Prefab confusion (though presumably simple!)

Unity Engine
1

Hi all,

I am obviously missing something here; have read the doc’s but can’t see what I want.
Essentially I save an fbx into the Unity viewer so that on selecting it you see the fbx import options.
This is all fine - is this object then a prefab at this point? (I assume not, but just a game object?).

Right!, now I wish to attach a script to it - which I can do by dragging it into the scene (i.e. creating it); attach the script and then drag back (I assume this is a prefab now).

But the fbx import options are gone. Is it not possible to have them still available? - what happens if I alter my fbx and need to alter the import options again?.

I assume my confusion is something to do with when an asset becomes a game object becomes a prefab.

Any guidance on clarifying my non-understanding appreciated

Cheers

2

No at the point of import its just a mesh. If you want to make it a prefab, drag it into a new prefab you created (in hierarchy create - prefab or rightclick - prefab).

When you drag it into the scene its only a game object, no prefab.

And no its not possible to have the fbx import options again or more precisely: prefabs never had them, they are on the mesh which is still and always there. But if you change them on the mesh then existing prefabs are not affected by them either (change in prefab system around Unity 3.3, originally changing the import settings also changed prefabs using that mesh)

3

Hey dreamora,

Thanks.
So if I alter my prefab mesh and wish to reimport/alter fbx import and also alter any game objects linked to this prefab (i.e. clones I guess).
How do I do that?

Just to make sure I understand correctly :-/

Cheers

4

if you just reimport the FBX it will automatically update all prefabs.
But if you change the import settings for lets say the collider generation or the presence of animation data, then it won’t apply to the prefabs using it and you have to do it manually

5

Ahh, I see thanks!
I think it would be helpful if Unity gave you the option on reimporting to ‘affect all clones’ or ‘not affect all clones’

Thanks though Dreamora for the clarification :slight_smile:

Cheers