Blender 3D add-on for converting meshes to python source code and saving it in a library for further distribution.
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The “Mesh Source” add-on will be useful for Blender script and add-on developers, as well as for authors of 3D models and their distributors.
Add-on functionality
When you click on the “Mesh to Text” button, the source code is generated for the currently selected meshes and shown in the “Text Editor” window.
The code can be copied to the clipboard or saved to a separate text file and then pasted or opened in any separate Blender project. When this code is executed, by clicking the “Run Script” button, the same set of meshes will be created in the scene.
If you develop scripts and add-ons for Blender, this code can be appended to your project. Adding this code execution to your add-on interface, you will be able to provide users with the desired meshes directly from your add-on.
The “Mesh Source” add-on also has its own library, into which you can save the meshes source code. To save the mesh sources to the local library, press the “Mesh to Library” button. Saved meshes can be loaded from the library right away.
If you want to distribute your meshes to other users, the “Mesh Source” library can be compiled into a separate add-on. Specify the path and press the “Distribute Library as Add-on” button. The complete archive with an add-on that includes the entire library of meshes will be created. Now you can distribute the add-on among Blender users in any convenient way. Users just need to download the add-on you provided and install it, after which they can immediately use the models you provide.
Demonstration video
Important
The local mesh source library is stored in the add-on directory. If you need to temporarily remove or reinstall the add-on, be sure to back up the library in a separate place on the disk first. After reinstalling the add-on, the library can be restored simply by copying it to the “mesh_source_library” directory of the add-on.
The following data is supported in meshes source code:
- mesh data (points, edges, polygons)
- vertex groups
- UV-s
- mesh modifier stack
Note that materials assigned to a mesh are not processed. The “NodeTree Source” add-on is intended for working with materials.
Warning!
The add-on can not guarantee that the generated code will work correctly between different versions of Blender. Since the developers make changes to each version of Blender, meshes code created in one version may not work correctly with another version of Blender.
Current add-on version
1.0.1.
Blender versions
2.83, 2.90, 2.91, 2.92, 2.93, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5
Location and call
“3D Viewport” window – N-panel – the “Mesh Source” tab
Installation
- Download the *.zip archive with the add-on distributive.
- The “Preferences” window — Add-ons — Install… — specify the downloaded archive.
Version history
1.0.0.
- Fixed issue with the text.from_string() block in Blender 3.2 and higher
1.0.0.
- This release.