MDL Exporter for Blender3D!

[burstman0]

thanks for this, sorry if this has been asked before, but can you make a mdl importer aswell ? i tried some mdl importers for models but none of them work and set properly as i want them to.

 

[Fingolfin]

I was thinking of doing that! There is one MDL importer on github that i personally use sometimes, but it only works for Blender 2.79. It would be nice to have one that imports with the same "rules" as the exporter, so that files can be imported and then re-exported without extra work.

 

[GhostWolf]

I just realized you asked a question and I never replied.

1.5 years later, yes there models with animated helpers.

Just as an example of when such a thing is needed, imagine if you want to have a mesh that moves in a circle around the model's center, but also rotates/scales around itself (afaik this is a pretty common effect?)

I don't have the WC3 resources right now, but just opening the first arbitrary custom model I have in my pc with helpers gave me helpers with rotation animations.

At the end of the day, the node tree in WC3 models isn't a skeleton, it's more akin to a scene.

Did you figure out how to convert between the visual and numerical representations of tangents?

 

[Fingolfin]

@GhostWolf Haha thank you, i managed to figure it out though in the mean time! From my understanding, the difference between bones and helpers is simply that bones can have vertices skinned to them while helpers cannot.

Unfortunately, i wasn't able to figure out the tangent issue, so the handle length has no effect.

 

[smithyjones]

@Fingolfin I've been using your MDL Exporter to make my first Warcraft 3 model. It's been very helpful!

I've been having trouble doing texture animations. I made a Mapping Node with the same name as the layer that I want to animate, and I've added some keyframes to the Location of the Mapping Node. My resulting .mdl file doesn't have a TextureAnims section, and there is no texture animation. I'm not sure where I went wrong. Can you attach a screenshot showing how to do it correctly?

I'm using the 2.8.0 branch of your MDL exporter. I'm also using Blender 2.83

EDIT: I did a bit of debugging myself by adding some logs to your script.

EDIT 3: I made the logging a bit easier to read by removing some redundant lines. The code and log output have been editted for clarity

I modified the get() function of your War3AnimationCurve() class to give some logs:

@staticmethod
def get(anim_data, data_path, num_indices, sequences, scale=1):
curves = {}

logging.debug('data_path = %s' % data_path)
if anim_data and anim_data.action:
logging.debug('anim_data.action.fcurves = %s' % anim_data.action.fcurves)
for index in range(num_indices):
logging.debug('anim_data.action.fcurves[%d].data_path = %s' % (index, anim_data.action.fcurves[index].data_path))
curve = anim_data.action.fcurves.find(data_path, index=index)
if curve is not None:
logging.debug('curve = %s' % curve)
curves[(data_path.split('.')[-1], index)] = curve # For now, i'm just interested in the type, not the whole data path. Hence, the split returns the name after the last dot.

logging.debug('curves = %s' % curves)
if len(curves):
return War3AnimationCurve(curves, data_path, sequences, scale)
return None

I get log messages like this:

DEBUG:root:data_path = nodes["Colours"].inputs["Location"].default_value
DEBUG:root:anim_data.action.fcurves = <bpy_collection[3], ActionFCurves>
DEBUG:root:anim_data.action.fcurves[0].data_path = nodes["Colours"].inputs[1].default_value
DEBUG:root:anim_data.action.fcurves[1].data_path = nodes["Colours"].inputs[1].default_value
DEBUG:root:anim_data.action.fcurves[2].data_path = nodes["Colours"].inputs[1].default_value
DEBUG:root:curves = {}

It looks like the datapath has a "1" instead of "Location" in its key for whatever reason. I'm not too knowledgeable about the Blender API, so I'm not sure how to interpret this.

EDIT 2: I've tried switching back to Blender 2.8.1 and installing the MDL Exporter there, but I get the same result with the same debug messages.

EDIT 4: I have attached my .blend file so you can check everything yourself

 

[Fingolfin]

Thank you for your post, i know i had some issues with texture animations previously, there was a fix for this but i noticed that it didn't properly solve the problem. I will take a look at it in the upcoming days and see if i can work out a proper fix.

 

[burstman0]

how to set custom texture path ? we need a mpq ?

 

[Fingolfin]

You just type the path into the path field. When you import the model, import the texture with the same path as the one you used in Blender.

To preview the texture on the model in Blender, you need to add an image texture node to the node tree and link it to a shader.

 

[burstman0]

Ok, thanks. Until now i have 2 issues with this exporter.
The exported model its not facing front direction, but facing left angle, in blender my model it is facing front, perhaps viewport issues?
Cant export animations right, they appear diferently when i preview them with magos, even with custom fps, my animations are fast and dont have long keyframes, thats maybe the problem?

 

[sonphamthe11H]

Ok, thanks. Until now i have 2 issues with this exporter.
The exported model its not facing front direction, but facing left angle, in blender my model it is facing front, perhaps viewport issues?
Cant export animations right, they appear diferently when i preview them with magos, even with custom fps, my animations are fast and dont have long keyframes, thats maybe the problem?

this is the "front" in blender, u might want to rotate it by -90 degree

 

[burstman0]

Yea, just noticed that, front views are different from blender to warcraft.
Its not a good idea just rotate it, because my animation is following y axis, so if i do it will not be the same as i want.
Still the problem not fixed even if i change the view to right, still exporting wrong, left angle.
Screenshot
Screenshot

 

[sonphamthe11H]

blender 2.90 released, any plan to update?

 

[Fingolfin]

Does it not work in 2.9?

 

[Spacebuns]

This plugin cannot export Reforged HD models yet, or can it?

 

[Fingolfin]

Nope

 

[randymod]

It worked well for me,but I have a little problem about the bone's order,I tried Neodex 2.7,it always read the first bone from rootbone,and read the parent bones before the children bones,is it possible to do this in blender?

 

[Fingolfin]

What technical significance does bone order have in the file?

 

[Razorclaw_X]

What technical significance does bone order have in the file?

I suppose technically nothing, but it is kind of a pain when reading it in textpad when none of the bones are in any consistent order.

Since no tool is perfect sometimes copy/pasting bone information manually has to happen and a lot of the time with this exporter it boils down to Ctrl-F the bone names.

 

[Fingolfin]

I suppose technically nothing, but it is kind of a pain when reading it in textpad when none of the bones are in any consistent order.

Since no tool is perfect sometimes copy/pasting bone information manually has to happen and a lot of the time with this exporter it boils down to Ctrl-F the bone names.

I understand, currently i think they are written from a hashtable which results in a random order.. maybe i can put them in a list sorted by name before writing them to file.

 

[sonphamthe11H]

@Fingolfin my model lost smooth group when export

 

[ThompZon]

For future readers: There is a fork that have been updated and are confirmed to work with blender 2.83. I think Bogdan made reforged support too...
The thread for the fork: Blender 2.83 MDL/MDX importer

 

[prizraknadache]

@Fingolfin

Hi! Imported FBX model to Blender, added "Markers" in animation timeline. Then exported model to a MDL via your plugin, then i've got this result:

On the left side you can see the model i've got after exporting from Blender, it have problems with storing vertices connected properly to bones.

On the right side you can see reference model that does not have that problem (but have a lot of other problems haha, but that is not a case now).

So, i am thinking that there is somewhere problem in code.

Also you can look at those screenshots and video below:

And, i've sent you a .blend file in PM.

Spoiler: Screenshot

Spoiler: Video

 

[Tyrande]

Hi! When i export model to mdx .It cause it error:

 

[Fingolfin]

This means that an object (in this case your rig) was used as parent for an object, but not included in the export. It's usually a legit error, you just need to include the rig in the selection when exporting (if exporting selected only).

 

[Fingolfin]

@Fingolfin

Hi! Imported FBX model to Blender, added "Markers" in animation timeline. Then exported model to a MDL via your plugin, then i've got this result:

On the left side you can see the model i've got after exporting from Blender, it have problems with storing vertices connected properly to bones.

On the right side you can see reference model that does not have that problem (but have a lot of other problems haha, but that is not a case now).

So, i am thinking that there is somewhere problem in code.

Also you can look at those screenshots and video below:

And, i've sent you a .blend file in PM.

Spoiler: Screenshot

Spoiler: Video

Unfortunately, Warcraft has some limitations on bones which can reduce the quality of animations. Most significantly, it doesn't support bone weights at all - you can only have a set of max 3 bones per vertex, which will all have an equal influence. Since all bones will get the same influence regardless of weight, the exporter will filter out those weighted less than 0.25. You might need to tweak the weights to get good looking animations.

 

[sonphamthe11H]

Unfortunately, Warcraft has some limitations on bones which can reduce the quality of animations. Most significantly, it doesn't support bone weights at all - you can only have a set of max 3 bones per vertex, which will all have an equal influence. Since all bones will get the same influence regardless of weight, the exporter will filter out those weighted less than 0.25. You might need to tweak the weights to get good looking animations.

I see they're both the war3 models, so it must be problem in your code, or blender

 

[Fingolfin]

Good point. I'd have to see the model though to know what's wrong.

 

[ABLAGOOD]

im getting these errors, Screenshot Screenshot, really i dont know what is wrong, the parenting are okay, i could send blend file

 

[Fingolfin]

It looks like there is an armature where armature.object is undefined/missing. I think this might be caused by a skinned mesh having an armature modifier, where the armature target object is not set.

 

[ABLAGOOD]

okay then, looks youre right but still has issues Screenshot it imports like this , but i want to export with bones for both objects Screenshot Screenshot, doesnt have sense it the bones are imported to the parent, but not the childs ( i duplicated both objects tho, the mesh and the armature objects)
armature and armature 001 are parented to armature 002 Screenshot Screenshot

 

[Fingolfin]

Interesting. Do the bones in each armature have unique names? It is possible that if you have one armature with Bone_01, Bone_02, etc., and another with the same bone names, then only one set of bones are saved, since bone names are global.

 

[ABLAGOOD]

no, they dont have unique names, yes they have same name bones, thats why i said theyre duplicates of the original object ( i tried to rename the names of the duplicate and export again but no difference)

 

[sonphamthe11H]

Hi, could you change the way to export animation by actions instead of creating markers? it's easier to edit the model's animation and not give any errors to the other ones

 

[Fingolfin]

I get this request a lot, i haven't worked on this plugin for a while, but if i ever get back to it i will give it a try.

 

[sonphamthe11H]

I get this request a lot, i haven't worked on this plugin for a while, but if i ever get back to it i will give it a try.

thanks a lot <3

 

[Fingolfin]

The plugin now supports importing MDL files!!

It will correctly import animations, generate advanced node trees for materials, set up timeline markers, etc. It's great, check it out!

 

[zhuangge]

Hi, Can you take a look at this problem

 

[Fingolfin]

Hi, Can you take a look at this problem
View attachment 399027

That's strange, it works just fine for me... can you try uninstalling the exporter, restart Blender, and then try it again with the file i attached below? If that doesn't work, can you try it again but with Blender 3.1?

 

[zhuangge]

Well, this problem solved, thank you.
I cross-referenced the two documents and there were some differences

 

[Fingolfin]

Good to hear.

According to git, my local repository is in sync with the remote, so i don't know why this happened. The files that differ in your image are only file lists (for texture search and such).

 

[smithyjones]

I've been using this plugin to make some models.

I've noticed that when I add a few vertices in Blender, the MDL file produced has way more vertices in it.

I have attached two models. "SpiritLantern_MyriadFungiForHive.mdx" is the model before I added more vertices, and "SpiritLantern_MyriadFungiForHive_more_vertices.mdx" is after I added some more vertices. I added 18 vertices to the model in Blender, and the MDL has over 100 more vertices than before. Am I doing something wrong?

I am using Blender 2.8.3. I am using a version of the plugin from 2020. I downloaded it in August 3, 2020, so it's probably revision 939afdfeb70a0d926d8172607030b22781cd1d3d in the git repository.

I have attached the Blender file.

Please help me when you have time.

 

[zhuangge]

I've been using this plugin to make some models.

I've noticed that when I add a few vertices in Blender, the MDL file produced has way more vertices in it.

I have attached two models. "SpiritLantern_MyriadFungiForHive.mdx" is the model before I added more vertices, and "SpiritLantern_MyriadFungiForHive_more_vertices.mdx" is after I added some more vertices. I added 18 vertices to the model in Blender, and the MDL has over 100 more vertices than before. Am I doing something wrong?

I am using Blender 2.8.3. I am using a version of the plugin from 2020. I downloaded it in August 3, 2020, so it's probably revision 939afdfeb70a0d926d8172607030b22781cd1d3d in the git repository.

I have attache the Blender file.

Please help me when you have time.

I have the same problem

 

[Fingolfin]

I've been using this plugin to make some models.

I've noticed that when I add a few vertices in Blender, the MDL file produced has way more vertices in it.

I have attached two models. "SpiritLantern_MyriadFungiForHive.mdx" is the model before I added more vertices, and "SpiritLantern_MyriadFungiForHive_more_vertices.mdx" is after I added some more vertices. I added 18 vertices to the model in Blender, and the MDL has over 100 more vertices than before. Am I doing something wrong?

I am using Blender 2.8.3. I am using a version of the plugin from 2020. I downloaded it in August 3, 2020, so it's probably revision 939afdfeb70a0d926d8172607030b22781cd1d3d in the git repository.

I have attached the Blender file.

Please help me when you have time.

This is not really a problem as much as an expected result. In Warcraft 3 models, each vertex has a normal, a UV coordinate, and a position, and if any of those values diverge (let's say two vertices have the same position but there's a UV seam, or a sharp edge), then the vertex must be split. But Blender has a much more efficient way of dealing with vertices, where UVs and normals are stored in "loops", which are defined by the boundary of the polygon. So it's a technicall difference between Wc3 and Blender that causes this.

One thing you can do is to merge vertices (select all vertices, then CTRL+M > by distance), and then use auto smooth in the vertex data settings to get the right edges. If your model is set to use "shade flat", then all vertices will be split - this would cause a lot of extra vertices.

 

[ABLAGOOD]

This is not really a problem as much as an expected result. In Warcraft 3 models, each vertex has a normal, a UV coordinate, and a position, and if any of those values diverge (let's say two vertices have the same position but there's a UV seam, or a sharp edge), then the vertex must be split. But Blender has a much more efficient way of dealing with vertices, where UVs and normals are stored in "loops", which are defined by the boundary of the polygon. So it's a technicall difference between Wc3 and Blender that causes this.

One thing you can do is to merge vertices (select all vertices, then CTRL+M > by distance), and then use auto smooth in the vertex data settings to get the right edges. If your model is set to use "shade flat", then all vertices will be split - this would cause a lot of extra vertices.

this doesnt seem to work, still my model has a lot of vertices, and CTRL+M is not actually to merge, is to mirror, Alt+M is to merge, and "merge by distance" is called "remove doubles" in old blender

 

[SerenityInFire]

Hey, does the plugin work with the latest version of Blender on Steam? Version 3.6.

 

[Spacebuns]

Hey, does the plugin work with the latest version of Blender on Steam? Version 3.6.

It works normally on 3.4.
It may or may not work with 3.6.

 

[Jahjahbinks]

Work with Blender 4.x? 4.1? Or whats the best workflow for n64 assets to mdl with animations? Have ripped as .gltf ... Difference between blender 3.4 or 2.x mdl plugins?

 

[ThompZon]

Some code adjustments are required for blender 4.x and tbh I have not really used this plugin for a while and cannot answer regarding how good any of these plugins are or how they work on various different blander versions (was a few years ago I did anything with blender).

In the Retera Model Studio discord I saw this from twilac's fork of the plugin:

Blender Importer/Exporter

• Should now work in Blender 4.0
• Fixed not being able to export cameras when choosing "Use SkinWeights"
• Added safety check to not calculate tangents when mesh got no UVs (not sure if it will catch all cases)

GitHub - tw1lac/mdl-exporter at 3.4

Might work...

 

[Jahjahbinks]

Some code adjustments are required for blender 4.x and tbh I have not really used this plugin for a while and cannot answer regarding how good any of these plugins are or how they work on various different blander versions (was a few years ago I did anything with blender).

In the Retera Model Studio discord I saw this from twilac's fork of the plugin:

Blender Importer/Exporter

• Should now work in Blender 4.0
• Fixed not being able to export cameras when choosing "Use SkinWeights"
• Added safety check to not calculate tangents when mesh got no UVs (not sure if it will catch all cases)

GitHub - tw1lac/mdl-exporter at 3.4

Might work...

Ty, all roads lead to Retera. Do you have discord inv?

 

[ThompZon]

Ty, all roads lead to Retera. Do you have discord inv?

Click here to join Retera's Model Studio Users Group.