limited to the range defined by '''Sequence first''' and '''Sequence last''' with optional looping or ping-ponging). For example, if the '''Sequence first''' value is "1", the '''Sequence last''' value is "10", and the '''Offset value''' is "4", then MyObject_0005.obj would be loaded on frame 1, MyObject_0006.obj on frame 2, etc. Negative offsets can be used. For example, if the '''Offset''' value is "-1000" (negative), then MyObject_0001.obj would be loaded on frame 1001, MyObject_0002.obj on frame 1002, etc.  </li>
 {|
 |-

@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 '''Read MDD (motion) file:''' Terragen can apply Motion Designer or “MDD” files created in third-party 3D software packages to an object within the project.  The MDD file contains the position of every vertex in an object, for each frame of an animation.  After an object is animated or otherwise deformed in the third-party 3D software, its vertex positions are “baked”, or saved in the MDD file format.  This allows for complex animation to exist within a Terragen project, that otherwise could not.
 {|
@@ Line 98: / Line 97: @@
 <br />
-'''Recalculate Normals: '''  This popup has provides four options because of the many different ways in which 3D software applications, exporters and modeling techniques are used to create geometry and MDD files.  The MDD files and shaders assigned to the “Read MDD file” and “Mesh displacer” parameters change the base 3D object’s normals, requiring them to be recomputed in order to render correctly.  The “Recalculate Normals” parameter instructs Terragen how to recompute the normals.
+'''Recalculate Normals: '''  The MDD files and shaders assigned to the “Read MDD file” and “Mesh displacer” parameters change the base 3D object’s normals, requiring them to be recomputed in order to render correctly.  The “Recalculate Normals” parameter instructs Terragen how to recompute the normals.
 [[File:OBJReader_41_MeshModifiersTab_RecalcNormalsParams.png|none|378px|Recalculate Normal options.]]
-<ul><br />
+<ul>
-'''No:  '''  The normals are unchanged and left as they were in the original Wavefront OBJ, Lightwave LWO, or Terragen TGO formatted object.
+<li>
-[[File:OBJReader_MeshModifier_RecalcNormals_No.png|none|400px|Normals not recalculated.]]
+'''<u>No:</u>''' The normals are unchanged and left as they were in the original Wavefront OBJ, Lightwave LWO, or Terragen TGO formatted object.
+<br />
 <br />
-'''Conservative Update: '''  Only the existing normals are updated. In other words, it relies on the normals to have been mapped to faces in a meaningful way in the original object.  Each recalculated normal is the average of the normals of the faces that use the normal.
+Benefits:
-<ul> '''Benefits:'''
+    <ul>
-<ul><li>Fast.</li>
+    <li>Fast.</li>
-<li>Preserves creases where edges use per-face normals in the original scene.</li>
+    <li>Preserves creases where edges use per-face normals in the original scene.</li>
-</ul>
+    </ul>
-'''Drawbacks:'''
+Drawbacks:
-<ul><li> Cannot create a smooth surface if normals are not shared between faces</li>
+    <ul>
-<li> Cannot create normals where they didn't previously exist. </li></ul>
+    <li> Cannot create a smooth surface if normals are not shared between faces</li>
-</ul>
+    <li> Cannot create normals where they didn't previously exist. </li>
-[[File:OBJReader_MeshModifier_RecalcNormals_Conservative.png|none|400px|Normals recomputed with Conservative Update.]]
+    </ul>
 <br />
-'''Smooth + preserve creases:  '''Similar to "Conservative update" except that it preprocesses the model to merge any duplicate normals. After doing this it recalculates each normal using the average of the normals of the faces that use the normal.
+<li>
-<ul>'''Benefits:'''
+'''<u>Smooth + preserve creases:</u>''' Similar to "Conservative update" except that it preprocesses the model to merge any duplicate normals. After doing this it recalculates each normal using the average of the normals of the faces that use the normal.
-<ul><li> Preserves creases where edges used per-face normals in the original model.</li></ul>
+<br />
-'''Drawbacks:'''
+Benefits:
-<ul><li> Cannot create normals where they didn't previously exist.</li></ul>
+    <ul>
 [[File:OBJReader_MeshModifier_RecalcNormals_SmoothPreserveCreases.png|none|400px|Normals recalculated with Smooth + Preserve creases.]]
 <br />
 [[File:OBJReader_MeshModifier_RecalcNormals_SmoothEverything.png|none|400px|Normals recomputed with Smooth Everything.]]
 </ul>
-</ul><br />
+<br />
 == Surface Shaders Tab ==
 [[File:OBJReader_19_SurfaceShadersTab.png|none|460px|Surface Shaders Tab]]

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 '''Node Description and Purpose:'''<br />
-The TGO Reader loads an object from a TGO file. TGO is Terragen 2's native object format.
+The TGO Reader loads an object from a TGO file. TGO is Terragen's native object format, which allows the saving of Terragen-specific information such as internal surfacing networks, in addition to normal object settings. TGO is a Terragen-specific file format and is generally not supported in other applications. TGO Objects can be moved (translated), rotated, and scaled on the Transform tab. The Surface Shaders tab allows you to specify the surface shaders that will be applied to the object.
 '''Node Type:''' Object<br />
 '''Settings:'''<br />

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-[[Image:drex_module_196_image_0.png|485pxpx|TGO Reader]]
+[[Image:drex_module_196_image_0.png|center|TGO Reader]]
 ==Additional tabs for TGO Reader==
@@ Line 7: / Line 62: @@
 * [[TGO Reader - Surface Shaders Tab]]
 [[Category: Object Nodes]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:46, 1 June 2011
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	<!-- imported from file: module_196.html-->		<!-- imported from file: module_196.html-->

−	[[Category: Object Nodes\| ]]	+	[[Category: Object Nodes]]