ExportRuntime.md

Runtime Export

You can export individual GameObjects or entire scenes to glTF files at runtime.

Include Required Shaders

To be able to export certain textures correctly, a couple of shaders are required. They are located at Runtime/Shader/Export. Make sure to include them all in your build.

The easiest way to include them is to add glTFExport.shadervariants to the list of Preloaded Shaders under Project Settings > Graphics > Shader Loading.

Export via Script

Note: The GLTFast.Export namespace can only be used if you reference both glTFast and glTFast.Export Assemblies in your Assembly Definition.

Here's a step-by-step guilde to export a GameObject hierarchy/scene from script

• Create an instance of GLTFast.Export.GameObjectExport
• Add content via AddScene
• Two options for the final export
  • Call SaveToFileAndDispose to export a glTF to a file(s)
  • Call SaveToStreamAndDispose to export to a System.IO.Stream

glTF export might create more than one file. For example the binary buffer is usually a separate .bin file and textures might be separate files as well.

using UnityEngine;
using GLTFast.Export;

public class TestExport : MonoBehaviour {

    [SerializeField]
    string path;

    async void SimpleExport() {

        // Example of gathering GameObjects to be exported (recursively)
        var rootLevelNodes = GameObject.FindGameObjectsWithTag("ExportMe");
        
        // GameObjectExport lets you create glTFs from GameObject hierarchies
        var export = new GameObjectExport();

        // Add a scene
        export.AddScene(rootLevelNodes);

        // Async glTF export
        bool success = await export.SaveToFileAndDispose(path);

        if(!success) {
            Debug.LogError("Something went wrong exporting a glTF");
        }
    }
}

After calling SaveToFileAndDispose the GameObjectExport instance becomes invalid. Do not re-use it.

Further, the export can be customized by passing ExportSettings, GameObjectExportSettings and injectables to the GameObjectExport's constructor:

using GLTFast;
using UnityEngine;
using GLTFast.Export;
using GLTFast.Logging;

public class TestExport : MonoBehaviour {

    [SerializeField]
    string path;

    async void AdvancedExport() {

        // CollectingLogger lets you programatically go through
        // errors and warnings the export raised
        var logger = new CollectingLogger();

        // ExportSettings and GameObjectExportSettings allow you to configure the export
        // Check their respective source for details
        
        // ExportSettings provides generic export settings
        var exportSettings = new ExportSettings {
            Format = GltfFormat.Binary,
            FileConflictResolution = FileConflictResolution.Overwrite,
            // Export everything except cameras or animation
            ComponentMask = ~(ComponentType.Camera | ComponentType.Animation),
            // Boost light intensities 
            LightIntensityFactor = 100f,
        };

        // GameObjectExportSettings provides settings specific to a GameObject/Component based hierarchy
        var gameObjectExportSettings = new GameObjectExportSettings {
            // Include inactive GameObjects in export
            OnlyActiveInHierarchy = false,
            // Also export disabled components
            DisabledComponents = true,
            // Only export GameObjects on certain layers
            LayerMask = LayerMask.GetMask("Default", "MyCustomLayer"),
        };

        // GameObjectExport lets you create glTFs from GameObject hierarchies
        var export = new GameObjectExport( exportSettings, gameObjectExportSettings, logger: logger);

        // Example of gathering GameObjects to be exported (recursively)
        var rootLevelNodes = GameObject.FindGameObjectsWithTag("ExportMe");

        // Add a scene
        export.AddScene(rootLevelNodes, "My new glTF scene");

        // Async glTF export
        var success = await export.SaveToFileAndDispose(path);

        if(!success) {
            Debug.LogError("Something went wrong exporting a glTF");
            // Log all exporter messages
            logger.LogAll();
        }
    }
}

Exporting to a Stream currently only works for self-contained glTF-Binary files (where the binary buffer and all textures are included in the .glb file). Trying other export settings will fail.