XSIBlog

After a couple of chit chats about referenced models in 6.0, I would take to take a few minutes to explain how you can use the delta referencing system to separate rig and geometry into two different files, which can be edited independently from one another.

Okay so here’s how it works:

1. Create your geometry and rig
2. Put rig and geometry into two different models
3. Create the connection (envelope, constraints etc)
4. Export FIRST the geometry, and SECOND the rig.
5. Go to a new scene and import FIRST the rig and SECOND the geometry as referenced models.
6. To ensure the models are loaded in the right order in the future, also name them alphabetically in that order. (in my example I am using numbers to set that order)
7. Put both ref models into a new one and export it as the “fullmodel”.

You end up with three files. The first one includes just the geometry + envelope operator and weightmaps, the second one includes just the rig, and the third one, the “fullmodel”, includes just two file pointers to the previous two.

If you want to go ahead and make changes to the rig, you can externally, while just loading the rig up and modify it. If you are about to change the geometry, and you don’t want to loose the envelope, just open up the fullmodel, localize the submodels and do your edits, afterwards convert the geometry back to referenced, and reload the “fullmodel”.

Below you can see a working example in the explorer, and a repro script to generate this setup. All steps (also changes on the geometry after the connection has been established) are part of that script.

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var project = ActiveProject.path;
NewScene(false,false);
 
// create objects
CreatePrim("Cylinder", "MeshSurface");
Create2DSkeleton(0, 3, 0, 0, 0, 0.5);
AppendBone("eff", 0, -3, 0);
 
// create models
CreateModel("root", "_0rig");
CreateModel("cylinder", "_1geo");
 
// reset the transform of the models so
// they are in the center of the world
SetUserPref("SI3D_NODETRANSFORM_CHILD_COMPENSATE", 1);
ResetTransform("_0rig", siObj, siSRT, siXYZ);
SetUserPref("SI3D_NODETRANSFORM_CHILD_COMPENSATE", 0);
 
// create the envelope (connect the rig)
ApplyFlexEnv(
"_1geo.cylinder;"+
"_0rig.bone,_0rig.bone1"
);
 
// export to files
ExportModel("_1geo", project+"\\Models\\geo.emdl");
ExportModel("_0rig", project+"\\Models\\rig.emdl");
 
// new scene
NewScene(false,false);
 
// import both as referenced
SICreateRefModel(project+"\\Models\\rig.emdl", "_0rig");
SICreateRefModel(project+"\\Models\\geo.emdl", "_1geo");
 
// create a new model including both
CreateModel("_0rig,_1geo", "fullmodel");
 
// export this model again
ExportModel("fullmodel", project+"\\Models\\fullmodel.emdl");
 
// new scene
NewScene(false,false);
 
// import the fully rigged, separated model as referenced
SICreateRefModel(project+"\\Models\\fullmodel.emdl", "fullmodel");
 
// change the geometry while maintaining the connection
MakeModelLocal("_0rig", null);
MakeModelLocal("_1geo", null);
Translate("_1geo.cylinder.edge[67]", 0,0, -1.5);
ConvertToRefModel("_1geo", project + "\\Models\\geo.emdl");
 
// reload the full model
UpdateReferencedModel("fullmodel");

Here’s a link to the script file so you can download it and try it out.

I hope this helps!
Helge

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 1st, 2007 at 11:43 am and is filed under JScript, Rigging, Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.