How to import object in OpenGL and what file format to choose?

Question

I want to create a robot and want to move it in OpenGL. I will create the model in 3DsMax. I was wondering about importing and moving it in OpenGL.

In which format should I save my file in 3ds Max so that I can import it in OpenGL?

Should I use pivots or save each part of the robot as a seperate file? Does OpenGL support pivots?

Answer 1

OpenGL has surprisingly little to do with the answer. OpenGL is only used to draw your geometry. It is not a rendering/game engine/scenegraph in itself. Therefore loading a mesh and animating it is something you should take care of, subsequently informing OpenGL what it has to draw.

You can however make your life a bit easier by looking for OpenGL based rendering/game engines/scenegraphs out there that already provide the support you desire. But you'll have to take a look at that yourself. Then export your mesh in whatever suitable format your engine supports. OpenGL itself holds no relevance to whatever file format you wish to use. If you or your engine can deal with it and get all the relevant information out of it, you can use it.