Link rig problem

[CGIPadawan]

Here are a few things to consider:

1) Always use CTRL-A (Apply Scale and Rotation to Object) in the Source Blend file containing your Linked Group.

2) If you built each of the elements (Mesh, Armatures, Controls) in different layers, make sure you included ALL of them into just a single Group.

3) In the Target Blend file, all elements of an actor in a Linked Group (Armature, Mesh, etc.) must be Linked in only ONE Layer.

4) Armatures must have their centers at (0,0,0) in the Source Blend file or a few weird things happen.

5) In the Target Blend file, make sure you use CTRL-P on anything the User must be able to control (Controllers, Armatures, etc.)

6) If after applying these things, you observe a few things still don't work. Try SAVING, then QUITTING Blender and then re-opening the Target Blend file that used the Linked Group. Try moving an arm or something, they should all be "re-applied".

Failing all of that? Just APPEND. APPEND works.
:P

[orozimbo]

Hi CGIPadawan. Thanks for the notes, unfortunatly I already useded all of then. That´s the reason to append the file blend, I learn from my master degree always isolate some problem to study it and the file I appended has a very simple exemple of the issue.

If some one open the rig example will realize that it follow all your notes and still lost the influence drivers and action constraints when linked (exactly when is saved and reloaded!). I know the append option works, but it´s not any option when you consider a bigger animation project (don´t you think?).

Again, thanks for the notes but do you have any other consideration, please? Anybody?

[Mordachai]

In the main file:

Select the curve and turn ON (or OFF) the Action button between the 'Point' menu and the 'Object' in the image below. Tooltip says 'Sets Ipo to be included in the Action or not'.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikibooks/pt/1/13/Ipotut7.jpg

Save, close and open the linked file.

Maybe you'll have to reassign the curve after turn ON (or OFF) this option in the main file (I can't test it right now). You don't need to remake all the drivers. Just reselect the appropriate curve in the 'IP:curve_name' dropdown list at the right side of the pin icon.

Words of support: You're right. NEVER, EVER use append in a big project ;).

Linked files is the way to go. Don't let anyone use single or appended files in the production line if it's in your hands to decide. When your animator asks for a little simple control to be made you'll soon discover that he wants the same control in another ten scene files that he already spent weeks of your precious deadline...

(Yeah, we have a lot of stress in the studio recently :))

[orozimbo]

Hi Mordachai. I always feel funny about talk in english with a brasilian pal, but it´s life! Thanks for the tip about IPO Action link, but it´s default. The very exemple appended has the IPO connected to action. Well, I know I don´t need to remake every driver, just de curves, that´s not the point. If you have time, please open the appended file and link it.

By the way, that´s not the biggest problem. It´s the action constraint loosing the action association that´s anoying me. I have over than one hundred muscle bones in the face using action constraint. The mancandy doesn´t lost association action and I can´t link a pair of bones with this constraint without loosing it (the exemple appended)! What a hell I´m doing wrong?

Well, thank for any help! Any other idea?

[Mordachai]

The info in my previous post will work with drivers in 'Constraint' curves. Actually with the redraw issues (make the control work in realtime).

I'll play with the file a little, back in a moment. But from what you said maybe it's just the case to add a New Action...

EDIT: now I know what you mean. The problem with the Action happen right after the Make Proxy (CTRL+ALT+P). Blender loses the name of the Action in the action constraint. Seems to be a bug, but I'm not sure at moment...

[orozimbo]

Greeeeat! I didn´t realized the IPO-Action button to feedback, I´ll study it more deeply. But wait! Please! Pleeeeeease, don´t say the loosing assignement action problem is a bug. I´m about to start a project of a animation serie!

Where is the Panic button?!

[CGIPadawan]

Hello orozimbo,


Please note I do understand the concern that Linked Groups MUST be working for a larger production to be feasible in Blender.

I share your anxiety to be honest. Because I know without Linked Groups a larger project is not possible.

The irony is that even with all these "notes", my latest short still relies on APPEND because the Linked Groups do unexpected things with hooks, Armatures, and other things that should be seamless.

I am sure you are being quite discreet with your concerns, but to be honest, I have found Linking to be a big disappointment in Blender. It is actually very hard to verify if something "wrong" occuring during linking is a bug or if some incorrect action has taken place.

This is precisely because if you go back to your original library everything works. So the conditions exist for something to work properly within Blender.

The idea that something is "linked incorrectly" is quite absurd in my opinion. It should either be "Link" or "No Link" only. As of now the only things I have been able to link without problems are static meshes such as furniture.

Cheers.

[ysvry]

i agree , i say file it as a bug and let them fight with your not working file.

[orozimbo]

Wow!!! I almost push the red button! After some ideas in blenderartists (see the link (http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?p=1364264#post1364264)) I decided to look closer to mancady. I realised the actions have proxy protect icons in it, and I remember the new layer bones have another state (Ctrl + select). Well, all bones in this layer state are proxy protected and don´t loose any relationship.

Thanks CGIPadawan, Mordachai and ysvry. I hope it help you in your projects.

ps.: I´m always interested in blender professionals guys here in Brasil, what school do you teach? keep in touch and fell free to send me any message.

[CGIPadawan]

I wonder if the local protection or the Ctrl+Select might also work for hooks and all those other things.

Glad to hear you got it moving forward. :)

One thing I didn't understand: Is the local protection applied to the Library .Blend or the Linking .Blend?

[orozimbo]

Hi CGIPadawan. About the protect layer bones, it´s done in the library blend file. The hole idea is NOT leave any thing to animators do about rigging - just link and animate.

I confess that hooks aren´t one of my favorite tools and I don´t understand how that works. The protect layer are exclusive for bones and it´s in editing button window (F9), for that reason it´s not for hooks. I realised that hooks modifiers are not linked the same way in armatures.

Sorry I can´t help more, any one have any idea?

[CGIPadawan]

Well if the hooks cannot use the same protection, then it probably means to say that they should be removed altogether from any Actor Building process.

An armature with a set of disconnected bones can work about as well as a bunch of hooks when one thinks about it.

So that might be a work around.

:surprised

[orozimbo]

Yeah! In a character or any other object with a armature rig, I don´t see reasons to use hooks. Maybe that´s the reason to never use hooks, but I´m open mind if anyone can point a good application of hooks.

Anyone?

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