For each 3D file format that PlantStudio exports, it supports the standard format, without frills. There is a wide range of 3D programs that people use along with PlantStudio. We haven’t tested our export formats with all of them (far from it), but we have come up with some troubleshooting wisdom from wrestling with a limited number of programs.

If your 3D program chokes on PlantStudio-exported models, try these things:

1.        Try reducing the number labeled Limit plant name to X characters when you export the plant(s). Try just one or two characters and see if that helps. Some programs can’t handle long names and will lose parts or just crash while reading a file.

2.        Try turning off the Write plant number in front of name option. Some programs don’t consider a name starting with a number to be valid. Also check that your plant names don’t include any special characters like apostrophes or commas or hyphens; your 3D program could be choking on those.

3.        Try turning off the Write colors checkbox in the 3D export options window. Your 3D program might not understand the way PlantStudio is writing out colors.

4.        Try writing out only one plant at a time. Your 3D program might not like the way PlantStudio divides up plants in the file, or it may not like large numbers of polygons. Some programs don’t like for the objects in the files to have the same names; in that case writing out one plant will work, as will writing out multiple plants with different names.

5.        If you have a Group by option in the format you are exporting, try choosing the whole plant option. Your 3D program might not like the way PlantStudio breaks up plants. If you have a Nest option in the format you are using, try turning off all nesting. 

If those things don’t work,

1.        Try using another file format instead. Nearly all programs out there can at least read DXF correctly.

2.        Check to see that your 3D program is not out of date. File formats change slowly over the years, so we might be writing out a newer version of the format than your program expects to read. Look at our notes for the format you are using, and check for an updated version of your 3D program.

3.        If you really want to use that format, see if another 3D program (or one of the 3D file format converters that are readily available on the internet) can read the file. If you can read the file into another program, write it out again and see if your program can read it then. It’s not a pretty solution, but it might work for you.

4.        If the file format is a text one (if you open it in Notepad and you see text), open some files your 3D program can read and see how they are different from the ones PlantStudio writes out. If it’s a small difference, you might be able to see what option you should choose differently. 

5.        If you still can’t resolve the problem, send us two files, one your 3D program can read and one it can’t (make sure you tell us which is which!). We’ll take a look at them to see what’s wrong.

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