9

Merge Animation 467
To inser t animation data from one character to
another:
The Source Objects and Current Objects entry
fields allow you to enter wildcard expressions to
filter prefixes and suffixes of node names. The
filtered text is ignored by the Auto Name Mapping
tool, so complex structures of similarly-named
nodes can be mapped quick ly. This feature is
handy for transferring an animation between
character structures, providing the source and
current no des have been named w ith the same
conventions.
1. Load the file with the character to which
animation data wi l l be merged.
2. Choose File menu > Merge Animation.
3. ClickSourceFileandchoosetheanimation
source file.
4. In the Merge Animation dialog, under Source
Objects, use a wildcard expression to specify
multiple items that share a set of characters
in their names. For example, if the character
bones are named Skater_Head, Ska t er_RFoot,
and so on, enter Skater* under Source Objects.
5. Click Refresh for Source Objects.
6. Under Current Objects, use a wildcard
expression to filter the current nodes’ prefix or
suffix. Click Refresh.
7. Click Auto Name Mapping.
Source nodes are placed in the Merge Nodes
column, corresponding with current nodes
w ith the same prefix or suffix.
8. Specify whether to replace or paste animation
data from the source file. If pasting anima tion
data, the frame times for the merge nodes are
added to the current nodes.
9. Specify the source node attributes that will be
merged.
10. Click Merge Animation to merge animation
data from merge no des to corresponding
current nodes.
To inser t animation from one character assembly to
another:
For character assemblies (page 1–102),theInsert
Animation feature can be used to merge animation
data.
1. Load the file into which the animation data will
be merged.
2. Select the character assembly node.
3. On the Modify panel, click Insert Animation.
Selectthesourcefilefromwhichanimation
data will be merged.
4. Follow the previous procedure from step 4.
To mer ge a nima tion da ta f rom obj ects in the sa me
scene:
1.
Choose File menu > Merge A nimation.
2. ClickSourceObject,andchoosetheobject
from which animation data will be transferred.
This object and its hierarchy appear under
Source Nodes in the Object Mapping rollout.
3. On the Object Mapping rollout, drag and drop
source nodes to the Merge Nodes column,
matching them with the appropriate current
nodes.
4. Specify whether to replace or paste animation
datafromthesourcefile.Ifpastinganimation
data, the fram e times for the merge nodes are
added to the current nodes.
5. Specify the source node attributes that will be
merged.
6. Click Merge Animation to merge the animation
data f rom the merge nodes to the cur rent no des.