Unity Importer Skills

When to Use

Use this module to change import settings for textures, audio, and models that already exist in the project. For bringing new files into the project use asset_import in the asset module.

Batch-first: Prefer the batch setters when configuring 2+ assets of the same category.

Common Mistakes

DO NOT (common hallucinations):

• importer_import does not exist → use asset_import in the asset module to bring files into the project
• importer_set_format does not exist → use the specific texture/audio/model setters
• importer_get_settings does not exist → use the category-specific getters
• Settings changes do not always apply instantly in memory. Reimport may still be required

Routing:

• File import or refresh → asset
• Texture settings → texture_*
• Audio settings → audio_*
• Model settings → model_*
• Alternative importer bridge skills → texture_set_import_settings, audio_set_import_settings, model_set_import_settings
• Force importer refresh → asset_reimport or asset_reimport_batch

Quick Reference

Texture Route

Import settings:

Query and runtime info:

Typed / platform overrides:

Texture core fields:

Platform override fields: platform (Standalone/iPhone/Android/WebGL), maxSize, format, compressionQuality (0–100), overridden

Common texture decisions:

• UI sprites → textureType="Sprite", usually mipmapEnabled=false
• Pixel art → filterMode="Point"
• Runtime CPU reads → readable=true only when necessary
• Platform-tuned builds → prefer texture_set_platform_settings over global texture_set_settings

Audio Route

Import settings:

Clip query and info:

Scene runtime (AudioSource / AudioMixer):

Audio core fields:

Practical presets:

Common audio decisions:

• Long BGM → loadType="Streaming"
• Short SFX → loadType="DecompressOnLoad"
• Memory-sensitive SFX libraries → consider forceToMono=true
• Scene-side AudioSource tuning → prefer audio_set_source_properties over manual component edits

Model Route

Import settings:

Query and info:

Animation and rig:

Model core fields:

Practical presets:

Common model decisions:

• Characters → animationType="Humanoid" when retargeting is required
• Static props → disable cameras/lights/animation imports when unused
• Baked-lighting meshes → enable secondary UVs when appropriate
• After model_set_rig or model_set_animation_clips → call asset_reimport to refresh clips and avatar

Reimport Rule

After importer changes, use reimport when you need Unity to fully refresh the asset:

Best Practices

1. Batch assets by category and apply one policy per batch.
2. Only enable readable when runtime CPU access is necessary.
3. Reimport deliberately after changing importer-critical fields.
4. Keep character rig settings and clip splits documented, because they are easy to drift.
5. Use platform overrides only when there is a real target-platform constraint.

Recipe path rule: ../../recipes/importer/<command>.md