The loader handles .3DS files generated by 3D Studio, and has been tested against 3DS files with the "version 3" file format (I don't know if v4 changed the format).

To use the loader, instantiate an org.opentools.java3dd.ThreeDSLoader like you would any other com.sun.j3d.loaders.Loader and call its load method passing in either a file name (String) or a URL. It will return an org.opentools.java3d.ThreeDSScene (extending com.sun.j3d.loaders.Scene) with the loaded objects.

Both the ThreeDSLoader and the ThreeDSScene have several extensions to the standard interfaces, which you can read about in the JavaDoc.
Currently, the ThreeDSLoader reads geometry, materials, lighting, and fog from the file. Lighting is currently buggy since 3DS files tend to include lights that are *really far away*, and I haven't ever seen a source file with fog, but the geometry and materials definitely work.

The ThreeDSLoader does *not* handle textures or cameras yet. Feel free to e-mail me with bugs or suggestions.

Aaron Mulder (ammulder@alumni.princeton.edu)
June 12, 2001