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FBX Workflow: 3DS=>Unity

What is the suggested workflow is for working with 3DS=>Unity via FBX files?

If I update the FBX file and reimport in Unity, it's not the same as deleting the re-adding the FBX in Unity.

Deleting and re-adding works as one would expect, but this means any changes I've made to the prefab have to be redone (split animations, loop settings, removing erroneous geos, etc) - all links are lost etc; so this isn't a feasible workflow.

The simplest case right now is changing a texture. If I change a texture, overwrite the FBX file, and reimport it in Unity; it doesn't get updated. However, if I create a new prefab from that FBX file; the textures are the updated ones in the new prefab created by Unity.

So generally, what is the suggested workflow here? Why doesn't overwriting FBX files work as one would expect?

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asked May 24 '11 at 06:43 PM

v2k gravatar image

v2k
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4 answers: sort voted first

Texture changes are not expected to work. It's by design. The idea is once you import model Unity creates materials and it doesn't overwrite them afterwards. It's done that way, because we want to allow users to edit their materials in Unity (setup right shader and so on) and we don't want to overwrite all that work when mesh is changed.

Meshes and animations should change as expected by just overwriting the file.

Regarding prefabs it's a known problem (i.e. if you add additional objects to the file they do not appear in the prefab). We have plans to improve our prefab system and these problems should be fixed then.

So to summarize: you should be overwriting your FBX files and it should work. If something doesn't - we want to know.

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answered May 25 '11 at 08:59 AM

Paulius Liekis gravatar image

Paulius Liekis
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But I want to change the materials I use in Max. How can I do this and expect them to update in Unity after I export to FBX and update that file in Unity? I am having this problem now and it is really frustrating.

Aug 03 '12 at 07:40 PM diggerjohn
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It is my goal to touch FBX content files as little as possible in Unity. It is imperative that the workflow for me be smooth and seamless into Unity from Max.

The simple solution. Change a Max material, change its name and Unity is forced to pick up the change when you introduce the new FBX.

Also, simply over-writing FBX files already in the Assets dir seems to sometimes be problematic. Particularly if you already have them under source control. I export them to a separate temp dir and then copy them into Assets. Seems to produce more consistent and desirable results.

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answered Aug 06 '12 at 02:54 PM

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I am having the same trouble with materials. I want to update the materials through max. So how can I update the FBX and expect the materials to change as well as geometry?

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answered Aug 03 '12 at 09:22 PM

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diggerjohn
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Do not post questions as answers. There are comments for that.

Aug 04 '12 at 08:59 AM Paulius Liekis
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I am having the same problem with materials. How can I make changes in materials in max and have it reflected in Unity through FBX updates?

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answered Aug 03 '12 at 07:44 PM

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Binaries and ASCII are fragile in complicated projects or when we make it complicated. I would plan the project properly before importing assets into unity which would establish smooth progress and pleasant workflow rather than having a go in hard ways.

Aug 04 '12 at 09:56 AM Variable Bone

My solution was to simply change the name of the Material in Max. This forced Unity to recognize it when I copied in the new FBX into the Assets dir.

Aug 06 '12 at 02:24 PM diggerjohn
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asked: May 24 '11 at 06:43 PM

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Last Updated: Aug 06 '12 at 02:54 PM