Connect models, textures and drops

01 / 7

Complete resources and drops

Follow the model in the world all the way back to the player inventory.

Lesson 4 gave the block its properties. Now complete its resources and drops. Java registration tells the game that it exists; a model, inventory icon and mining drops still need the full resource chain.

1. Understand the reference direction: blockstates → block model → texture.
2. Provide the BlockItem with an item model and localized names.
3. Use a loot table to decide what drops when the block breaks.

1. Blockstates
2. Block model
3. Texture
4. Item model
5. Loot table

02 / 7

Locate resources in IntelliJ

Both assets and data are inside src/main/resources.

assets/simon-minecraft/blockstates/light.json
assets/simon-minecraft/models/block/light.json
assets/simon-minecraft/textures/block/light_texture.png
assets/simon-minecraft/models/item/light.json
data/simon-minecraft/loot_tables/blocks/light.json

Models and textures belong in assets. Loot tables belong in data, not assets. Continue using lang/zh_cn.json and lang/en_us.json for names.

03 / 7

World and item models have different jobs

These are two separate JSON files.

{
  "variants": {
    "": { "model": "simon-minecraft:block/light" }
  }
}

{
  "parent": "simon-minecraft:block/light"
}

Read each line, then save the files separately. blockstates selects the model for the placed block; the item model selects its inventory and hand appearance. Both can share simon-minecraft:block/light, which resolves to models/block/light.json.

04 / 7

Make mining return an item

Match the loot table namespace and name to the Java registration.

{
  "type": "minecraft:block",
  "pools": [
    {
      "rolls": 1,
      "entries": [
        {
          "type": "minecraft:item",
          "name": "simon-minecraft:light"
        }
      ],
      "conditions": [
        { "condition": "minecraft:survives_explosion" }
      ]
    }
  ]
}

05 / 7

The six links in the resource chain

Use the symptom to find the relevant link, then trace its references.

Registration ID

simon-minecraft:light is the starting point for the references.

blockstates

Selects a block model for the block state.

block model

Defines elements, a parent model and texture variables.

texture

PNG paths, capitalization and alpha must be correct.

item model + lang

Control the inventory appearance and display name respectively.

loot table

Determines the dropped item and whether explosion conditions allow a drop.

06 / 7

Verify the whole chain in game

Test the world, inventory, drops and saved data.

1. The placed block has the correct model and textures.
2. The inventory icon and hand model are correct.
3. Mine with the correct tool in Survival and obtain the expected item.
4. Save and reopen the world, then check the block and drops again.

The original image came from a copied test world in runClient and was saved by Minecraft ScreenshotRecorder. Temporary capture code was removed and the project rebuilt at that time. Repeat all four checks in your own project.

07 / 7

Troubleshooting and the final challenge

Use the symptom to find the missing connection.

Missing world texture

Start with blockstates and trace the model and texture references.

Missing inventory icon

Check parent in models/item/light.json.

Mining produces no drop

Check the data namespace and loot_tables/blocks path, then verify Survival mode and tool conditions.

Missing display name

Check block.simon-minecraft.light in the file for the selected game language: en_us for English or zh_cn for Chinese.

Next, use BooleanProperty to make the same block remember whether it is on or off.