When validating my .dae files using the OpenCollada validator, I am successful. However, upon trying to import the same .dae into SketchUp, I receive an error. Subsequently, I am given the option to open it, which is successful. The error in SketchUp is as follows:
“The .dae or .kmz file you are attempting to import cannot be validated. Your file may import just fine but there is a possibility SketchUp could import it incorrectly or even crash.”
Does anyone have any ideas what distinguishes the SketchUp validator from the OpenCollada validator?
I have attached the .dae file so you might try it yourself. It is valid against the Collada 1.4.1 Schema.
I am also using Sketchup 8 and I can load the collada file, but I still get a message that says the file is improperly formed. Like I said above, I can ultimately import the geometry, but I am confused at why this message appears. Can you indicate to me why I get this message?
The Sketchup validator uses the 1.4.1 schema and tinyxml as the library that takes the schema and compares it to the current file.
When I run xmllint, I see the same Element empty error that Mark has described in his post. If you do not want SketchUp to validate a .dae file before importing you can un-check the ‘Validate COLLADA file’ check-box under the Options in the Import Dialog for COLLADA files.
Validation is done at the XML level. XML instance documents, i.e. COLLADA .dae documents, are validated against either a DTD or schema (XML Schema, RELAX NG, etc.) by any XML validating parser (libxml2, tinyxml, expat, xerces, MSXML4, MSXML6, etc.). I.e. you don’t need COLLADA software to validate documents.
It’s all the same minus differences in software versions and bugs. You want to use newer software to get the best results. For example, older versions of libxml2 have a bug that prevents them from validating with the COLLADASchema.xsd schema.
Btw OpenCOLLADA/COLLADAValidator uses libxml2 so make sure to update your libxml2 installation.
I use an interactive windows tool that I hacked from a Microsoft open source project - XML notepad. I like the interactivity, editing, and the graphical browsing (see attached image). It also has a XLS processor, search…
for more information about all the XML tools available and their application to COLLADA, please read chapter 9: a COLLADA toobook from AK Peters ‘Game Development Tools’ book.