OpenFlight Import Plugin

OpenFlight import plugin streamlines import of models from *.flt format into Unigine engine. Assets are loaded and converted on-the-fly in native Unigine format:

Polygonal geometry
Full node hierarchy with groups
Level of detail
Degree of freedom
Materials
Lights

If any, multiple external references nodes that refer to one node, will refer to one mesh in Unigine.

OpenFlight plugin in Unigine engine

In the launcher for your Unigine project (*.bat or *.sh file), specify the following engine plugin:
Shell commands
```
main_x86d -extern_plugin OpenFlight
```
Open Tools -> Plugins and press Core button to see the list of available editor plugins.
Choose import/openflight.cpp to load the plugin interface.

OpenFlight import plugin is now shown:

OpenFlight plugin interface

To load a OpenFlight asset into the Unigine engine:

Copy OpenFlight model into <UnigineSDK>/data folder. This step is recommended if you want to save the Unigine world with converted meshes and textures.
Click Load button in the OpenFlight plugin window to load a OpenFlight scene into the memory.
Specify the path to the *.flt file.
Check import options (if LODs should be baked, materials need to be loaded, etc.).
Click Add to scene button to add a loaded scene into Unigine world.
If materials are imported, specify the path to the existing Unigine material library file (*.mat).

Load assets

Load	Loads an OpenFlight asset into the memory. After it is loaded, you can click Add to scene button.
Info	Displays information on the loaded file: File name Format revision for the OpenFlight version Creator for the name and version of the application in which OpenFlight file was created Edit revision/date for the creation date of OpenFlight file Coordinate units used Projection type for geographic attributes specified in OpenFlight file Database origin for placement of the database Earth model type specified in OpenFlight file UTM zone specified in OpenFlight file Southwest database coordinates by X and Y Delta X, Y and Z to place the database Southwest corner latitude and longitude Northeast corner latitude and longitude Origin latitude and longitude Lambert upper latitude Lambert lower latitude
Add to scene	Adds a loaded OpenFlight asset into the Unigine world. Loaded data is saved from memory to the disk (a source .flt file should be stored under data directory for that) depending on the set import options: Folder meshes is added with .mesh files (only if a Dynamic mesh option is unchecked). Folder textures is added with textures (only if Import materials and Import textures options are checked). To add the same OpenFlight asset as already loaded via a Load button, but with different options, click Add to scene button again. You can choose to rewrite nodes, or add another asset without rewiring the previously imported variant.

Merge object nodes	Merges the whole object into one mesh (with surfaces).
Merge group nodes	Merges the whole group into one mesh (with surfaces).
Merge LOD nodes	Merges all mesh LODs into one mesh, where one LOD is a surface.
Dynamic mesh	Loads the OpenFlight asset as a dynamic mesh and stores it in the memory (allows for faster loading). If this option is unchecked, meshes are saved onto the disk.
Vertex cache	Performs vertex cache optimization. This option is available only if a Dynamic mesh option is unchecked. It reorders an indexed triangle list to improve vertex cache utilization in run time. It should always be turned on if saving the production version of assets; however, during development, it can be turned off for a quicker saving.
Import lights	Imports light sources from a OpenFlight asset into Unigine: Infinite lights are converted into world light sources Local lights are converted into omni light sources Spot lights are converted into projected light sources. The following parameters are supported for imported lights: Light color Light radius and attenuation (for local and spot light) Light FOV (for spot light) Light source position and orientation
Import materials	Creates materials for the imported scene. They include the following textures: Diffuse texture Detail diffuse texture Normal map or bump map (need to be converted into RG channel for Unigine) Specular texture Light map Material parameters are also imported: Diffuse color Specular color and power Emission color Alpha blending value Polygon offset (based on subface nodes) If Import textures option is unchecked (by default it is enabled), source textures are used, without automatic compression and conversion. In this case, make sure that you convert a normal map into a 2-channel format (RG), since usage of RGB normal maps results in incorrect lighting of the model.
Instance materials	Creates instanced materials (per each created mesh) rather than saving materials into the material library. This option is for development time only, since it provides faster preview but prevents materials from being instanced. When adding the production version of assets, it should be turned off.
Import textures	Converts textures into Unigine-ready DDS format are saves them into the textures folder. This option requires Import materials option also to be checked.
Compress textures	Compresses textures and creates mipmaps, if necessary. This option requires Import textures option to be checked as well.
Verbose operations	Displays a dialog if meshes or textures need to be rewritten (when a OpenFlight asset is added into the Unigine world for the second time or more).

Mesh	Adds a prefix to the name of created meshes. For example, with a prefix my_, a mesh MeshName will be imported as my_MeshName.
Material	Adds a prefix to the name of created materials. For example, with a prefix prefix_, an imported material will be named as prefix_MeshName.
Texture	Adds a prefix to the name of created textures. For example, with a prefix prefix_, an imported texture will be named as prefix_TextureName.

Scale	Scales the imported asset.

In This Article:

See Also

How to Load OpenFlight Plugin

How to Import OpenFlight Assets into Unigine

Plugin Options