cacheFile

This node stores all the settings for a single nDynamic cache (nCache) and fluid effects nCache. Changes to this node’s attributes do not affect its associated cache file on disk. See cacheFile.

In the dependency graph and Attribute Editor, nCaches are represented as nNodeName#Cache# nodes. For example, windTunnelShape1Cache1, windTunnelShape1Cache2, and windTunnelShape1Cache3 are the names of the three nCache nodes that contain the cache settings for an fluid effect named windTunnel. In the Trax Editor, nCaches are represented as nCache clips. Changing an nCache node’s settings also changes the settings of their corresponding nCache clips.

Cache File

Base Directory: Specifies the directory in which the current nCache node’s original cache file resides on disk. By default, the base directory is: \maya\projects\default\data.
Cache Name: Specifies the name of the current nCache node’s original cache file on disk.
Enable: When on, the current nCache node’s simulation is used by its fluid object on playback. When off, the current nCache node’s simulation is not used by its fluid object on playback.
Start Frame: Specifies the starting time of the current nCache node’s playback. You can change this attribute to modify when your nCache node’s playback begins.
Scale: Expands or contracts the time range of the current node’s nCache. If you increase the scale, the node’s nCache simulation plays back slower. Decreasing the scale has the opposite effect.
Hold: Specifies the number of frames to hold the last frame of the current node’s nCache.
Pre Cycle/Post Cycle: Specifies the number of cycles that come before (Pre Cycle) and after (Post Cycle) the current node’s nCache.

You can use cycles to repeat the simulation contained in your nCaches.
Source Start/Source End: Specifies the start frame number and the end frame number for the range of frames from the original cache on disk that are contained in the current node’s nCache. The Source Start and Source End values will not match the Original Start or Original End values if the current node’s nCache has been trimmed.
Original Start/Original End: Specifies the start frame number and end frame number of the current node’s original nCache file on disk.
Reverse: When on, the current node’s nCache plays in reverse, starting with cache’s last frame. Reverse is off by default.
Oscillate: When on, the current node's nCache oscillates between reverse and forward playback every other frame, creating a continuous playback loop. Oscillate is off by default.
Multi Thread: When on, the current node’s nCache is setup for multithreading during playback. Multi Thread is off by default.
Queue Size (frames): Indicates the number of frames of the nCache Maya will try to preload and keep in memory if multithreading is enabled, but is not setup to preload the entire cache. Queue Size (frames) is 20 by default.
Display Load Progress: When on, the percentage of the multi thread cache memory queue that is full is displayed. Display Load Progress is on by default.

Cache Description

Displays a selection of the information contained in the XML description file for the current nCache node. For more information on the values contained in the Cache Description, see nCache XML description file.