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New Reader/Writer: Polygon File Format (PLY)

Related products:Integrations
  • June 25, 2017
  • 10 replies
  • 314 views

Please add support for reading PLY - Polygon File Format, a 3D model format, also known as the Stanford Triangle Format:

http://paulbourke.net/dataformats/ply/

10 replies

martinkoch
Enthusiast
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  • Enthusiast
  • February 17, 2018

Some hours after I started with some drone-imagery I stumbled on FME missing this format. Searching the Knowledge Center I found this post, so thumbs up for now.


antoine
Enthusiast
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  • Enthusiast
  • February 26, 2020

It is possible to add trimesh (https://trimsh.org/trimesh.html ) package for OFF and PLY formats as an easy workaround.


antoine
Enthusiast
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  • Enthusiast
  • October 16, 2024

Any news on this format? I really think it is simple and useful (way less investment compared to adding rhino or archicad). If you could use part of Safe growth on this, it would be great ^^!


LizAtSafe
Safer
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  • Safer
  • March 31, 2026
OpenGathering Interest

LizAtSafe
Safer
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  • Safer
  • May 21, 2026
Gathering InterestIn Development

itsmatt
Celebrity
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  • Celebrity
  • May 22, 2026
Gathering InterestIn Development

Eexciting!


andreaatsafe
Safer
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Hi all,

We're actively working on developing a PLY reader, with plans to follow up with a writer.

To make sure the reader handles the variety of PLY files out there, we'd love to get some real-world sample data from the FME community!

If you have any PLY files you'd be willing to share, please send them my way via email: andrea@safe.com

Thanks so much!

 


compasscarto
Contributor
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  • Contributor
  • May 22, 2026

Just sent you a .ply file from a Raven Max LiDAR scanner!  Can send additional samples if they would help.  Thank you!


andreaatsafe
Safer
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  • Safer
  • September 15, 2026

Hi all,

I’m pleased to let you know that FME 2026.3 now has a PLY Reader!
Stay tuned for the writer coming in 2026.4.


compasscarto
Contributor
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  • Contributor
  • September 15, 2026

Looking forward to trying this out once Data Interoperabiity Extension has been updated to 2026.3 / 4