[starlord]

hello to all!

Question from a first timer, how can I open .dae files? could I open them using blender?

[headdie]

it depends on what you want to do with it.  Most 3d modelling programs have im/export scripts for Collada and PCS2 works with it.  for Freespace you need a version of collada that works with dae 1.4.

as for blender, 2.49 is the last version that I know of for sure you can get a script that works with dae 1.4

[starlord]

well for starters i would like to be able to open and view the model...

[FreeSpaceFreak]

Blender would probably be your best bet - open-source. Though if you want hardcore, any text editor will do the trick (Collada is XML-based). If you have problems getting a DAE into Blender, open it in your favourite text editor and take a look at the COLLADA version on line 2; older than 1.4 might be problematic.

[starlord]

actually I do have blender 2.45 but this is my first time with .dae files, however, I'll follow your advice. many thanks FSF.

[Water]

Use Blender 2.64 instead.

It now imports hard edges from PCS2

If it's a model using .dds textures, open with a txt editor and search and replace .tga with .dds
then search and replace "channel1" with "" Then save.

Make sure the dds textures are in the same directory as the dae model.