Hi! So im trying to import a mesh i extracted from simPE, its the 5gd file and everything but when i click import it simply says "error. check logs for more info". any idea why this might be? I'm using (and installed) https://modthesims.info/d/656032/th...ender-2-80.html

Are you using the proper import/replace method?

5gd files have to be replaced with right-click on the actual GMDC resource. The "Import" function is for OBJ files.

I usually copy the resource name first, replace the GMDC, then replace the name and click "Commit".

this i did not know. so i replace the gmdc resource in SimPE with what? and then how would i import it? do you know of a good tutorial

You save the files as the ".5gd" format, in either Milkshape or Blender.

Replacing the files is the same method you'd replace any jointed meshes in SimPE. If you've made/replaced hair meshes before, it's the same thing (I'd assume most in-depth hair or clothing tutorial has pictures if you need that. The Unimesh tutorial for clothes here at MTS, for instance - part 5+7)

You need to replace the GMDC (right-click GMDC resource, click "replace") with a mesh that's either .5gd or .simpe format (.5gd is the standard format if you export a mesh in SimPE, while .simpe is standard format in Milkshape when exporting, but it can be manually changed to .5gd by writing it in after the filename before saving the file when you export it. For Blender you need GMDC plugins to save/export or import the formats).

The .5GD format is used for anything that's got joints and/or morphs, and/or is dependent on the proper group layering (items with transparency - hair, items with layered glass textures, etc.), because it preserves additional info such as the order of the items, the comments (Milkshape), and joint assignment info.

The "Import" button (and "Export" button) shown in the plugin window when you click the GMDC resource in SimPE are for OBJ meshes. "Import" allow you to replace non-jointed meshes, but it imports groups alphabetically and has some other quirks, so it's best used for items where the group order isn't important and no additional info is needed (plainnon-jointed objects - deco items, tables, chairs, etc.). "Export" exports OBJ files as default.

(Blender has some quirks with exporting OBJ files, where they cause an "error" when imported to SimPE, plus can export the mesh looking all sorts of wrong - but most of the time it's just because of the wrong OBJ export settings).

Blender, Milkshape and SimPE can also import and export .smd files, which support joints and morphs. These files are often used with other tools like morph fixers or similar. The GMDC plugins are usually still required, though.

ok so let me see if i got this right. first i extract the gmdc (which makes a 5gd format in it of itself, which is why i find it confusing to replace it later.. but lets continue) then i import it in milkshape, then in milkshape i export it with the regular sims 2 unimesh exporter, replace that gmdc in SimPE but make sure to rename the file so it ends in 5gd... ok thats what i always do right, but then what exactly do i do to import the replaced gmdc to blender? export it again?

Add .5gd behind the filename when you export from Milkshape. This is the filetype. What you name the file other than that isn't too important (to keep the internal naming in SimPE intact, you can copy the original GMDC "filename" string (in SimPE) before replacing the file, then paste it back into the filename string afterward, before doing "Commit", this keeps the file looking cleaner).

If you use Blender, here are plugins if you don't have them already:
https://modthesims.info/d/656032/th...ender-2-80.html (Blender 2.80+)
(this one has some instructions in the Overview)

https://simnopke.tumblr.com/post/75...-for-blender-41 (Blender 4.1+)
(I'm assuming the instructions above are similar in Blender 3 or 4, but the interface is different so things could be in different places. Unfortunately there aren't a lot of Blender tutorials using the plugins)

If you're doing some edits in Blender and others in Milkshape, you don't need to take the file via SimPE until you're done editing. Export with SimPE, do your edits in one or both programs, then replace with the finished file.

I did as you said, but it gave the same error