Menu Cells

Viewer -> saturnViewer

The Viewer -> saturnViewer command in the Tools module allows Saturn game designers to view Saturn models (encoded in Saturn SGL file format) in a viewer in SOFTIMAGE 3D. It also allows you to view the same scene on a development Saturn platform connected to a Saturn CartDev. The CartDev is a device that manages communications between the host compiler and the Saturn console.

For information about connecting the CartDev, see Connecting the CartDev.

Procedure

1. Choose Viewer -> saturnViewer.

The Saturn Viewer Setup dialogue box is displayed.

2. Type the prefix of the Saturn file you want to import in the File Name text box. If you enter a valid Saturn suffix (.mdl, .txr, or .mtn), it is ignored and only the prefix is used.

Alternatively, click the Select button to open a file browser and select a file. Only prefixes with corresponding .mdl files are shown in the browser. This is because .mdl files contain the geometry data required by texture and animation files.
3. Click Ok. The Scene Viewer opens:

You can use the z, o, p, and a keys with the mouse to zoom, orbit, dolly, and frame all objects in the usual manner. Use the SOFTIMAGE 3D playback control box to play animation, if any. For a description of the other options in this window, see Scene Viewer Parameters.

4. When you have finished, click Exit.

Note:: If you view a hierarchy exported with Export -> saturnExport, and the models have scaling values other than (1.0, 1.0, 1.0), it will look different in the Scene Viewer than on the Saturn console. This is because SOFTIMAGE 3D uses non-classical transformations by default, while Saturn uses classical transformations. For a description of some ways to avoid this situation when exporting, see Scaling and Viewing Problems.

Saturn Viewer Setup Parameters

File Name

Type the prefix of the Saturn file you want to import in the File Name text box. If you enter a valid Saturn suffix (.mdl, .txr, or .mtn), it is ignored and only the prefix is used.

Alternatively, click the Select button to open a file browser and select a file. Only prefixes with corresponding .mdl files are shown in the browser. This is because .mdl files contain the geometry data required by texture and animation files.

Animation

Imports animation from the corresponding Saturn .mtn file, if any.

Textures

Imports textures from the corresponding Saturn .txr file, if any. If you use this option, you must specify a location for the converted texture files in Output Directory.

Output Directory

Specifies a location for the converted texture files. Type a path in the text box or click the Select button to open a file browser and select a directory.

Cartdev Viewer

This option displays the Saturn files on a Saturn development system connected through a CartDev. See Connecting the CartDev for connection information.

The device /dev/saturn is opened and a SCSI Test Unit Ready condition is sent. Saturn Viewer automatically detects if a CartDev Saturn development system is connected, in which case the data are downloaded to the CartDev.

You can set the value of Detection Timeout in seconds. If the CartDev does not respond within the specified time, the download is cancelled.

Scene Viewer Parameters

Show Icons

Displays icons such as curves and lights.

Enable Hardware Texture

Uses the hardware renderer to show the model's texture. When it is selected, the options described below are available.

Texture Blending Approx

Specifies the method used to blend the material colour with the texture colour:

Without Mask ignores the alpha content of the composition.
Alpha interprets the alpha component of the texture as a proportion of texture colour to use against the material colour.

Texture Repeat

Controls whether textures are repeated (tiled):

None disables the repeat factor.
Grid enables the repeat factor.

Texture Type

Determines which textures are displayed: Local or Global.

Display Optimization

Controls how the model appears when you use the z, o, and p keys with the mouse to zoom, orbit and dolly:

None displays the scene in Shade view with textures.
Shade displays the scene in Shade view without textures.
Wireframe displays the scene in Wireframe view.

Connecting the CartDev

Requirements

The CartDev should be connected to your workstation with the proper type of SCSI cable. The current version of the CartDev requires a SCSI-2 to SCSI-2 cable.

The CartDev SCSI ID should be unique. The CartDev should also have the NMI cable connected to the Saturn and a power cable.

The Saturn itself should have the following:

A power cable
An NMI cable
Audio and video cables
The cartridge from the CartDev connected in its cartridge slot

Procedure

1. Make sure the workstation is powered off.

2. Power up the CartDev and the Saturn, then other external devices.

3. Boot the workstation and open a command shell.

4. Use the hinv command to list all the hardware attached to the machine (internal and external). The CartDev shows up in the SCSI section as a Processor.

The device number and controller number appear after the Processor part. Take note of these values because they will be required later.
If the CartDev is not listed, then it might be dead, off, not connected, or duplicating another SCSI unit address. Check these possibilities, then start again.
5. Boot normally.
6. Log in as super-user, then type the following command:

ln /dev/scsi/scCdDl0  /dev/saturn

where C is replaced by the controller number, and D by the device number. For example, if the hinv command reports device 5 and controller 1, then the command is:

ln /dev/scsi/sc1d5l0 /dev/saturn

The CartDev needs to have both read and write permissions set for everyone who uses it. For example:

chmod 666 /dev/saturn

SOFTIMAGE 3D Reference - 19 APR 1996