Export Plug-In

This chapter describes the use and features of the Export plug-in.

Export Plug-In Features
Single Output Mode and Animation Range Output Mode
Methods for Use
Errors and Warnings
Batch Export

Export Plug-In Features

The Export plug-in has the following features:

Single Output Mode and Animation Range Output Mode

The Export plug-in has two processing modes: single output mode and animation range output mode.
Animation Range is a feature for setting animation sequences in scenes for export.

Whereas single output mode only allows a single model and single animation (up to one for each type of intermediate file) to be output, animation range output mode allows multiple models and multiple animations to be output at once.

Single Output Mode Animation Range Output Mode
Model Allows output of a single model.
If there is more than one root node under Maya, they will be gathered under the node provided by NW4C_FORBANNER_ROOT and output as a single model.
More than one model can be output at once.
Separate models are output for each root node under Maya.
Animation A single animation can be output.
The animation range is set using the Export options Start / End Frame.
More than one animation can be output at once.
By setting animation ranges to root nodes, animation data will be exported for each animation range.
Filename Filename and extension specified in the Export option Output File Name. Model file names use the form <root node name>.cmdl, while animation file names use the form <root node name>__<animation range name>.<extension> (where two underscores follow the root node name).
However, if an animation range is not set for the root node, the name takes the form <root node name>.<extension>.


Toggle between single output mode and animation range output mode using the Export option Process Mode.
Animation ranges are set using the NW4R Set Animation Range plug-in.

In animation range output mode, if an animation range has not been set for a root node, the settings specified by the Export options Start / End Frame and Loop are applied to that root node.
Even if the Export option for node compression is enabled, the root node name used in Maya is always used for the file name when the mode is animation range output mode. Illegal characters are converted to underscores.

In animation range output mode, skinning shapes and skeletons must exist within the same hierarchical structure.


Scene animation objects (cameras, lights) do not support animation ranges. Even when the mode is animation range output mode, only one CCAM file or CLGT file is exported with the name as given by the Export option Output File Name (i.e., specified name.ccam or specified name.clgt).

The following figure illustrates an example of a possible node configuration in Maya and the result of output (node configuration and list of files).

Node Configuration In Maya
  

The nw4c_AnimRangeCtrl node saves the animation range settings and is not output.

Using the Tool

To output specific nodes only, select the nodes to output in Maya. Even nodes below the selected node are output.
When outputting the entire scene, it is not necessary to select nodes.

To display the NW4C Export option window, click NW4CNW4C Export with Setting.
To output an intermediate file, specify the appropriate options and click on the Export or Apply button. Unlike the Export button, the Apply button does not close the option window after output.

Maya internally records option settings used at the time of output as its current options. You can also save option settings by scene and input/output option settings using a C3ES (CTR 3D Export Settings) file. (For details, see Managing Option Settings.)

To output the file using the current options without opening the Options window, click NW4C → NW4R Export.

By executing EditSave Settings in the Option window you can save the option settings without exporting the intermediate file. (Scenes are also saved if Save / Load Scene Settings is selected). Option settings can be returned to their default values by executing EditReset Settings.

Option Settings

Output Options

Options related to outputting intermediate files.

General Options

These are general options available for intermediate files.

Output File Selection

This option specifies the type of intermediate file to be output.

The value of HasSkinningMatrix in the intermediate file will differ depending on whether the CMDL file and the CSKLA file are output at the same time, or only the CSKLA file is output. This is because vertex processing is omitted when the CMDL file is not output in order to shorten the processing time. Nothing is affected by the differing values for HasSkinningMatrix.

Optimization Options

You can optimize data using CreativeStudio when outputting intermediate files from Maya. Optimization-related options are specified here.

Quantization Options

This option is for setting the precision and format to use when converting vertex data to binary data.

Model Options

These are model-related options.

Animation Options

These are animation-related options.

Tolerance Options

This option specifies the allowable range of errors when animation curve data is optimized.

If the maximum difference between the value for start frame and the value used for every other frame remains below the allowable value specified here, the animation is assumed to be fixed and output is made using only the value for the start frame.
When automatically creating animation curve data from baked data, a key for each frame is created in the units specified by Frame Precision, and the key used for the allowable value as specified here by the maximum value for errors during Hermite correction is deleted. The smaller the allowable value for differentials, the greater the animation precision; however, as the number of keys grows larger, the amount of animation curve data also increases.

Managing Option Settings

Use the item in the option window's NW4C Settings menu to save option settings by scene or input/output option settings using a c3es (CTR 3D Export Settings) file.

Saving Option Settings for a Scene

If Save / Load Scene Settings is selected (the default), the option settings used the last time an intermediate file was output will be saved as scene data when a scene is saved. (Internally, these option settings are saved to the script node named nw4cExpDialog_Setting1.) Option settings saved for scene data are loaded when a scene is opened. (Be sure to select the Open Scene... option Execute Script Nodes.) The current option settings remain if option settings were not saved with the scene data. Furthermore, an option setting is loaded when a scene for which option settings have been saved is imported. If Save / Load Scene Settings is cleared, no option settings are saved as scene data. Furthermore, option settings are not loaded when scene data is opened.
Clicking Delete Scene Settings deletes the script node used to save option settings.

Loading/Saving Option Settings Using C3ES Files

To output option settings to a C3ES file, click Save Settings to r3es File. Option settings will be output when an output file name is specified on the file selection window. If the extension of the output file is other than .c3es, .c3es will be added automatically.
Click Load Settings from c3es File to enter option settings from a C3ES file. Option settings will be input when an input file name is specified on the file selection window. Option settings are saved in the scene if Save / Load Scene Settings has been selected in the NW4C Settings menu.

Errors and Warnings

Error Types and Handling Errors

The error that occurs during the output will be displayed in Output Window and in Script Editor.
Errors that deserve particular attention are described in alphabetical order.

Warning Types and Handling Warnings

If a warning occurs during the output, it will be displayed in the Output Window and in Script Editor.
Warnings which should be paid particular attention are described in alphabetical order.




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