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Data Import Toolkit

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MajicStudio supports importing geometric and texture data for 3D model representations of objects and scenes, trajectory data for describing the movement of models in 3D space, and imagery and elevation data to view terrain. Data can be imported into MajicStudio by using loaders or specific format importers. Format specific loaders support file drag and drop operations from the Resource Manager FileViewer into the Scene Graph or the Namespace, or double-click insertion for quick and easy automated importing of the dataset.

Geometry Data

MajicStudio uses a Lightwave loader to import previously created geometric information into MajicStudio application projects. The Lightwave importer parses the entire .lwo file format. The following minimum information is necessary for MajicStudio visual productions. The importer can be extended to use any information contained in the Lightwave file necessary for a custom application

  • A set of triangles describing the geometry to visualize. Basic geometric information in MajicStudio simply consists of organized sets of triangles.
  • Object organization. Each set of triangles (or Mesh in Lightwave) forms an object in MajicStudio (Mesh object).  Each collection of triangle sets (or Layer in Lightwave) forms a collection object in MajicStudio (Frame object).  A Frame object in MajicStudio can have independent behaviors applied to it in MajicStudio. A Mesh object is used to store geometric polygonal data.
  • Surface information. This includes identifying colors or other visual characteristics regarding the display of a Mesh.

MajicStudio producers can rapidly incorporate and integrate content from other authoring applications using a variety of third party CAD translation products. Streamlined geometry data transfer into MajicStudio has been achieved for third party products including Lightwave, 3D Studio Max, Pro Engineer, ParaSolid, I-DEAS, SolidEdge, Catia, and neutral mesh surface file formats such as JT, IGES and STEP.

Trajectory and Simulation Data

MajicStudio can import trajectory and simulation data in any custom file format or network exchange protocol. Data import can include static data that does not change once an application is launched. Data import can also include dynamic data or data that is received from a third party simulation application on the fly in real-time.

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Static application data can be imported from any type of format. MajicStudio provides direct import mechanisms for Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheet data, which is often used to import data from any other third party static source. Data from other formats is easily converted to an Excel format that includes a spreadsheet of raw data as a function of time and a spreadsheet for the data dictionary to define the raw data. This import mechanism typically includes an event list identifying key simulation events to highlight in a visualization or application.

Dynamic or live simulation data can be imported into an MajicStudio application in real-time as needed to drive a visual scene. MajicStudio has a Data Import Service that includes an application interface to take data from third party sources and translate that data as needed to support an MajicStudio visual application.

Third party services supported in projects include HLA, DIS and TENA but can include any other custom simulation data source and protocol. The Data Import service is used to monitor incoming simulation data and provides mechanisms to load and manage the state of entities including creation, destruction and position updates.

The process to incorporate new simulation data involves writing a protocol specific to that simulation source and using the Data Import Service application interface to communicate that data to an MajicStudio visual application. The Data Import Service provides a standard interface that allows MajicStudio software developers to quickly and easily integrate any data third party simulation data source into an MajicStudio visual.

Terrain Data

MajicStudio includes a Terrain Import Service that imports imagery information in BIP format and converts that information into a highly optimized format used by the MajicStudio Earth Viewer and Terrain Manager. MajicStudio producers use third party products to convert information in other imagery formats to BIP for direct importation into an MajicStudio custom application.

The Terrain Import Service also imports elevation data defined in DTED or SRTM format and converts it to the optimized format used by MajicStudio. Additional importers for direct elevation import into MajicStudio format for DEM, BT and FTOP data are in development. MajicStudio producers also use third party products to convert elevation data to DTED or SRTM format.