topic Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working. in Maya Forum

Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

Raees_malik1801 — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 19:31:25 GMT

Xgen is my hell.

So ive started working on the Bodice for my model and its been going fine till up to now...

I used the Card primitive and in order to render I need to export the description into a mesh and I tried to use the Export as Mel option only it exports an empty file? so I tried to export it as geometry only it gives me this error

// Warning: XGen(0): Unsupported primitive type: CardPrimitive for description "elsa_new:description71" //

Any help on either getting the mel or geometry export working?

Thanks!

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

sean.heasley — Mon, 12 Nov 2018 19:59:55 GMT

Hi @Raees_malik1801

That might be related to a similar issue like in this thread.

From that thread:

The convert to geometry function only works with primitives that are generated by XGen, hence the "Unsupported Primitive Type" error.

If you want to convert the instanced archives to geometry, you can change the output operation to MEL output and export a MEL file that will contain all the instanced geo that can be imported to Maya.

You then set the export location and hit the Create MEL button to save out a file, named for the description.

You can then import the Mel file, which contains the geo.

You can export all or a percentage of the primitives as needed. There is also an option to export as instances. The geo in the mel file will be grouped to reflect the instancing as generated by XGen.

Please let me know if this works for you!

If one or more of these posts helped answer your question, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

Kudos are greatly appreciated. Everyone likes a thumbs up!

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

Raees_malik1801 — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 18:42:42 GMT

Ive tried this it won't work. it just gives me a .file which I tried to change to a .mel only there's

nothing written in the file?

@sean.heasley wrote:
Hi @Raees_malik1801

That might be related to a similar issue like in this thread.

From that thread:

The convert to geometry function only works with primitives that are generated by XGen, hence the "Unsupported Primitive Type" error.

If you want to convert the instanced archives to geometry, you can change the output operation to MEL output and export a MEL file that will contain all the instanced geo that can be imported to Maya.

You then set the export location and hit the Create MEL button to save out a file, named for the description.

You can then import the Mel file, which contains the geo.

You can export all or a percentage of the primitives as needed. There is also an option to export as instances. The geo in the mel file will be grouped to reflect the instancing as generated by XGen.

Please let me know if this works for you!

If one or more of these posts helped answer your question, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

Kudos are greatly appreciated. Everyone likes a thumbs up!

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

sean.heasley — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 20:28:19 GMT

Hi @Raees_malik1801

Hmm that's unusual. If you try to import the file does anything happen?

If not, then you may need to reload your Xgen which you can do by going to Windows->Settings/Preferences->Plugin Manager then uncheck the load and auto load button for Xgen and then check load again.

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

Raees_malik1801 — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 21:08:16 GMT

@sean.heasley

Xgen and I don't get along very well...

every time I uncheck it just throws another error at me

// Error: file: C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya2018/scripts/others/pluginWin.mel line 1524: Plug-in, "xgenToolkit", cannot be unloaded because it defines a MPxData derived type that is still in use. //

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

sean.heasley — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 21:18:11 GMT

Hi @Raees_malik1801

Ah this is probably because your scene is using Xgen so heavily. Try creating a new scene, then do my above steps, open your scene and then see if anything changes.

Xgen can be a finical beast so I understand your frustrations

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

Raees_malik1801 — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 21:39:43 GMT

@sean.heasley

I made a new scene and I unloaded Xgen then reloaded. last time it wouldn't even let me click the little folder to choose where to save the file, it now allowing me to do that. But is still saving an empty file...

oh, i understand how finicky Xgen can be this is one of my smaller problems with it

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

sean.heasley — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 16:37:45 GMT

Hi @Raees_malik1801

Weird. Can you try making a new scene with a basic cube and Xgen then try the same process to see if it works?

I'd like to see if this process isn't working with the one file you're working on or across your Maya entirely.

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

Raees_malik1801 — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 17:38:49 GMT

@sean.heasley

It's gotten further... it actually made a mel file this time!

and the file has something in it, only is a bunch on splines?

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

sean.heasley — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 18:09:28 GMT

Hi @Raees_malik1801

Yes the mel file should contain the geometry that you exported.

What did you have selected when you did this or how was your Xgen set up?

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

Raees_malik1801 — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 18:28:22 GMT

@sean.heasley

This is what the export settings look like.

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

sean.heasley — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 21:09:06 GMT

Hi @Raees_malik1801

Sorry I should've clarified, what kind of object did you have set up for Xgen when doing this?

For example, in Michael Todds explanation above he has what looks like the roots to a plant. That is what is sent to the MEL file and then imported.

In your case, if you only had a handful of curves or something similar selected thats why you're seeing that when you import and that means its working as expected.

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

sean.heasley — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 20:47:09 GMT

Hi @Raees_malik1801

Just wanted to check in to see how things were going. Are you still having this issue?

If your issue is resolved, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

Raees_malik1801 — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 18:39:34 GMT

sorry for the late reply,

im using the card preset in xgen.

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

Raees_malik1801 — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 18:57:31 GMT

ok so, i got a fix. DO NOT USE THE CARDS , use the custom geometry... it rendered out fine!!

thanks for all your help!!

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

sean.heasley — Mon, 19 Nov 2018 15:18:40 GMT

Hi @Raees_malik1801

Awesome! Thanks for explaining what you did and marking it as the solution!

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

reniferziolo — Sat, 30 Mar 2019 14:23:45 GMT

I know it's been a while but the solution you have'mentioned is not working for me. The MEL script just imports the archived geometry and puts it at the 0,0,0 position. I used specified points as a placement method. I would really appreciate any help. Thank you!

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

johnkdd2000 — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 13:58:41 GMT

I'm having same problem and after changing the output to Create Mel, nothing happens when I click on "CREATE MEL"

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Apr 2020 18:33:22 GMT

im also having same problem with my maya 2020 students version..

Re: Xgen Create mel/Export geometry not working.

lukasvogl — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 16:01:30 GMT

i had the same issue. following things should help you fix the issue. and maybe help autodesk to improve on this. as there is no indication that something went wrong where it should´t have

i am sure this issue happens with a xgen conflict in the maya projekt or namespaces. for example deleted a description or something along those lines. as it often does with xgen and trying out different approaches.

so to fix the issue. convert your guides to splines (utilities) and copy the guide and your geo to a new file with a brandnew mayaproject set beforehand. (not sure if it has something to do with it... but doublecheck you don´t have namespaces on your geo)
create a new description and reimport your splines to guides

hope it helps