Mesh Export Tools

Document Summary: A download page for ActorX plugins for 3DS Max, Maya, and XSI.

Document Changelog:

• April 25, 2008: Added ActorX for 3ds Max 2009 (both 32-bit and 64-bit versions.)
• February 18, 2008: Updated ActorX beta 2.01 for XSI 6.5 (see change notes below.)
• February 12, 2008: Minor fix for binary file differences in Max 9/2008 and Maya 8.5/2008 plugins.
• February 10, 2008: New ActorX beta 2.0 for XSI 6.5 (see change notes below.)
• January 21, 2008: New version 2.45 ActorX for Maya (fixes vertically flipped UVs on static meshes).
• January 17, 2008: Added ActorX for Maya 2008 and Maya 2008 (both 32-bit and 64-bit versions).
• January 15, 2008: Added ActorX for 64-bit versions of Maya 8.5 and 3ds Max 9.

Overview

This is the main UDN download location for the latest Unreal Engine mesh and animation exporter plugins for Max, Maya, and XSI. For source code, Unreal Technology licensees can check the official FTP site or source control.

The ActorX plugins are used to export skeletal meshes and their animations to binary file formats (.psk and .psa, respectively) that the Unreal Editor can import.

The Maya and XSI plugins also provide tools to export static meshes to .ase (.ase is implicitly supported by Max). See StaticMeshesFromMaya for more information.

For more detailed instructions see ActorXMaxTutorial, ActorXMayaTutorial, and ActorXXSITutorial.

Updates

We will do our best to provide updated versions of the plugin for most major applications, as priorities allow. It's best to check this page regularly.

For licensees, if you absolutely can't wait, you can ask a programmer on your team to update the plugin based on the source, as most code changes should be straightforward.

Troubleshooting

NOTE: To resolve the following error:

Error: Unable to dynamically load : C:/Program Files/Autodesk/Maya8.5/bin/plug-ins/ActorXTool.mll

This application has failed to start because the application
configuration is incorrect. Reinstalling the application may fix this
problem.

Please contact your IT department and request that they install the Vcredist.exe for VC 8 with Service Pack 1. Also known as: Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86).

If you encounter problems with the older versions of the exporter plugins, you may need the following:

• msvcr71.zip (Unzip it into the plugins folder where you put the .dlu/.mll file. Only needed if you get the "failed to initialize" issue.)
• msvcp71.zip (Unzip into the plugins folder if you still get initialization errors.)

Exporter Downloads

3ds Max Exporter Plugins

Version notes:

• 7/01/03 version 2.10c Fix for anyone experiencing the "plugin failed to initialize" error.
• 7/19/03 version 2.11 Fixed a skeletal mesh smoothing-group vertex splitting bug.
• 9/30/03 version 2.12 Fixed output path bug in vertex animation saving.
• 12/29/03 version 2.12b Recompiled Max 6 plugin to fix reported compatibility issues.
• 5/20/04 version 2.14b Now treats point helpers the same as dummies in skeletal geometry.
• 7/07/04 version 2.15 Experimental fix to avoid the "plugin fails to initialize" error.
• 10/20/04 version 2.16 Duplicate bone name warning added, obsolete options cleaned up.
• 11/19/04 version 2.18 Added MaxScript^? exposure of all main export commands.
• 01/22/05 version 2.19 Vertex export: fixed append-to-existing feature, added animation data compatibility checks.
• 08/09/05 version 2.20 Fixed crash in VActor::LoadAnimation.
• 02/12/08 version 2.20a Fixed garbage padding data in animation binary files.

Maya Exporter Plugins

Version notes:

• 07/19/03 version 2.23 Fixed a skeletal mesh smoothing-group vertex splitting bug.
• 08/30/03 version 2.24 Added "axexecute" non-interactive command line based export functionality (see ActorXMayaTutorial)
• 09/20/03 version 2.26 Improves conversion of edge hardness to smoothing groups.
• 11/24/03 version 2.29 Fixes some of the Mel-only command crashes.
• 02/10/04 version 2.30 Fixes bugs with missing popup notifcations after using Mel-only export features.
• 07/26/04 version 2.33 Adds support for static mesh multi-UV and vertex coloring.
• 08/02/04 version 2.34 Fixes bugs in multi-UV/vertex color export.
• 09/15/04 version 2.35 Staticmesh export: adds consolidation option & fixes multi-UV.
• 10/13/04 version 2.36 Optimized conversion algorithm for edge hardness to smoothing groups.
• 10/20/04 version 2.37 Duplicate bone name warning added, obsolete options cleaned up.
• 01/14/05 version 2.40 Auto-triangulation smoothing groups issue fixed; .ase output made more compliant.
• 01/17/05 version 2.41 Fixed a staticmesh export crash bug; removed the obsolete "axBrush" .t3d export feature.
• 01/22/05 version 2.42 Vertex export: fixed append-to-existing feature, added animation data compatibility checks.
• 03/07/05 version 2.43 Fixed bug in 'noexport' and 'ignore' code that was causing hidden subhierarchies to still export.
• 08/09/05 version 2.44 Fixed crash in VActor::LoadAnimation.
• 01/21/08 version 2.45 Fixed vertically flipped UVs on static meshes.
• 02/12/08 version 2.45a Fixed garbage padding data in animation binary files.

XSI Exporter Plugins

Note that support for the XSI exporter plugins is provided by XSI themselves. You can contact them at:

si-supp@softimage.com^?

or for Japanese support:

siINFOjp@softimage.com^?

See install instructions in ActorXXSITutorial.

Version notes for XSI 6.5 plugins:

• 12/17/07 version beta 1.0 Initial beta version of ActorX for XSI 6.5
• 01/10/08 version beta 2.0:
  • ASE and PSK export preserves cluster material index polygon assignment
  • PSK export using "Skin Export | all selected" will use selected geometry and associated deformers for export.
  • Frame range set from UI is now working, which means that if you specify 1-30 it will export frames 1-30.
  • Animation sequence name specified through the UI will show up in the animation manager after digesting animation.
• 01/18/08 version beta 2.01:
  • Fixed minor bug with material clusters.

Version notes for XSI 5.x plugins:

• 05/01/06 version 05012006 Fix for multimaterial display on animated meshes, enabling the usage of multiple material slot.

Version notes for XSI 4.x plugins:

• 01/14/05 version 1.00 First Beta test version.
• 02/14/05 version 1.00e Fixed multi-UV export and GUI issues. First release candidate.
• 05/10/05 version 1.01 Fixed bug where multiple materials were ignored in .ASE exports.
• 03/13/06 Fixed bug where transferring animation data to an existing PSA caused a crash.