Transfer Keys (3ds Max 8)

Slum · Dec 2006

I'm relatively new actual rigging and animation in 3ds max. I'm having a bit of a problem that I need to get myself out of.

I have an object that was animated by rotating and moving the object itself in Max. Now I need to transfer these animations to a bone so that the animation can be used in-engine.

Linking the bone to the object works fine and dandy, but that doesn't actually make the bone inherit the actual keyframes and animation data, it just makes it follow the object.

Any ideas on how I could go about doing this?

animatr · Dec 2006

yup, you have to bake the keys on the bone itself.
i dont have max here at work, and I havent used it in a while, Im a maya guy now, but look somewhere in edit, bake keys or something\.

MoP · Dec 2006

i've never really dabbled in animation, so there's probably an easier way than this, but you could try:

turn auto key on, select your bone, go to every keyframe (unless there are hundreds, then this will take ages), and use the Align tool, tell it to inherit the X Y and Z rotation. Skip to the next key frame number and do the same. It should use actual object rotation for these rather than just following the other object.
I'm sure there must be an easier way than that though.

animatr · Dec 2006

sorry, in case you dont know what bake keys means, it should be a function in a menu somewhere, (in maya, its under edit--> keys-->bake simulation) max, im not sure atm. but baking just meanins it puts a key on every frame of watever object you are baking.

MoP · Dec 2006

hmm, yeah, did you try just setting keys manually on the linked bone?

Slum · Dec 2006

mop: thanks, that does work, but there are a whole bunch of frames I have to transfer. I'll keep that in mind as a last resort.

animatr: yeah, i thought it would be called something like "Bake Keys", still haven't found it yet though.

animatr · Dec 2006

im dl-ing a trial of max now to see if I can find it for ya. only 18% done though

MoP · Dec 2006

hmm, try searching in the help for "block controller", that might be of use.

animatr · Dec 2006

you could try to export as an fbx...that would bake automatically. not sure how well this would work though...
what kind of stuff is this object doing? is it too complex to just redo with the bones instead?

Ninjas · Dec 2006

You should be able to just copy and paste keys in the dope sheet, although that can be hit and miss sometimes.

JordanW · Dec 2006

I had to do this at work one day (i'm not an animator by any means) but i was able to do it by exporting the animation of the first object, then rename object 2 to object 1's name and load the animation back in. There were a bunch of crazy gigantic menus involved but i think i left most of the stuff at the default.

Slum · Dec 2006

Thanks guys. I'll give all of these things a try and report back after I get some sleep. Thanks for the suggestions.

CrazyButcher · Dec 2006

http://www.scriptspot.com/download.asp?ID=826

a maxscript that should be able to do the job, as well

Slum · Dec 2006

CrazyButcher saves the day! That script works wonders.

Lots of help everyone, I've forced myself to learn quite a bit trying all the different suggestions that everyone had. Thanks so much!

Transfer Keys (3ds Max 8)

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