Softimage 3.5 adds the ability to save vrml files. This ability allows easy conversion of models from the softimage format into a format usable in the performer CAVE. Unfortunately, like so many other things in soft3.5, the vrml save option (Model->Save->vrml+) is faulty. There are 2 main problems with the save option.

First, soft3.5 messes up the texture filenames. Softimage saves all the textures as jpeg files and links these files from inside the .wrl file. The prefix for these files are often corrupted after export. The easiest way to fix this problem is to use an editor such as vi to find the word 'filename' (no quotes) and erase the prefix from the texture names. You'll know it if it's messed up. Then strip the prefix from all the .jpg texture files.

The second major problem with the vrml+ save option is the MatrixTransform. Typically, when moving models from a package to the CAVE, the user centers the object on the origin and chooses the Model->effects->freeze->transforms option. This function makes the object coordinate system align with the world origin. The problem is the soft3.5 vrml+ save option leaves a MatrixTransform when there shouldn't be any. The problem is easily fixed by changing the base MatrixTransform from the values soft3.5 spits out to the identitiy matrix. This method only works if you freeze the object before the vrml+ save.