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Author Topic: The Forest Pro Tools - export to Unity  (Read 2156 times)

MI3393

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The Forest Pro Tools - export to Unity
« on: September 16, 2021, 03:46:00 PM »
Hi Guys,

I watched your YouTube video :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFMQIgi7XtU with particular interest in using forest mesh layouts created in Forest Pro and importing into Unity3d.

In the video it states that the Unity specific files can be downloaded from the link - The link just directs to the forum.

Where can I download the Unity files ?

Or could you explain the method to export to FBX with instants of objects as described (using Forest Tools), which also seems to be an option ? I am using 2 very simplified meshes, nothing very advanced.

I am using Forest Pro 6.3.1 Network at the moment. I take it that I should update to the latest version to get this functionality ? (Downloading now - is there a defined method to update my existing installation?)

Thanks for any feedback,

Dave

Paul Roberts

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Re: The Forest Pro Tools - export to Unity
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2021, 04:04:31 PM »
Hi Dave,

Thanks for bringing that to our attention. At present the plugin is only available for download from the forum. You should be able to find it at the bottom of this post in the Announcements board.

You'll need to update to Forest Pack 7. Installation should be as simple as running the installer.

I hope that helps,
Paul
Paul Roberts
iToo Software

MI3393

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Re: The Forest Pro Tools - export to Unity
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2021, 05:05:50 PM »
Thanks Paul,

Is there anything specific I should do to update my network version ? Will the installer (7.1.2) replace the old files ?

Looking forward to trying my (simple) forests in Unity.  :)

Thanks,

Dave

Paul Roberts

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Re: The Forest Pro Tools - export to Unity
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2021, 05:08:10 PM »
Hi, the installer should take care of it all for you.

Let us know how you get on. The Unity importer is still in development so any feedback is useful.

Thanks,
Paul
Paul Roberts
iToo Software

MI3393

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Re: The Forest Pro Tools - export to Unity
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2021, 02:02:06 PM »
Thanks Paul,

I have updated my Forest Pro.

I'll let you know how I get on with the transfer to Unity3d.

Dave

MI3393

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Re: The Forest Pro Tools - export to Unity
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2021, 05:44:56 PM »
Some Feedback.

I exported using Forest Tools, and imported to Unity3d

The position and rotation are not correct. It looks like it has inverted the tree models. And the rotation of the forest object is out about 180 degrees (mirrored).

I also got a few errors immediately after importing the forest object and FBX file.

I grabbed the last set of errors when updating a texture :

Code: [Select]
Identifier uniqueness violation: 'Name:Forest_Pro/fp1/Forest_Pro/fp1/Forest002/Tree_50(Clone)/MeshFilter, Type:MeshFilter'. Multiple Objects with the same name/type are generated by this Importer. There is no guarantee that subsequent imports of this asset will properly re-link to these targets.
UnityEngine.GUIUtility:ProcessEvent(Int32, IntPtr, Boolean&)

Identifier uniqueness violation: 'Name:Forest_Pro/fp1/Forest_Pro/fp1/Forest002/Tree_50(Clone)/MeshRenderer, Type:MeshRenderer'. Multiple Objects with the same name/type are generated by this Importer. There is no guarantee that subsequent imports of this asset will properly re-link to these targets.
UnityEngine.GUIUtility:ProcessEvent(Int32, IntPtr, Boolean&)

I will continue with this on Monday. I will go through the import process again, and document each step with screenshots and any errors I encounter. Is there anything you would like me to note ?

Dave

Morne

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Re: The Forest Pro Tools - export to Unity
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2021, 08:49:17 PM »
I've also experienced the odd tree not having the correct rotation.

The error you're seeing I think you can safely ignore. I get that a lot with exporting archviz type scenes from max to fbx, then unity.

Which Unity verion are you using by the way and what render pipeline?

Also, you can find a newer version of the plugin here: https://www.itoosoft.com/download/UnityExporter
« Last Edit: September 17, 2021, 09:15:45 PM by Morne »

MI3393

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Re: The Forest Pro Tools - export to Unity
« Reply #7 on: September 20, 2021, 01:35:49 PM »
Thanks for the feedback, that is a later version of the Unity plugin.

I will install the unity plugin and try again.

Dave

MI3393

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Re: The Forest Pro Tools - export to Unity
« Reply #8 on: September 20, 2021, 05:12:53 PM »
UPDATE

I installed the latest Unity Package (101).

I don't receive any of the previous errors when importing a forest object and FBX.

But the geometry is still imported with each individual tree being inverted (180 degrees), and the forest object itself (grouped trees) being 180 degrees rotated about Unity's Y axis. I have attached an image showing the results.

Rotating the Forest object 180 degrees is no real issue. But I cannot manually add 180 degrees to each individual tree quickly .... ( I probably could write a script to iterate over all the sub-objects and rotate them).

I am using 3ds Max 2018 (for Mental Ray legacy) but also have access to 3ds max 2021. Using Unity 2020.1.4f1 and HDRP high definition render pipeline.

The forest I am trying to export uses 3 very simple "tree" objects. Created using lathe.

Dave
« Last Edit: September 20, 2021, 05:15:39 PM by MI3393 »

Paul Roberts

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Re: The Forest Pro Tools - export to Unity
« Reply #9 on: September 20, 2021, 05:49:19 PM »
Thanks for the feedback Dave,

Have you tried resetting the XForm of the source geometry before exporting to Unity? It might be related to this.

Cheers,
Paul.
Paul Roberts
iToo Software

MI3393

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Re: The Forest Pro Tools - export to Unity
« Reply #10 on: September 20, 2021, 05:57:21 PM »
Thanks Paul,

I'll try that.

I wrote a script which rotates all the child objects in the forest object at run time. I just ctrl c while in play (in the GUI) and then ctrl v when exited play. This new object now has correctly aligned trees. I still had to manually adjust scaling - it seems a bit off, and not sure I am getting 1:1 what the viewport renders ?

Dave