What is a Custom Importer?

MonoGame provides standard importers and processors for a number of common file formats used to store such basic game assets as models, materials effects, sprites, textures, and so on. For a list of file formats supported by these standard importers and processors.

MonoGame provides standard importers and processors for a number of common file formats used to store such basic game assets as models, materials effects, sprites, textures, and so on. For a list of file formats supported by these standard importers and processors, see Standard Content Importers and Content Processors.

To add a custom importer or processor to a game project

This procedure assumes you have copied the new importer or processor to a local folder in the game project.

1. Open the MonoGame Pipeline Tool.
2. Load the .mgcb file associated with your game.
3. Click on the Content node and in the Properties panel click on References.
4. Click the Add Button.
5. Navigate to the directory containing the assembly with the custom importer or processor, and then add it.
6. Save.

Important

For MonoGame 3.8.2 and below, make sure to keep the project at .NET 6 or below. The MGCB tool for 3.8.2 CANNOT understand or read .NET 8 libraries as it is compiled with .NET 6. The Game project can use a higher version, but library projects must stay at .NET 6 else they cannot be read.

The new importer or processor now appears as a choice in dialog properties for importing or processing a newly added game asset.

See Also

• Adding New Content Types
• Standard Content Importers and Content Processors

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