Animate > ATOM > Import Animation

Opens the Maya Atom Importer Options window, which lets you select and specify how to import animation for a selected object. See also Import .atom animation.

Atom file: Enter a name for the .anim file to be imported or click the Browse icon to navigate and select a file.
Import Method: Lets you specify the method Maya uses to identify which objects receive the imported animation. Select from the following options:

Selected: Imports animation for only the selected objects in the current hierarchy.
Hierarchy: Imports animation for all selected objects. For any selected object that is the root of a hierarchy (such as the root of your character's animation rig), Maya also attempts to import animation for any child objects of the selected object.
Template: Lets you import animation based on a template file that you specify using the Template field. See also Import animation based on a template.

Match Method: Specifies how the imported animation file maps to the selected objects. Select from the following options:

Hierarchy: Imports the animation to the selected object(s) based on the hierarchy information in the .atom file. Maya starts with the root (selected) object and loads animation from the root object in the .atom file, then walks through the rest of the hierarchy, matching animation where possible at each level.

ImportantIf your .atom file contains Constraints or Set Driven Key animation, you cannot do a simple import based on the character hierarchy and you'll need to set the Match Method to String or Map File. (See Import .atom animation.)
String: Matches the animation to the selected objects based on the terms you enter in the Search and Replace fields.

For example, for two characters with similar left hand hierarchies but different naming conventions (L_* and Left_*), you can import a left hand animation sequence from one character to another by entering Search L_ and Replace Left_ to import animation from one character's left hand to another.

When Match Method is set to String, you can also use the Add Prefix and Add Suffix fields to enter strings you want appended to the animation.
Map File: Matches the imported animation to selected objects based on a file you specify using the Map File field.

Using a map file to manually match your source and target objects is ideal for situations where the simple Search and Replace and Add Prefix and Add Suffix strings are not sufficient to ensure a clean match. You can set up a text file that lists the names of source objects in your .atom file and their corresponding target objects in the scene.

Template: Lets you browse to specify a template file to be used when the Import Method is set to Template.
View: Available only when you have specified a template file for importing (in the Template field). Lets you select a more precise section (view) of the template on which you want to load animation. (For example, select a 'Hands' view to import only the hand animation based on a character template file.) See Import animation based on a template.
Replace: When on, replaces any existing animation on the selected object(s) with the imported animation. When off (by default), Maya inserts the animation at the specified time and ripples any existing animation later.
Time Range: Lets you specify which segment of animation to import. Select from the following:

Start/End: Imports all animation in the range that you specify in the Start Time and End Time fields.
Time Slider: Imports animation for the time segment currently displayed in the Time Slider.
From File: Imports animation based on the time range specified in the selected .atom file.

Start Time: Available only when the Time Range is set to Start/End. Lets you specify the first (or only) frame to import.
End Time: Available only when the Time Range is set to Start/End. Lets you specify the last frame to import.
Search and Replace: Available only when Match Method is set to String. Let you search for a specific string in the imported .atom file and replace it as the data is imported.
Add Prefix and Add Suffix: Available only when Match Method is set to String. Lets you enter a string to append before (Prefix) or after (Suffix) the imported names.
Map File: Available only when Match Method is set to Map File. Lets you navigate to select a map file that defines how the exported animation in the .atom file maps to the selected objects.