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Synopsis

characterize [-activatePivot] [-addAuxEffector] [-addFloorContactPlane] [-addMissingEffectors] [-attributeFromHIKProperty string] [-attributeFromHIKPropertyMode string] [-autoActivateBodyPart boolean] [-changePivotPlacement] [-effectors string] [-fkSkeleton string] [-name string] [-pinHandFeet] [-placeNewPivot] [-posture string] [-sourceSkeleton string] [-stancePose string] [-type string]

characterize is undoable, queryable, and editable.

This command is used to scan a joint hierarchy for predefined joint names or labels. If the required joints are found, human IK effectors will be created to control the skeleton using full-body IK. Alternatively, you can manually create all of the components required for fullbody IK, and use this command to hook them up. Fullbody IK needs 3 major components: the user input skeleton (sk), the fk skeleton on which keys are set (fk) and the hik effectors (ik). Together fk and ik provide parameters to the fullbody IK engine, which solves for the output and plots it onto sk. This command usage is used internally by Maya when importing data from fbx files, but is not generally recommended. Note that a minimum set of required joint names or joint labels must be found in order for the characterize command to succeed. Please refer to the Maya documentation for details on properly naming or labeling your skeleton. The skeleton should also be z-facing, with its y-axis up, its left hand parallel to positive x-axis and right hand parallel to negative x-axis. END_COMMENT

Return value

string Names of full body IK effectors that were created.

In query mode, return type is based on queried flag.

Keywords

characterize, effectors, fullbody, IK

Flags

activatePivot, addAuxEffector, addFloorContactPlane, addMissingEffectors, attributeFromHIKProperty, attributeFromHIKPropertyMode, autoActivateBodyPart, changePivotPlacement, effectors, fkSkeleton, name, pinHandFeet, placeNewPivot, posture, sourceSkeleton, stancePose, type
Long name (short name) Argument types Properties
-placeNewPivot(-pnp) edit
Creates a new pivot and puts it into placement mode. Note that you will not be able to do full body manipulation about this pivot until you have activated it with the -activatePivot flag. A pivot behaves in all ways the same as an effector (it IS an effector, except that it is offset from the normal position of the effector to allow one to rotate about a different point). A new pivot created with this flag allow you to adjust the offset interactively before activating it.
-activatePivot(-apv) edit
Activates a pivot that has been properly placed. After activating this new pivot, you will now be able to rotate and translate about this pivot. A pivot behaves in all ways the same as an effector (it IS an effector, except that it is offset from the normal position of the effector to allow one to rotate about a different point.
-changePivotPlacement(-cpp) edit
Reverts a pivot back into pivot placement mode. A pivot that is in placement mode will not participate in full body manipulation until it has been activated with the -activatePivot flag.
-addAuxEffector(-aae) edit
Adds an auxilliary (secondary) effector to an existing effector.
-addFloorContactPlane(-afp) edit
Adds a floor contact plane to one of the hands or feet. With this plane, you will be able to adjust the floor contact height. Select a hand or foot effector and then issue the characterize command with this flag.
-pinHandFeet(-phf) create
When the character is first being characterized, pin the hands and feet by default.
-type(-typ) string create
Specifies the technique used by the characterization to identify the joint type. Valid options are "label" and "name". When "label" is used, the joints must be labelled using the guidelines described in the Maya documentation. When name is used, the joint names must follow the naming conventions described in the Maya documentation. The default is "name". This flag cannot be used in conjunction with the sourceSkeleton flag.
-posture(-pos) string create
Specifies the posture of the character. Valid options are "biped" and "quadruped". The default is "biped".
-sourceSkeleton(-sk) string createedit
This flag can be used to characterize a skeleton that has not been named or labelled according to the FBIK guidelines. It specifies the association between the actual joint names and the expected FBIK joint names. The format of the string is as follows: For each joint that the user wants to involve in the solve: 1) the partial path of the joint and 2) the name of the full body joint this represents. 1) and 2) are to be separated by white space, and multiple entries separated by ",".
-fkSkeleton(-fk) string createedit
Specify the fk skeleton to be used by human IK by providing 2 pieces of information for each joint of the FK skeleton: 1) the partial path of the joint and 2) the name of the full body joint this represents. 1) and 2) are to be separated by white space, and multiple entries separated by ",". Normally, the fk control skeleton is automatically created. This flag is for advanced users only.
-effectors(-ef) string create
Specify the effectors to be used by human IK by providing 2 pieces of information for each effector: 1) the partial path of the effector and 2) the name of the full body effector this represents. 1) and 2) are to be separated by white space, and multiple entries separated by ",". Normally, the effectors are automatically created. This flag is for advanced users only.
-stancePose(-sp) string createquery
Specify the default stance pose to be used by human IK. The stance pose is specified by providing 2 pieces of information for each joint involved in the solve: 1) the partial path to the joint and 2) 9 numbers representing translation rotation and scale. 1) and 2) are to be separated by white space, and multiple entries separated by ",". Normally, the stance pose is taken from the selected skeleton. This flag is for advanced users only.
-addMissingEffectors(-ame) edit
This flag tells the characterize command to look for any effectors that can be added to the skeleton. For example, if the user has deleted some effectors or added fingers to an existing skeleton, "characterize -e -addMissingEffectors" can be used to restore them.
-attributeFromHIKProperty( -ahk) string query
Query for the attribute name associated with a MotionBuilder property.
-attributeFromHIKPropertyMode( -mhk) string query
Query for the attribute name associated with a MotionBuilder property mode.
-autoActivateBodyPart(-aab) boolean queryedit
Query or change whether auto activation of character nodes representing body parts should be enabled.
-name(-nm) string create
At characterization (FBIK creation) time, use this flag to name your FBIK character. This will affect the name of the hikHandle node and the control rig will be put into a namespace that matches the name of your character. If you do not specify the character name, a default one will be used. At the moment edit and query of the character name is not supported.
Flag can appear in Create mode of command Flag can appear in Edit mode of command
Flag can appear in Query mode of command Flag can be used more than once in a command.

MEL examples

// Characterize a skeleton.  Select the root of the skeleton and enter
// the following. The skeleton joints must be named according to the
// FBIK naming conventions described in the main Maya documentation.
//
characterize -pinHandFeet;
// Characterize a skeleton that has not been named according to the
// FBIK naming conventions by using the -sk flag to define the
// purpose of the joints. Select the skeleton and enter the following.
//
characterize  -sk "pelvis Hips,hipL LeftUpLeg,kneeL LeftLeg,footL LeftFoot,toeL LeftToeBase,hipR RightUpLeg,kneeR RightLeg,footR RightFoot,toeR RightToeBase,spine Spine,spine1 Spine1,collarL LeftShoulder,shoulderL LeftArm,elbowL LeftForeArm,handL LeftHand,collarR RightShoulder,shoulderR RightArm,elbowR RightForeArm,handR RightHand,neck Neck,head Head,spine2 Spine2";
// Add a floor contact plane. Select a foot or hand effector and enter
// the following:
//
characterize -e -addFloorContactPlane;
// Add a full body pivot to an effector. Select the effector and enter
// the following:
//
characterize -e -placeNewPivot;
// De-activate a pivot so that it can be moved to another location.
//
characterize -e -changePivotPlacement;
// Activate a new pivot once it has been placed in the desired location.
//
characterize -e -activatePivot;