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Asked: 2025-02-05T18:14:28+05:30

What could be causing rigging errors when porting a model from Blender to Source Filmmaker?

anonymous user

I’ve been pulling my hair out trying to get this model I ported from Blender into Source Filmmaker to work properly with the biped_simple rig, but I’m running into some frustrating issues. After finally transferring everything over, when I attempt to use the rig, I’m hit with this runtime warning: `[(“__main__:165: RuntimeWarning: Unable to create rig ‘rig_biped_e1’.”)]`.

I looked into it, but I’m still stumped. I made sure to go through the model and adjusted all the bone names to fit the requirements for Source. Still, I can’t seem to find out what could be going wrong.

Then I thought, maybe the auto rigger from the workshop would be a better way to go. But when I tried using that, I got a totally different error message:
“`
[(Traceback (most recent call last):

File ““, line 2268, in

File ““, line 1601, in main

TypeError: must be unicode, not str)]
“`
What does that even mean? It sounds like it’s having issues with string types or something. I’ve never dealt with that kind of problem before.

I’ve double-checked that I’ve followed the right process of importing and rigging the model, and I thought I did everything correctly. Has anyone else experienced similar problems? Could there be some hidden quirks about exporting from Blender that I overlooked? Like maybe some incompatibility or a specific setting that needs to be checked?

Or, could it be something with the actual rigging setup in Source? I feel like I’m missing something obvious. I really want to use this model, and I can’t figure out where I’m going wrong. Any advice or insights would be super appreciated!

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    2 Answers

    1. anonymous user

      It sounds like you’re really frustrated with these errors! The first warning you mentioned, about being unable to create the rig, usually means there’s something off with the names or hierarchy of your bones. Double-check that all your bone names exactly match what Source Filmmaker (SFM) expects, including case sensitivity. Sometimes, even a tiny mismatch can lead to issues.

      The second error message you encountered when trying the auto-rigger suggests there’s a type mismatch with strings. In Python, unicode and str types are handled differently, especially in versions 2.x and 3.x. If the auto-rigger was written for a different version of Python, that could definitely cause issues.

      Here are a few things you could try:

      • Bone Naming: Make sure the bone names don’t have any special characters or spaces. They should follow the strict naming conventions of SFM.
      • Export Settings in Blender: Check that you are exporting using the correct settings. For example, make sure you’re using the right scale and apply transformations (like rotation and scale) before exporting.
      • Auto Rigger Compatibility: Look into which version of Python the auto-rigger expects. If it’s not compatible with the version you’re using, that could be an easy fix by switching installations or modifying the script.
      • Check the Console: When you run into these errors, sometimes there are more detailed logs you can check in SFM. They can provide additional clues about what’s wrong.

      There might be hidden quirks related to how Blender behaves when exporting for game engines. Checking for a community guide on exporting to SFM specifically may help, as others may have already solved the problem you’re facing. Don’t give up!

    2. anonymous user

      Dealing with model incompatibilities between Blender and Source Filmmaker can be especially frustrating, particularly if runtime warnings arise during the rigging process. The error message you received, `[("__main__:165: RuntimeWarning: Unable to create rig 'rig_biped_e1'.")]`, suggests that there might be an issue with the structure or naming conventions of the bones within your model. Even after adjusting the bone names, it is crucial to double-check that they comply with any specific requirements laid out by the biped_simple rig. Common pitfalls include ensuring that the bone hierarchy is correctly maintained and that all necessary bones are present and named exactly as expected. Additionally, verify that you have exported the model in the correct format, as mismatched formats or missing files can also lead to such errors.

      The second error you encountered, `TypeError: must be unicode, not str`, indicates that there is a type mismatch in the strings being processed, particularly within the auto-rigger. This can often occur when the auto-rigger is expecting a string type that is not being provided correctly, perhaps due to encoding issues. When exporting from Blender, make sure that your model and associated animations are saved using UTF-8 encoding to prevent any string-related errors. Furthermore, check the version of the auto-rigger you are using and ensure it is compatible with your model and Source Filmmaker. If necessary, consult the documentation for both Blender and the auto-rigger for any additional settings or requirements that must be addressed. Community forums and discussions can also provide valuable insights from users who have faced similar issues, so seeking help from those resources may lead to a resolution.