FBX support

FBX provides support for Crease Edges and Splines

Can you create a fbx file from Maya? I need a sample file to understand how fbx stores edge crease info.

1. Create a 6 polygon box.
2. Make all edges hard edges.
3. Crease 4 of the edges.
4. Save the object to a FBX6.0 ascii format. If can't save to this specific format, just save it to any fbx format you can. Make sure when you load this file back into Maya, the edge crease info is maintained.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mqujihpewfvrqgx/creasedCube.fbx?dl=0

Just saw your email!

For the creases to export,  the geometry needs to be in smooth preview before export.

It uses FBX 2016 format.   FBX is typically updated at least once a year by Autodesk because their other products are updated on a fixed schedule.

Thanks! It's exactly what I wanted.

that would be awesome (and roundtrip without losing the creases

Try this
http://www.digitalfossils.com/Download/NVil-Apr-14-17.rar

* Spline can not be exported/imported because the types are different.
* Edge crease support is limited in fbx format. It only has one value for edge creasing. But in Nvil, there four values to control creasing. So if you use radial creasing, the information will be lost on exporting.

Hi IStonia,

What is the reason for exporting FBX to file version 6.1? (which I think is Autodesk 2009 applications)

I tried to find from the net the difference between fbx and fbx 6.0 but no luck. So I just pick one from the fbx sdk which has 6 fbx versions.

Can you test the dxf file format as well?

My quick tests where just to see if I could import the FBX(from Nvil) into Blender (I wanted to see if Instancies/orientations where transfered), but there was an error from Blender:- "Version 6100 unsupported, must be 7100 or later"
Using Autodest "FBX Converter 2013.2"(latest version available), I can convert the file to "FBX 2013" which is file version 7.3 and will import to Blender.

It is not a major problem, just that I thought if you are creating a new plugin(FBX exporter), you would create a more up to date file version export.

What FBX versions does the SDK show you?

They are

FBX binary, FBX ascii, FBX encrypted.
and
FBX 6.0 binary, FBX 6.0 ascii, FBX6.0 encrypted.

They are available in fbx 2012 sdk which is the only one I can use because I use vs 1012. I use FBX 6.0 binary for exporting format.

Maybe you need to choose option "FBX Binary"?

Looking through (using converter) FBX versions.

FBX 2011 = 7.1
FBX 2012 = 7.2
FBX 2013 = 7.3

I don't know. I am confused about these fbx versions. In the sdk I use, v2012, there is no 7.2.

I just keep it as is now until I know more information.

I don't know. I am confused about these fbx versions. In the sdk I use, v2012, there is no 7.2.

For FBX/SDK 2012, the default file output is 7.2 (as I put forward in my last post). That information in within the "Autodesk FBX 2012 SDK Documentation" -> Supported file formats:-

The FBX SDK can:

    Import FBX files compatible with FBX file format versions 7.2, 7.1, 7.0, 6.1, and 6.0
    Export FBX files compatible with FBX file format versions 7.2 (default), 7.1, 7.0, and 6.1.

I just keep it as is now until I know more information.

Check the SDK documentation.

I have already come across an issue with export time/file size when expoting instancies. For simple example:-
I created a sphere, made 999 instancies, exported (from Nvil) as FBX, Nvil gave the "Not responding" for quite a while, but eventually exported an FBX file of 447.37 MB. I converted that file to FBX 2012(file version 7.2), the file size was then 1.39 MB

FBX versions update about once a year.  Version number is the year, so latest version is 2017, with 2018 probably being released within a few weeks.

Autodesk products: Maya, Max, Mudbox will always ship with a current version.


Creases was introduced in the later versions (not sure wich)

http://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2016/ENU/?guid=GUID-AA3B8EA4-DDFB-4B0F-9654-2BF6B8781AE7

A couple of other issues from quick test.

1: Objects are having thier pivot rotated 90deg around Y axis.

2: When creating instance array where 2/3 axis are used to generate array, the "Instance Source" moves location within the array. For example:- Create box at world 0,0,0. Create "Instance array with 5 along X and 5 along Z. Export as FBX, then import the FBX to new scene. Although the array is in correct position, the "Instance source" is no longer at 0,0,0