export beveled curve to proxy?

[andybot_cg]

Is there any way currently to export a beveled curve to a vray proxy? My specific interest is to export a tree curve (sapling plugin) that has been animated and has beveled faces into a vray proxy. I don't know of a way to convert the curve to a mesh without losing the animation (My Blender skills are not the most comprehensive :P ). I'd be glad for some advice either in converting to a mesh in Blender or if there's some way to make the curve into an animated proxy. I've attached a simple example.

Additionally - is there a way to generate a proxy for multiple meshes, or is it just one mesh at a time? (Don't know if this question needs its own separate thread.)

Thanks!

Andy

[bdancer]

Thanks for the report!

1. Curves: missing panels added.
2. Animation: there is a checkbox "Animation" in proxy generation settings to generate animated proxy.
3. Multiple objects: Just select multiple objects and press "Generate proxy", but it will generate multiple output files (per object).

[andybot_cg]

Great! Thanks for the info and the update
Some reports:

1. I tried the curves, and after I select "Create proxy", it seems to generate fine, but when I go to load the proxy - I get an error:

TypeError: expected 'Mesh' type found 'Curve' instead
bm.to_mesh(context.object.data)
File "C:\Program Files\ ...\vb25\render_ops.py", line 751, in execute

2. Yes, I was using the animation option - that part works fine.

3. OK, so multiple objects make multiple proxies. One thing I was also having an issue with is that using the "replace" option when generating the proxy did not result in loading the preview mesh, it only loaded a cube. If I click "Load Preview Mesh" then I get the preview geometry, but I thought "replace" should do that automatically.

[andybot_cg]

sorry - more info on the "replace" option issue. Seems to be a path error - here is the error message I get after generating the proxy:

ValueError: path is on mount 'Z:', start on mount 'E:'
raise ValueError(error)
File "C:\Program Files\vb...\python\lib\ntpath.py", ;ine 622, in relpath
return "//" + _os.path.relpath(path,start)

Seems that it's because my .blend file I'm working on is local (E: drive) but I am saving my proxies to a network location (Z: drive)
I then have to manually locate the proxy file and then click the "Load Preview Mesh" to get the proxy to show up.

[bdancer]

1. It's an issue with "Replace" mode, try "New Object" mode, will fix tomorrow.
3. May be it should, but now this is how it works, pretty easy to fix anyway.

[andybot_cg]

1. It's an issue with "Replace" mode, try "New Object" mode, will fix tomorrow.

OK, New Object seems to generate the proxy fine. I still get the path error and proxy link doesn't show up.

3. May be it should, but now this is how it works, pretty easy to fix anyway.

OK, a wishlist item then

[andybot_cg]

oh noes! not rendering with this last exporter update. Says "Exporter error! Check system console!"

See console screengrab attached.

[bdancer]

It's because you are on -dev- version, I've added some new API there. I'll upload new build today.
Checking what's with paths....

[andybot_cg]

It's because you are on -dev- version, I've added some new API there. I'll upload new build today.

Oh. So I should only be doing "update exporter" with the master branch? Updates to dev are only on nightlies?

[bdancer]

So I should only be doing "update exporter" with the master branch?

You could do it on both branches. I'm just constantly improving -dev- build and sometimes "Update exporter" is not enougth and you also have to update the build itself.
New build is uploaded, please try it.

About paths - can't reproduce it. Could you create a simplified scene for me?

[andybot_cg]

OK, I see, the Blender build is another variable, not just the exporter... I'll grab that updated one now.

You can use the scene in the first post, just create the proxy on a different drive letter than the one the blender file is opened on (not relative paths, that's working fine.)

[bdancer]

Aha, got it. It's because it always tries to store relative path to the asset. Thanks fixed.

[andybot_cg]

Great! Is this something I can update the exporter for? Or will it mess up the dev install again?

[bdancer]

Now it should be safe to update just the exporter.

[andybot_cg]

OK, loading the proxy works fine now. I am getting the error again though about "TypeError: expected 'Mesh' type found 'Curve' instead" and then proxy doesn't load.