3DS Max to Unreal Engine 4/Unity through FBX. Attach issues, export issues.

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to export a large complex Barge model to an .fbx to then import into both Unity and Unreal Engine 4. 

The model is a combination of .dwg imports and .iam imports that were then UV Mapped, textured, and transformed.

At first, I tried just exporting the model out with all of its parts to an .FBX which seemed to work well. I checked off the appropriate boxes (Embedded media included) and then opened up the FBX in 3DS to check it. The export seemed to work well, but when I import and open the FBX in either Unreal or Unity the model was messed up. 

         (By messed up I mean, some objects were flipped over their normal plane, some objects were moved in relation to           other parts, and almost looked like the model was exploded)

I assumed this was because there were so many individual parts that it was hard for the engines to import all the information so to cut down I want to join all the parts that have the same texture.

When I went back into 3DS Max to do so I was not able to attach using the the Attach tool under Edit Geometry in the Edit Poly Modifier as it showed nothing under the attach list, and I had a "circle with a line through it" icon when I try to click objects in the scene or scene explorer. As I am not too experienced in the program I tried some troubleshooting.

First I reset the xForm on all of the available objects, then placed a Edit Poly modifier at the end of all the objects to see if that would help, but I still was not able to join the objects. I then went on to reset 3DS Max and its User folder, and after being unsuccessful with that I moved onto 3DS Max 2019 from '17 still getting the same results.

In summary, I need to reduce the number of parts in my project, to then export it all to an .FBX and then be able to open it in Unity and or Unreal Engine.

I have previously done this with no errors, so I know it is possible I just feel like I am missing a small step somewhere.

Feel free to contact me here, or through email at [email protected] 

Thank you very much for your time,

Luis Lema

Vice President

VIR2AL Tech

[hasen3d]

i have the seem issue

when export fbx file from 3dsmax 2015 to unreal engine 4.1.19

it did`t attach it with the animation

when search in the unreal engine website

its say u must exp the file not less fbx 2016 version

is there any converter for fbx from 2015 to 2016 or greatest

[Diffus3d]

Hello @Anonymous,

That does sound a bit odd, if they are not instances you should be able to select or click them unless maybe the layer they are on is frozen.  If you can select the objects, then perhaps using an attach script is worth a shot.   There is a script called Quick Attach which might be worth trying for your problem.  (I use it for CAD objects, the big problem with attaching and detaching some kinds of CAD objects is the explicit normals that come with them  which get destroyed on an attach or detach in most cases.  This script keeps the normals on attach which makes me very happy when I have to do high/low normal bakes.)

If that fails there must be a layer, group, or some kind of hierarchical issue.  Is it possible to attach a file with a few of these objects that won't jive for a closer look?

Best Regards,

Alfred

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately the project contains proprietary information so I cannot share it, but I'll try to describe some more. First of all, I am using Max 2019 and the Script you linked was not opening up when I clicked Run Script. The post of the script was last updated in 2014 so it may be something wrong with the script. 

I need to attach 1345 objects into one part. The parts make up an access platform around a barge. The CAD file made the model out of 1345 smaller rectangles (Tile like), and I want to make it one part. All of those parts are name 'Grating' in my Scene Explorer and when I bring up the Attach list everything , but "Grating" come us up as an option. If I click "Show All" the program highlights the icon goes into Not Responding mode and then unhighlights. 

I have 4 similar groups of objects I need to join. 

Is there an updated version  of the script you linked or am I missing something in my process.

So I don't know if this affects it or not, but when I try and use the internal Attach tool and I bring up the Attach list 

[Diffus3d · Accepted solution]

Hello @Anonymous,

Rather than attaching 1345 objects at once, try attaching 100 or so at a time.  It's probably just overloading it, I usually just break it down into smaller chunks and keep attaching.   For the Quick Attach script, just select the objects in the viewport you want to attach or press H and select them before you run the script.  With the default Max attach you use it in subobject mode, but this quick attach works in object mode and it keeps explicit normals which CAD objects often have.  

If you notice shading changing on your models as you attach them, they may have normal XForm scaling history and explicit normals.  You can try to select all objects, break any links, and reset the xforms then convert to poly or mesh.  The explicit normals should survive that and then they will not cause the shading problem if you attach objects with explicit normals.  You can probably ignore this paragraph but since there's no scene it's worth mentioning just in case. 

Best Regards,

Alfred