I can't get the latest MSFS2020 Exporter addon to install

[EzRyder]

you have to have 1.3.3 installed in order for the "Convert Scene to MSFS2024" to work.

this I seriously doubt, unless something is wrong with your blender install

that they require an old plugin to support a New feature doesnt make sense to me, again these plugins use the SDK And Game Files that have long since changed in those 2 years

only ONE plugin can be active at a time (maybe this is the issue ?), and they are Not related between the 2 separate games afaik

the only 'conversion' that feature could do would be lighting and some other stuff that has changed in the blender export
conversion of game files themselves would happen thru the SDK compiler process after that export

but hey if it works for you great

 

[TBryson2]

this I seriously doubt, unless something is wrong with your blender install

that they require an old plugin to support a New feature doesnt make sense to me, again these plugins use the SDK And Game Files that have long since changed in those 2 years

only ONE plugin can be active at a time (maybe this is the issue ?), and they are Not related between the 2 separate games afaik

the only 'conversion' that feature could do would be lighting and some other stuff that has changed in the blender export
conversion of game files themselves would happen thru the SDK compiler process after that export

but hey if it works for you great

Yea, sounds whack, and it is! This is something you can easily test for yourself. I'm not new to this and have been exporting models for years into MSFS 2020 and 2024. I've tested it on two independent computers with the same results.

I'm not able to provide the "instructions" at the moment, but even in the "instructions" you have to have both 2024 and the other plugin active at the same time to use this convert "feature". You do NOT activate them both to export into MSFS, only to convert from something that you've historically exported into 2020 prior to exporting it into 2024. I can provide the "instructions" upon request.

I'm also not looking for a long debate into this, I know it sounds wacked, but I'm simply reporting an error while performing the conversion, hoping someone else would know what to do. (or even if the conversion is still necessary?). I troubleshot it out and reported what I found for anyone else having this issue.

TB2

 

[rhumbaflappy]

convert 2020 scene to 2024 in Blender

So, the steps are faily simple once you have the 2020 .blend file saved:
1) Close and reopen Blender to make sure a fresh and empty scene is started.
2) Make sure the 2020 plugin (1.3.3 or 3.3.1) is deactivated in Blender Preferences.
3) You now have an empty, new scene environment. Open the 2020 .blend file.
4) Activate the 2024 plugin in Blender Preferences.
5) Use the 2024 menu tabe and select Convert Scene to MSFS2024.Also XConvert Lights and Set Image Flags if needed.
6) Check the Shader setup to ensure the conversion is correct.
7) Save the 2024 .blend with a different name.
8) Exit Blender.
9) restart Blender (make sure only the 2024 addon is active), and open your new .blend file.

This is how I convert a .blend file from 2020 to 2024. It makes no difference if the original .blend was made with 1.3.3 or 3.3.1

The most important issue is to make sure the 2020 importer/exporter of choice is never active at the same time as the 2024 importer/exporter

Also, recheck all the new 2024 material setting are OK and make sure all the textures are referenced. It seems some 2020 textures are not plugged in (parallax has issues, for one).

 

[EzRyder]

you have to have both 2024 and the other plugin active at the same time

this is not correct according to the SDK Documentation or anything ive heard or read
(and frankly feels to me like it shows there must be something corrupt or wrong with your development environment or workflow)
A feature This badly broken would be all over the official forum

They specifically say to Not have both plugins active at the same time here
" You can have both the MSFS 2020 plugin and the MSFS 2024 plugins installed in Blender, however we recommend not enabling both plugins at the same time. Only enable the one required for your export/import process, based on the specific version of the simulation you are creating for (Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024). Make sure to switch between plugins depending on which version it's intended for. "

The Blender Plugins

docs.flightsimulator.com

good luck

 

[TBryson2]

convert 2020 scene to 2024 in Blender

So, the steps are faily simple once you have the 2020 .blend file saved:
1) Close and reopen Blender to make sure a fresh and empty scene is started.
2) Make sure the 2020 plugin (1.3.3 or 3.3.1) is deactivated in Blender Preferences.
3) You now have an empty, new scene environment. Open the 2020 .blend file.
4) Activate the 2024 plugin in Blender Preferences.
5) Use the 2024 menu tabe and select Convert Scene to MSFS2024.Also XConvert Lights and Set Image Flags if needed.
6) Check the Shader setup to ensure the conversion is correct.
7) Save the 2024 .blend with a different name.
8) Exit Blender.
9) restart Blender (make sure only the 2024 addon is active), and open your new .blend file.

This is how I convert a .blend file from 2020 to 2024. It makes no difference if the original .blend was made with 1.3.3 or 3.3.1

The most important issue is to make sure the 2020 importer/exporter of choice is never active at the same time as the 2024 importer/exporter

Also, recheck all the new 2024 material setting are OK and make sure all the textures are referenced. It seems some 2020 textures are not plugged in (parallax has issues, for one).

Thank you for your reply. In step 5, are you referring to the "Properties' tabs ("N" key)? I do not see any of the settings you mentioned here under that 2024 export tab. Obviously, I'm looking in the wrong place and not sure where to find the "2024 menu tab". That may be where it's not working properly.

I'll be adding to this thread in a minute that shows where it tells me to enable the MS 2020 addon to make it work.

 

[EzRyder]

"2024 menu tab"

this appears to work on my end, i dont have time to test in game or anything atm but ...
this is the only popup i get

 

[TBryson2]

this is not correct according to the SDK Documentation or anything ive heard or read
(and frankly feels to me like it shows there must be something corrupt or wrong with your development environment or workflow)
A feature This badly broken would be all over the official forum

They specifically say to Not have both plugins active at the same time here
" You can have both the MSFS 2020 plugin and the MSFS 2024 plugins installed in Blender, however we recommend not enabling both plugins at the same time. Only enable the one required for your export/import process, based on the specific version of the simulation you are creating for (Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024). Make sure to switch between plugins depending on which version it's intended for. "

The Blender Plugins

docs.flightsimulator.com

good luck

Thank you for your input, but the images below may clarify what I'm referring to. I agree with and always comply with not having both exporters enabled when exporting, but this thread has never been about exporting. In the below example, I always restart Blender between enabling / disabling.


With the setting below, I ALWAYS get the error. You can see that ONLY 2024 exporter is enabled here.

I click on this button,

And get,

If I also enable MSFS 2020, (3.3.1) to comply with the above statement, I still get the error.

With the below enabled, I never get the error.

Hope this makes sense.

TB2

 

[TBryson2]

this appears to work on my end, i dont have time to test in game or anything atm but ...
this is the only popup i get

Very interesting! I've never seen the additional options under that menu! When I click on "MSFS2024" all I get is

Then when clicking it, I get:

then if not "configured" properly (as mentioned above) I get the error.

Wonder why I'm not seeing the extra items in the menu? NOW it's obvious that something is missing! Again, I have this on two different systems. I installed the 2024 exporter directly from the latest 2024 SDK. (I'm pretty sure. I'll investigate this evening just to make sure "they" didn't sneak an update in on me).

TB

 

[EzRyder]

Hope this makes sense.

it does, you should Not have 3 msfs plugins installed on the same blender version - EVER
or more than one enabled at any given time

you almost Certainly have some conflicts in the user folder that is causing those errors (and/or possibly in that .blend file now)

uninstall blender thru windows
delete both of these folders (one is hidden and may take a windows settings change to view it)
C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\xx
C:\Users\<yourUserName>\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\xx

The User folder is Critical (this is where the plugin data is stored), make sure you find it or this wont do anything

re-install blender
re-install only the 2 current msfs plugins (or just the 2024 plugin)

i actually use diff blender versions for each game since if you happen to save with the wrong plugin it can bork the .blend file

 

[TBryson2]

it does, you should Not have 3 msfs plugins installed on the same blender version - EVER
or more than one enabled at any given time

you almost Certainly have some conflicts in the user folder that is causing those errors (and/or possibly in that .blend file now)

delete both of these folders (one is hidden and may take a windows settings change to view it)
C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\xx
C:\Users\<yourUserName>\AppData\Roaming\Blender Foundation\Blender\xx

The User folder is Critical (this is where the plugin data is stored), make sure you find it or this wont do anything

re-install blender
re-install only the 2 current msfs plugins (or just the 2024 plugin)

i actually use diff blender versions for each game since if you happen to save with the wrong plugin it can bork the .blend file

The top one in my addons is to import models into Blender. It says "import-export" but I think it's only an importer.

The bottom one I thought I read somewhere should always be enabled and thought this one is installed with Blender.(?)

Disabling everything but 2024 didn't solve anything. I'll do what you suggested, clean installs and report back.

Thanks for your patience!

 

[EzRyder]

i would put that old 3rd party 'import' plugin in an older version of blender by itself- say 3.3 depending on what the github docs for it says
import and save, then move to the newer sdk plugins for Anything from that point on, these older ones are probably not supported anymore (those are from before Asobo took over)

 

[TBryson2]

No joy. Uninstalled Blender 3.6.21, totally removed folder where addon's and config files are stored. Fresh clean install of Blender (tried both 3.6.23 LTS and 3.6.23), fresh install of 2024 plugin, get exact same screens. I never see the additional items in the "Convert Scene to 2024" menu.

Addon "Import-Export: glTF 2.0 format" is native to Blender and has always been checked. Did try with it unchecked, but no joy.

Strange!

 

[EzRyder]

totally removed folder where addon's and config files are stored.

both folders i listed? i kinda mis-spoke with 'user folder' is critical
either one could be critical depending on how that old plugin was installed

ive tested just know in 3.6 and 4.2 both show 3 menu items here

edit
are you sure you have the latest 2024 plugin from the sdk install? its 3 folders to add (you only need 2 for most things)

 

[rhumbaflappy]

From the above image:

Why do you have 4 Asobo addons? Remove all of them and start over with just 2 reinstalled. One for 2020 and one for 2024.

 

[TBryson2]

both folders i listed? i kinda mis-spoke with 'user folder' is critical
either one could be critical depending on how that old plugin was installed

ive tested just know in 3.6 and 4.2 both show 3 menu items here

edit
are you sure you have the latest 2024 plugin from the sdk install? its 3 folders to add (you only need 2 for most things)

Yes, cleared out both folders. I'm very familiar with the "roaming" folders for containing the addons and configurations.

Installed version of 2024 SDK is 1.6.9

In my "SDK2024/tools/Blender folder I have 1 folder "_addons_utils" (not sure what to do with this if anything,) and two .zip files "io_scene_gltf2_msfs_2024.zip" and "wipermask_generator_msfs_2024.zip". I installed the .zip files as instructed, but am I supposed to copy the entire "addons_utils" folder into the "addons" folder under "roaming/blender"? (no need to type the entire directory string is there?)

With the two zip files installed, no change. I did copy the "addons_utils" folder into the addons folder, but still no change.

Obviously I'm still missing something. This is not keeping me awake at night since I do have a workaround. It isn't elegant, but it does work. Still, I would like to be up to date and on the same page as "you" are.

TB2

 

[EzRyder]

but am I supposed to copy the entire "addons_utils" folder into the "addons" folder under "roaming/blender"?

Yes, its a necessary part of the 2024 plugin now, put it right next to the other 1 or 2 folders (you dont really need the wiper mask unless your doing aircraft- its for the new wiper effect on the windshield)
there arent any zip files to install, at least not in my 2024 sdk install- they left those 'ready made' addons and just give you the folders to copy

here is what the user folder addon for 2024 looks like installed

 

[TBryson2]

From the above image:
View attachment 100018

Why do you have 4 Asobo addons? Remove all of them and start over with just 2 reinstalled. One for 2020 and one for 2024.

The top one is an importer that allows you to fetch the Asobo model for creating liveries. Has nothing to do with exporting or converting existing models.
Second one down is version 3.3.1 which I downloaded and installed from links in this thread.
Third one down is installed from 2024 SDK
Fourth one is version 1.3.3, which I installed from the 2020 SDK
Bottom one is native to Blender and is installed when Blender is installed.

I have tried many different configurations, even removed all addons and installing JUST the 2020 (rev 3.3.1) and 2024, and then JUST the two from the 2020 and 2024 SDK's. No joy.

EzRyder explained to me that 1.3.3 is directly from the SDK, and 3.3.1 is a "3rd party" plugin. I have since uninstalled 3.3.1 and will stick with 1.3.3 since it is from the SDK itself.

But my 2024 still is missing the extra options on the convert button and I still have to enable 1.3.3 to actually get it to convert and not have the error message. NOT a big deal, but would be nice to know my exporters are behaving correctly.

TB2

 

[TBryson2]

Yes, its a necessary part of the 2024 plugin now, put it right next to the other 1 or 2 folders (you dont really need the wiper mask unless your doing aircraft- its for the new wiper effect on the windshield)
there arent any zip files to install, at least not in my 2024 sdk install- they left those 'ready made' addons and just give you the folders to copy

here is what the user folder addon for 2024 looks like installed

Ok ,thanks, I was going to ask for an image of that. Even with the "_addons_utils" installed my 2024 convert scene still requires 2020 to be enabled and still missing the extra options.

Interesting what you said about the "ready made" folders and you don't need to use the zip file. But I did try it both ways and get the same results. I was kind of hoping the zip file was whacked and the "ready made" file would fix it but it didin't.

TB2

 

[EzRyder]

Interesting what you said about the "ready made" folders and you don't need to use the zip file

??
a zip file is multiple files in one, usually compressed, this is not the same as a 'folder' that has loose files in it even if windows may treat them similar
blender allows for compressed addons in xx.zip format, thats what you normally install thru blender

loose files in a folder require copy/paste into the addons folder and then you just enable it thru blender (requires a blender restart)- blender wont 'install' these correctly i dont think
its possible to 'zip' them and install normally maybe- if you get the directory structure correct

try this do a clean blender install and add only the 2024 plugin (with utils part), then just open blender (not any model) see if that menu looks correct with just the default cube, you may have some issue in the blend file itself

 

[TBryson2]

??
a zip file is multiple files in one, usually compressed, this is not the same as a 'folder' that has loose files in it even if windows may treat them similar
blender allows for compressed addons in xx.zip format, thats what you normally install thru blender

loose files in a folder require copy/paste into the addons folder and then you just enable it thru blender (requires a blender restart)- blender wont 'install' these correctly i dont think
its possible to 'zip' them and install normally maybe- if you get the directory structure correct

try this do a clean blender install and add only the 2024 plugin (with utils part), then just open blender (not any model) see if that menu looks correct with just the default cube, you may have some issue in the blend file itself

You misunderstood my statement. (I know you don’t know me, I’ve been working with/on computers for > 40 years ). I’m familiar with zip files. I saw the zipped folder and the same folder unzipped in the SDK. I tried both (not at the same time of course) but had the same results. I was hoping the zip file was corrupt and that was my issue.

I’ll try your suggestion in a bit. I’ve already gone down that path but The only difference is I was not aware of the utils folder, so I’ll try it with that. Which Blender are you using and is it the LTS version?

I searched for the utils in the add-ons to enable it but didn’t find it. Was wondering if I searched for the right “name”.