Hello, Dan,
I assume these are materials with Bitmap textures(containing image files). In case they are, this should not be happening. Is it reproducible only with specific .skp files? Are there missing entries in the File Path Editor only when a component is imported or when opened independently?
As long as there are SketchUp materials (which are synched to V-Ray) in the project, their texture assets should be listed in the File Path Editor.
Here’s how asset management functions in V-Ray for SketchUp.
Each V-Ray scene may use a number of different external assets (files). Bitmap material textures can load image files such as .jpg or .png, VRscanned materials load .vrscan files, IES Lights load .ies files, Proxies use .vrmesh, .abc or .vrscene files, and so on.
When an asset is loaded in the V-Ray interface, its file path is saved as V-Ray data within the SketchUp project file so V-Ray can load the necessary file upon rendering. Asset files are not automatically added to your .skp file (Diffuse textures are an exception, see below).
What the File Path Editor does is list all external assets used in the scene - what is their name, their file path, and which V-Ray plugin uses them. Furthermore, the File Path Editor displays a status color for each asset.
- Green status means the asset is present at the specified file path and will be loaded correctly.
- Yellow status means the asset is not located at the specified file path (or that file path is not accessible/invalid) but the asset file is stored within the SketchUp project (.skp file). This only applies for Diffuse Bitmap textures as SketchUp materials support only these ones and keep the image files automatically within the .skp project. As I already mentioned in my previous replies, V-Ray materials synch with their corresponding SketchUp materials so when opening an .skp project, V-Ray will read the stored texture image files from a temp folder where they are extracted while the .skp project is open.
- Red status means the asset is not located at the specified file path or that file path is not available.
If you have assets with Yellow status, simply select them, then use the File Path Editor’s button “Archive & Repath” and they’ll be lit in green. What “Archive” does is it grabs existing files (in that case extracts them from the .skp or their current folder) and saves them at a manually specified destination. “Repath” automatically updates the new file path in the V-Ray scene data for all selected assets.
Loading your project correctly after moving them to another location on your hard drive can be easily amended using the File Path Editor. Also, keep in mind that if Bitmap texture image files used by V-Ray are located in the same folder (or a subfolder) as the SketchUp project file, V-Ray will load them automatically despite how their file path in the V-Ray UI is set. Other assets, such as .vrmesh or .ies files will need to be repath-ed.
Loading your projects directly from a mapped drive (or having V-Ray point to a mapped drive location for assets) will not cause any troubles. Everything will be loaded directly as long as you have access and connection to that drive.
Loading your project after transferring it from another machine (or downloading it from the Internet) will need to be accompanied by all associated asset files so you can use the File Path Editor to repath them using their new location on your hard drive. V-Ray for SketchUp comes with a single-click menu entry (Extensions > V-Ray > Pack Project) which creates an archived file of your .skp project file and all asset files V-Ray needs. This is the easiest way to transfer your scenes successfully without worrying about assets.
If you use a cloud-based service to store your projects and their assets, my suggestion is to use “Pack Project” before uploading them.
The potential problem with the workflow you described is the following - every time you open a SketchUp project you can use File Path Editor’s “Repath” function to point V-Ray to its asset files located in a different temp folders depending on which machine you’re on. This is fast as it only takes a few clicks.
But when you open a project, work on it and introduce new assets to V-Ray, these assets will need to be uploaded after you’re done and have saved your SketchUp project again. Forgetting or failing to do so will mean you won’t be able to access them on another machine.
Furthermore, depending on your connection, there is a possibility you may experience some lag while working on materials (Texture editor, more precisely).
Hope this explanation has cleared up any confusion!
Kind regards,
Peter