What it can do for you

PAIE (Python Attribute Import/Export) is a Maya based animation transfer tool which lets you save unlimited attribute data out to a file and import them again to the same or another file/character/whatever, which enables you to make animation/pose libraries with f.x. different walk/run cycles or hand/face poses to share between colleagues or quickly load when you need them.

How to install it

As the tool is written mainly in python, it only works in Maya8.5 and later but should work on all platforms. To use the tool, place "paie.py" somewhere in your PYTHONPATH*. Restart maya and import paie by typing "import paie" in a python commandLine/scriptEditor As I havn't quite documented the command line arguments and use yet, I suggest that you use the GUI. To start op the GUI after having imported paie, type "paie.GUI()" in a python commandLine/scriptEditor.

How you can use it

PAIE works always on your current selection and will never delete or change data that you have previously set yourself. Data is saved by writing a file in PAIEs own filetype called ".xad" where all attribute data is stored.

The Interface

The consists of a top row with a switch between an import and an export mode, a refresh button to refresh the filelist if someone have written out a file that you need to load and an 'add tab' and 'remove tab' button which enables you to have several tabs pointing to each of their directories so you kan have f.x. one tab pointing to face poses, another to hand poses, another to your local animation library and then maybe one pointing to a global library where you can share poses/animation with fellow artists.

Export Mode:

When exporting using the GUI you need to select whatever objects you want to export attributes on, set your active timeline according to what animation you would like to export, write in/browse to a path for PAIE to save the file and type in the filename. If you want PAIE to only export current pose instead of possible animation data, check the 'pose only' check box. If neccessary you can also put in a comment concerning your file in the comments field. Click then the Export Button and depending on your OS there should be a progressBar either as a window (windows) or on the command line (linux, and maybe mac?) and your file should have been written to disk and show up in the "Existing Files" list when done.

Import Mode:

Importing a file does as well work on your current selection and writes the data starting at your current active frame. Only restriction here though is that you can only import data onto one namespace (or 'none') at a time, even though the exported data can contain several. When a file gets selected the namespaces list gets updated with the files contained namespaces and the fileInfo prints different meta data from the file. You need to always select one namespace when importing to choose from where in the file you want to fetch your animation. When you import a file PAIE will by default match your import data names to your current selection and only add animation to objects that have the same name as the source (namespaces excluded). This enables you to easily import data form one rig to another rig having two different namespaces but the same naming. You can also choose to import your data according to selection order by checking the 'select order' check box. This will make PAIE add data to your current selection disregarding naming but using the order in which you selected your export data compared to the order in which you made your current selection.

Development and License

PAIE is being developed for Radar Film & Disco worms Aps and is published as open source under the LGPL.