Importing objects as interior lights

[blaisbb]

I am trying to import light fixtures that I have created in TurboCad and saved as 3ds files and dxf files. I can import the item as a regular object but when I import it as a light fixture the program crashes. If someone has tried and found a work around I would appreciate some help.
blaisbb

[blaisbb]

It seems as if the importing of light fixtures causes the program to crash. I found a 15 day demo of Envisioneer 4 on the Cadsoft UK site. I successfully imported the same files in Envisioneer and saved them to a catalog that I then opened in TFP. This is a workaround but the software should have that bug fixed. They do promote this program as being able to import custom objects.

[Allan Chesney]

I tried an import of both 3DS and DXF files into Interior Lighting and Exterior lighting and TFP did crash each time as you found.  It only appears to be a problem in the Lighting as I have been able to import to other areas OK.

I noticed too that objects could be imported using the File/Import option but even if imported into the Lighting section they do not have the Lighing properties. While this import does bring the object into the model it does not seem to put it in the catalog even though a section is selected.   So, unless I am doing something wrong,  there seem to be three issues here:

Imports to Interior and Exterior Lighting cause the program to crash
Imports through the file menu into Interior or Exterior Lighting do not have Lighting properties.
Imports through the file menu do not put the objects into the catalog section selected

Allan

[Doug.S]

I confirm similar results (I tried .3ds only...same light worked OK in FP)  and thus declare this issue a BUG

If I import via file import menu and select interior lighting...it still only imports as an object with no light

If I try import via catalog manager add item select file...I get a program crash

bad juju

Hope programmers are reading this...Dave/Jack should we report something direct to CadSoft or is this forum the official reporting mechanism?

Doug.S

[blaisbb]

I did not try the exterior lights but I presume the problem is there as well. I hope they put out a fix for this.
The following link is for the Envisioneer 15 day demo, in case you need to get some custom lights in TFP.
http://www.envisioneer.co.uk/downloads.htm
Bob

[dtaylor]

this issue has been addressed and will appear in the next product update.

[Doug.S]

Dave,  thanks for your replies...gives us confidence someone is listening and bugs will be fixed.  I'm assuming we'll reap the benefits of Envisioneer 4.5 release soon after it is released....assuming the code for TFP is mostly a sub-set of Envisioneer.

[Kajvin - Robert W]

I imported a SketchUp lamp objekt (skp) and this worked but you will not get any ligts, 3ds crash for me to so I think we have to wait for a upgrade or bug-fix.
Robert

[Nik]

Thanks, Dave !!

Not just custom room lights, but the 'light me' facility enables things like cabinet striplights, fire-place coals, candles, those glow-ball moody table whatsits, lava lamp, emergency egress signs, switch-finder surrounds, garden / stair LED glows etc...

OT: I hope this posts okay (~1300 GMT) as my access to TFP forum has been erratic since approx. 2 AM, and broadband modem's status lights are blinking frantically...

[Doug.S]

the 'light me' facility enables things like cabinet striplights, fire etc...

I did a search in help and could not find anything like a "light me" facility.....can you explain further so I'm not missing something in the tool set?

[Nik]

Sorry, I was thinking in terms of importing objects as 'lights', and putting them inside other objects for effect. Or defining a part's material at import as luminous...

D'uh, I don't yet have TFP, and my CAD_PC is still pending that graphics driver upgrade. Until then, I can't install Poser_7, or consider getting PhilC's costume workshop......

A big problem is that FP ran into the old OS limit, could not use most of 3 Gb RAM available. Hopefully TFP can handle 'large memory'. But, if I cannot 'port' my unfinished plan, if I can only trace it, I'd need many, many hours to learn TFP and re-draw my project. I'm not yet convinced that I can spare that time...

[Doug.S]

in TFP12 we can adjust luminosity (once you dig deep into materials...adjust "emissive") to make an object (such as ceiling) "glow" but I don't think it produces light output nor shadows....but it is handy for what it does.

[mrflibblewibble]

So, Has This been Worked Around/ Is there a product update with the fix yet?
Annoying.
Oh and Hi.
Paul.

[Doug.S]

there have been NO updates to TFP12 since its release, tho its parent Envisioneer was updated earlier this year, so there is hope, but that is all, just wishing for an update.

[mrflibblewibble]

Me Too, Cheers for the reply.
Paul