Menu Cells

Get -> From Library (Motion Module)

The Get -> From Library command is available in the Motion module. It displays a menu of subcommands that allow you to access previously saved structure key values or animation files and apply them to selected elements.

The Get -> From Library commands allow you to retrieve this information in a variety of ways so that you can apply all or some of the information saved with a structure key to one or many hierarchies with corresponding elements names. You can also apply animation values from many files to a single character.

Once you apply the structure key values to an element, you can save a new key for them using the SaveKey menu cell commands as you would normally for creating keyframes (see SaveKey -> Object).

The Get -> From Library commands let you apply structure key values as follows:

To a single selected element.
To two or more elements selected within a single hierarchy.
To one or many elements selected from many hierarchies.

Structure Key

The Get -> Structure Key command allows you to retrieve a complete set of values from the library and apply them to elements you select. Structure key values can be applied to both hierarchies of models and individual elements of any type, such as lights and materials.

1. Select an element or hierarchy.

2. Choose the Get -> Structure Key command.

The Load browser is displayed, listing the contents of the current STRUCT_KEYS chapter.

Select the desired structure key file.

The element or elements of the selected hierarchy are automatically set or positioned according to the values of the structure key. You can now save the position if desired by choosing a SaveKey menu cell command.

Animation

The Get -> Animation command allows you to apply all animation function curves associated with the specified animation file to the selected elements. You can also specify at which frame to start the animation. This lets you apply several animation files to a single character.

Note:: The animation files are mapped to the selected elements as described for the Get -> Structure Key command, except that you can only apply animation values to the elements of one character hierarchy at a time.

Procedure

1. Select an element or hierarchy.

2. Choose the Get -> Animation command.

The Load browser is displayed, listing the contents of the current ANIMATION chapter.

3. Select the animation file you want to apply and click Load.

The Get Animation dialogue box is displayed.

4. In the Insert at frame text box, enter the frame number where you want the animation to begin.

The animation function curves are copied to all selected elements with corresponding names.

Parameters

Animation Buffer

The Animation buffer area displays information about the selected animation file as follows:

First frame is the frame number for the first frame in all the animation curves contained in the selected animation file.
Last frame is the frame number for the last frame in all the animation curves in the selected animation file.
No. of Fcurves is the number of function curves contained in the selected animation file.

Insert at Frame

Allows you to insert the selected animation file function curves at the frame number you specify. This lets you insert function curves from more than one animation file.

Use Track Filter

The Get -> Use Track Filter command is a toggle that activates or deactivates the track filter. It is active by default.

When active, only the values for the selected tracks as defined using the Set Track Filter command are copied to the selected elements from the specified structure key or animation file.

If reactivating the command, the Library Track Filter dialogue box used with the Set Track Filter command is displayed. You can then reset the filter if desired.

Refer to the Get -> Set Track Filter command for more information.

Set Track Filter

The Get -> Set Track Filter command allows you to specify which tracks to copy from a structure key or animation file according to the type of element selected. When you save a structure key, all track information, such as rotation, scaling, and explicit position, is automatically saved with the file.

Note:: You can select any element type, including lights, materials, waves, and so on.

Procedure

1. Select an object or element.

2. Choose the Get -> Set Track Filter command.

The Library Track Filter dialogue box is displayed.

3. Click on the tracks to deselect the ones that you do not want to copy; all tracks are selected by default (appearing as white text on a black background).

The filter setting is saved for each type of element selected for the duration of the work session.

Note:: The Get -> Use Track Filter command must be active for the filter to be applied.

SOFTIMAGE 3D Reference - 19 APR 1996