How to create `.u3d` files?

Question

I'm working on a project for school and I've got some 3D vector data as well as surface plots. These are saved in .dat files outputted from a c++ program.

I'm able to plot these files in gnuplot as wanted, but I'd really like to make .u3d files so I can include them in a TeX document (using the movie15package).

How do I create u3d files? (I'm working on mac).

Answer 1

You may use MeshLab, as it can import common 3D file formats, and exports U3D files.

From the main page:

• imports: PLY, STL, OFF, OBJ, 3DS, COLLADA, PTX, V3D, PTS, APTS, XYZ, GTS, TRI, ASC, X3D, X3DV, VRML, ALN.
• exports: PLY, STL, OFF, OBJ, 3DS, COLLADA, VRML, DXF, GTS, U3D, IDTF, X3D

Since that software can be used from command line to process files, the idea would be to generate a file using one of the formats it imports (for example, a X3D or PLY, both can be used to represent vector data and point sets) and let Meshlab convert it to U3D trough the command line.

Answer 2

Wikipedia cites several applications can create .u3d files. Here are the specifications for all four versions of the u3d file format.

Answer 3

Here is a library on Sourceforge for working with the u3d format. This just came up on a quick search, never tried it so I cannot provide more detailed info.