Extract text from Data logs and 3D models (SM3)
To convert SM3 Logs and models to another format, you need 3ds Max or other Data software.
To convert other file formats to the "Signal Meter Data Log" file type, you need software like 3ds Max or a similar tool.
The .sm3 file extension is primarily a Signal Meter Data Log generated by SmartSky tracking systems, storing information as plain JSON text. Alternatively, the same extension is used for 3D models and Compiled Pixel Shaders in Croteam's Serious Engine 3, as well as HiCAD 3D Shape Models developed by the ISD Group.
Depending on the specific type, these files are handled by radically different software. The data logs require a simple text parser, the game models integrate with 3ds Max, and the shaders are processed using the Microsoft HLSL Shader Compiler.
The massive disadvantage of the .sm3 format is its fragmented identity. Users are often confused because a single extension represents readable text in one context and proprietary binary CAD or compiled game engine data in another. Without the exact parent application, these proprietary 3D formats are incredibly restrictive and impossible for standard web browsers or generic viewers to read.
If you have a SmartSky log, converting to JSON, CSV, or TXT is highly recommended for data analysis and spreadsheet ingestion. For Serious Engine or HiCAD assets, exporting to standard 3D formats like OBJ, FBX, or STL is critical for cross-platform compatibility, though custom textures or game engine metadata may be lost.
Because of these overlapping definitions, this file format is notoriously difficult to open or convert blindly. Often, only the original software can properly read or export the 3D meshes or CAD designs. If our analysis detects a supported underlying JSON structure or embedded 3D format, viewing or conversion may still be possible.
Convert.Guru analyzes your SM3 file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted ROW, ATP, GFT and SM2 files.
If you want to convert SM3 file to , you can use 3ds Max or similar software from the "Data Log or 3D Model" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to SM3, try 3ds Max or another comparable tool in the "Data Log or 3D Model" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our SM3 converter.