Support for importing .OBJ format files

[LogicAndTrick]

Rimrook requests:

A super advanced feature idea I have would be, some how, the capability to read an .OBJ file and convert it to something similar to the tr-mesh brushwork or something. That would bridge the modeling and mapping aspect, and allow people to create some really interesting things like nifty curved hallways or an easier time making terrain. This feature would even be of good use to source I think.

[Bucky21659]

I would be amazed if it gave you the ability to export as an .smd AND be able to get the precision you need to do very detailed modeling (I think it can already do this), and maybe even some way to have it generate a .qc with a user-friendly interface and then compile it as an .mdl using the game configs' studiomdl.exe. I know that's a lot to ask but, it would give it the potential change Source mapping forever.

Heck, even if you implement .obj support I will use this over Hammer for Source mapping (once it gets viable Source support, of course).

[LogicAndTrick]

It's possible to import/export SMD format (and the next release will feature basic import/export of OBJ files), but I guess it's important to remember that Sledge is a BSP editor (convex solids), and all these model formats are designed for polygon editors (convex faces). When Sledge imports a model format, it has to create tetrahedrons for each triangle in the model, which multiplies the number of polygons by four. Exporting is easier, though, since converting a solid to a list of polygons is much easier than doing the reverse.