Can't attach object to motion path

[Anonymous]

Error Line 0:

Keep trying to attach an object to a motion path but constantly get this error: 

pathAnimation -fractionMode true -follow true -followAxis x -upAxis y -worldUpType "object" -worldUpObject pSphere14 -inverseUp false -inverseFront false -bank false -startTimeU 1 -endTimeU 250;
// Error: line 0: No object matches name: pSphere14 //
// Error: line 0: //

Everything worked perfectly yesterday. Does anyone know what's happening here? Is it another bug??... 

Would be grateful for any info.

TIA.

[mspeer]

Hi!

As the Error states, there is no pSphere14 in your scene.

If there is, please upload the scene-file (containing at least pSphere14 and the curve that should be used as motion path)

[Anonymous]

Initially I had this issue with a file I was working with when I first got this message, seemingly for no reason.

As a test I decided to create a new file (after quitting Maya and re-starting it) I then created a random EP curve and then created a poly cube, I then selected in the correct order and went to attach to motion path and still got the error.

it seems like a bug as I can find no other reason for this to just start out of the blue when previously things were fine with attaching objects to paths.

If anyone knows what the hell is going on I'd be very grateful for the help.

[Calebos]

Hi,

 it looks you put the "pSphere14" name to text field of the option box of the motionPath tool. If so just open the option box again and just reset it.

[Anonymous]

Nope, that's the weird thing, i did absolutely noting other than what I mentioned, no name changes, nothing. 

[mspeer · Accepted solution]

Hi!

You maybe misunderstood what @Calebos meant.

Anyway, try a reset of your preferences.
Rename the folder prefs in folder 2018 to something like prefs_backup, or to reset everything, the folder 2018 to 2018_backup (or even the maya folder to maya_backup). Maya creates new folders (don't copy preferences from previous Maya versions). Detailed at:
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/maya/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Reset-May...

[Anonymous]

OK, will try this.

Out of interest, why would this happen, why would prefs become corrupted?

[mspeer]

Hi!

Prefs don't necessarily need to be corrupted to make this a solution. A lot of users change settings and don't remember what they have done. That's especially true for new users trying out a lot of things. So instead of hours of writing messages it's easier and faster to reset everything. And it's a solution that can be used in multiple cases, so a user don't need to come back to the forum every time he accidently changed something and don't know how to reset it.

[Calebos]

Exactly.

 It happens to me many times(just example: setting up to keep offsets in the constraint's option box and then when using constraint for the quick matching transformation attributes I wonder what happened with values). 🙂

Even I work in Maya from its beginning(february 1998) I am still forgetting things ...

[mspeer]

Hi!

What i do is i disable Save Preferences when Maya exits in Preferences, sadly this also affects the saving for recent file list and current set project.

But this way i have better control of what changes i want to be saved.

(Even you hit Save Settings in the Options of a tool you still have to save preferences if you want the new settings to be available next time you start Maya)

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the replies guys. I did bin my prefs and it subsequently worked. Other stuff are still acting weird but that's a whole other story.

Thanks anyway guys.

[mspeer · Accepted solution]

Hi!

Glad it works now.

Please mark every answer that solves your problem as solution, so others interested in this thread will get a better overview.

[Anonymous]

Hi, 

I am having a similar problem, an error pops up when I press attach (to attach the camera to motion path). I have tried renaming files, but the error still appears. Any other suggestions? I need help! 

Thank you

Bec