File Formats

List of all the file formats interacting with the Golaem plugins.

Character Files

Golaem Character File (.gcha)

Golaem representation of a Maya character. It can be generated with the Character Maker.
The Golaem Character is composed of two parts:

  • The character skeleton: it comprises the joint hierarchy, relationship between joints (roll bones...), blend shapes list,  physics properties (colliders, joint limits, mass...)...
  • The character geometry: it comprises the list of the meshes, shader names, shader attributes and asset repartition which will be used to generate the final aspect of characters at render time.

This file is mandatory to run and render a simulation

Golaem Geometry File (.gcg)

Golaem representation of a Character Geometry. It can be generated with the Character Maker.
The Golaem Geometry File stores all the information relative to skinning, topology, uvs, normals... and is referenced in a Golaem Character File. A Character File can reference multiple Geometry Files to define LODs, geometry caches, context based geometries (Geometry Tag)... More information can be found here.

This file is mandatory to run and render a simulation

NVidia Physx Cloth Definition File (.apx)

Nvidia PhysX representation of a simulated Cloth Geometry. It can be generated with the NVidia PhysX plugin.
The NVidia Physx Cloth Definition File stores all the information relative to cloth simulation such a cloth material properties, per vertex max displacement, rigid body colliders... The documentation of this file can be found in the NVidia PhyX plugin documentation.

This file is only required to run a simulation with an ApexCloth Behavior.

Golaem Motion File (.gmo)

Golaem representation of a motion clip. Only important information of postures is stored and those postures can be automatically retargeted on any morphology. Golaem Motion files can be generated with the Character Maker.

This file is only required to animate Entities skeleton during a simulation

Golaem Motion Mapping File (.gmm)

Allows to map a given Golaem Character File to a motion originating from any morphology. Golaem Motion Mapping files can be generated with the Character Maker.

This file is only required to override the automatic motion mapping of a simulation for a Character File.

Environment Files

Golaem NavMesh files (.gse)

Stores a simplified representation of the terrain, a roadmap and all the obstacles. It can be generated with the NavMesh Creator.

This file is only required to take obstacles into account while placing Entities or running a simulation.

Simulation Cache Files

Golaem Simulation Cache file (.gscs and .gscf)

Golaem Simulation Cache containing the result of a simulation (positions, orientations, scales & postures). It can be generated with the Simulation Exporter. More information can be found here.

Those files are mandatory to render a simulation.

Golaem Simulation Layout file (.gscl)

Contains the edition operations applied to Simulation Cache (translate of a character, edition of his posture, kill list...). It can be generated with the Simulation Cache Layout Tool.

This file is only required to edit a Simulation Cache at render time.

Golaem Terrain Geometry (.gtg)

Golaem representation of a Terrain Geometry. It can be generated from the Simulation Cache Proxy node.
The Golaem Terrain Geometry File stores all the information relative to terrain topology. It relies on the same file format than the Golaem Character Geometry.

This file is only required to override the Simulation Terrain at render time.

Simulation Cache Library Files

Golaem Simulation Cache Library file (.gscb) Stores a library of previously exported Simulation Cache Files and their Layout Files as Library Items. Those items can then be drag and dropped in a scene. It can be generated using the Simulation Cache Library Tool or anytime if Simulation Cache is exported. More here.

Simulation Cache Bake Files

RenderMan Interface Bytestream (.rib) Pixar RenderMan scene description language. It can be generated with the Simulation Baker

VRScene (.vrscene)

Chaos Group VRay scene description language. It can be generated with the Simulation Baker
Arnold Scene (.ass) SolidAngle Arnold scene description language. It can be generated with the Simulation Baker
USD (.usda / .usdc) Pixar open source geometry and animation interchange file format. It can be generated with the Simulation Baker. It can be used to interchange with other DCC applications not supported by Golaem
FBX (.fbx) Autodesk geometry and animation interchange file format. It can be generated with the Simulation Baker. It can be used to interchange with other DCC applications not supported by Golaem.
Alembic (.abc) Open source baked geometry interchange file format. It can be generated with the Simulation Baker. It can be used to interchange with other DCC applications not supported by Golaem.

Miscellaneous

Golaem Log file

glmCrowd.log. Its filepath can be changed with the Crowd Settings Dialog.