[sldev] Second Life Avatar Format

[John Hurliman]

Sithlard Sith wrote:
> This is an extremely vague question, but perhaps one worth some 
> clarification.
>
> An avatar in second life is composed of:
> 1. a base mesh, either male or female (built into SL and not currently 
> changeable)
> 2. parameters set on the base mesh which can change the size/position 
> of specific points on the mesh
> 3. a fixed hair mesh with parameters set on it
> 4. attachments, made of primitives
> 5. a series of animations constantly playing
> 6. one or more textures, which are composited and glued onto the base mesh
>
> It is not currently possible to import a different mesh. You can 
> upload animations, or attach things, or change the parameters of the 
> mesh, but you cannot import an arbitrary 3d model.
>
> Otherwise, use the built in tools; any import is an approximation 
> thereof, that is, a collection of saved settings that correspond to 
> what you can do using the built in tools.
>
> In the source tree, there is support for CAL3d export of an avatar, 
> but this is NOT an importable format, the avatars are quite proprietary.
>

On the same subject, have there been any efforts to document the LLMesh 
format used to store avatars?

John Hurliman