Maya xfrog plugin

Xfrog plugin for Maya

This is a free plugin that loads any Xfrog model or animation into Maya.

The plugin is free and can be freely distributed. There are 2 plugins for Windows - one for Maya 5, and one for Maya 4.5, both available from the xfrog.com website. There is also a SGI Maya plugin. This tutorial works the same for each plugin and Maya.
This tutorial uses the Dandelion Xfrog animation which is included with the plugin zip

Before opening maya, be certain that mel scripts
(xfrogRegister.mel and xfrogDeregister.mel)
from the zip
are copied to one of your maya script directories.
and that the plugin (xfrog*.so) is copied to one of your
plugin directories. (for example /usr/aw/maya4.0/bin/plugins)
Check your Maya online library for more information about plugins and Maya:
UserGuide/Essentials/EnvVariables3.html

Now open the plugin manager
(window -> Settings/Preferences -Plug In Manager in version 4,
or in older versions of maya window->general-> plugin loader)
and click on xfrog plugin.

I would recomend not to use auto load, since animation renders may be unstable with autoload of the plugin.( once you make a few finished plants, check this option out )

If you don't see the plugin, check if you copied plugin it in the right directory.

After the plugin is loaded, new Xfrog menu will appear in title bar of Maya.

Select New file.

This will open file Dialog box. By default it opens in your home directory.

Find directory where you saved your xfr file and load it.

For example: Dandelion_animation.xfr

You can see in the outliner you will have new model called Dandelion.

As you can see, the whole hierarchy is there too.

If you open hypershade, you will see all you materials are there too.

Open menu: Xfrog -> Model Resolution and change resolution.
Resolution 1 is maximum level of detail, or in other words the same number of polygons as your xfr saved model, but you can use smaller values for faster feedback in maya, for example to test animation playback be sure to reduce level of detail.

If you want to change lenght of animation to let's say 48 frames, first change the value in your timeline.

Then open attribute editor for Dandelion and select xfrogDandelion Tab.

Here change number of frames also to 48.

You can start the playblast or render.

Now your last frames will match.
Add lights, make changes, spice up to taste,
and your new animation is ready!

Save your maya scene files as usual.
Xfrog model and animation inside maya is being referenced by a link
to your xfr file.
Treat this files like other maya reference files.
Which means if you change the content of this file,
your maya animation will be changed as well.
This alows us to tune your animation in xfrog while still working on adjusting scene in maya.
Just resave your xfr file, and in Maya use menu Xfrog -> Reload Files.
If you rename any of the files in xfrog hierarchy, and they dissapear, just use menu Xfrog -> Reload Files.

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This is a free plugin that loads any Xfrog model or animation into Maya. The plugin is free and can be freely distributed. There are 2 plugins for Windows - one for Maya 5, and one for Maya 4.5, both available from the xfrog.com website. There is also a SGI Maya plugin. This tutorial works the same for each plugin and Maya.	This tutorial uses the Dandelion Xfrog animation which is included with the plugin zip
	Before opening maya, be certain that mel scripts (xfrogRegister.mel and xfrogDeregister.mel) from the zip are copied to one of your maya script directories. and that the plugin (xfrog*.so) is copied to one of your plugin directories. (for example /usr/aw/maya4.0/bin/plugins) Check your Maya online library for more information about plugins and Maya: UserGuide/Essentials/EnvVariables3.html
	Now open the plugin manager (window -> Settings/Preferences -Plug In Manager in version 4, or in older versions of maya window->general-> plugin loader) and click on xfrog plugin. I would recomend not to use auto load, since animation renders may be unstable with autoload of the plugin.( once you make a few finished plants, check this option out ) If you don't see the plugin, check if you copied plugin it in the right directory.
	After the plugin is loaded, new Xfrog menu will appear in title bar of Maya.
	Select New file.
	This will open file Dialog box. By default it opens in your home directory. Find directory where you saved your xfr file and load it. For example: Dandelion_animation.xfr
	You can see in the outliner you will have new model called Dandelion.
	As you can see, the whole hierarchy is there too.
	If you open hypershade, you will see all you materials are there too.
	Open menu: Xfrog -> Model Resolution and change resolution. Resolution 1 is maximum level of detail, or in other words the same number of polygons as your xfr saved model, but you can use smaller values for faster feedback in maya, for example to test animation playback be sure to reduce level of detail.
	If you want to change lenght of animation to let's say 48 frames, first change the value in your timeline.
	Then open attribute editor for Dandelion and select xfrogDandelion Tab. Here change number of frames also to 48. You can start the playblast or render.
	Now your last frames will match. Add lights, make changes, spice up to taste, and your new animation is ready!
	Save your maya scene files as usual. Xfrog model and animation inside maya is being referenced by a link to your xfr file. Treat this files like other maya reference files. Which means if you change the content of this file, your maya animation will be changed as well. This alows us to tune your animation in xfrog while still working on adjusting scene in maya. Just resave your xfr file, and in Maya use menu Xfrog -> Reload Files. If you rename any of the files in xfrog hierarchy, and they dissapear, just use menu Xfrog -> Reload Files.