When you build Cafu from source, support for several file formats is provided by Cafu's own or included source code so that the Model Editor can import static and animated models in the most important file formats.

Optionally, it is possible to have the build scripts account for and use the Autodesk FBX SDK in order enable the Model Editor to import model files in FBX file format as well.

The FBX SDK is a separate download from Autodesk that we cannot distribute together with Cafu: The combined file size for all platforms is massive, Autodesk prefers that software vendors don't redistribute their SDK and in fact requires prior written permission, and we're happy to maintain a certain degree of independence, for example when we want to use Cafu with compilers or on platforms where the FBX SDK is not available.

Therefore, we made the use of the Autodesk FBX SDK very easy, but entirely optional. If you don't use it, all that you're missing is that the Model Editor cannot load the FBX file format. (When we make official binary releases of Cafu, we always ship with FBX support enabled.)

Follow these steps in order to activate support for FBX:

1. Download the Autodesk FBX SDK from http://www.autodesk.com/fbx
   • The download requires one-time registration, but it's free.
   • You just need the FBX SDK, not the FBX Extensions SDK.
   • At this time, we use version 2011.3.1 of the FBX SDK, but any later version should work as well.
   • Important: For each operating system, two editions of the FBX SDK are available: one with dynamic libraries and one with static libraries. Pick the download that your operating system with static libraries. (We use static libraries for Cafu because it makes application deployment easier.)
2. Run the installer to extract the SDK contents in a convenient location. Their installer is exceptionally nice, it neither modifies the Start Menu nor the Windows Registry, but just extracts the files into a directory. Thus, if you want to, you can directly install into the target directories given below, but you can as well install elsewhere (e.g. into a temporary directory or the default directory suggested by the installer).
3. Under Linux, we recommend to not install into the suggested /usr directory. Better install into a temporary directory in your home folder, no root privileges required.
4. Copy or move the contents into fbx/windows
5. Re-run SCons as described at Getting Started with the Cafu Source Code