SLPK mesh exports from PIX4Dmatic cannot be imported into ArcGIS

Description

When exporting a mesh from PIX4Dmatic in SLPK format and importing it into Esri ArcGIS products (such as ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS Online), the import may fail or the SLPK may not be recognized as valid.

This behavior affects SLPK exports generated with recent versions of PIX4Dmatic and is related to the way the SLPK archive is packaged.

Affected software versions

• PIX4Dmatic: version 2.3.0 and above

• Export format: 3D mesh exported as SLPK (Scene Layer Package)

Cause

Starting from PIX4Dmatic 2.3.0, the SLPK export creates archives that use a compression method not fully compatible with some Esri ArcGIS tools. As a result, ArcGIS may fail to open or import the file, even though the SLPK is technically valid.

Symptoms

When trying to import the SLPK into ArcGIS, you may encounter one or more of the following:

• The SLPK file is not recognized as a valid Scene Layer Package.

• Import or add‑data operations in ArcGIS fail without a clear error message.

• The SLPK appears in the file browser but nothing is displayed once added to the scene/map.

Status

• The issue has been identified in SLPK exports produced by PIX4Dmatic 2.3.0 and above.

• Our team is investigating compatible packaging options so that SLPK exports can be imported into ArcGIS without additional steps.

Workaround

Until a fix is available, affected users can re‑package the SLPK file as an uncompressed ZIP archive and then rename it back to SLPK.

The following steps have been validated on Windows.

1. Change the file extension

1. Locate your exported mesh SLPK file (for example, project_mesh.slpk).

2. Rename the file extension from .slpk to .zip

   • Example: project_mesh.slpk → project_mesh.zip

2. Extract the archive

1. Right‑click project_mesh.zip.

2. Choose Extract All… (or use the preferred extraction tool).

3. Extract the content to a new folder (for example, project_mesh_extracted).

3. Create a new uncompressed ZIP archive

1. Open the folder containing the extracted content
   (for example, project_mesh_extracted).

2. Select all files and subfolders inside this folder.

3. Create a new ZIP archive without compression. For example:

   • Using WinRAR:

     • Right‑click the selection → Add to archive…

     • Set Archive format to ZIP

     • In Compression method, select Store (no compression)

     • Click OK

   • Using 7‑Zip:

     • Right‑click the selection → 7‑Zip > Add to archive…

     • Set Archive format to zip

     • Set Compression level to Store (0 – no compression)

     • Click OK

Name the new archive something like project_mesh_uncompressed.zip.

4. Rename the new ZIP back to SLPK

1. After the uncompressed archive is created, locate project_mesh_uncompressed.zip.

2. Rename the extension from .zip to .slpk

   • Example:project_mesh_uncompressed.zip→project_mesh_uncompressed.slpk.

The file project_mesh_uncompressed.slpk can now be imported into ArcGIS. It should be recognized as a valid Scene Layer Package.

Notes and limitations

• The workaround has been tested on Windows using WinRAR and 7‑Zip.

• The same principle (re‑pack as an uncompressed ZIP and rename to .slpk) can be applied on other platforms using equivalent tools.

• This workaround does not modify the mesh geometry or texture; it only changes how the archive is packaged.

Recommended workflow

Until a product fix is released:

• Continue exporting meshes from PIX4Dmatic as SLPK.

• For any SLPK that ArcGIS refuses:

  1. Apply the re‑packaging workaround described above.

  2. Keep the original SLPK as a backup.

• If problems persist after re‑packaging, also export the mesh in an alternative 3D format supported by ArcGIS (e.g., OBJ, FBX, etc.) and import that format instead.