Export/Import tools - One stop shop?

Phobos

I find myself using atleast 3 different modeling programs to get things done. Sometimes I get a bad export from one and need to load into another package before I can go to my desired end package.

Aside from Polytrans, are there any other mesh format export/import tools out there?

Valandar

When I used to mesh for Freedom Force, it was a "one stop shop" - model, rig and animate in Max 3-5, depending on what you had, apply a Netimmerse material, export with the script Irrational Games provided, and just arrange the files in the Custom Characters directory (Character Name: character.nif and keyframes.kf, Character Name \Skins\Standard: The default skins, Character name\Skins\Skin name: Alternate skins).

However, it only accepted diffuse, glow, and reflectivity amount maps (with an environment map) - no bump, normal, specular, or what have you - and at the time it came out was limited to 2k-4k tris for performance, though modern computers could get away with 6-8k tris. Also, the style was very "Four-Color", meaning it wasn't very challenging to mesh for.

Eric Chadwick

I'd say look into the file formats themselves. OBJ, FBX, Collada, etc., depending on how much you want to transfer.

Lots of converters around, some inexpensive. An older list...
http://www.3dlinks.com/links.cfm?categoryid=1&subcategoryid=11&order=catrating

Deep Exploration might float your boat, but it ain't cheap, 495 US$.
http://www.righthemisphere.com/products/dexp/