Asobo Exporter Update: Exporting LODs with V 1.1.6

This is an update on using the Asobo Exporter for Blender version 1.1.6. Specifically exporting Levels of Detail.
Hope you find this useful!
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Christopher
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[@videolifeca]

Muchly appreciated; both your expertise and your dedication to the community. Bravo.

[@physicsteacher4569]

Great explanation of the new LOD export system. Makes working with LODs much more time friendly. Here's something I use all the time that makes tweaking the LOD models much easier: Once you've made the first export, your .xml is written with its GUID and the MinSizes for the LODs. Now, you want to tweak the LOD1 model, but with all the LOD Collections turned on, it's hard. You turn off all the LOD collections but the one you are working on. When you turn off a collection, its listing in the LOD grouping disappears. So, if you leave Generate XML checked and export just the one LOD, you will now have a new .xml, but you will only have one MinSize entry. To avoid this, simply turn off the Generate XML before you export only one LOD. The way I think of it is: the XML holds GUIDs and MinSizes, so only generate a new .xml if you have changed any other MinSizes and/or you want a new GUID for some strange reason. Hope your video gets some airport creators to quit generating hangars with only one LOD that you can see the door handles on from 5 miles away. Keep up the good work.

[@myphysicalworld3958]

Thank you for your input...excellent additional info!

[@Photosbykev1]

If you right click on the LOD00 collection name there is an option to duplicate the collection which you can then rename to LOD01 and then reduce the detail in the new collection. What was messing me up was thinking the LOD value in the object exporter options was the LOD detail level i.e. 0, 1, 2, 3 etc. rather than the LOD minSize value ! Stupid error now I see what it is meant to be. Thank you very much Chris. Off to rebuild 40 custom models with LODS :)

[@myphysicalworld3958]

LOL! Now I learned something!!! That's awesome. Never thought about right clicking a collection after all these years! Yeah, the values were confusing to me at first too.

[@gracebyseven]

Thank you Chris, bless you!

[@myphysicalworld3958]

You are most welcome!

[@warriorchild]

Thank you for all your lessons.

[@myphysicalworld3958]

You are most welcome! Thank you for watching.

[@FlyingKimbo]

Hi, thank you for creating this great video on LODs. What does minSize 100 and minSize 0 means?

[@myphysicalworld3958]

You are welcome. 100 is the object's bounding box vertical screen size takes up 100% of the screen. In other words, the object has to be close up to show on screen.....zero is far away.

[@FlyingKimbo]

@@myphysicalworld3958 How does the in sim “ Object level of detail “ setting which has a range value of 0 to 200 affect minSize value?

[@myphysicalworld3958]

@@FlyingKimbo I do not believe it does on custom scenery.

[@ExOrbit1980]

Nevermind figured it out. Had a bad file in there:)

[@tbryson2]

Below in an answer to the question "how to import my models into the sim" your reply was "I have videos on that". Which videos? Do they include the latest methods using the latest exporter? My models are made, textured, LOD'd. I need the final step! Thanks, TB2

[@myphysicalworld3958]

I believe the video that this comment falls under shows how to export LODs to the sim. After exporting, build the package and load object into the sim. I always build outside the sim with the fspackagetool.exe. Then go into sim, add object, then build again inside sim. Is there something missing in this video?

[@tbryson2]

@@myphysicalworld3958 I don't believe anything is missing (for the purpose of that video), other than moving on to the final step and placing it fully into MSFS. I'm currently re-watching "Creating Scenery for MSFS 2020 Part 2: SDK Install and XML Edits" and subsequent videos in an attempt to figure out how to get my models from the exported stage into MSFS. I have a lot of experience with model imports into P3D and FSX, but I'm having a rough time wrapping my head around the new way to do it! Thanks for all you do, TB2

[@myphysicalworld3958]

@@tbryson2 Oh, Ok...I got ya. The SDK is still the same for the most part. Maybe some really small exceptions, but that series is still valid. The only difference is using Blender 3.1 and the new Asobo exporter. But after export, the series you referenced is still relative. If you run into a problem, go to MyPhysical World Facebook page and request a FB chat. I'm still working on getting my Discord setup.

[@ExOrbit1980]

Hello, Strangely, I get a missing x00.bin error. It's weird, I think that was the old way of doing it. I followed the maning convnetion you so clearly explained, but I get stuck with this error no matter what. Any idea? Thanks a lot for your content!

[@myphysicalworld3958]

What version of Blender and Exporter are you using?

[@brittanymcguire7996]

No way, you're the creator of KCAK.... My birth city and use to go to that airport often as a kid to watch planes.... My exporter doesn't seem to work and is frustrating

[@myphysicalworld3958]

I am! What version of Blender and what version of the Exporter are you using?

[@brittanymcguire7996]

@@myphysicalworld3958 : Actually got it to finally work (had a setting of textures not set to jpeg].... Want to do the surrounding area of Akron Canton realistically but going to be a challenge as my parents live very close by and in ILS23 Final area.... Been trying to find someone to commission a really good KCAK with proper elevation and surroundings, but at this point no one wants to bite.... I've tried to model in Blender and over my paygrade.

[@aekon7216]

Hi! I am getting an error saying export displacement recognized what should I do?

[@myphysicalworld3958]

Are you using Nodes and applying a displacement texture?

[@ethankeast9966]

My Objects (.obj) aren't showing. Even in the Microsoft 3D Viewer?

[@myphysicalworld3958]

Because msfs doesn't read .obj files. Only glTF.

[@ethankeast9966]

@@myphysicalworld3958 sorry i mean glTF. Any reason why the model wouldn't be showing up in sdk editor? I've followed this process.

[@myphysicalworld3958]

@@ethankeast9966 I'd recommend joining our Discord. Too many variables can cause this: discord.gg/drcb7Rd3

[@vivid_clarity]

Great Tutorial, how would I import my models into the sim? Your help is appreciated

[@myphysicalworld3958]

I have videos on doing that.

[@vivid_clarity]

@@myphysicalworld3958 yeah I saw that you did but didn’t know if anything has changed, for some reason my 3d object won’t load in

[@myphysicalworld3958]

@@vivid_clarity I would need to know exactly all the steps you have taken in order to decipher the problem. Many things can be happening. Be very specific!

[@vivid_clarity]

@@myphysicalworld3958 I exported all 3 LOD files with textures to my desktop. I then made a duplicate SimpleScenery Preset. I then made a model folder that contains bin,gltf, xml files from the exported blender project, I then created a texture folder and placed all 3 LOD texture files in the folder. When I get into msfs I select open project and choose the simplescenery folder and it tells me 1 failed in the console window. I could maybe send you the file if you have a discord just to see If I'm doing something wrong?

[@vivid_clarity]

@@myphysicalworld3958 I could send you my blender files as well to see if there is an issue with my configuration in blender? Your help is much appreciated