Rhino direct export or udatasmith export

Hi Good Morning everyone,

I use UE4.26 and Rhino6.

While exploring the export workflow from Rhino into UE project, I learnt three different methods:

  1. export 3dm file directly and into UE asset;
  2. export 3dm file in Rhino using plugin to udatasmith file, then import into UE asset;
  3. use Dataprep to import either 3dm or udatasmith files into UE.

Of the three methods, I do not know the pros and cons comparing between methods 1) and 2)? Are there any documentations or discussions on the topic? Please help.

Hello kchow321,

We should split in 2 different questions:

  • 3dm or udatasmith
  • datasmith import or dataprep import

3dm or udatasmith, it is about who is generating the data and where the control is.

  • 3dm you rely on datasmith importer to parse the file, extract material and metadata, and tessellate if geometry is parametric (not a specialist of Rhino 3dm so guessing you can have parametric data in). The key positive point is that you are not dependent on having a Rhino application around to do an export just to import the model in UE or retessellate geometry (again if you have parametric data in model).
  • udatasmith exporter: you are more embedded in the Rhino application, you can tune how you export the data, you have more control on what is exported and you might have a better translation of metadata and material that way. Using Datasmith with Rhino | Unreal Engine Documentation

Other + for udatasmith version:

  • Rhino version supported: 3dm we are limited to Rhino 6 while with 4.27 exporter we support export from Rhino 7 to udatasmith.
  • with 4.27 you should get direct link between Rhino and UE. Allowing you to connect Rhino to editor or application and see live modification from Rhino in your application.

Datasmith vs Dataprep:

  • Dataprep relies on datasmith and is an extra layer that offers you the possibility to create recipe to do data process on your import files. As you noticed from previous thread some import options were missing in dataprep but we have fixed that in 4.27.
  • choose dataprep if you like to execute processing steps on your data using a visual recipe, else you can go full datasmith with some editor blueprint or python.
  • 3dm and udatasmith can be loaded either in dataprep or datasmith
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Hi @UE_FlavienP ,

I understand more on the topic now. There are so many ways that we can utilise to export Rhino files and it is so flexible. It is amazing. However, I hope that the documentation should include some of these explanations so that users can make the right choice when it comes to choose the export for the job.

Our projects handle very large geometry files with thousands to components sometimes. Because of this, I need to develop an export workflow that is suitable for our team usage. By the look of it, I may need to experiment with the udatasmith export as well.

By the look of it, the UE4 documentation have not update the fact that it can import 3dm files directly!
Datasmith Supported Software and File Types | Unreal Engine Documentation

Thank you very much on the detailed explanation. :+1::slightly_smiling_face:

Is there any documentation on this topic available yet? I can’t get it working. Does it require any additional plugin?

Hi spinaze,

I have not tried the UE4.27 direct link. However, in UE4.26, if one wish to use direct import, there are a few plugins need to enable. Have you checked if those plugins been enabled? Please refer to the screen dump (Those modules with red arrows). I hope this help.

I’ve also been wrestling with this lately, and can’t get the direct link to work for Rhino 7 + UE4.27. Making things worse, I also can’t get the datasmith export to work. Only path at the moment seems to be datasmith import of the 3dm file, but it comes in a mess.

Which version of 4.27 are you using? Could you give some details on what you are trying to do and that is failing?

Did you use the latest Rhino exporter for 4.27 you can find here? Datasmith Exporter Plugins - Unreal Engine

Hi Flavien, thanks for following up. Yes, that is where I got the exporter, using the Rhino 4.27 windows preview, and UE is 4.27 preview 4. Rhino 7 is also fully updated. If I hit connections in the Datasmith Rhino toolbar, it says “No connection found. Waiting for a Datasmith Direct Link connection to be established. Please start an application supporting Datasmith Direct Link such as Twinmotion or Unreal Engine.” I have UE running at the time. Also tried with Twinmotion running. That’s as far as I’ve gotten with direct link. I’ve also found that my rhino model won’t export. I’ve tested with other simple models, and they will. But the large complex model that I’d like to export won’t. Whereas with a simple model, when I hit export I get a progress bar across the bottom while it processes, with the large model it just instantly completes and creates a ghost file. A “0 bytes” .udatasmith file shows up in the recent files list, but when I open the folder it should be in it is empty. I’ve tried troubleshooting, trying to identify what is throwing the export process, but still no idea. I just know that if I delete enough of the model contents, it starts exporting again. Is there some sort of limit on geometry content, or file size, etc?

Just wanted to follow up. I got Direct Link working with Twinmotion. Under import, when I hit “import direct link” it found my open rhino model. After setting that, from inside rhino the datasmith “connections” found twinmotion. Is there an equivalent “import direct link” to be set in UE4 – if so I haven’t found it yet…

The datasmith export issue with the complex model remains…

Hello Subtec, I double checked and at the moment the Direct Link will work only in PIE (play in editor) or in a packaged application. Connection into the editor is in our backlog.

Checking about large model files.

OK, thank you for that clarification. What’s the intended use-case for direct linking my rhino model to a live game? Good to know that linking into the editor is on the horizon.

One of the main use case that is the product review session or any other custom application you created to analyse, view or share a model.
Until now you would have to export your model, load it in editor and then re-build your application or create a DLC for every model you want to see in application.
Now you have the possibility to try to load it directly.

Regarding the export failing:

  • it should not be a size limit, maybe more a bad node or something in the model that fails on export and that you removed when you start exporting subsets of the model.
  • did you check the Rhino console to see if there is any helpful error message from the exporter?
  • if it is a model you can share with us we could have a look. Contact me privately so we can set up a box link to upload a model if that is an option.