Blender: Import / Export 3D models

1. Requirements

The following is required:

• Blender
• OMSI SDK Tools (Export)
• DirectX Import Plugin (Import)

2. Import

For the import there is a Blender plugin. This must be activated in Blender under File >User Preferences >Addons> Import-Export> DirectX Importer. For the import, select File> Import> DirectX (.x). Now the file is located in Blender. If necessary, the object and all normals must be rotated in Edit Mode: Select All W> Flip Normals. Furthermore, the triangles can be converted into squares by pressing ALT+J. Then it is recommended to join the edges and points lying on top of each other with W > Remove Doubles. UV-coordinates of a texture are usually imported as well, the texture just has to be added to the material.

If the Blender plug-in for import is not available, it can be downloaded here. The folder io_directx_bel comes in Blender\scripts\addons.

3. Export

For the export, the corresponding extension under span style="font-family: Consolas, Courier New, Courier, monospace">File >User> Preferences >Addons >Import-Export >DirectX Format must also be activated, if not already done. The following settings for the export under File> Export >DirectX (.x) must be made:

•  Export Selected Objects Only as required
• Coordinates: Right-Handed
• Up Axis: Z
• Export Meshes
• Export Standards
• flip standards
• Export UV Coordinates
• export materials

OMSI can already read the .x file created in this way. However, for compatibility reasons it is recommended to use the X-Converter from the OMSI SDK. It is possible to convert the files into an .o3d file by double-clicking them in the Windows dialog "Open with" and then selecting the X-Converter. If the X-Converter is started manually, default settings are sufficient.

OMSI can already read the .x file created in this way. However, for compatibility reasons it is recommended to use the X-Converter from the OMSI SDK. It is possible to convert the files into an .o3d file by double-clicking them in the Windows dialog "Open with" and then selecting the X-Converter. If the X-Converter is started manually, default settings are sufficient.

3.1. Textures and materials

The special feature when creating textures from Blender version 2.5 on is that exactly one material must be created for each texture. The texture must be subordinated to the material. This means in the opposite sense that each material can only be assigned exactly one texture.

To create a material, go to the Material tab on the right. Then click on the plus sign and a new material appears. This material can then be adjusted as desired. To transfer a texture to the object, first select the Edit-Mode and then transfer the texture with the help of the UV-View. Afterwards the material has to be transferred to the object, which is done (also in edit mode) by the Assign button. For each material exactly one texture is created under "Texture", the type "Image or Movie" is selected and the desired file name.

As texture you can use almost all formats that OMSI knows. Due to compatibility reasons we do not recommend the Portable Network Graphics (.png) format. The developers of OMSI have worked with .bmp, another possibility are .dds and .tga textures. The format of the textures should be a 2n format, possible lengths are the numbers of the sequence 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, ... The texture does not have to be square either.

4. Coordinate system in Omsi

The coordinate system in Omsi is quite simple. For all positions there is a fixed point which is defined by the three axes of the coordinate system.

• X is the lateral alignment. The positive value points to the left (to the doorless side), the negative value to the right.
• Y is the alignment to the front or to the rear. The positive value points to the front, the negative value to the rear.
• Z is the height orientation. The positive value points upwards. Since the object origin is at street level, there is normally no negative value.

All specifications are made in meters. The decimal place is set with a dot.

5. Import and export plugins for newer Blender versions

As of 2.83 or 2.79, the following plugins can be used. They are primarily used to import and export o3d files.

1. https://github.com/Road-hog123…er-OMSI-Exporter/releases - Plugin exclusively for exporting o3d files with many functions such as skin weights and SDK settings
2. https://github.com/space928/Blender-O3D-IO-Public/releases - Plugin for the import and export of individual o3d files and model configuration files.