I have had this problem on 2 models now. After making a skeleton, I click on the parent joint and execute "Set Preferred Angle." It isn't working; i.e., when I test it by translating the skeleton and then clicking "Assume Preferred Angle" the skeleton doesn't move. I have tried it in every possible variation of the settings but to no avail. I'm using 7.0. Maybe there's another setting I'm overlooking?
"when I test it by translating the skeleton"
What translaing have to do with angles?
When you set the preferred angle , that's exactly what you're doing, setting the "correct" rotation for that joint, depending on your character orientations, but this is not meant for helping you to go back to any positioning nor direction. Probably what you want is go to bind pose if you already have your character bound.
Andres del Valle
Mocap Studio
DMAC