Modeling for OpenBVE in Blender 3D editor

Hi!
I readed topic about easy way export models from Blender
Guys! It is not easy way! I want introduce easy way - plugin for working with OpenBVE *.csv geometry in Blender. You can download it here

http://github.com/maisvendoo/blenderCSV/ (add https to this link, now I can't post external links in this forum) 

It is my own project for OpenBVE. This plugin used by my team for creation russian routes for OpenBVE in my university. 

Now you can create models in Blender and export it direcionaly to *.csv format. Look some sreens in Github
You can use it now. Enjoy! Also, I'll be glad to all bug reports from you.

P.S.: Later I write full user manual about this plugin. Watch this topic.

Moderative edit: I made the link clickable. I'll see into enabling you to post links later.
-Quork

Will be useful, thanks!
Speaking of Russian routes, I'm curious which you've covered, as I'm planning to build one.

Today we build fictional route "Arbatov-Chernomorsk" for study OpenBVE route's building technology. Techology must be adapted for russian railway standards and our requirements. But later we are planing build routes by North Caucasus Railway (for example our mainline: Bataisk - Likhaya, etc.)

We use OpenBVE as system for 3D visualization for our railway simulators (with advanced dynamics, real cabine etc.). For example, now we work with Velaro RUS "Sapsan" train simulator. You can see video and more info in our site (by link in my profile info). Sorry, this site is in russian, but you can use Google Translate

Amazing stuff this, I think the Russian section of openBVE has been abandoned for a long time, most routes around that part of Europe come from Hungary. I have found a few routes from the old Moscow metro, they’re very basic but it’s good that more Russian routes are coming along

I 've seen routes for russian metro too, but I've never seen routes (and trains) for russian mainline railways. Maybe, my team is first, who try build such routes.

OpenBVE is not so popular in Russia. Reasons: weak dynamics model of trains and weak capabilies for locomotive customization. Russian locomotives has specific equpment, for example brakes equipment (brake valves model 394/395 and so on). Russian simmers like hardcore realism in locomotive control process. Today most popular in Russia is ZDSimulator from Ukraine developers, but it is no free and costs money.

I and my team use OpenBVE as vizualization system, but train dynamics is developed by ourselves

Very neat, I think that's the first time someone has imported CSV into a 3D editor

If you're improving train dynamics, then PRs to the main openBVE tree are always welcome-
http://github.com/leezer3/openbve

This version also supports obj files FWIW.

leezer3 wrote:If you're improving train dynamics, then PRs to the main openBVE tree are always welcome

There are many thinks, that can be upgraded into OpenBVE. But, I see source code and work with it, and I think, code must be refactored very deep, before any idea about dynamics can be released

Where do we put the files? I put the directory in the scripts/addons directory but csv imports or exports do not show up in Blender options.

Where do we put the files?

You must make this, for addon installation

* Download last release of plugin from Releases section: github.com/maisvendoo/blenderCSV/releases
* Open Blender, go from main menu by path File -> User Preferences -> Add-ons
* Select "Install add-on from file"
* Choose plugin zip-archive in your filesystem
* Select checkbox for addon activation
* Press "Save user setting" for apply changes to next start of Blender

Go back to repository - I updated README.md file and appended installation guide with screenhots

Attantion! I updated repository. You can read full user guide for plugin in README.md file

Thank You - it is working now.

Looks good I have no problems with reading Russian
I thought of Moscow-Mihnevo line (probably somewhat further) set in ~2002-2004 era, but no further details yet, I want to actually make something first. (coming with ER2 and EM2 trains, 2018 was the last year in service for the latter)
OpenBVE does miss the simulation of proper brake valves for now, but this may be coming soon, I think. And for a big serious simulator it almost definitely needs some modifications at least, I know that Japanese simulators use BVE technology a lot, so it's a good platform choice.

(speaking of Russian ("just a normal PC user" grade this time) train simulations, Trainz is the most popular in terms of Russian content, but what really kills it is terrible lighting system (slightly better in the later versions, but with more bugs. They never released a Trainz version that feels like a complete, stable product since 2010-2012), awful physics and sound engine. Proper driving experience comes ony thru heavily-scripted (that's what the Trainz equivalent of plugins is called) models completely overriding the default mechanics)

Delsin wrote:Looks good I have no problems with reading Russian

Очень хорошо! ;-)

Delsin wrote:OpenBVE does miss the simulation of proper brake valves for now, but this may be coming soon, I think.

This is a big and intersting thema for discussion.

Update! Version 0.4.0 of Blender plugin are available!
Release notes:

• Supported commands Shear and ShearAll for import *.csv
  
• Fixed bug in MirrorAll command realization
  

Example of working Shear command

There seems to be a problem with importing files other than .bmp . I get an error message saying the file cannot be found with jpg files and png files. It seems to only import those parts of the model that are textured with bmp files.

So, can you show *.csv model code, which generate with error on screenshot? Now I see that script realy can't find file, but I has no such problems (I dont use *.bmp textures). I need in models, which generate this problems for full diagnostics

That model is rather large but here is a simple example - 

Code:

CreateMeshBuilder
AddVertex, -0.458, -0.5, 0
AddVertex, -1.2476, -0.5, 0
AddVertex, -1.2476, 0.5, 0
AddVertex, -0.458, 0.5, 0
AddVertex, -0.4658, -0.5, 0
AddVertex, -0.458, -0.5, 0
AddVertex, -0.458, 0.5, 0
AddVertex, -0.4658, 0.5, 0
AddVertex, 0.4283, -0.5, 0
AddVertex, -0.4658, -0.5, 0
AddVertex, -0.4658, 0.5, 0
AddVertex, 0.4283, 0.5, 0
AddVertex, 0.4426, 0.5, 0
AddVertex, 1.2476, 0.5, 0
AddVertex, 1.2476, -0.5, 0
AddVertex, 0.4426, -0.5, 0
AddVertex, 0.4426, -0.5, 0
AddVertex, 0.4283, -0.5, 0
AddVertex, 0.4283, 0.5, 0
AddVertex, 0.4426, 0.5, 0

AddFace,  0 ,  1 ,  2 ,  3
AddFace,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7
AddFace,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11
AddFace,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  15
AddFace,  16 ,  17 ,  18 ,  19
GenerateNormals

LoadTexture, End platform signs.JPG
SetTextureCoordinates,  0 , -0.7021, -0.0103
SetTextureCoordinates,  1 , -0.998, -0.0103
SetTextureCoordinates,  2 , -0.998, -0.9967
SetTextureCoordinates,  3 , -0.7021, -0.9967
SetTextureCoordinates,  4 , -0.4576, -0.5996
SetTextureCoordinates,  5 , -0.4574, -0.5996
SetTextureCoordinates,  6 , -0.4574, -0.8926
SetTextureCoordinates,  7 , -0.4576, -0.8926
SetTextureCoordinates,  8 , -0.3535, -0.0168
SetTextureCoordinates,  9 , -0.6484, -0.0168
SetTextureCoordinates,  10 , -0.6484, -0.974
SetTextureCoordinates,  11 , -0.3535, -0.974
SetTextureCoordinates,  12 , -0.2998, -0.9902
SetTextureCoordinates,  13 , -0.0088, -0.9902
SetTextureCoordinates,  14 , -0.0088, -0.0266
SetTextureCoordinates,  15 , -0.2998, -0.0266
SetTextureCoordinates,  16 , -0.4288, -0.5996
SetTextureCoordinates,  17 , -0.4293, -0.5996
SetTextureCoordinates,  18 , -0.4293, -0.8926
SetTextureCoordinates,  19 , -0.4288, -0.8926


This csv will open in object viewer but will not import into Blender. It creates the same errors the previous example.

Your texture filename has whitespaces

Code:

LoadTexture, End platform signs.JPG

Plugin's parser ignores whitespaces in lines of model's scripts. You can rename your texture file without whitespaces.

Documentation to *.csv object format says that whitespaces  are ignored by simulator's parser, is not it?

Upd:
But now I see in documentation

White spaces around the arguments and around the NameOfTheCommand, and well as at the beginning and the end of the line, are ignored

that whitespaces ignored around the argument and command name... Hmm, it is my bug, I will try fixed it. But now you can temporary rename you texture

Yup, that's right. There's so many cans of worms opened up by white spaces...

Well I have never struck a problem with using them in OpenBVE or the tools.

Dexter wrote:The truth is spaces are problematic in general when it comes to file names.

I think, that is not big problem, to allow it in plugin code. It must support official *.csv specification, and I'll make this capability

Ok, ecreek, I fixed this bug. You must download new plugin's version from Github

This code is used for test

Code:

CreateMeshBuilder,
AddVertex, 1, 1, 0,
AddVertex, 1, -1, 0,
AddVertex, -1, -1, 0,
AddVertex, -1, 1, 0,

AddFace, 0, 1, 2, 3,
SetColor, 255,255,255,
LoadTexture, texture test.png,
SetTextureCoordinates, 0, 1, 0,
SetTextureCoordinates, 1, 1, 1,
SetTextureCoordinates, 2, 0, 1,
SetTextureCoordinates, 3, 0, 0,

 and import gives it



Here I used texture with space into name

Probleme source is this code in plugin

Code:

def parseLine(self, line):
        tmp = line.rstrip('\n').rstrip('\r').rstrip(' ').split(",")
        return tmp


Now it look as

Code:

def parseLine(self, line):
        tmp = line.rstrip('\n').rstrip('\r').split(",")

        for i, token in enumerate(tmp):
            str = token.strip(' ')
            tmp[i] = str

        return tmp

Now plugin parses argument as was writen in *.csv object's specification

Thank you.

If you want a real headache:
https://github.com/leezer3/OpenBVE/issues/223

Unfortunately, Mackoy never really published a proper specification. BVE2 / BVE4 will parse all sorts of 'interesting' stuff.

TBQH though, I wouldn't be too bothered about 100% compatibility with importing, rather concentrate on making sure that export works as designed

leezer3 wrote:If you want a real headache:

I watched sources, when made "Shear" command for import. For other commands everything was clear
I think to, that import not so important. But it can be usefull. We use most export functions in our work

This is a great tool for those of us who, like myself, struggled with building objects in a file format. I'm after building a few objects and everything seems ok so far, the one suggestion i have is, this is no big deal as it is easy enough to edit the file and delete SetColor, an option to disable SetColor would be convenient as it does affect the textures.