Export selected to FBX exports unselected objects and layers

[Anonymous]

Hi, I'm trying to export an object from a scene.  It's a model of an iPad.  The various parts of the model are grouped in a layer.  I select each of those objects and choose "export selected" and save as an .FBX file.  When I import that file back into a blank scene, I also get all of the other layers that were in my originally scene, although they are empty, along with 2 dummy objects that were not selected originally.

I didn't see any option in the FBX exporter dialogue to not export layers or dummy objects.  Any ideas what's causing this?  Thank you.

[10DSpace · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous 

That is the behavior of .fbx export selected that I am familiar with.  It exports layers also so if you re-import into a blank max scene, the layers will be there and if 1 of the pieces of geometry is parented to a dummy than the dummy will be exported and re-imported into max.   In the context of Max, I consider this desirable behavior (deleting blank layers is easy and I'd rather have the hierarchy info so I can decide whether or not to delete it).    However depending on the (non-Max) external program that you may be importing the .fbx into, the layers and dummies may not be recognized.  For example, Blender will import the dummy from the fbx and the heirarchy is retained.  Zbrush on the other hand, does not import any layer or dummy information because it doesn't have meaning in the context of zbrush.  So depending on your ultimate purpose in exporting it may or not be an issue. 

I didn't see any option in the FBX exporter dialogue to not export layers or dummy objects.

I am not aware of any options in the .fbx export dialogue to override this behavior.  If you want to have a mesh-only export, as far as I know you have to make a copy of your scene and clean out the unwanted layer and dummy info before exporting.

However, @ads_royje may know of a better way re .fbx export.

[ads_royje]

Hi @Anonymous ,

@10DSpace is 100% right.

The scene layers will come back with FBX on import. That is the designed behavior, inside 3ds Max.

For the un selected objects, like the dummies, if they are part of the hierarchy (as parent) of the selected objects, these unselected objects will also be coming with the selected objects as they have relational dependencies with the selected ones. This is for transforms consistency.

Let us know if the dummies are not in any relational dependency with the selected objects but are still exported.
Regards,

[Anonymous]

So, it looks like the dummies were related to the exported objects.  So that makes sense.  I'm glad to know this is the way it's supposed to work and not some kind of bug.  I'm importing my object into Unreal Engine, so I'm not sure how the dummies and layers would affect that.  I ended up taking out the extra layers and dummies before importing to Unreal.  Thanks for the help guys.

[ads_royje]

Great to know it is related!

When importing to a Game Engine, Unreal or others, the Layers won't have any effects.

No need to worry about them at all.

For the Hierarchy, that is very important! As the same hierarchy will be in the Game Engine. This is one example of why the Export Selected keeps the whole hierarchy (of Parents).

The hierarchy will be most important if it is an animated asset in the game.
🙂
Regards,