Importing Multiple Files - BadDogSkyrim/PyNifly GitHub Wiki

Multiple nif files can be imported in a single operation. Just do multi-select in the File View chooser with shift-click or ctrl-click. There is some special handling when you do this:

• If meshes are skinned, they will be imported under a single armature. If different nifs include different bones, they will be combined into one armature.
• If you're importing multiple nifs, and the meshes in one nif match the meshes in a prior nif (if the vert counts match), the new meshes will be imported as shape keys on the prior nif. If the files have the same base name but vary after an underscore, the shape keys will be created with names matching the underscore and what follows. This means an export will re-create the file names that were imported. This behavior can be controlled with a setting on the import dialog.
• If you're importing multiple weapon parts with connect points, the connect points will be matched up so that parts (e.g. the barrel) are connected to the parent (the barrel connect point in the parent nif).

This means you can import a whole body for Skyrim, both weights, in a single operation. Select all the files, import, and you'll get a single armature parented to all the body parts. Each body part will have _0 and _1 weights.

Similarly, you can import an entire FO4 weapon by selecting the base receiver plus all the parts--barrel, grip, magazine, etc. If you select more than one of any part, several grips for example, they'll all be positioned correctly under the parent frame.

Notes and Limitations

Importing a mesh as a shape key rather than as a separate object depends only on the vert count. If you are getting shapes merged when you don't want them to be, import them in two steps.

All meshes have to be in the same folder. I haven't yet figured out how to do more general selections in Blender, or how to select a folder so as to allow you to import a whole folder tree.

These features really need options on the import dialog to turn them on and off. For now, since you only get them if you import multiple files, just don't import multiple files if you don't want them.