What is Mesh Library is ?

[aprinto_joss]

Hi, I need someone to explain to me what is Mesh Library is ....
Sorry for stupid question...

I am still new creator who try to create containers box from scratch with SU or Blender.
When I try to create a container with single skin and upload to CM, I got warning about using single mesh only instead of use a mesh lib.
I want to know what is mesh lib actually meant.

In my mind :
Drawing multi skin of containers in single file SU, export all model as a group to IM file.
Then export one by one of model into separate IM file.

Is the first IM (grouped model) as what we say mesh library ?

 

[JCitron]

A mesh library is a single asset that references multiple assets in a mesh-table. Other assets can reference this instead of the individual components separately. This saves time and memory because the mesh-table asset is referenced once as a dependency and the mesh-table assets are loaded into memory at once making the loading quicker.

Here's another take on it via the Wiki

Mesh library - TrainzOnline

online.ts2009.com

Here's an example from edh6's 2ft Mainline Coaches mesh Library:

mesh-table
{
  default
  {
    mesh                                "clerestory.im"
    auto-create                         1
  }
  
  01
  {
    mesh                                "arc.im"
    auto-create                         0
  }
  
  02
  {
    mesh                                "clerestoryshort.im"
    auto-create                         1
  }
  
  03
  {
    mesh                                "arcshort.im"
    auto-create                         0
  }
}

 

[aprinto_joss]

A mesh library is a single asset that references multiple assets in a mesh-table. Other assets can reference this instead of the individual components separately. This saves time and memory because the mesh-table asset is referenced once as a dependency and the mesh-table assets are loaded into memory at once making the loading quicker.

Here's an example from edh6's 2ft Mainline Coaches mesh Library:

Thanks, John
So it is an asset which collect some components, isn't it ?

And if I want to apply this to my collection of containers. I just should create configuration like this :

mesh-table​

{​

default​

{​

mesh "container_BLUE.im"​

auto-create 1​

}​

​

01​

{​

mesh "container_RED.im"​

auto-create 1​

}​

​

02​

{​

mesh "container_GREEN.im"​

auto-create 1​

and so on ...

Am I correct ?

 

[JCitron]

Thanks, John
So it is an asset which collect some components, isn't it ?

And if I want to apply this to my collection of containers. I just should create configuration like this :

mesh-table​

{​

default​

{​

mesh "container_BLUE.im"​

auto-create 1​

}​

​

01​

{​

mesh "container_RED.im"​

auto-create 1​

}​

​

02​

{​

mesh "container_GREEN.im"​

auto-create 1​

and so on ...

Am I correct ?

That's correct based on how I understand it as well. That should work. You need to have the different im files in the same folder as the mesh-table asset, otherwise the reference is lost causing a missing dependency or dependencies.

 

[aprinto_joss]

Thanks, again John ...
This is answering me why I got warning for using single IM only instead of mesh lib ...

 

[JCitron]

You're welcome and I'm glad I could help. I recently fixed a broken mesh-library. The content-creator had a typo in the mesh-table that was referencing an im file causing a missing dependency. After I fixed my local copy, I notified the content creator.

 

[Dinorius_Redundicus]

Remember that a mesh library does not only contain meshes, but it should also contain all the texture maps and texture.txt files that the meshes use.

 

[pcas1986]

If you are using Blender, then an alternative is to make an undecorated mesh (no material or textures) with a UV map and place it in a Blender asset library. Then create a number of different materials for your intended purpose. Let's say you are making 40ft containers then you can simply re-use the same mesh with different colour schemes.

Each exported container would have its own KUID.

 

[aprinto_joss]

If you are using Blender, then an alternative is to make an undecorated mesh (no material or textures) with a UV map and place it in a Blender asset library. Then create a number of different materials for your intended purpose. Let's say you are making 40ft containers then you can simply re-use the same mesh with different colour schemes.

Each exported container would have its own KUID.

Currenly, it is easier for me to create in SU for user friendly rather than Blender.

BUT, step by step I will try to move to Blender, eq, now I create an industry which has some buildings and tubes and SU report it has 18K poligons ... sad ... )
I will try convert it to Blender and see how different of the result in Trainz.