# Model Exporting<no value>
Once you've created your exterior (airframe) and interior (cockpit) models, they need to be exported as {{< glossterm >}}gltf{{< /glossterm >}} files and this will be done using the **Multi-Exporter Tool**. This tool is part of the 3DS Max plugin that comes with the SDK and is used to generate the required files in the correct format for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. This page outlines what we need to do to export the files for the aircraft package we are making, but you can find full information on this tool from the following page:

-   [Multi-Exporter](../../plugins/3ds-max-plugin/multi-exporter/)

 

It's worth noting that the export process will be much easier the cleaner and more optimised that you have your model hierarchy. So, before continuing, it's worth taking a few moments to ensure that your LOD hierarchy is setup clearly along with the animations, etc... See the section on  for more information on best-practices.

{{< callout context="note" title="NOTE" icon="outline/bulb" >}}

Models for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 should be in the `.gltf` format as currently the SDK/simulation does not support `.glb` files with embedded textures.

{{< /callout >}}

 

 

### Setup The Export

{{< callout context="note" title="NOTE" icon="outline/bulb" >}}

This process will need be completed twice: once for the airframe model and once for the cockpit model.

{{< /callout >}}

Once you have your model - with all its LODs - prepared in your modelling program, you need to export them using the **Multi-Exporter** tool supplied as part of the SDK plugin:

**Blender** **3Ds Max**

The [Blender Multi-Exporter](../../plugins/blender-plugin/the-blender-exporter/) can be found here:

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Aircraft/exporting/multi_export_1_plugin_2.gif"
    alt="Finding The Blender Multi-Exporter Tool" >}}

The [3DS Max Multi-Exporter](../../plugins/3ds-max-plugin/multi-exporter/) can be found here:

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Aircraft/exporting/multi_export_1_plugin.png"
    alt="Finding The 3DS Max Multi-Exporter Tool" >}}

 

Next you'll need to ensure that the **export settings** are correct:

**Blender** **3Ds Max**

The **Settings** panel allows you to setup the glTF export settings for Blender. On this panel the following sections should be edited:

-   **Textures**: Here you can choose to keep the original textures - for those cases where you have a texture library in the package and re-use the textures - or you can supply an output path for the textures if they are to be included with the aircraft model glTF. As an example of placement for textures in the project, it would be like this (although a lot will depend on how you have set up the aircraft package):

    ``` codeblock
    PROJECT ROOT\<PackageName>\PackageSources\SimObjects\Airplanes\<AircraftName>\common\<CompanyName>\Exterior\texture
    ```

-   **Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024**:
    -   **Use Asobo Unique ID Extension** - This *must be checked * for models used in SimObjects to ensure that everything has a unique ID (it is optional for models used in Scenery).
    -   **Generate TextureLib** - This should be *checked* to generate the [texturelib XML](../../../content-configuration/textures/texture-xml-properties/) file.
    -   **Reset Origins** - These options are almost always required to be *checked* if exporting parts for *modular aircraft* as they reset the root node transforms, which means that the parts can then be attached correctly when the aircraft is created in the simulation.
    -   **Remove LOD Prefix** - This should be *checked* and will remove the LOD prefixes from all the objects, which is necessary to be able to reference them correctly using the different model behavior templates.

-   **Animation**: The animation mode should be set to *NLA Tracks*.

-   **Optimise Animations**: Here you want to *check* the **Optimise Animation Size** option and the **Disable Viewport For Other Objects** option.

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Aircraft/exporting/multi_export_3_options_2.png"
    alt="Blender Preset Export Settings" >}}

 

Note that you can save these values as an *export preset* by clicking the {{< button "+" />}} button at the top of the Settings window, which lets you set up different presets to be used depending on the group of objects being exported. These are then applied to the export groups, as explained in the **Creating Preset Groups** section, below.

 

#### Reset Root Node Transforms

An important thing to be aware when setting up your exports, is the possible need to reset the **root node transforms** of each aircraft part. For modular aircraft, it is normal to have each part attached to each other part in a hierarchy of attachments, for example: root helper node &gt; airframe &gt; wings &gt; engines. However, the root nodes of these parts will normally be offset from the (0, 0, 0), and after exporting and generating the aircraft in the sim, the offset from the (0, 0, 0) position **will become the offset from the attach point position of the previous object in the attachment hierarchy**. Therefor it is important to reset the root node transforms for each attachment, and this should be done *before* export, using the **Transform Properties**, which are explained here: [Transform Properties](../../plugins/blender-plugin/blender-plugin-properties/#transform-properties).

On the **User Defined Layer Based Export** tab, you can click on the `Export Options` button to setup the 3DS Max export preset for the aircraft. From the following window you will need to check these options:

-   **Export Materials**: This should be *checked* to ensure the aircraft exports the materials with the objects.

-   **Remove LOD Prefix**: This should be *checked* and will remove the LOD prefixes from all the objects, which is necessary to be able to reference them correctly using the different model behavior templates.

-   **Use Asobo UniqueID**: This *must be checked* for models used in SimObjects to ensure that everything has a unique ID (it is optional for models used in Scenery)..

-   **Animations**: Here you want to select *Export Meshes And Animations*.

-   **Textures**: Here you will want to set the **Texture Path** to the location of the "texture" folder within the project that you made earlier (see [here](../../../samples-tutorials/tutorials/aircraft-checklist/creating-the-project/)). The path should be something like this (although a lot will depend on how you have set up the aircraft package):

    ``` codeblock
    PROJECT ROOT\<PackageName>\PackageSources\SimObjects\Airplanes\<AircraftName>\common\<CompanyName>\Exterior\texture
    ```

-   **Use Pre-Export Process**: In this section make sure that the **Bake Animation Options** are set to *Bake All Animations*

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Aircraft/exporting/multi_export_3_options.png"
    alt="3DS Max User Defined Layer Export Settings" >}}

 

Note that you can save these settings as an *export preset* by clicking the {{< button "+" />}} button at the top of the Settings window, which lets you set up different presets to be used depending on the group of objects being exported (after creating a new export preset you can change its name by simp,y clicking on the name field). These settings will then be applied to the export groups, as explained in the **Creating Preset Groups** section, below.

 

#### Reset Root Node Transforms

The other important thing to be aware of is the possible need to reset the **root node transforms** of each aircraft part. For modular aircraft, it is normal to have each part attached to each other part in a hierarchy of attachments, for example: root helper node &gt; airframe &gt; wings &gt; engines. However, the root nodes of these parts will normally be offset from the (0, 0, 0), and after exporting and generating the aircraft in the sim, the offset from the (0, 0, 0) position **will become the offset from the attach point position of the previous object in the attachment hierarchy**. Therefor it is important to reset the root node transforms for each attachment, and this should be done *before* export, using the **Object Properties**, which are explained here: [Object Properties](../../plugins/3ds-max-plugin/the-3ds-max-plugin/#object-properties).

 

Next you'll want to ensure that you have set up your animations and textures correctly for exporting:

**Blender** **3Ds Max**

In Blender you need to ensure you have pushed the actions of the animated empties down into the **NonLinear Animation Panel**, and that the tracks have been named the same for the grouped animations, for example:

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Plugins/WiperMask/wiper_mask_2_blenderanim.png"
    alt="Wiper Animation Setup In Blender" >}}

You should also note that you have additional options for your textures available from the [Image Properties](../../plugins/blender-plugin/blender-plugin-properties/#image), and - if required - you should ensure that the appropriate flags have been set (although in most cases this isn't necessary, but it's important to be aware that the options exist).

{{< callout context="caution" title="IMPORTANT!" icon="outline/alert-triangle" >}}

While Blender permits negative keyframes for animations, **the simulation does not**, and as such the plugins will show an error when exporting animations with negative keyframe values.

{{< /callout >}}

In 3DS Max, you will need to ensure that you have set up your [Animation Groups](../../plugins/3ds-max-plugin/the-3ds-max-plugin/#animation_groups) correctly, where all objects that animate together are in one group and the frames are correctly defined:

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Plugins/3DsMax/3dsmax_rmb_animgroups.png"
    alt="Setting Up Animation Groups" >}}

 

Additionally, in the multi-exporter window, if this is the first time you are exporting and you have made no changes to the textures, you should ensure that the [Generate\_TextureLib](../../plugins/3ds-max-plugin/multi-exporter/#Generate_TextureLib) option is *checked* so that the tool generates the required texture XML files on export.

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Aircraft/exporting/multi_export_3_options_3.png"
    alt="Checking The Generate TextureLib Option" >}}

 

 

### Creating Preset Groups

Once all the appropriate settings have been made, it's time to set up the preset groups for export, The concept here is to export all the *parts* that make up the aircraft in **groups** that include all the LODs, animations and attach points for the part (this includes any extra details like the ice or dirt and grime meshes). How this is done depends on the modelling program being used:

**Blender** **3Ds Max**

The **Presets** panel allows you to create **Export Presets** that will make it easier to export a large numbers of different objects, animations and more, without having to constantly repeat the same steps over and over. This exporter relies on *Collections* to be selected and added to a Preset, so you will need your scene to be split into relevant collections.

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Aircraft/exporting/multi_export_2_preset_2.png"
    alt="The Preset Tab Of The Multi-Exporter" >}}

 

On the presets tab, the first thing you will want to do is add a **Group**, and set the export path - which will always be to a `model` folder within the modular aircraft package - and *export preset* (as explained in the **Setup Export** section above), and also rename it for clarity:

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Aircraft/exporting/multi_export_5_blender_1.png"
    alt="Adding A Group To The Export" >}}

For each group you can then add one or more *presets* to it, by clicking on the {{< button "+" />}} button beside the group (using the Add Preset button at the top will add a unique preset to the top-level, *not* to the selected group). As with the group, you can name the preset, set it's path if needed (it will have inherited the group output path automatically), and also apply a different set of preset options if required.

 

When ready, you can then click on the *collections* `☐⊕` button and add the required items from the scene into it:

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Aircraft/exporting/multi_export_5_blender_2.png"
    alt="Adding Collections Into The Group Preset" >}}

The **User Defined Layer Based Export** view allows you to create export presets - and groups of presets - that will make it easier to export a large numbers of objects, animations, etc... and assign them all specific characteristics without having to edit them individually.

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Aircraft/exporting/multi_export_2_preset.png"
    alt="Finding The Multi-Exporter Tool" >}}

 

In this window the first thing you'll need to do is click the `Group` button at the top, then browse to the folder where you want the exporter to save the glTF files for the part(s) in the group. After that you should rename the group to something appropriate for the part(s) being exported, and select the **Export Options** you want to use (as explained in **The Export Setup** section, above):

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Aircraft/exporting/multi_export_4_max_1.png"
    alt="Setting Up An Export Group In 3DS Max" >}}

 

The next thing to do is - with the group selected - click on the {{< button "New" />}} button to add a new preset to it. This will open a browser window and here you can give the name of the glTF file that is going to be exported by this preset, and then you can select the contents of the glTF from the **Layers** section to the right of the window:

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Aircraft/exporting/multi_export_4_max_1.png"
    alt="Adding A Preset To A Group" >}}

 

You can now repeat this process until you have setup all the preset groups required for the parts of your aircraft. **The general concept here is to have one *group* per *part* and then in each group, have one *preset* per *LOD*.**

 

Note that the [DA62](../../../samples-tutorials/samples/simobjects-aircraft/da62/) is an excellent reference when it comes to the export paths within a modular aircraft project, where:

-   a single "attach point" node glTF is in the *common* folder.
-   the aircraft part glTFs and base textures - airframe, wings, cockpit, etc... - are all in the *attachments* folder.
-   the additional livery meshes and textures are in the *liveries* folder.
-   all the parts will be attached in *presets* using the [attached\_objects.cfg](../../../content-configuration/cfg-files/attached-objects/).

 

 

### Exporting

When you have completed the setup of the various export presets, tick each of the groups that you have created and then click on the **Export Ticked** button to save out your LODs and textures. When finished revise the `models` and `textures` folders to ensure that everything is correct and they are in the correct location within the project. The *helper-node* glTF should be in the *common* folder, and all the other parts should be in the *attachments* folder, for example:

{{< image-center
    src="images/3_Models_And_Textures/Aircraft/exporting/multi_export_6_location.png"
    alt="Example Of Folder Setup For Parts" >}}