Constraints not exported with FBX

[Anonymous]

Hey all. So im having a few troubles trying to export rigs/animations as an FBX and was hoping someone would be able to help please. 

So ive fully rigged a character with controllers, and constraints from these onto the bones. But quite simply when I export the FBX the controllers seem to lose their constraints. So the bones still effect the skin, but the controllers no longer effect the rig. Thus importing the mesh stuck in T pose and the controllers then animating alone.

I've tested this with a simple setup of a NURB controller with a parent constraint to a simple cube. Export the FBX and import into a new scene and/or unity and the constraint has detached again and both the controller and mesh are selectable individually.

I'm sure this method worked perfectly during my studies using Maya 2015, so is it a case of something changing in versions after this or?

Any help would be so much appreciated. I've checked all export settings, including ensuring constraints is selected and read upon many other posts and forums etc but I just can't get anywhere with it. 

Thanks!

[mspeer]

Hi!

You need to enable "Constraints" in the Export Options.

Please read the Maya Online Help / Documentation for more details.

Also keep in mind that not all features of Maya can be saved by FBX.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply. I have constraints selected already within my export settings, though this doesn't seem to be fixing things? Have included a screenshot of the current export settings if that is of any help?

[Anonymous]

Can someone solve this, please? I am having the same problem:(

[kelly_hynes]

hello,

I tested in Maya 2020 gold release and using a simple constraint set up, it worked as expected. 

When exporting, be sure that the 'constraints' option is selected for the export.  But, also, when you import, select the fbx file, and ensure you have fbx selected in the import filter.  With the file is selected, check the options displayed on the right side of the import options.  There is also a constraints options shown there.  Note that in the stats section, there is a list of what the scene contains and constraints are listed there.  See below import options screen shot:

Hope this helps.

Kelly

[kelly_hynes]

Hi again,

I have a bit more info to share on this topic.   There does appear to be a bug in the import workflow and has been confirmed for Maya 2019 and Maya 2020.  

FBX export is correct and contains the constraints.  The error happens at the import of the FBX file.  During FBX import constraints will be skipped when Files of type is set to "All Files" (after you start a new Maya session).

Solution: Set "Files of type" to  "FBX".

If you reset this to "All Files" it also works correct, until you restart Maya.

Kelly

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Thank you for helping, I am afraid it does not work even with FBX set as files of type during the import.
Kind regards,

Doriana Re

[mspeer]

Hi!

In this case please provide the Maya scene-file + the exported FBX file.

[Anonymous]

Doriana Re has shared a OneDrive for Business file with you. To view it, click the link below.

[https://r1.res.office365.com/owa/prem/images/dc-generic_20.png]
Rob_FaceRig_Surgeon.0005.mlt

Hi,

Sorry I have missed your email. I have attached the Maya scene in this email. This problem is happening all my other scenes with rigs as well, so I do not think this is a problem related to that rig in specific.
Thank you for the help,

Kind regards,

Doriana

[mspeer]

Hi!

@Anonymous 

Sorry, but there are no files attached.

Please make sure to provide the correct link or ZIP the files before you attach them.

Don't forget the FBX file.

(If you are using Maya LT then I can't open the Maya scene here).

[cavescholar]

Hello, if you are noticing that your model is not constrained once you imported to a game engine and the animations are not playing correctly. Then you need to first from Maya Animation menu set KEY > BAKE SIMULATION. Then when exporting select Bake Animation, set start/end frames, and export. 

Hope this helps, it helped me 🙂

[Anonymous]

Hi,
Thanks, I am aware of that, but for the moment I would just like to export and import it into another Maya scene with the constraints. It used to work in the past so I would like to know why it is not working now.
Thanks,
Kind regards,

Doriana

[cavescholar]

Instead of using FBX why not just save your scene as *.ma file. Once you are in the scene you want it in, just import the MA file (just like you would import an FBX) and skip having to deal with an FBX?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

The problem is that I need to export all the rigs made in Maya LT files into the full version of maya scenes. Maya LT and the full version of Maya are not compatible so I cannot import a Maya LT file into full Maya. The only way is through .fbx,
Thanks,

Kind regards,

DOriana