Create custom archives from scene files

Select one or more scene files and batch convert the geometry objects in each scene to custom archives. Use this option to convert a number of objects in different scene files to archive primitives.

Maya saves the exported geometry and materials to an archive directory in a location you specify. The saved archive files use the name of the source Maya scene file as a file base-name. or information about how Maya creates custom archive primitives, see Custom archive primitives.

You can also save selected objects in the current scene to archive primitives. See Create custom archives from selected objects.

Note: When you use Batch Convert Scenes to XGen Archives, if there is more than one polygon object in a scene, all objects from that scene become a single archive.

To create custom archive primitives from scene files

  1. Do one of the following:
    • From the Modeling menu set bar, select Generate > Batch Convert Scenes to Archives.
    • From the XGen Editor, select File > Batch Convert Scenes to Archives.
  2. In the Batch Convert Scenes to XGen Archives window that appears, click Browse to add scene files to the Scenes to be Converted list.
  3. From the Destination Folder list, select the directory in which you want to save the archive files.

    All of the files generated for your new archive are saved to the specified directory.

  4. To save low and medium resolution versions of the geometry, select one of the following Level of Detail options (see Export Selection as Archive(s) options):
    • Automatic (PolyReduce %)
    • Manual (LOD Suffix)

    The selected option applies to all of the archive files generated from the selected scene files.

  5. If the selected geometry is animated, turn on Include Animation, then specify Start Frame and End Frame values.
  6. Click Export.
    Note: (Mac OS only) On some Mac OS systems, Maya may become unresponsive during the export process. If this happens, set this environment variable: XGEN_EXPORT_ARCHIVE_STANDALONE = 0.
  7. You can now select these custom archives when you add archive primitives to your XGen Description. See Instance primitive and archive geometry.