ASC-NMG(1)

NAME
asc-nmg - ascii-to-NMG converter

SYNOPSIS
asc-nmg ascii_file nmg.g

DESCRIPTION
asc-nmg converts the specified ascii_file (not a .asc geometry database) to a binary BRL-CAD nmg.g geometry database file containing NMG objects. The ascii_file is expected to contain lines of the following forms:
To start a new outer loop for a face:
	l
To start a new "hole" loop in the current face:
	l hole
To indicate a vertex in the current loop:
	v# x y z
where # is the vertex number and x, y, and z are the coordinates of that vertex.
To extrude a face:
	e x y z
where x, y, and z compose the extrusion vector for the face. If an extrusion vector is specified, then the first face in the NMG objects list of faces will be extruded. This is intended for cases where only one face is described and then extruded to form a solid. Supplying an extrusion vector when more than one face is described may produce erroneous results. A solid may be built by extruding a face or by building enough faces to produce a closed shell. Each execution of asc-nmg will produce a single NMG object.

EXAMPLE
If the file ascii_file contains the following:
l
	e	-1 0 0
	v0	1 -1 -1
	v1	1 1 -1
	v2	1 1 0
	v3	1 0 0
	v4	1 0 1
	v5	1 -1 1
Then, the command:
    $ asc-nmg ascii_file sample.g
will produce an 'L'-shaped NMG solid to the sample.g database file.

DIAGNOSTICS
Error messages are intended to be self-explanatory.

AUTHORS
Mike Markowski
Lee Butler

SOURCE
SLAD/BVLD/VMB Advanced Computer Systems Team
The U. S. Army Research Laboratory
Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland 21005

BUG REPORTS
Reports of bugs or problems should be submitted via electronic mail to <devs@brlcad.org>.