How to export OBJ to Blender and Maya?

[3dguy 11]

Hi - quick question that's been giving me a bit of a headache today: why can't I export simple geometry (in .obj format) into Blender or Maya? Even starting with a basic cube in Form Z V8, I can't find the right export settings which will allow me to successfully import an object to either software package. No matter what settings I try, the following happens:

Maya: it "imports" the file successfully (no errors), but no geometry is actually imported - I can verify this by looking in the Outliner and seeing nothing listed.

Blender: Again, it "imports" successfully, and I can see the name of the object in the Scene Collection box, but...selecting it there and checking it's properties reveals that it there's no geometry. Everything is zeroed out.

What am I missing?

Thanks for any help!

cube.fmz

[bbuxton 44]

Try triangulating the model.

It is easier to help if you attach a screenshot of your export settings along with the file.

One problem with FormZ that has always been present is that the file dialogues allow you to enter settings that don't work.

This results in a file without geometry or other problems. If possible reset FormZ preferences and try again. The default settings for file export work for almost every situation. 

If you need to change something such as scale or orientation make sure you keep a reference to the default settings. Autodessys PLEASE add a reset to default option to the file dialogues. It would save users a lot of unnecessary grief.

[jldaureil 62]

[3dguy 11]

@jldaureil - is that a screenshot of settings that are working for you? Unfortunately, it's too small and I can't read the individual settings.

Attached is a screenshot of the latest settings I've tried - however, I spent about 2 hours yesterday trying all kinds of different settings and nothing worked... 

[Shibui Design 57]

Try changing "Smooth: AS Trimmed Surfaces" to "faceted." and then check the "Faceted" radio button directly below that.

[jldaureil 62]

Yes 

It works here 

Grouping method = by group 

Smooth  = as faceted 

Parametric = faceted

fix smooth shading

[jldaureil 62]

44 minutes ago, Shibui Design said:

Try changing "Smooth: AS Trimmed Surfaces" to "faceted." and then check the "Faceted" radio button directly below that.

Yes!

[3dguy 11]

Thanks for the tips! It still doesn't work though. Maybe it's a version 8 thing? I'm on 8.0.2 btw.

Oh well. 

[jldaureil 62]

 

Try to import this .obj made with Z9

I've also saved the .blend

 

TEST cube v9.obj

test_cube_v9.mtl

TEST cube.blend

[3dguy 11]

Thank you! Yes, those models imported into Maya and Blender perfectly.

And thanks for posting the screenshot of your export settings. I discovered my problem: I was selecting "Macintosh" as the platform, but when I switched it to "MS-DOS" it works. I have no idea why, but oh well. I'm just glad I can export OBJ files to Maya and Blender now!

Thanks again to everyone in this thread who helped me sort this out.

[¢hris £und 297]

Not positive, but there was a day when the "endien (sp?)"  between the two platforms was different.

Basically meaning that the byte or bit order of the values at a machine level was reversed.   Not sure if they still are, but some programs may still take this into consideration.  Since the processors are now the same (intel) they should be the same.  But Apple for once in their existence may have kept backward compatibility.  Naw, what the hell am I talking about? They would never do that!🙄

This is probably an oversimplification, as it is a µprocessor issue and I haven't studied that in 30 years.

[Justin Montoya 287]

This should not be so difficult to use correctly!!!

The default settings should just work  out of the box for the most popular apps or give some feedback what is happening.  

[jldaureil 62]

I admit that I had never asked myself the question seriously ...
It is always good to know..
But actually I would not have thought of modifying this parameter since the screen shot was on Mac