Planetside Software Forums

A minor contribution - Here's a little batch file that you can use so you don't have to do the command line thing to start Arbaro. Edit the first line to point it at your installation directory then create a shortcut to it. I also created an .ico file so you can associate it with the shortcut so you don't have the ugly default icon.

Like I said, a minor contribution.

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Just uploaded the new version with the memory allocation tweak and user notes. Earth-shattering stuff - don't miss it!

;D

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This should be helpful for those people new to java.

You might also want to add a memory allocation to the command with an explanatory note on how to modify it. By default my system doesn't give java enough memory to fully create a tree model. It doesn't crash, it just stops exporting prior to completion. I use

java -Xmx900m -jar arbaro.jar

to assign 900Mb just to be overkill sure.

I'll do that right now. I had exactly the same issue with the memory allocation. I ended up setting mine to 1024 to get it to do the willow, and even then I had to reduce the tree levels from 3 to 4. (Did you have trouble with the willow, too?)

Now that you mention it..... my willow model appears to be missing some leaves and possibly some branches so it looks like I'll have to set it higher as well.  The annoying thing is that there are no error messages to indicate a failure.  If it gets to the last creation stage and fails, it outputs whatever it's made to that point. Failures in the earlier stages were easier to pick.

Well, maybe I wasn't getting the memory configured correctly either. I just succeeded in doing the willow at the default settings. The obj is massive - after running it through PoseRay to give it normals, materials, etc, it's over 84 Mb.

It looks a hell of a lot better than the last attempt! It's remarkable how good you can get these things to look with a little judicious work on the material colors. My quaking aspen looks pretty good, if I do say so myself.

:)

Could any of you possibly share these awesome models ;)?

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We are glad to host models of any size on Ashundar. Special arrangements will need to be made for anything over a few MB, but we will definitely set something up for larger models. Be sure to compress using .7z or .rar first. 7-zip seems to have superior compression with OBJ format objects and it's free. A self-extracting archive is preferred.

- Oshyan

Errr.... ummm.... ok, I'll ask the stupid question. (As my pappy once told me, 'there are no stupid questions, just stupid people that ask questions'.)
;D

Where's the upload link? I just poked around Ashundar and didn't spot one.

I think Oshyan will have to get in contact with you to give you upload information.  If it can be compressed below 10MB, you could email it to me and I could stick it up for you.

Not a stupid question. Unfortunately the upload system is a bit unintuitive and clunky on Ashundar at the moment. Basically you have to either A: use your own "PFS" (Personal File Space) or B: use your own web space, then go to the appropriate area in the Files section and click "Submit New Page" at the top and specify the URL of the file - either locally or on another server - at the bottom. This will certainly be made better in the future. The better approach for you considering the size of your objects and that they likely won't fit into your PFS would be to arrange for FTP or other large-file transfer. You can use the Submit New Page here *now* and fill out the info then an admin will change the URL to the actual file and approve it once the transfer has been made.

- Oshyan

It might also be useful to include the xml file for Arbaro so that people can make different versions of a model.

An alternative might be to post an Arbaro xml and a TGD template to link the OBJ into. This would use far less bandwidth.

Although any additional resources are welcome, bandwidth isn't much of a concern for us and given the convenience of an already produced (and textured?) object, I'd opt for the model itself if possible. In other words don't shy away from sending the full model on our account, but if it's more convenient for you to send only the definition files or whatever, that's fine too. :)

- Oshyan

Here's a temporary link to a basic willow for those too impatient to wait ;)

Arbaro -> PoseRay -> TG2 with a basic colour added to each group.  4 groups, 3 branch levels and leaves. TGD included in the archive

http://www.path.unimelb.edu.au/~bernardk/tgdemo/weeping_willow_1137_poseray.rar (http://www.path.unimelb.edu.au/~bernardk/tgdemo/weeping_willow_1137_poseray.rar) (21.5Mb... WinRar, Best compression)

http://www.path.unimelb.edu.au/~bernardk/tgdemo/weeping_willow_1137_poseray.zip (http://www.path.unimelb.edu.au/~bernardk/tgdemo/weeping_willow_1137_poseray.zip) (23.7Mb... ZipGenius, Brutal compression)

The 1137 refers to the seed used for the tree in Arbaro. I might release a version of my willow model when it's done.  A few other things to do before I need it yet.

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Hi, all -

Finally managed to get the willow stuff posted - it's on Ashundar now. I'll try to get the aspen models/mtl files posted later this week.

Thanks for sharing those :).

Yes! Thanks for the Objects, very nice of you! Can't Wait to give them a try in a scene. I'll post it if I produce anything good.

Just tried to download these files over at Ashundar. The aspens.zip file downloaded ok but when  I try and download the Willows modal I get a 404 error.

Interesting.  I'll check that out when I get the chance.

OB - did you copy the .zip over to your server or just link to the version on mine? I was under the impression that you would copy it over to yours; I've already removed the willow file from mine. That may explain the 404 - is it still trying to link to my site?

As an aside, I may update the aspen file. The big problem with the Arbaro xml file for the aspens was the leaf size - they were set to a disk shape, .17 meters in diameter.

!!!

I reduced the leaf diameter to .05 meters and increased the number of twigs and leaves to compensate for the reduced foliage surface. I may eventually modify the number of leaves and the angle at which they attach to the twigs.

Harvey - I just linked directly to yours.  If you could repost it on your site, I'll be sure to download it and get a more permanent hosting solution.

OB - It should be accessible once again. Let me know when you've copied it over. I haven't looked at my site stats lately, but I imagine there's been quite a spike in bandwidth consumption in the last week.

;)

All right, I've mirrored both the willows and the aspens.  The download links on Ashundar have been updated.

Coolness - I'll go take 'em back off mine.

Thanks ob, Harvey.

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Another little contribution...

There's a new version (1.9.8 ) out ... but that's not the contribution ...

One of the changes, is that the arbaro.jar is now the GUI version and the commandline version is arbaro_cmd.jar. Attached is the help file for the comandline options extracted from the jar.

I've been experimenting with arbaro to try and make a tree model that simulates swaying in the breeze by using small changes to some of the curve settings. My first attempt worked OK, although I varied the angles too much .... and the 20 models came to 500Mb.  A different approach would save a lot on disk space.

1: generate a base model, convert via PoseRay, import into TG2 and set up surfacing for the model.
DO NOT CONVERT TO TGO.
2: Generate XML files for the variations to the model
3: Generate BAT file to first generate the OBJ model for the frame in arbaro, replacing the file referenced in the TGD, and then render the frame via TGDCLI.

This makes finer variations of the model for longer/smoother variations less prohibitive

It would also be fun to try growing a tree.... but one step at a time for now  ;)

Way to keep up with the updates, big guy!

:)

I've been working with this again lately, trying to improve the aspen and willow models to include decent textures. I'll have to check out the update.