topic Re: Batch import obj/fbx? in Maya Forum

Batch import obj/fbx?

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 09:53:46 GMT

Hi,

I was wondering if there is a script or a way in maya to batch import meshes?

Thanks!

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

Roland.Reyer — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 11:07:52 GMT

Hi,

I tried to drag&drop a bunch of FBX files from the Windows explorer into the Maya 2018 window and it imported all of them.

Didn't test obj though.

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 15:21:28 GMT

Okay nice! I will see I update from 2016 to 2018 so I can try it out. If not is there any good other way for maya 2016?

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

sean.heasley — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 19:59:17 GMT

Hi @Anonymous and welcome to the community!

I just tested @Roland.Reyer's method of drag/dropping into Maya 2016 and I used OBJ instead of FBX and it worked fine!

Let me know if it 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: Batch import obj/fbx?

sean.heasley — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 16:58:44 GMT

Hi @Anonymous

I'm just checking in to see if you need more help with this. Did you get a chance to try the steps @Roland.Reyer provided? They worked for me and I just wanted to see if you're still having trouble with it?

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: Batch import obj/fbx?

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 09:35:25 GMT

Hi again,

Unfortunately I can't upgrade Maya at this point. I tried drag and drop for FBX in maya 2016 which works fine. The reason I'm looking for a batch import is for the case when I need to import multiple meshes. Let's say I need to import 200 fbx meshes into Maya how would I do that efficiently? In another 3D software, MODO for example, I would simply shift select 200 meshes in the explorer import window and the program will go through and import all of them in an instant.

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

mspeer — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 10:29:26 GMT

Hi!

"I tried drag and drop for FBX in maya 2016 which works fine"

So what is the problem if it works fine?

"Let's say I need to import 200 fbx meshes into Maya how would I do that efficiently?"

Drag'n Drop 200 files into Maya at once (you know how to select multiple files?), or write a script that does this for you.

Edit:

Use the File Explorer of your OS and not the Maya Open/Import Dialog for Drag'n Drop.

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 12:15:03 GMT

I should have been more specific with this sentence "I tried drag and drop for FBX in maya 2016 which works fine". Drag and drop works fine for one mesh and I would like to import multiple meshes at once efficiently. Drag and dropping more than one FBX mesh will open importer for the first one and for the rest show an error dialog "Warning: An import FBX dialog is already open". Maybe if there was a way to suppress the import window the drag and drop would work for multiple meshes at once.

I have limited experience in scripting for Maya but if that is the only way to import more than one FBX mesh at once I will learn.

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

mspeer — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 14:31:36 GMT

Hi!

Please describe in detail (step by step) what you do and post a screenshot.

Here (Maya 2016.5 - 2018 on windows) it's just:

1. Select multiple FBX files in Windows Explorer

2. Drag into Maya main Viewport

3. Release

That's it, no dialogs or anything other, it can't be more efficient.

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 15:19:56 GMT

Hi,

description in the image attached:
.

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

mspeer — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 15:51:02 GMT

Hi!

Thanks for the info.

Maybe this is a limitation of Maya 2016. (i don't have Maya 2016 installed, so i can't test this).

You could try a reset of your preferences to make sure there is nothing wrong set.
Rename the folder prefs in folder 2018 to something like prefs_backup, or to reset everything, the folder 2018 to 2018_backup (or even the maya folder to maya_backup). Maya creates new folders (don't copy preferences from previous Maya versions). Detailed at:
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/maya/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Reset-Maya-to-Default.html

The only other options would be to install a higher SP or upgrade Maya.

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

sean.heasley — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 19:36:48 GMT

Hi @Anonymous

I'm pretty surprised you're seeing this issue. I just tried drag and dropping 20 objs into Maya 2016 and 2016.5 and it worked as intended.

You may want to try the steps @mspeer provided and see if that helps resolve the issue!

Let me know if anything changes!

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 08:11:33 GMT

Thank you Mspeer and Sean! Preference reset made me able to drag and drop multiple FBX files into Maya. This will save a lot of time when dealing with large number of FBX's!

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

sean.heasley — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 14:14:03 GMT

Hi @Anonymous

Great and I'm glad it worked for you! Thanks as well for explaining what helped you and marking the solutions!

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

askinner6CDVL — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 13:40:13 GMT

This doesn't work for me in Maya 2017, 2018 or 2019 even with preferences reset. It only adds the first object and ignores everything else.

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

askinner6CDVL — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 13:50:27 GMT

For anyone else having this problem instead of simply deleting all your prefs, the actual solution that worked for me was to Edit preset for importing fbx. Change file content to add (if you dont care about animation). Close that. Then go to namespace options and turn off use namespaces and resolve clashing nodes with the filename. That will stop it getting hung up after importing the first object.

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

adenne — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 21:43:53 GMT

This didnt work for me, it is something within prefs, would be nice if Autodesk could actually delve into a little more than just defaulting to 'delete prefs' "solution". Which part of prefs gets corrupted?

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

Roland.Reyer — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 08:09:41 GMT

Insead of deleting the prefs you could just rename them and see if the prefs are really a problem. Just rename the folder "2019" (or your version) and restart Maya.

In case I really have to delete my prefs I have a workflow of copying my hotkeys, marking menus, shelves, to new the prefs.

However, I agree with you that corrupting the prefs is a bad habbit and should be fixed.

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

The-Digital-Shaman — Fri, 07 May 2021 19:47:30 GMT

Doesn't work for me. I got error that dialog window is already opened.

After re-clicking the error message and accepting import in the window I got only 1 asset in my scene.

Re: Batch import obj/fbx?

The-Digital-Shaman — Fri, 07 May 2021 19:48:12 GMT

It doesnt.