.. _exporters:

Exporters
=========

.. _ExportersFIG:

.. figure:: /img/Exporters.png
   :width: 400
   :align: center

   Exporters panel

This panel (:numref:`Fig. %s <ExportersFIG>`) is divided in three sub-sections: *Coordinates*, *Export object(s) in one file* and *Export objects in several files*.

The *Coordinates* button allows to export every type of coordinates (*.txt* file) associated to an object (such as: points, meshes, cameras etc..) imported in the 3D space of Blender.
After pressing the button, the export window will appear.

.. _ExportersFIG_02:

.. figure:: /img/Exporters_02.png
   :width: 400
   :align: center

   Exporter window options

To customize the export of these data the user can flag specific options (Add names of objects; Add coordinates of rotation; Export only cams; World shift coordinates) placed on the right side of the export window (:numref:`Fig. %s <ExportersFIG_02>`).

The other two Exporters execute the same (export) action, with two different results.
The *Export object(s) in one file* section allows to export, one or multiple objects, in a single file.
By clicking the *obj* or *fbx* button, the user can choose between two different export file formats (*.obj* or *.fbx*).
The name of the exported object appears directly below the *obj* and *fbx* buttons.
By default, the name corresponds to the selected object.

Before starting the export process, the user has to define the correct path of the folder where file(s) will be saved.

.. admonition:: Remember

   Before closing the path window, it is recommended to uncheck the *relative path* option in the export window settings. Alternatively, within the export panel of 3DSC, it is possible to directly paste the entire path into the empty field and then confirm by pressing the *Enter* button.

The second option (*Export objects in several files*) allows to export selected objects in several files (*obj*, *fbx*, *gltf*, and *glb*).
Before exporting the objects, the user can also define properties such as: author, texture resolution, and texture quality.
Also in this case, a preview of the name associated with the exported objects appears directly below the *Max resolution* and *Quality* buttons.
By default, the name of each exported objects corresponds to *objectname.fileFormat*.

By activating the *Use shift* options, 3DSC will export only *obj* files with the corresponding shift.
This option will permit to import these geometries within software that can manage georeferenced data.
For example, this option will be useful with tiles that need to be textured within a photogrammetric software, as explained in the next sections.


The Exporter tool of 3DSC allows also to export instanced objects.
To export this type of objects it is necessary to:

- place in x=0, y=0, z=0 the instanced object with location, scale, and rotation applied (*ctrl+a* command within the viewport of Blender);
- select all the objects to be exported and then select the object in 0,0,0;
- click the *Coordinates* button in the *Exporters* panel of 3DSC;
- locate the folder where the *.txt* file has to be saved and set the name of the file
- flag the right options (:numref:`Fig. %s <ExportersFIG_02>`)
- press the *Export Coordinate Data* button.

This procedure will create a *.txt* file with the locations of to the instanced object.
This procedure will work also for *obj*, *fbx*, *gltf* and *glb*.

At the bottom of the Exporter panel, the option *Enable instanced_export (only FBX)*, if selected, activates an automatic procedure available only for *.fbx* files.
This procedure requires, first, the selection of a group of objects and, then, the add-on will generate a single file *[name]-inst.txt* using the name of the active object.

In the same part of the panel the user can also select two others options: *Use Shift (slower, only obj)* and *use collection gerarchy*.

The option *Use Shift (slower, only obj)* permits to export *obj* file(s) with shift values.
This process may be slower with big *obj* file(s).

The option *use collection gerarchy* consents to apply collection gerarchy for creating a tree of subfolders useful for Game Engines.