Hey folks -

I'm trying to export a skeletal mesh from Unreal, bring it into Houdini, modify the mesh, export an FBX, and read it back into Unreal.

Not having much luck. Even importing a skeletal mesh and immediately exporting it again doesn't work. Why? Because -- among other things -- Houdini effectively changes the skeleton structure and pathnames.

Seems like a real basic functional test should be confirming an unmodified round-trip between platforms. No such luck.

Is there an established workflow for this? I've seen some videos, but they're not using real rigs -- just the UE mannequin.

Alternatively, is there a way to control FBX pathname generation? It includes the entire Houdini object hierarchy. So, if I have a skeleton called, "Foo", I get "Foo/root/..." That's incorrect -- the Foo shouldn't be on there. The root of the path should be original root bone name you imported. I understand where it's coming from in Houdini; but it's not workable. I'd need an object with no name for this to work.

Anyone done this successfully?

Thanks!
-anna

Would love to get some eyes on this, as I'm in the same situation, just with Unity instead of Unreal

This is the exact problem I am facing right now, hopefully somebody can find a solution

its very simple, you export the animation from unreal including the preview mesh.
then you import the character in houdini using fbx character import.
then use rop fbx character output to export it back to unreal.


this should also work for unity

Yes, this is how you export and import characters, but that's not the issue.

Not having much luck. Even importing a skeletal mesh and immediately exporting it again doesn't work. Why? Because -- among other things -- Houdini effectively changes the skeleton structure and pathnames.

I'm confused. I'm not seeing the bones getting renamed.

Round trip appears to be working fine when I try it.

Works for me: In houdini
i`ve set Root name: to my hips (in my case it was mixamorig:hips) at FBX Animation import node,
then i exported it with fbx_characteroutput node ,
After importing it unreal engine he gave me a massage FAILED TO MERGE BONES , then pressed YES ALL
UE5 asking to merge all skeletal meshes - press No