topic Re: No FBX in Archicad 26 in Modeling

No FBX in Archicad 26

Rex Maximilian — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 08:22:09 GMT

Having downloaded Archicad 26 today, my first order of business was to see if they’ve included FBX export from the 3D window.

Nope.

Everyone, I’m at a loss for words. Imagine a word processing app not being able to save PDF, or an image editing program not being able to save JPG!

FBX is the industry standard for 3D model exchange and asset creation, and our $5K software with a $900 yearly price tag to remain current can’t save an industry standard format… SketchUp can… Revit can… Archicad falls short!

What are our options? A petition? An en masse open letter to major software publications highlighting this glaring omission?

Graphisoft has stopped responding to any forum post regarding FBX, and obviously from its lack of FBX exportability in Archicad 26, Graphisoft has ignored our repeated requests!

But guess what Archicad can export?

Electric Image (last release in 2013)
Piranesi (last release in 2007)
Wavefront (acquired by Autodesk in 2008)
Collada (last release in 2008)
VRML (last code update in 1997)

They offer us these antiquated and outdated formats, yet no FBX! What do we do next?

Graphisoft, you’re on the clock here. We need a response and we need it now.

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Djordje — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 09:01:16 GMT

... you forgot Lightscape 😉

BTW, Datasmith...

... speaking of, any news from Unreal when the export plugin will be available? Their web still says 23-25... https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/datasmith/plugins

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Rex Maximilian — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 08:59:25 GMT

Haha! I didn't see Lightscape in the export list.

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Rex Maximilian — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 09:04:12 GMT

Ah yes, always frustrating to know I can't save to Twinmotion until... whenever that may be. I have a new project to start for a housing subdivision unit types with color scheme options. I'll have to stick with 25. I've been flirting with saving out to SKP from Archicad as my new method of export/import, but who knows what wrinkles that may entail down the line.

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Emre Senoglu — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 09:37:51 GMT

I've asked the question to TM team - someone will probably reply soon:

https://twinmotionhelp.epicgames.com/s/question/0D54z00007p3STbCAM/ac26-plugin?language=en_US

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Francois Swanepoel — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 10:14:04 GMT

@Rex Maximilian & @Emre Senoglu I'm not sure but this could be a issue of "licensing". FBX is a proprietary format licensed by Autodesk and that's probably a factor in it's availability in Archicad.

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Rex Maximilian — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 10:32:09 GMT

That is an interesting bit of info; but DWG is also, which has been available extensively on Archicad since the 90s. Hmmm... but, we don't know as GS has offered no explanations since it first became unavailable (albeit from Epic) in 25. I'd love to know why.

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Djordje — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 10:41:22 GMT

It is always safer to save to 25 and then export to TM, than to go to SKP, adding a layer of troubles...

... guessing from experience with the previous versions, the exporter will show up quickly.

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Rex Maximilian — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 11:30:21 GMT

Yup, workarounds and hoops to jump through. If only there were an FBX format to save to... I haven't found any advantages to using Datasmith in 25 over FBX in previous versions. I also don't use the Direct Link as it locks you in even more to a closed environment for future edits and refreshed imports.

I also use AR apps and have to save down to 24 to export FBX with Epic's TM add-on.

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Martin Jules — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 11:36:06 GMT

Planning to leave Archicad. would be the best solution.

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

SenecaDesignLLC — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 14:14:45 GMT

After creating my own material substitution file data smith is amazing. Full control to edit but does what direct link should have. I do miss fbx but I love the data smith.

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Emre Senoglu — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 09:34:56 GMT

Answer from epic: DATASMITH EXPORTER - NOT FBX!

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Rex Maximilian — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 19:25:25 GMT

Thanks for posting their reply! 👍 But by Fall tho... ugh! This is on Graphisoft however because they choose not to export to FBX for those of us who want to use Twinmotion in the meantime.

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Rex Maximilian — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 21:23:05 GMT

@Minh Nguyen @Laszlo Nagy @Roland Szabo
Could one of you please provide some insight to this? Why does FBX continue to be a missing export option from the 3D window? And why are the outdated formats outlined above still being updated for each version when the R&D involved could be used for development of an FBX import/import?

This is a glaring omission from a $5000 program. We've paid nearly $1000 every year with no advancement in modern 3D exportation.

Thank you in advance for a prompt reply.

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Martin Jules — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 22:21:53 GMT

It seems FBX in Archicad depended on Twinmotion :"

Within Archicad, The Twinmotion add-on for Archicad allows you to export your Archicad 3D model to FBX. The add-on is installed by default. The main purpose of FBX format is to provide interoperability between digital content creation applications. The .fbx files allow computer- based creations to be opened, edited, and modified across many applications and systems. More details about Twinmotion on this link
.TMA	Twinmotion File
Legacy file format that was used by the Twinmotion Add-on until Archicad 20. From Archicad 21 interoperability is provided using FBX format. More details about Twinmotion on this"

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Martin Jules — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 22:54:48 GMT

Maybe you can use Enscape to get the possibility to convert your 3d file into. FBX

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Eduardo Rolon — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 23:44:14 GMT

Enscape is Windows only at this time. @Rex Maximilian is using macOS so that will not work.

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Rex Maximilian — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 23:47:00 GMT

Yes, previous versions of the Twinmotion add-on (Archicad 24 and earlier) allowed for FBX support. However, that stopped in Archicad 25's plugin from Epic. It really shouldn't be up to a third party software to provide FBX support.

I can save to SketchUp from Archicad, then to FBX, but it's not a clean process. And of course, requires a SketchUp subscription.

Thanks!

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Noemi Balogh — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 08:48:04 GMT

Minh answered you last year: https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Wishes-forum/FBX-Export-Archicad-25/m-p/306963/highlight/true#M18778

"To my knowledge, the FBX export function was made available by the previous Twinmotion DirectLink addons. Unfortunately, Twinmotion has shifted to their new Datasmith format, thus this function is no longer available."

Re: No FBX in Archicad 26

Barry Kelly — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 09:34:37 GMT

In a post by Emre Senoglu above ( Link to Emre's post ) he has received a response from Epic to say they will be creating an add-on for 26 FBX export sometime in the early fall (September/October).

So let's hope this comes to fruition.

Correction - it is not an FBX exporter, it will be the Datasmith exporter (add-on).

Barry.