Connecting 2 attr. without locking 1....

[failure]

What's the point of controlling one value from two places?

[GennadiyKorol]

You can try connecting those outputs to some math node like PlusMinusAverage or Multiply, and output of that node to the input attribute. Or use some switch nodes with animation curves, depending on how you want the control attributes to affect connected one.

[LuWeeWu]

Do the 2 attributes alawys have the same value? I they do than I would just set driven key one to the other and use the one to control the value of both, but if at eny point the values need to be different than I would just key them seperatly and not worry about trying to link them. You have run across one of the many scenarios where maya can't do what you have in mind. Its kinda like objectA pulls objectB and objectB pushes objectA. Now in order for either to move you must keyframe one of them. If I move objectA forward 1 than its going to pull objectB forward1 also, but because objectB has ben pulled forward 1 than it will also push objectA forward another 1 making objectsA move 2 rather than the 1 you keyframed it, So now it pulls objectB 2 wich pushes objectA 2 plus the 1 keyframe making it 3 and so on and so forth... The same can be said for numerical values. A value cant control the value that is controling it. It a paradox. The work around is IK and FK but im not shure what the equivalent would be for attribue values like your talkin about.

My advice would be keep it simple.

[lostpencil]

Yep, I don't think you can do that, although you can do this with a slider, for example. You can attach the slider to an attribute and if you modify one or the other then they both change.

[_vine_]

I agree with what Lostpencil says.

I think you'll need a third attribute or control of some sort that will drive the two together.

The other ways I can think of directly linking the two will cause you to get double transformations.

[MikeRhone]

This is something you unfortunately can't do in Maya. Maya calculates the DG in one direction only, so you can't have a 2-way street connection like you are looking for.

[steveblake]

hmm... wonder if Do Hyun Lee's 'Bidirectional contraint' (http://www.oorido.com/maya.html#Bidirectonal)* could be rigged to help you here?

check out his movie (http://www.oorido.com/maya/demo_biConstrain.avi) (6mb) explaing the process..

QUOTE:
"Maya's structure doesn't allow mutual constraints and it is one of Maya's most critical defects. I solved this problem by using some tricks( I would say it's a half-constrain.) without violating the original structure.
This can be used in many ways such as simulations, character rigging and pose based animations."

:)

*I've been meaning to use this one, be interested to hear if anyone finds it useful...

[Ivars]

Yes I know about the limitations in constraining/connecting, so I was looking for another way to solve it. Bit I guess I´ll just have to go back and create the whole thing in a different way :)

I was thinking maybe it can be done with a scriptjob, where the value is transfered between the two attributes on attribute change... (what do you think? Could it be done?) I´ll try it anyway :)

steveblake: That looks really intresting, maybe not for what I´m trying to achive here, but for so many other things! Thank you. (edit: is that a free plug-in? If it is, where can I get it? Couldn´t find any download link on the site....)

[Ivars]

Wohoo, it didn´t work. What a surprise :p I got a infinite loop...
any ideas?

global proc swtch2fk()
{
float $fk = `getAttr ik_hand1.Switch_to_FK`;
setAttr fk_hand1.Switch_to_IK $fk;
}
global proc swtch2ik()
{
float $ik = `getAttr fk_hand1.Switch_to_IK`;
setAttr ik_hand1.Switch_to_FK $ik;
}
scriptJob -cu 1 -attributeChange ik_hand1.Switch_to_FK "swtch2fk();" -kws;
scriptJob -cu 1 -attributeChange fk_hand1.Switch_to_IK "swtch2ik();" -kws;

I know there must be a so much better way of doing what I´m trying to do... So I´m just gonna leave it now, I thinl :)

[steveblake]

uh.. sorry, thought it must be available on his site somehere.
Still, I've found it on highend (http://www.highend3d.com/maya/plugins/?group=mayaplugins&section=animation) and yup...It *is* free (I think)

- not tried it yet, it does look interesting tho doesn't it?

good luck!

;)

[EDIT: doh ! - just read here (http://www.deathfall.com/article.php?sid=3475) that these plugins don't load properly...:shrug: )

[galactor]

Wel Maya is able to do so. Take a look at the following camera attributes:
Field Of View
Focal Length

Offcourse a big change this is API stuff. But maybe it is not.
I don't have time took take a closer look, so check it out.

:: Galactor ::

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