anim transfer

[jerryj]

Here's my dilemma--surely a simple one, BUT I just don't know the answer...

I'm transfering animation from one character to another version of the same character with slightly more attributes on the arms and hips.

This is what I've done:
Used the import/export anim plug in and imported all of the animated (with heierarchy on) all sucessful but the three that hold different attributes. Am I going about this the wrong way or is this basicaly impossible as the two are not the same. Note: other than the additional attributes on the receiving model, both are identical and have the same naming convention.

This is what my co-worker suggested:

Creating a 'character set' and clip for the character/animation then exporting the clip and importing to the new character. While this sounds nice and it's worked for him before, it isn't working for either of us now. When I export the clip I get an error mssg reading something along the lines of 'file contains unknown nodes or data. To preserve this information the current file type cannot be change'

Basicaly we're a bit lost for information here. Both of us have used Maya in the past and are returning to the package but are working in a capacity we haven't in the past.

ANY help or suggestions welcome.
Y

[goggle]

Yeah, Character nodes and clips are really picky about stuff like that.

But, if you're new rig is the one with the extra attributes you should be able to just cut and paste the animation curves from the old controls to the new ones, and the extra attributes should just not receive any keys.

{plug type=blatant}
I wrote a script for things like this called jpTransferAnim which can be found in the MEL scripts section here on Highend3d. I wrote it primarily because I wasn't happy with any of the import/export animation methods I've seen before.
You can transfer the animation channels on your original rig over to locators or something and then export those locators as a separate file. Import that locator file into your new rig and then retreive the animation from the locators onto your new rig. This should avoid any naming problems
{end plug}

Hope this helps

-James