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Body force preview does not update when the simulator moves

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  • Body force preview does not update when the simulator moves

    Hey All,

    First, I could not post this in the problem section likely because my license is an EDU version. I am using Phoenix FD 3.11.00 (EDU) for Maya 2018 on Windows10 Pro.

    I am learning how to use the body force by breaking down the body force example scene. So far it's been great but I need to export my sim and I would prefer an alembic export. As far as I know, I've done everything correctly to export my simulation however the mesh does not want to update every frame, therefore I can only get a static export of the mesh. In the Phoenix FD 3.11.00 Release notes it states an update for Preview: "Body Force force preview did not update when the simulator or the body was moving". It appears this is still the case for me as the body force preview mesh does not update still. I can force an update on a per frame basis by using the MEL command: setAttr "phx_simulator_Shape_01.rendMeshType" 2; however this still does not help me if I need to export the entire sim as alembic. Otherwise I am stuck entering that MEL command 300 times and saving out 300 .obj's for a sequence.. etc.. Not the ideal way to do things but as of now its the only work around I have.
    I've even tried to make a OBJ sequence exporter by using a script node expression that is set to update on change, i.e. going from frame 1 to frame 2 and so on:

    setAttr "phx_simulator_Shape_01.rendMeshType" 2;
    $pad = `currentTime -query`;
    string $sequencePath = "E:/Maya_Projects/Phoenix/BodyForce/cache/OBJ";
    string $objItem = "polySurface1";
    string $objOutname = ($sequencePath + "/" + $objItem + "." + $pad + ".obj");
    file -force -options "groups=1;ptgroups=1;materials=0;smoothing=1;n orma ls=1" -typ "OBJexport" -pr -es $objOutname;


    The above commands works (sort of), but the mesh does not update fast enough before maya continues on to the next frame. So once again I'm stuck exporting a static mesh. By the way I have tried the OBJ Sequence exporter script that's floating out on the internet (I believe from Highend3d) however that does not work for me in Maya 2018 as Maya does not seem to recognize half the MEL commands in that script which led me to write the above commands.

    I'd really like to get some help exporting my sim. The only thing I have not done yet and am avoiding is reinstalling phoenix and maya, and also reverting back maya 2016 or 2017.
    If anyone has any ideas or knows a clever way to force the update of the mesh every frame, please let me know!

    Click image for larger version  Name:	img2.jpg Views:	1 Size:	802.0 KB ID:	999467
    Click image for larger version  Name:	img1.jpg Views:	1 Size:	947.7 KB ID:	999468
    Last edited by Harrison W; 10-06-2018, 12:54 PM.

  • #2
    Hey,

    Can you try to delete the Phoenix Simulator and make a new one with the same settings, then export the mesh again? Does that solve the problem?
    Georgi Zhekov
    Phoenix Product Manager
    Chaos

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi Georgi,
      I will try this tonight and report back. Thank you!

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by georgi.zhekov View Post
        Hey,

        Can you try to delete the Phoenix Simulator and make a new one with the same settings, then export the mesh again? Does that solve the problem?
        Hello Georgi,
        Sorry this took me a while as I have been busy with work.
        Thank you for the suggestion. This did solve the problem of the mesh preview updating, however I still cannot export the sim as alembic.

        1) I select the Simulator in the outliner and then go to " Alembic > Export Selection to Alembic ".
        2) I set my frame range and everything else I need, then hit the export button.

        Maya instantly crashes with a fatal error. Any ideas? Perhaps this is no longer a Phoenix issue and now I am leaning towards a full reinstall of Maya, phoenix, Vray. I am really bummed I cannot get this to export.
        Thank you for the help!

        Comment


        • #5
          Hey,
          I'm glad the preview is working now.
          Are you using the latest update of Maya 2018? Does it crash if you try to export the alembic with another scene?
          Georgi Zhekov
          Phoenix Product Manager
          Chaos

          Comment

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