Multiple Mesh Heirarchy in gmf

[macklebee]

Looking at how the windmill.gmf is containing three separate meshes, with the windmill-base as the parent. How was this accomplished? Whenever I convert anything into gmf it just makes it one mesh. Using uu3d, I see that my file has two groups like I expected, but when saving as gmf it just makes it into one mesh. Also tried the ob2gmf converter as well and got the same result...

[Niosop]

You need to have separate objects in the same file, not just separate groups. Each object in the file will be a separate mesh.

[macklebee]

ok... how is that accomplished? ive tried in hexagon, silo, and uu3d to put multiple meshes in one file and no matter what it still is converted to one mesh...

[Niosop]

Not sure, I pretty much use blender exclusively. In blender, when adding a new primitive you just have to make sure that you are in object mode and that there are no other objects selected. If you modeled it all as one object and would like to split it up then you can select all the verts and choose Separate to make those verts into a separate object. I'm sure the other programs have a way to do it. If not I guess you could use blender to do so, you'll just need to export as OBJ from the other program, import into blender, split it up and re-export as OBJ or FBX. I really wish there was an FBX importer for Blender that handled animations, it would make my life so much easier. Anyone out there familiar w/ Blender and wants to take up the challenge? I know there are a TON of people out there who would love this, you could probably set up a fundable.com group, set the target at $2K or higher and quickly get that much if you get a working, robust importer working.

[ArBuZ]

The problem is in obj2gmf exporter. It merges all objects in one mesh. And uu3d I think does the same. Try to export via FBX if uu3d has fbx export function. fbx2gmf works well in such situations.

[macklebee]

The problem is in obj2gmf exporter. It merges all objects in one mesh. And uu3d I think does the same. Try to export via FBX if uu3d has fbx export function. fbx2gmf works well in such situations.

 

unfortunately, neither one of my modeling apps allow me to export to fbx... but i havent tried loading it in uu3d and saving it as a fbx file... then i assume i will need to use your converter... hmmm... looks like i finally get to try it out! thanks for the suggestion. hope it works (assuming uu3d doesn't convert it to one mesh when going to fbx as well)

[Josh]

The OBJ format does not support hierarchies, so it is already merged before the converter gets the data.

[Marleys Ghost]

I think ArBuz is right about UU3D when it saves to .gmf

 

@Josh : "The OBJ format does not support hierarchies" : good to know thanks.

 

I would like to figure this out to as I think its going to be quite a key thing later.

[macklebee]

yeah, i guess the question is what specific formats do support hierarchies... <googles>

[Marleys Ghost]

So hexagon does not support FBX?

[macklebee]

nope... at least the 2.5 version doesn't... and neither does 3dws nor silo...

[Marleys Ghost]

nope... at least the 2.5 version doesn't... and neither does 3dws nor silo...

 

 

I wonder if it would matter if using those programs that don't support .fbx that you could save the individual models out as .whatever and then import them into say blender as individual objects THEN export as .fbx?

[Marleys Ghost]

I think Wings 3D saves out to AutoDesk FBX? not really used it.

[macklebee]

dont know i will play around with the different available output formats and see if i have any luck... i was just using OBJ format for the obvious reason that you have OBJ to make a dynamic PHY body...

[Niosop]

I wonder if it would matter if using those programs that don't support .fbx that you could save the individual models out as .whatever and then import them into say blender as individual objects THEN export as .fbx?

 

Not sure if that was a question, but yes you can totally do that. I do it all the time.

[Marleys Ghost]

dont know i will play around with the different available output formats and see if i have any luck... i was just using OBJ format for the obvious reason that you have OBJ to make a dynamic PHY body...

 

 

yep, thats true. for dynamic objects you'd have to also save as .obj ... I was just thinking about a workflow that would mean not having to change modelling program to do the initial creation.

 

@Niosop : Good afternoon, cool .. so you'd model the seperate objects .. save out to .obj and import into Blender to be saved out to .fbx , would you just position the parts in blender as required?

[Niosop]

so you'd model the seperate objects .. save out to .obj and import into Blender to be saved out to .fbx , would you just position the parts in blender as required?

 

Yup. Then when you bring it into LeadWerks or anything else they're already properly positioned.

[macklebee]

yeah... i was just trying to avoid having to add yet another step in model creation...

[Marleys Ghost]

Yup. Then when you bring it into LeadWerks or anything else they're already properly positioned

 

 

ok thanks seems straight forward enough .. is it only .fbx that supports hierarchies?

[Niosop]

Collada (DAE) should as well, but FBX is the only one I've tried. As far as Blender/FW converter overlap goes. 3ds, max, and a multitude of others support them I'm sure.

[Marleys Ghost]

Collada (DAE) should as well, but FBX is the only one I've tried. As far as Blender/FW converter overlap goes. 3ds, max, and a multitude of others support them I'm sure.

 

 

thanks for that info Nio, I will simply have to try them to find out

[VicToMeyeZR]

So it appears that anything you bring into UU3D will be merged into a single group?

[macklebee]

So it appears that anything you bring into UU3D will be merged into a single group?

 

yeah thats pretty much what it looks like...