v3m_betaDoc

General Release Notes

01.12.10 Mac Beta Build 2.9.4

A Focus on Modeling and Seam Net Mesh Export. This release is mostly about GroBoto’s new Modeling and Mesh features. More new v3 features will be rolled out in coming betas. Other changes are noted only briefly in these preliminary docs -- more complete information will be available soon.

Any scenes (.gbr files) saved with v3 beta, will not load into version 2.x. We suggest that you create a subfolder inside of your Scenes folder and keep your version 3 scenes separate.

Auto Saving of Temporary files. GroBoto Beta 3 creates a folder named ‘TestMeshGBR’ in your Home/Documents/GroBoto folder. A copy of your current scene is saved to that folder just prior to any Preview of a SeamNet Mesh. There is no automatic clean-up of this folder. To avoid filling up your hard disk, you should throw away the files in that folder regularly. The only reason for preserving a temp file is bug tracking (if GroBoto crashes when generating a mesh).

Absolutely No Warranty. Like any beta software, GroBoto v3 beta is likely to crash occasionally. Please save your work often (also see ‘Auto Saving of Temporary files’ above for info on our auto-temporary file saving). It’s common to suggest that you not use the beta for any critical work -- but we know you will, so please be aware of the risks. You assume all responsibility for any direct or consequential damages caused by any GroBoto beta.

Requirements and Installation

Mac OS X 10.4 or later

Click here for Windows Beta info

•System requirements - same as version 2.
•Mouse with scrolling highly recommended.
•Valid version 2 registration number required.

If you are not a registered user of GroBoto 2, you will need to purchase a license from our Store.

We use the standard Mac Drag & Drop installer (just like version 2). That installer will create a new folder in your Applications folder (named ‘GroBoto v3-291 Beta’). Your version 2 installation will not be affected. You will be able to run either version.

GroBoto v3 beta and your version 2 GroBoto will share the same Home>Documents>GroBoto folder (and all of it’s subfolders). This provides easy access to all of your existing GroBoto data files (Bots, Textures, Maps, Scenes, etc.).

v3 scenes are not backward compatible with version 2. See Release notes on the left for important v2/v3 scene compatibility notes.

All other data files (Bots, Maps, Textures, Primitives, Styles, Gradients) are cross-compatible with version 2 & 3.

Feedback & Bug Hunting

If you experience a crash: Please save the Crash Log generated by the operating system. An option for saving that file appears in the System’s ‘Quit Unexpectedly’ dialog.

If you experience a crash when exporting or previewing a SeamNet Mesh: Please preserve the most recent file in your Home/Documents/GroBoto/TestMeshGBR folder. (A copy of your current scene is saved to that folder just prior to a SeamNet Mesh preview).

Please send all Bug Reports to our Forum.

GroBoto Forum

If we need to see your .gbr (Scene) file, we will let you know.

Known Issues

No Undo for some new features:

We have not fully tested Undo with all new tools and features -- another reason to save frequently. The new Flex Tools are Undoable.

Mesh Quirks:

Some new features (like control of seam width) can cause problems if misused. More information and tips are found here:

SeamNet Mesh Tips & Info...

Mesh Limitations:

Mesh density can be whatever you want, but there are practical limitations at both ends.

•Very low density can create very irregular meshes, or cause the mesh generation to fail.
•Very high density can create impractical meshes with many millions of polygons.

Moderate densities are easily achieved through GroBoto’s Output Panel settings.

Also see: Bot & SeamNet Mesh Info...

Mesh Imperfections:

There are several imperfections in our mesh output. All of these will improve in the coming weeks. The problems they create are mostly cosmetic, ‘tho they can interfere with later editing and sculpting in other apps.

•The channel between the seam grids and primitive grids have uneven width... cosmetic problem.
•Ugly ‘clusters’. Dense collections of small and or narrow polygons (often fans of triangles) form at some intersections.

X-Mirror Symmetry Only:

This version only supports single-axis (X) symmetry. Various mirroring menu items, and the Flex Tools, all work in World X. If you need symmetry on a different axis, you can rotate the objects after editing using Global Rotation and Angle snapping.

Custom Boolean Tools Disabled:

None of our Custom Boolean tools are enabled in this release. They will be made active in some later beta.

Beta Docs Home • Overview • Contents • Modeling • Mesh Export • Other v3 Changes & Features

Photoshop, Final Cut, Motion, After Effects, ZBrush (including ZBrush ‘Z’ logo), Cinema 4D, Bryce, Maya, 3DS Max, Vue, Carrara, Lightwave are Trademarks and/or Registered Trademarks of their respective companies and/or publishers.

1. Creating SeamNet Meshes from Bots & Complex Models improved with this release.

We expect most models to work with SeamNet meshing now. However, there are still a couple of known problems and some practical limitations. Please read the following pages before attempting to create meshes from Bot-Generated or other complex geometry:

SeamNet Mesh Tips & Info...

2. Ducts are NOT compatible with SeamNet Meshes. Any model containing Duct Objects will not work with SeamNet meshes. (Duct Objects are created by enabling the Duct Option in the Bot Panel or using the Duct Conversion tools in the ‘Selection & Groups Panel).

3. Please send all beta questions and Bug Reports to the ‘Mac Beta Bug Report’ section of the GroBoto Forum

If we need to see your .gbr (Scene) file, we will let you know. See the next item: ‘Auto Saving of Temporary Files’.

4. Auto Saving of Temporary files.

GroBoto Beta 3 creates a folder named ‘TestMeshGBR’ in your Home/Documents/GroBoto folder. A copy of your current scene is saved to that folder just prior to any Preview of a SeamNet Mesh. Please preserve any files associated with a crash.

More Info in the ‘Release Notes’ Below.

5. Video/OpenGL/Drawing Problems

You only need to read this section if you are experiencing one of the problems listed below.

Two Beta testers reported video and/or OpenGL errors in the previous build. We believe we have fixed the problem. However we were never able to reproduce it, so we can’t be certain. Please let us know if you see these bugs.

Here are the two possible effects:

•GroBoto Fails to launch and a ‘No pixel format...’ message is found in the crash log.
•Blank (gray) workspace or incomplete (clipped) redrawing of the GroBoto scene when editing objects.

If you see either of these effects, please try disabling the Mesh Snapshot feature in the GroBoto Preferences...

Mac Beta Build (2.9.9c) - Important Information (unchanged from 2.9.5 Info)

We hope you read everything on this page, but we are realists... So here are four -- possibly five -- things you really want to know.

If GroBoto launches but you see serious drawing problems, (blank workspace, and/or incomplete updating when editing), open the Preferences Panel (Main Menu > GroBoto > Preferences), and check the ‘Disable Mesh Snapshot’ and ‘Force Full Workspace Blit’ boxes. Then quit and relaunch GroBoto. If that fixes the problem, you can try switching just one at a time. In any case... if the fix helps or not, please let us know know.

If GroBoto won’t launch, you’ll need to edit the Prefs file manually. Here’s where you’ll find it in the Finder (Home/Library/GroBoto/Prefs.xml). Right click to open it in TextEdit.

Look for the OpenGL line -- it will look like this:

...or this:

Change it to:

Save the Prefs file and try launching GroBoto again.

Mac Page

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IMPORTANT NOTE! These v3 Beta Pages are being Updated & Moved

Please go to the New v3 Beta Site for the latest information and Downloads.

The information below is somewhat outdated, but still useful. It will be available here until we get everything updated on the new Beta Site.

Click here for a Table of Contents of these older pages