Importing from FBX

The FBX converter is a command-line tool to convert an FBX file to Harfang resources. This tool supports converting scene graph, geometries, materials and animations.

Command-Line

fbx-convert <input> [-out PATH] [-test-import] [-base-resource-path PATH]
            [-prefix PATH] [-profile PROFILE] [-shader PATH]
            [-material-policy POLICY] [-geometry-policy POLICY] [-texture-policy POLICY] [-scene-policy POLICY]
            [-scale FLOAT] [-geometry-scale FLOAT] [-fix-geometry-orientation] [-max_smoothing_angle FLOAT]
			[-calculate-normal-if-missing] [-calculate-tangent-if-missing]
            [-recalculate-normal] [-recalculate-tangent]
            [-detect-geometry-instances]
            [-quiet] [-help]
OptionShortcutDescription
-out-oOutput directory for the converted resource files.
-test-importPerform conversion but do not output any file.
-base-resource-pathTransform references to assets in this directory to be relative.
-prefixSpecify the file system prefix from which relative assets are to be loaded from.
-profile-pMaterial profile (default or pbr_default).
-shader-sOverride the shader used by exported materials.
-all-policyAll file type import policy.
-material-policyMaterial file import policy.
-geometry-policyGeometry file import policy.
-texture-policyTexture file import policy.
-scene-policyScene file import policy.
-scaleFactor used to scale the scene nodes.
-geometry-scaleFactor used to scale exported geometries.
-fix-geometry-orientationBake a 90° rotation on the X axis of exported geometries.
-max_smoothing_angleMaximum smoothing angle between two faces when computing vertex normals.
-calculate-normal-if-missingCompute missing vertex normals.
-calculate-tangent-if-missingCompute missing vertex tangents.
-recalculate-normalRecreate the vertex normals of exported geometries.
-recalculate-tangentRecreate the vertex tangent frames of exported geometries.
-detect-geometry-instancesDetect and optimize geometry instances.
-quiet-qQuiet output.
-help-hDisplay help message.

The following policies are available: skip, overwrite, rename and skip_always. The default policy is skip.

Return code

The executable returns 1 if no error occurred, 0 otherwise.

To notify the caller about the conversion result the converter sends special markers to the standard output:

  • [TestImport: OK] if the import test went well.
  • [TestImport: KO] if the import test failed.
  • [ImportScene: OK] if the import succeeded.
  • [ImportScene: KO] if the import failed.

Examples

Import scene.fbx to ./export, overwrite existing geometry, skip everything else if it exists:

fbx-convert scene.fbx -o export -texture-policy overwrite

Import scene.fbx to ./export, only import scene, skip everything else:

fbx-convert scene.fbx -o export -material-policy skip_always -geometry-policy skip_always -texture-policy skip_always

A word on scale

When working with assets from different sources it is not uncommon to encounter considerable scale differences for similar objects. To compensate for this the importer can adjust both the scene scale and the geometry scale. As a rule of thumb, even if the imported scene looks on scale, you should make sure that the geometry itself uses a correct scale.

Failing to do so will pose many problems for example when sharing animations between models.

Autodesk FBX SDK Notice

This software contains Autodesk® FBX® code developed by Autodesk, Inc. Copyright 2014 Autodesk, Inc. All rights, reserved.

Such code is provided “as is” and Autodesk, Inc. disclaims any and all warranties, whether express or implied, including without limitation the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement of third party rights. In no event shall Autodesk, Inc. be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, procurement of substitute goods or services; loss of use, data, or profits; or business interruption) however caused and on any theory of liability, whether in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in any way out of such code.