[ODE] Loading trimesh from file

[Rodrigo Hernandez]

You have to load the model "manualy" and arrange the triangles into a 
vertex array, a triangle index array and a normal array(optional), then 
feed the triangles to ODE using dGeomTriMeshDataBuild.

That said, it is probably NOT a good idea to do this for large 
"buildings", or for meshes that have too much detail, if say inside your 
building
you have a model of a plant, complete with leaves, base and all, doing 
per triangle collision tests on that mesh alone is going to cost a lot of
CPU cycles, which results in lower frame refresh, and the simulation is 
likelly to slow down, instead use a bounding box for collision, while 
still rendering the detailed model.

As for the character question, same answer, forget about using a 
trimesh, use a proxy object instead such as a box, sphere or cylinder, 
there isnt much for using Cal3D with ODE, you just use one for caracter 
animation and rendering and the other for physics, basically set a ODE 
proxy object for the character, advance the simulation, get the new 
position and rotation for the object from ode, and render the character 
with those coordinates.


Ecker, Bryan R wrote:

> Hello everyone,
>
>  
>
> I have a couple of noob questions for you that hopefully will be an 
> easy answer.
>
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>
> I am trying to load up a gaming area (which is an .osg building model 
> with all the interior done up), and I want to put a player in it. 
> Naturally I don't want the player to walk through walls or drop 
> thorugh the floor - So I assume that I am to build the building geom 
> as a trimesh. (To get things started, I had originally just made an 
> infinite plane at ground level, but of course, I can still walk 
> through walls).
>
>  
>
> I hate to sound dopey, but I'm finding the documentation on trimeshes 
> really confusing. I also checked out the sample test_moving_trimesh 
> source, and I'm just not getting it. Plus I'm loading a area from a 
> model file, while the sample hardcodes trimesh data within the code, 
> and I don't see how to correlate that to reading a model file.
>
>  
>
> Are there any samples out there available that I can use as a tutorial 
> for loading in a building (or any gaming environment) and making it 
> solid? Any other pointers?
>
>  
>
>  
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> Another quick unrelated question: Has anyone worked ODE with Cal3d? 
> I'm using a capsule as a bounding shape for my Cal3D character, but I 
> know it could be better. I'm wondering if its possible to use a 
> trimesh on the character and have the mesh move as the character moves 
> - anybody have any tips, pointers or sample code to pull that off?
>
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