Importing a points file - issues

Hello ~ There seems to be a MAGIC COMBINATION of key strokes that allows a CSV file of x,y,z coordinates to import as a point cloud. After a couple hours of experimentation, I can get it to work but there is not indication in the iterations a pattern that allows me to reliably do it! It seems like once Rhino knows how to do it, it will work.

The current settings on my end are to use IMPORT and it is set as “all supported files”. Currently, I get the pop up that asks for the delimiter and I select comma and the points come in. The problem is that I have used this combination before and Rhino reports an error when importing.

I can reproduce the problem by closing everything and starting over: Make my CSV file and try to import the way that worked above except the command line reports
Error importing file “C:\Users\Clint\My Drive\Kinney Dory\Kinney-points-export.csv”.

I am curious what other people find.
Kinney-points-export.csv (27.3 KB)

The file is attached. Saved as a CSV (comma delimited).

Hi Clint,

What version of Rhino are you using?

I’m in the latest Rhino 7 and not seeing any issue importing the .csv into a point cloud.

Rhino 7 SR32 2023-8-9 (Rhino 7, 7.32.23221.10241, Git hash:master @ 3d9c816c4cd57561d12d8f53246bce304f314ba2)
License type: Commercial, build 2023-08-09
License details: Cloud Zoo

Windows 10 (10.0.19045 SR0.0) or greater (Physical RAM: 24Gb)

What are the steps you are using?

Hi Clint - does this work any differently if the CSV is on the desktop?

-Pascal

P-You mean save it to Desktop and then try importing from there?

Yep - just take the GoogleDrive/Network out of the equation as a test.

-Pascal

Good idea, but no luck there…

I noticed something - I can get points to import into Rhino when I select CSV files that previously worked, but just now when I try to import the one I just saved to the desktop, THAT ONE will not open.

Something fishy is going on…

Very fishy.

I can use import or just drag and drop into Rhino.

Perhaps the file is being blocked. Right click on the file and see if there is a option to unblock.

Hey @CCBB,

Open your CSV files in Notepad to verify they are what you think they are.

– Dale

Dale - Looks correct, rows of numbers separated by commas

Japhy - Dragging works on one file but not the other!

Can you post both files?

Any issues in a csv validator? CSV Validator & Linter on Toolkit Bay

Files came back valid
Kinney-points-export.csv (27.3 KB)
Kinney-points-export.csv (27.3 KB)

Hi Clint - can you please run SystemInfo in Rhino and post the results? … I am just wondeting if a plug-in is getting its oar in somehow.

-Pascal

I like what you did there Pascal…‘oar’

Rhino 7 SR32 2023-8-9 (Rhino 7, 7.32.23221.10241, Git hash:master @ 3d9c816c4cd57561d12d8f53246bce304f314ba2)
License type: Commercial, build 2023-08-09
License details: Cloud Zoo

Windows 10 (10.0.19045 SR0.0) or greater (Physical RAM: 24Gb)

Computer platform: DESKTOP

Standard graphics configuration.
Primary display and OpenGL: NVIDIA GeForce GT 730 (NVidia) Memory: 2GB, Driver date: 9-13-2021 (M-D-Y). OpenGL Ver: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 472.12
> Accelerated graphics device with 2 adapter port(s)
- Windows Main Display attached to adapter port #0
- Secondary monitor attached to adapter port #1

OpenGL Settings
Safe mode: Off
Use accelerated hardware modes: On
Redraw scene when viewports are exposed: On
Graphics level being used: OpenGL 4.6 (primary GPU’s maximum)

Anti-alias mode: 4x
Mip Map Filtering: Linear
Anisotropic Filtering Mode: High

Vendor Name: NVIDIA Corporation
Render version: 4.6
Shading Language: 4.60 NVIDIA
Driver Date: 9-13-2021
Driver Version: 30.0.14.7212
Maximum Texture size: 16384 x 16384
Z-Buffer depth: 24 bits
Maximum Viewport size: 16384 x 16384
Total Video Memory: 2 GB

Rhino plugins that do not ship with Rhino
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\RhinoCAM 2022 for R7\RhinoCAM 2022 For Rhino7.0.rhp “RhinoCAM 2022 - The cutting edge CAM plug-in for Rhino 7.0 from MecSoft Corporation”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\RhinoCAM 2022 for R7\RhinoArt1FileExporter For Rhino7.0.rhp “RhinoArt1FileExporter”

Rhino plugins that ship with Rhino
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\Commands.rhp “Commands” 7.32.23221.10241
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\rdk.rhp “Renderer Development Kit”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\RhinoBonusTools.rhp “Rhino Bonus Tools”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\RhinoRenderCycles.rhp “Rhino Render” 7.32.23221.10241
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\rdk_etoui.rhp “RDK_EtoUI” 7.32.23221.10241
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\rdk_ui.rhp “Renderer Development Kit UI”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\NamedSnapshots.rhp “Snapshots”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\RhinoCycles.rhp “RhinoCycles” 7.32.23221.10241
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\Toolbars\Toolbars.rhp “Toolbars” 7.32.23221.10241
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\3dxrhino.rhp “3Dconnexion 3D Mouse”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\import_points.rhp “Points Import”
C:\Program Files\Rhino 7\Plug-ins\Displacement.rhp “Displacement”

For kicks, I went into the attached CSV file in Notepad and changed some numbers - it WILL IMPORT for me.

The previous one attached “Kinney-points-export” DOES NOT IMPORT. It looks the SAME as the Book 3 file when viewed in Notepad.
Book3.csv (27.3 KB)

OK - update -
So I took the file above and opened it in Notepad and RESAVED it as a text file.
Rhino then imported the file.
Go figure

EDITED TO ADD THAT I AM CONSISTENTLY GETTING GOOD RESULTS WITH THIS WORKAROUND. THANKS

Hi Clint - so saving as .txt allows it to work? What if you open and SaveAs to a different name but still csv? I can’t tell if there is something Rhino needs to fix here or not…

-Pascal

Pascal, yes saving it as a .txt it will work.
If I open it in Notepad and save as another name with .csv as an extension, it will import.
If I save as a .csv out of Excel, then just change the extension to .txt then IT WILL IMPORT.
So it is a file name issue???

Let me ask…
@tim - do you have an idea what might be happening here? We can’t reproduce it so far but the OP has trouble importing points files that are CSVs.
-CSV files that cannot be imported work if the extension is set to .txt. I am wondering if the delimiter setting is being misinterpreted in the CSV dialog, maybe. I have not tested 7.32 here, just our newer builds, but I’ll try going back to 7.32

It all works here in 7.32

@CCBB - long shot but what if you block RhinoCAM in OPtions > PLug-ins page and then close and re-open Rhino?

-Pascal