ObjReader Community
ObjReader & 3D Collection => Get ObjReader & Documentation => Topic started by: Patrice Terrier on August 25, 2025, 12:18:51 pm
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ObjReader 4.00+ - the .ORB challenge
New in version 4.00:
TL;DR: A compact binary format for Wavefront models that loads faster, takes less disk space, needs no extra DLLs, and stays fully compatible with OBJ/MTL.
What is .ORB?
.ORB = ObjReader Binary. It’s a compound file format for ObjReader that preserves Wavefront OBJ/MTL compatibility while dramatically reducing size and load time.
File layout
- PNG thumbnail — preview of the model (visible in Windows Explorer thumbnail view).
- Header — a small block storing internal offsets to each data section.
- Compressed geometry — mesh data matching the source Wavefront OBJ.
- Compressed MTL trailer — verbatim copy of the original .mtl file, stored at the end.
Compression: to avoid extra dependencies, .orb uses Windows’ built-in LZNT1 (NTDLL, LZ77-based). No external DLL required.
Explorer thumbnail
(http://www.objreader.com/download/images/ORB_thumbnail.png)
The thumbnail embedded in a [.orb] file is created the first time you open the model in ObjReader.
ObjReader renders the current viewport with its OpenGL pipeline (gl_DrawScene) and stores that live capture as the file’s preview.
What it reflects:
- Geometry, materials, and textures actually loaded
- Camera position and FOV
- Active lighting preset and background
- The model’s current pose/orientation
Why it matters: it lets you recognize models at a glance in Explorer and file pickers. The thumbnail is only a preview—it does not affect the model data.
Integration
- File association: .orb is registered to launch ObjReader directly from Explorer.
- ObjReader 4.00 size: the new executable is 14 KB smaller than v3.00+, thanks to aggressive code optimization and compiler settings.
- ORDLL64 / ORV64: ORV64 and ORDLL64.dll are updated to understand .orb directly; ORV64 can open .orb even if no .mtl is present on disk.
Round-trip compatibility
- Export from .ORB: ObjReader adds a menu option: File ? Export .ORB to .MTL/.OBJ.
- Console tool: orbtool.exe provides standalone compile/decompile:
Compile (OBJ ? ORB): orbtool -c <input.obj> -o <output.orb>
Decompile(ORB ? OBJ): orbtool -x <input.orb> -o <outputBase>
(produces <outputBase>.obj and <outputBase>.mtl)
Why this is good
- Smaller files on disk.
- Faster loads in memory.
- No extra runtime dependencies (uses Windows’ own LZNT1).
- Still Wavefront-compatible (verbatim .mtl preserved; lossless geometry).
Overall performance
- Disk space: ~50% of the original OBJ/MTL size (typical).
- Loading speed: Up to 10× faster on large models (no text parsing; contiguous, precompiled geometry).
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New in version 4.01:
- Complete VS2022 source code (for posterity).
- Further code reduction (binary now ~478 KB).
- Menu simplification (removed unused features).
- New Orbit & Pan inertia (toggle in Animation → Camera inertia (Orbit & Pan)).
- Mesh info tips totally reworked to resolve conflicts when Use popup tips is enabled.
New in version 4.02:
- Auto sync detection adjustment for improved audio-driven animation stability.
- New #inflate directive (expand/deflate geometry along normals).
- New #autorotate directive (automatic rotation with configurable axis & speed).
- Zoom inertia added to complement LMB orbit & RMB pan inertia.
- Better keyboard handling for +/- rotation speed adjustment.
- Higher-ratio compression when building .orb files.
- Smarter .mtl change detection to auto-refresh the .orb when materials are updated.
- New Save screenshot UI icon for one-click snapshot capture.
- Wireframe overlay cleanup (crisper edges, skips transparent meshes).
- Toast animation polish for smoother transitions.
- List view horizontal scrollbar no longer shown at first display (fixed).
- Both orbtool and ORDLL64.dll reworked to stay in sync with OR v4.02.
...
Attachments
- ObjReader Version 4.02, is attached to this post.
- Orbtool console utility, is attached to this post.
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About ORV_64 v3.20
(sample app for embedding ObjReader via ORDLL64.dll.)
(http://www.objreader.com/download/images/ORV64.png)
What it is
ORV_64 is a complete C/C++ (VS2022, x64) example that hosts the ObjReader engine through ORDLL64.dll.
The DLL exposes a focused C API, just enough to create a viewer window, load a model, animate it, and query stats.
So you can render ObjReader content inside your own application UI.
What ORDLL64.dll is
- The embeddable runtime of ObjReader (Win64).
- Owns the renderer, model loading (.orb, .obj/.mtl), animation timer, and optional audio sync.
- You supply the top-level window and message loop; the DLL creates and manages its child viewport.
Why v3.10 matters, native .ORB compatibility
- Cuts startup time (no text parsing/reindexing).
- Reduces disk size for large meshes.
- Simplifies packaging: ship model.orb + textures in the same folder.
Your code can prefer .orb and automatically fall back to .obj when needed.
Typical integration flow
- Create your main window (CreateWindowExW).
- Call OR_CreateWindow(...) to create the viewer child HWND.
- (Optional) OR_SetSwapInterval(TRUE) for V-sync, OR_TimerEnable(TRUE) to animate.
- Load a file via:
OR_ProcessCommandLine(L"path\\to\\model.orb");- On WM_SIZE, resize the child window.
- Populate your UI with getters (OR_Vertices(), OR_Triangles(), …).
- Offer controls: OR_ViewReset(), OR_Get/SetAudioVolume(), OR_Screen_Shot().
- On exit, call OR_CloseAll().
API at a glance (what you’ll actually use)
- Create/host: OR_CreateWindow, OR_CloseAll
- Open model: OR_ProcessCommandLine (accepts .orb and .obj)
- Animation & timing: OR_TimerEnable, OR_GetAniTick
- Display options: OR_SetSwapInterval, OR_ViewReset, OR_Screen_Shot
- Info for UI:
- OR_Version, OR_ObjFileName
- OR_Vertices, OR_Triangles, OR_Indices
- OR_Meshes, OR_Materials, OR_ObjSize, OR_LoadTime
- OR_DetectGPU, OR_GPUinfo, OR_GPU, OR_CPU
- Audio: OR_GetAudioVolume, OR_SetAudioVolume
Attachment
- ORV_64 Version 3.20, is attached to this post.
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ObjReader v4.02 released
New material directives, improved navigation, and multiple refinements to both the UI and the .orb workflow.
Make sure to use "File" -> "Load model..." and select the demo project to see the new features in context.
New in version 4.02:
- Auto sync detection adjustment for audio-driven animations.
- New directives: #inflate and #autorotate.
- Zoom inertia to complement LMB orbit & RMB pan inertia.
- Better keyboard handling for plus/minus keys when adjusting rotation speed.
- .ORB improvements: higher compression + auto-refresh on .mtl changes.
- UI/UX: new Save screenshot icon, polished toast animation, cleaner wireframe overlay, fixed list view scrollbar at first display.
- Both orbtool and ORDLL64.dll updated in sync with OR v4.02.
See on top of this thread for new attachments.
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ObjReader / orbtool — New GLB Import Feature
I am pleased to introduce a new capability recently added to orbtool:
Direct .GLB → .ORB conversion
This allows modern asset pipelines (Blender, Maya, etc.) to feed ObjReader without relying on the legacy OBJ stage.
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Why GLB?
GLB is the binary form of glTF and provides several practical advantages:
• compact binary structure
• faster parsing
• embedded geometry, materials, and textures
• fewer ambiguities than text-based formats
That said, GLB is NOT intended to become a runtime format inside ObjReader.
ORB remains the native, optimized container designed for fast loading and deterministic behavior.
The workflow is intentionally simple:
DCC Tool → GLB → orbtool → ORB → ObjReader
GLB acts as an asset source, while ORB stays the final runtime format.
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Architecture Notes
• GLB parsing is strictly isolated inside orbtool
• No glTF code is introduced into the runtime engine
• ORDLL remains lightweight and rendering-focused
• CRT-free discipline is preserved
This separation ensures the viewer stays fast and avoids dependency creep.
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Early Results
Initial integration shows:
• controlled binary growth
• stable conversion
• preserved materials
• clean mesh extraction
Further optimizations will follow as the pipeline matures.
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What This Means
This addition quietly moves ObjReader toward a more modern asset workflow while keeping the engine philosophy intact:
✔ preprocess offline
✔ load fast
✔ render immediately
Exactly what a runtime should do.
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The latest orbtool version is attached to this post, with its full VS2022 C/C++ source code.
The release folder is provided with a ferrari.glb 3D model for test purpose.
Syntax to convert a .glb into a .orb
orbtool -c ferrari.glb -o ferrari.orb