Geometry Construction Question - Normals

ModelerMJ

In the export portion of my SketchUp-Daz transfer tool (the Ruby script that runs inside SketchUp), I am writing out numeric values for the normals for each face.  Here's a typical triangle definition in my intermediate XML file.

      <triangle>        <materialId>0</materialId>        <vertex>          <position>0.0000,304.8000,0.0000</position>          <normal>0.0000,1.0000,0.0000</normal>          <texcoord>0.0000,0.0000</texcoord>        </vertex>        <vertex>          <position>304.8000,304.8000,304.8000</position>          <normal>0.0000,1.0000,0.0000</normal>          <texcoord>0.0000,0.0000</texcoord>        </vertex>        <vertex>          <position>304.8000,304.8000,0.0000</position>          <normal>0.0000,1.0000,0.0000</normal>          <texcoord>0.0000,0.0000</texcoord>        </vertex>      </triangle>

In the Daz portion of the transfer tool, I am not currently doing anything with these values, because quite frankly I have not been able to determine what script functionality would be used to do so.  However, since the models I import appear visually correct, I am wondering if I actually need to apply these values, or if the normals are being calculated for me by Daz?

Obviously I'd like to be sure my trasnfer tool is creating geometry correctly in Daz (appearances aside), so:

(a) Do I actually need to be applying the numeric normals values?

(b) If yes, I would appreciate a pointer as to what function to use to do so.

Apologies in advance, as I'm sure this is obvious to experienced users, but I am having a very hard time finding this information in the curent documentation.

Regards,
Mike

 

Richard Haseltine

If normals are not set explicitly DS will, as far as I am aware, calculate them.

ModelerMJ

I suspected as much.  Thanks!

Regards,
Mike