[Bf-committers] XML-based file format for blender

[Kent Mein]

In reply to jeremy@marzhillstudios.com (jeremy@marzhillstudios.com):

> Before proceeding any further in the project I'd recommend  making 
> some decisions about implementing and how we want to use the 
> functionality.
> 
> 1. What do we intend the format to be used for? Why do we want it? 
> (this goes into deciding question 2 below)

My 2 cents and what I thought it was for.  An alternative format to
the normal .blend that has a fix specification so people using
other programs can write importers.  I don't think it was meant to
replace a .blend but to make a more portable format that is an alternative.

> 
> 2. Do we want the xml to be in a standard 3d format or a blender 
> specific one?

I would say if there is a 3d format that covers everything/most everything
to use that as you mention later on.  I also think its important to
get the specification planed out and finished before working on the code.
We might have to make major changes to it just to get little things added.
The whole point of something like this is so that its easy for other
programs to read, and or for people to hand edit a file.  If were changing
the spec all the time its pretty much worthless.

> 
> 3. Is it to be an export option or a save as option?
> 
Doesn't really matter to me both would work, if its x3d with a blender
extension then I would say export would make more sense.

Kent
-- 
mein@cs.umn.edu
http://www.cs.umn.edu/~mein