In this tutorial, you will learn how you can use the Batch Converter to prepare several models with just a few operations.

Basic Setup

1. Download the 3 files attached at the top of this article.
2. Open Model Lab.
3. Open the Batch Converter by going to File -> Batch Converter in Model Lab.

   

4. Set Source to the location where you put the downloaded models. You should then see the files listed at the right Files section.
5. Set Destination to where you want the processed models to be saved to.

Pre-Conversion Settings

1. First of all, you need to get the scaling right. The models in this tutorial already have a good scale so for these models, you can just keep the scale at 1.
   Usually, all models from a 3D-modeler have the same scale. They might be 1000 times too big or 1000 times too small.
   The easiest way to see if you need to change the scale is to open a single model in the Model Lab and adjust the scale there. Then you can set this scale value directly the input field in the Scale section in the Batch Converter.
2. Under the General section, you usually want to set check Move to zero and Auto generate 2D, so that you don't need to manually offset and create a 2D for each model.
   
   
3. You usually do not need to check Make double sided. Keep in mind that double-sided geometry will result in a performance decrease. Only use this if you really need to. 
   
   
4. Surface tolerance is a setting where you can set how rounded for round part(s) of model(s) will result in. You can read more here.
   
   
5. The other sections can be kept to the defaults. You can read more about these sections by clicking on the ? located at the top right of a section.
   
   
6. Click Convert and wait for the conversion process to end.

Reviewing Converted Models

1. After pressing convert, there are new items and icons showing up in the Files section.
   
   
2. In this example, all models are marked with green icons which means that everything went fine. Sometimes you might see orange icons or even red ones. Hover your cursor on these files to get more information about what is wrong.

   
   
   

3. The cm3D files shown below it's 3ds files are the processed/converted models, these files are placed into a subfolder of the destination folder called not reviewed. This allows you to keep track of what files you have reviewed which you still need to review.
   
   
4. You can review all cm3D files by clicking Open converted in Model Lab. This will automatically open all the converted models in Model Lab.
   Model Lab Shortcut Keys:

   • The easiest way to review a file is to switch between the different LODs by using the arrow keys up/down.
   • Then review the 2D by simply pressing the Spacebar.
   • To select the next model simply press the left arrow key.
5. If you are happy press Enter to mark the file as reviewed. You can also click the button labeled Reviewed in the Batch Converter. Notice that the icon in the Batch Converter changes.
   
   
6. When you mark a file as reviewed it will be moved to the reviewed folder. The review folder is a subfolder of the destination folder. The original will also be put there so that we can keep track of which original files we are already done working with. This can be very useful together with the option labeled Exclude files that have reviewed.
   
   
7. Do the same process as above and carry on like this until you have reviewed all the files.
   
   
8. Important: You might want to do some changes to a model. Maybe the LODs are not perfect or something similar. Then all you need to do is to change the model and save over the file in the not reviewed folder. Then just mark the model as reviewed and the file together with your changes will be moved to the reviewed folder.

That’s it! Now you should know:

• How you can use the Batch Converter to convert a group of files with just a few operations
• How to review the files produced by the Batch Converter.