Jan
26
2013

Save Mesh Created by Script in Editor PlayMode

An article by mgear

save_mesh_created_in_playmode

Saving meshes (which were created by script) in editor playmode was surprisingly simple,
http://docs.unity3d.com/Documentation/ScriptReference/AssetDatabase.CreateAsset.html

Updated version:

	#if UNITY_EDITOR
	using UnityEngine;
	using UnityEditor;

	// Usage: Attach to gameobject, assign target gameobject (from where the mesh is taken), Run, Press savekey

	public class SaveMeshInEditor : MonoBehaviour
	{

	public KeyCode saveKey = KeyCode.F12;
	public string saveName = "SavedMesh";
	public Transform selectedGameObject;

	void Update()
	{
	if (Input.GetKeyDown(saveKey))
	{
	SaveAsset();
	}
	}

	void SaveAsset()
	{
	var mf = selectedGameObject.GetComponent<MeshFilter>();
	if (mf)
	{
	var savePath = "Assets/" + saveName + ".asset";
	Debug.Log("Saved Mesh to:" + savePath);
	AssetDatabase.CreateAsset(mf.mesh, savePath);
	}
	}
	}
	#endif

view raw

SaveMeshInEditor.cs

hosted with

by GitHub

old version:

using UnityEngine;
using UnityEditor;
using System.Collections;
 
// assetSaver v1.0 - attach this script to any object, assign the target transfrom (from where the mesh is saved), give some filename. Play. Then press F to save.
 
public class saveMesh : MonoBehaviour
{
 
public string name1;
public Transform obj1;
 
void Update ()
{
if (Input.GetKeyDown("f"))
{
SaveAsset();
}
}
 
void SaveAsset()
{
Mesh m1 = obj1.GetComponent<MeshFilter>().mesh;
AssetDatabase.CreateAsset(m1, "Assets/" + name1 + ".asset"); // saves to "assets/"
//AssetDatabase.SaveAssets(); // not needed?
}
 
}

Tags: asset, created, editor, mesh, playmode, runtime, save, saving, script

About the Author:

.fi

14 Comments + Add Comment

mrz00m 27/01/2013 at 21:35

oh nice one. also for those that want it, there is an export object script around somewhere.

Reply
mgear 03/03/2014 at 22:51

ASCII FBX file exporter
https://gist.github.com/mstevenson/6159107

Reply

mrz00m 02/04/2014 at 12:52

Do you know if it’s possible to save the entire GameObject inclduing the MeshCollider? how would i go from the above script to saving MeshCollider so that it can reload fast?

mgear 02/04/2014 at 15:01

Is that basically saving the whole object as a newly created prefab?

mrz00m 06/04/2014 at 00:43

Yes. i figured it out. here is a version inspired by unify wiki creatprefeabfromselected.cs it saves the entire prefab including a new copy of the mesh, by using your above example to save the mesh to disk prior to saving the prefab:

using UnityEditor;
using UnityEngine;
  
/// <summary>
/// Creates a prefab from a selected game object.
/// </summary>
class CreatePrefabFromSelected
{
    const string menuName = "GameObject/Create Prefab From Selected";
  
    /// <summary>
    /// Adds a menu named "Create Prefab From Selected" to the GameObject menu.
    /// </summary>
    [MenuItem(menuName)]
    static void CreatePrefabMenu ()
    {
        var go = Selection.activeGameObject;
  
        Mesh m1 = go.GetComponent<MeshFilter>().mesh;//update line1
        AssetDatabase.CreateAsset(m1, "Assets/savedMesh/" + go.name +"_M" + ".asset"); // update line2
  
  
        var prefab = EditorUtility.CreateEmptyPrefab("Assets/savedMesh/" + go.name + ".prefab");
        EditorUtility.ReplacePrefab(go, prefab);
        AssetDatabase.Refresh();
    }
  
    /// <summary>
    /// Validates the menu.
    /// The item will be disabled if no game object is selected.
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns>True if the menu item is valid.</returns>
    [MenuItem(menuName, true)]
    static bool ValidateCreatePrefabMenu ()
    {
        return Selection.activeGameObject != null;
    }
}

mrz00m 06/04/2014 at 00:49

It’s handy because it also saves the meshcollider to disk, dont have to generate meshcollider in game, in the prefab, and the shader settings. load time was 1.2 secs for importing 65k mesh prefab vs 4 seconds for generating. only thing is to make camera see the 65k meshes at level load time so they are in graphics card, and hey presto, 100ds thousands vertices available in game at 200fps during play.

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Jono 02/05/2014 at 11:06

Awesome, just what I needed, thanks!

Reply
OhO 30/07/2014 at 12:20

Awesome!
Btw, I noticed one problem. If I changed any shader vars in runtime, this script couldn’t save material.
Any ideas how to solve it?

Reply
- mgear 31/07/2014 at 15:53
  
  I think then need to save as prefab (CreatePrefab() ?) , instead of just mesh asset, havent tested it but maybe this could work: http://wiki.unity3d.com/index.php?title=CreatePrefabFromSelected
  
  Reply
  - OhO 31/07/2014 at 19:50
    
    Yeah. thx. I’ve already figured this out.
    I had to save materials as well, cause unity creates instances of the materials.
    
    Reply
mgear 24/09/2014 at 08:52

export to .OBJ (free)
http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/free-scene-obj-exporter.270240/

Reply
Keenan 01/07/2015 at 00:57

Pretty cool. How could I load it back in (set another object’s sharedMesh equal to the saved mesh)?

Reply
Duran 10/03/2022 at 17:16

Would it be possible to save the mesh material too so it comes with it texture?

Reply
- mgear 11/03/2022 at 22:46
  
  try mrz00m’s prefab saver, maybe it saves mats also..
  
  or look for prefab savers:
  https://docs.unity3d.com/ScriptReference/PrefabUtility.html
  https://github.com/pharan/Unity-MeshSaver/blob/master/MeshSaver/Editor/MeshSaverEditor.cs
  https://docs.unity3d.com/ScriptReference/AssetDatabase.CreateAsset.html
  
  Reply