Technocrane Data Converter User Guide

Technocrane Data Converter

The converter reads Technocrane CGI files and FBX camera animation, shows the motion in a browser-based preview, and exports the result back to CGI or FBX.

The browser version runs fully in the page for file conversion. Files are loaded into the browser session and exported as downloads.

Quick Start

  1. Open the app and use the Input row to choose a .cgi or .fbx file.
  2. Click Load to import the source and update the preview, timeline, and inspector.
  3. Use the Output row to choose an output file name.
  4. Review the options that apply to your export.
  5. Click Export. In the browser build, the output file downloads automatically.

Import / Export Panel

Input

Select the source file. Supported inputs are .cgi and .fbx.

Load

Imports the selected source into the app without writing a new file.

Output

Sets the target file name. Use .fbx for FBX export or .cgi for CGI export.

Export

Writes the converted data using the selected output path and options.

Options

Common Options

Use custom frame rate controls the rate used when importing CGI data that needs an explicit frame rate.

FBX Options

  • Resample affects FBX input only. Use 0 to auto-detect the resample rate.
  • Relative time exports keys starting at time zero while preserving timecode metadata.
  • Euler filter reduces rotation discontinuities during FBX export.
  • ASCII / Binary selects the FBX output encoding.
  • Camera name, Animation name, and Comment set FBX metadata.

Camera Lens

Enable calibrated FOV output when converting Technocrane zoom values into FBX camera field-of-view data. Chip width and height are in millimeters.

Preview

The Preview tab shows the imported camera trajectory, a current camera marker, frustum, grid, and crane model. Use the mouse to orbit, pan, and zoom the view.

The Crane Preview tab controls whether the crane, scene grid, and textured floor are visible.

Timeline

  • Play starts or stops playback.
  • |< and >| jump to the selected playback range.
  • < and > step one imported sample at a time.
  • [=T and T=] set the playback range start or end to the current time.
  • Timecode switches the current-time field between seconds and timecode display.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Space

Play or stop timeline playback.

Left Arrow / Right Arrow

Step to the previous or next imported sample.

Home

Jump to the selected playback range start.

End

Jump to the selected playback range end.

F

Frame the visible FCurve Editor channels when the curve editor is focused or hovered.

Mouse Controls

  • Preview right-drag: orbit the 3D view.
  • Preview middle-drag: pan the 3D view.
  • Preview wheel: zoom the 3D view.
  • FCurve left-click: select the nearest visible key.
  • FCurve left-drag: rectangle-select keys.
  • FCurve middle-drag: pan the curve view.
  • FCurve right-drag: zoom the curve view.

Inspection And Logs

Scene Inspector summarizes the loaded source and current frame. Snapshot stores a temporary comparison copy of the current import. Log records import, export, validation, and preview messages.

Troubleshooting

  • If no file downloads, check the Log tab for validation or export errors.
  • If the preview is empty, load a source file first and confirm it contains camera samples.
  • If browser memory runs out, try a smaller source file or use the desktop build.
  • If a changed web build does not appear, hard-refresh the browser page.