Indexing 3D Models

[Brolloks]

Hi

 

I have around 10GB of 3D models that I need to organize into an indexed system where you can open say an index.html page similar to a website and have your list of catagories of models on the one side and an image of the model plus where it is stored on the drive.

 

I realise I can do this with a normal Frntpage-type application but I want to find out how you guys would go about this.

 

A lot of the models already have a small jpg preview with it, but it takes ages to browse and locate as the filing has been left alone for too long.

 

Any ideas?

[Jeff Mottle]

Depends how much money you can spend. You can buy applications from NXN to manage assets (http://www.nxn-software.com/) or you could program an intranet application to store the information in a database with online access.

 

We have a rather complex online in-house asset management program we use at Smoothe, but programming a simple one using some sort of database driven online system would not be that difficult. You just need a page to upload the asset, the asset thumbnail and any categories, keywords and a page to browse/search and download the assets from the server. Anythign else is bells and whistles.

 

If I had to program a site like that I'd probably charge $3000-4000.

 

Cheers,

Jeff

[mbr]

Thanks for the info Jeff, and the prices. I am sure this will be a growing area of need as firms require more and more people to use more and more assets.

I sure could use a system to manage my stuff ;-)

[siliconbauhaus]

If your library is Max based you could simply create thumbnail html pages and use iDrop to insert them into your scenes. I think discreet has a tutorial on how to create iDrop pages.

[Jeff Mottle]

Yeah a powerfull and afordable application is definetly going to be something that will be in demand. There is apparently an app in the works now that was discussed a while back:

 

http://www.cgarchitect.com/vb/showthread.php?t=784&highlight=asset+management

 

Not sure where it's at.

 

Anytime you program a custom in-house app it get's really expensive. I only quoted 4 - 5 days of work, but something really comprehsnesive that could track projects and assets will most certainly run upwards of $30,000.

 

As soon as you add the word "database programming" you pay through the nose.

[Jeff Mottle]

If you want to explore Idrop, here is the developer links:

 

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/index?siteID=123112&id=1862830

 

You will still have to immplement a database to dynamically page, sort and create the XML files that Idrop requires though.