Playback group

(Reset)

Halts the simulation, moves the time slider to the first frame, and sets any dynamic rigid bodies to their initial transforms.

This command is also available as Reset Simulation on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Simulation submenu, and as on the MassFX toolbar.

(Play)

Runs the simulation from the current frame. The time slider advances by one frame for each simulation step, causing kinematic rigid bodies to move as part of the simulation. If the simulation is already running, as indicated by the button being highlighted, clicking Play pauses the simulation.

This command is also available as Play Simulation on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Simulation submenu (when Start Simulation is active on the MassFX toolbar), and as on the MassFX toolbar.

PNA (Play - No Animation)

Similar to Start Simulation, described preceding, except that the time slider does not advance as the simulation runs. This can be useful for letting dynamic rigid bodies move to a resting spot in preparation for using Capture Initial Transforms.

This command is also available as on the MassFX toolbar (on the Play flyout).

Step

Runs the simulation for a single frame while advancing the time slider by the same amount.

This command is also available as Step Simulation on the Animation menu Simulation - MassFX Simulation submenu, and as on the MassFX toolbar.

Simulation Baking group

Baking creates standard keyframed animation for dynamic objects and converts them to kinematic objects. For more information, see Baking Simulation Results.

Bake All

Resets the simulation and then runs it while storing transforms for all dynamic rigid bodies as animation keyframes. When complete, all dynamic rigid bodies are converted to kinematic. Also sets an internal "baked" flag for the rigid bodies for unbaking.

Bake Selected

Similar to Bake All except that the baking is applied only to selected dynamic rigid bodies.

Unbake All

Deletes keyframes for all rigid bodies set to kinematic by baking (see preceding) and restores them to dynamic.

Unbake Selected

Similar to Unbake All except that the unbaking is applied only to selected applicable rigid bodies.

Capture Transforms group

Capture Selected

Sets the initial transform for each selected dynamic rigid body to the its transform. Subsequent uses of Reset Simulation return the dynamic objects to these transforms.

For example, you might use this to start a simulation with a stable pile of bricks. You could create a bunch of bricks in the air, run the simulation, wait until everything settles, and then invoke this menu command. Thereafter Reset Simulation would always return the bricks to their new, piled-up locations.