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# Install Cineware for Unreal

If you download the latest version of Cineware for Unreal from the official website https://www.maxon.net/en/downloads/unreal, it will automatically be installed in the correct Unreal directory during installation. Just make sure that you also use the Cinema 4D version that matches Cineware and Unreal. This is important because new object types or generators will be added with almost every Cinema 4D version, which must be supported by the appropriate Cineware plug-in. Information on the compatible program versions can be found on the Maxon website directly next to the download link (see image below).

Information about suitable plug-in versions for the existing Unreal and Cinema 4D installation on the Cineware for Unreal download page.

At the beginning of the installation, you have the choice of installing only the Unreal component, which allows you to open Cinema 4D files, or also installing the Direct Link plug-in for Cinema 4D, which allows you to exchange and synchronize data directly from Cinema 4D. Changes made to data within Cinema 4D can be sent directly to Unreal. Cinema 4D 2024 or higher is required for this function.

The installation process allows both the installation of the Unreal plug-in and the optional installation of a Cinema 4D plug-in.

For the selected components of the Cineware connection to Unreal, enter the desired directories in the following step. To install the importer on the Unreal side, the plug-in directory within your Unreal installation must be installe.
If you have also decided to install the Direct Link plug-in, the plug-ins directory of your Cinema 4D 2024 installation must be specified.

The installation paths for Cineware for Unreal and the Direct Link plug-in for Cinema 4D must be defined separately.

To check within the Unreal Engine whether all required components for full Cineware or Cinema 4D support have been activated, open the Plug-ins Browser via the Settings menu in the Unreal Editor.

Open the Plug-in Browser in Unreal.

In the Plug-ins Browser, you will find all available categories for the extensions in the left-hand column. Cineware by Maxon is relevant for Cineware in the Editor category (see image below). If this entry is not activated, check the corresponding box. This change must then be updated by restarting the Unreal Editor. You will find a corresponding option directly at the bottom of the Plug-ins Browser (see also the following image).

Required Cineware component for the exchange of data with Cinema 4D.

Activating the Cineware by Maxon component will automatically activate the component for the Datasmith Importer, which can be found in the Importers section of the plug-ins. This is also required by Cineware. The component for the Datasmith content is part of this, but should already be activated by default.
If one of these components has been deactivated by mistake, reactivate it and restart the Unreal Editor to update this change.
The Datasmith C4D Importer extension, which is also available, is no longer required in current Unreal versions and should therefore remain deactivated.

Datasmith components also required

If Cineware by Maxon does not appear in the Plug-ins Browser, make sure that you have installed the plug-in version that matches the Unreal version. If you still encounter error messages or other problems, you can find support here: https://support.maxon.net
You can find out how to prepare your assets in Cinema 4D and then import them into Unreal on this information page.

The installation of the Direct Link component can be verified within Cinema 4D. There, the functionality will be displayed in the Extensions menu under the term Unreal Direct Link (see following illustration).

The Unreal Direct Link component within Cinema 4D