Using Custom modules in MotionBuilder

where to put your custom modules for each version.

In MotionBuilder2013
C:\Users\<UserName>\Documents\MB\2013-x64\config\PythonStartup

In MotionBuilder2012
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\MotionBuilder 2012 (64-bit)\bin\config\Python

In MotionBuilder2011
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Autodesk MotionBuilder 2011 64-bit\bin\x64\python\lib\plat-win


http://docs.autodesk.com/MB/MB2013/ENU/MotionBuilder-SDK-Documentation/index.html?url=py_ref/index.html,topicNumber=py_ref_index_html

Naming Convention between Maya, 3ds Max, MotionBuilder

In Maya, you can't name objects with special symbol. If you consider or might have a chance using Maya, 3ds Max or MotionBuilder together. Please do care how you name your objects. especially for CS BIP. Since it auto name bones with "space".

And if you import FBX into Maya. It will auto rename your objects which have special symbol as "FBXASCXXXX". I think autodest should fix this "bug"!



Maya 物件名稱不支援 特殊符號 及 空白。利用FBX轉檔，這些不支援的名命都會被改成"FBXASCXXXX" 。若要考慮轉檔共用( 3ds Max <-> Maya <->MontionBuilder ) ，請記得要注意命名，像是cs bip ，預設名稱就有 空白。

Setting environment variables in abxPicker

v0.3
I modified the source code. Feel free download it.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0DVxItnSepALVZFeEdEY2J2TEU/edit?usp=sharing

Now you don't have to cahnge  the image path in Bg Image of pickerNode.
The script read the image path in a relative way.
ex.

Note. For existed pickerNode, just remove the path like "C:/Users/<username>/Documents/maya"


=======================================================================
v0.2
I was wrong.
The only way to do this is changed the script

Add those lines after line 637 string $bgImage = `getAttr ($node+".bgImage")`;


if (startString($bgImage, 12)=="MAYA_APP_DIR"){
string $bgImageArray[];
$bgImageArray = stringToStringArray($bgImage, "\\");
$bgImage = stringArrayRemoveAtIndex(0, $bgImageArray);
$bgImage=`getenv "MAYA_APP_DIR"`+"\\"+ stringArrayToString($bgImageArray, "\\");
print $bgImage;
}


That is you can use a image path like "MAYA_APP_DIR\projects\projectA\sourceimages" in Bg Image of pickerNode

MAYA_APP_DIR = C:/Users/<username>/Documents/maya

But if your interested in setting environment variables you can still take a look the below link.
Setting environment variables using Maya.env

=======================================================================
v0.1
I use abxPicker as one of my rigging tools. Now I need to pass the files to others. But the path for the Bg Image is absolute path "C:\Users\JiaPei\Documents\maya\projects\projectA\sourceimages"
And it is not convenience to  re-assigned the Bg Image of the abxPicker in every files while they are in different computer. The way to solve this is creating a  Maya.env file

Add a line like this :
MAYA_Projs_PATH = %MAYA_APP_DIR%\projects

Change the Bg Image dir in the abxPicker as
"MAYA_Projs_PATH\Documents\maya\projects\projectA\sourceimages"
That is I don't need to worry the different of the username.

Facial Mapping in Mobu

I found a way to mapping makers to character's face joints. Not just use parent constraint but mapping constraint. I am still doing some experiment. With this method it is possible using for real time in mobu.
The project I am doing is not release. I will demonstration the result after the product is been shipping.

Link : [Tutorial] Python Scripting in MotionBuilder

[Tutorial] Python Scripting in MotionBuilder

Worth to watch

Paint Weight Cause Fatal Error Maya2012 (Solved)

Looks like the model that I work on had some problems. So it keeps Maya crush when I was using paint weight tool. After I googled it. There have two solutions.

1.Turn off undo
2.Export the model to obj then re-import again ( works for me )

But I think there should be something wrong with that model. Then I found it's UV map has two channel, Buuuuuut, the map channel has no UV. Why I found this? because when I re-import the obj. after re-assign the texture. Nothing shows up on the model.

I went back to the old file which was crash a the time. I copied the UV from exit one to miss one. then no more Error!

So next time if you have same issue. Go to check your UV first. If there nothing goes wrong, then do export obj.

Free Audio Editorial soft

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

The reason why I found this software, because recently I am doing a facial animation project. I need import audio into Maya. The files format is wav. But Maya didn't play any sound. So weird to me but it does play other wav files. After google. I guess it should be some different setting in that audio. Someone recommend this software.

while I opened the audio file, which maya can't play, in it. the rate(HZ) is 48000. another one is 44100.

That's the main problem why Maya didn't play sound well.