Set Driven Key ...

[newbie0210]

I am following lesson #2 in "Learning Maya - Foundation" ©2002 Alias. It is of a bouncing ball that goes through a hoop on fire. In this step we are directed to create a SQUASH deformer on the ball for that squash and stretch look and to animate this attribute using the SET DRIVEN KEY approach. The DRIVER attribute in the top window of the SET DRIVEN KEY dialog (pg 48) is supposed to be the TranslateY of the ball which will drive the "factor" attribute of the squash deformer effect. This sounds simple enough but I always get stuck here because I can only seem to get the driver to load shape node attributes and NOT the translational attributes that are needed! What am I missing??

Unfortunately, this book does not show an author or contact person to call for help or the location of an errata list -- should the manual be in error here.

Any clues out there from someone who has tried following this manual's tutorials? This is frustrating.

Rgds,
Newbie0210.

[imhotep]

Hmm doesn't sound like the manual is in error. As long as you have the ball selected and load driver there should be translate as one of the attributes. Bear in mind it will just say 'translate' with a '+' next to it you click to get the different axis, so look closely. If all else fails you could always use the connection editor depending which version of maya you are using.