Create a container template
 
 
 

After you have created a container and published attributes and nodes, you can save a template of the container’s published attribute names to be used by other containers.

Creating a template also allows you to create additional views that change the interface of your container in Maya. For more information, see Add a view to a container template and Customize a template view.

NoteA container’s published node names are not stored as part of the template file. If the container you use to create your template includes published root transform, child anchor, or parent anchor nodes, those node names will not be saved as part of the template.

To create a container template

  1. Open the Asset Editor (Window > General Editors > Asset Editor).
  2. In the left panel of the Asset Editor, select the container from which you want to create a template and click the Pin icon .

    The pinned container’s published attributes and nodes display in the right panel.

  3. Select Template > Save As.
  4. Enter a name for the template in the file browser that appears, and click Save.

    The XML template file is saved (by default) in the assets sub-directory of your current project, and the template is assigned to the current container.

    The file name you entered becomes the Template name displaying at the top of the right panel of the Asset Editor, and the template View is set to Group By Node by default.

    Because a template has been assigned, the red Select icons next to each published attribute and node in the right panel update to reflect their status. For the container’s published attributes, the Select icons turn green to indicate the published name is part of the assigned template. For the container’s published nodes, the Select icons turn yellow to indicate the associated node is published, but its published name is not part of the assigned template.

  5. (Optional) If you plan to reuse or share your template with other users, it is recommended that you write protect the template file to prevent accidental changes.

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