How to make a prefab?

#1 The prefabs you can make just by taking a .Map model you make in constructor(or the constuctor object file) and saving it in the prefab folder, you can also take a screenshot of it and make an icon, see the ones in the folder for naming convention and sizes of the pic icons. I'm not sure of the technical definition but, the reference shapes are just that for reference, like import the player model(kork the ork), and this gives you an idea of size of the house you want to build, or to make sure the stairs are the right size so your players can walk up then. You can also do this with the player model you mean to use for the game, or maybe you have other models, and you want to make other things that go with them, this gives you opportunity to make models along side then.
A static mesh is a mesh that doesn't change, i assume this feature is kind of the same as a reference shape, but maybe intended for trees and such.... maybe just a way to seperate the two. Does this help any?

#2 You know it would great if Constructor did auto- thumbnails, like Max does.

#3 How to make a prefab:

1 - Save your work as a .map file to the prefabs directory.

2 - If you don't want the default icon for your prefab, you need to create an icon. Take a screenshot from constructor. In your photo-editor, crop the image to just the object you are making a prefab out of. Ideally, you should constrain your y:x aspect ratio to 1:1 before you crop as your icon images will be square. Make two additional copies and resize the three images to 128x128, 64x64 and 32x32.

3 - Save the three icon images into your prefabs folder. If you map file is XXXX.map, then the three files will be XXXX128.png, XXXX64.png and XXXX32.png.

4 - Restart Constructor and have fun using your new prefab.


BTW - I have my own question. It looks like we can have multiple folders for prefabs and this would be handy for large projects. Is it actually possible? And if so, what is the trick?

#4 Thanks for the response and the useful information.

#5 @David:

"BTW - I have my own question. It looks like we can have multiple folders for prefabs and this would be handy for large projects. Is it actually possible? And if so, what is the trick?"

Constructor already does folder by folder categorization for prefabs. Just go to "System>Manage Prefabs.." There you can add new folders and give each folder a name.

[I am doing this in version 1.0.3]