Create or open a Session

In FCS, a file that links actor information, character information, Maya scene information, and analysis data is called a “Session.”

After launching FCS, go to “New…(Create new Session)” or “Open” to access the Session data.

Note

By settings details for a Session at the beginning, you can start working with the buttons on FCS without having to operate Maya separately.

Folder structure created by Create new Session

Color	Content
Red	Folders created when setting up a new project
Blue	Folders created when setting up a new actor
Green	Folders created when setting up a new character

Folder	Content	Detail
Facial		Folder to save materials (i.e., HMC videos and Maya scene data)
L	Assets	Folder to save Maya project file (containing assets)
L	RecData	Folder to save the videos you want to analyze with
L	Scene	Default output destination for animation output
L	SetData	For animation output, wav files will be saved when you select audio.Sequential numbered image files will be created and saved when you select “frame” or `landmark frame’.
FCS		Project folder where data used for analysis is saved
L	Assets	Folder created with Actor. The name entered in Actor is displayed.
L	RecData	Folder created with Character. The name entered in Character is displayed
L	Scene	Edited data (images and character controller values) of the created Profile is saved
L	SetData	Cache of the video to be analyzed is saved
L	.lock	lock file to prevent the same project being edited by multiple users
L	fcs_session.yaml	File that saves session information

Creating a new Session

• File→Session→Select New…

Folder	Detail
Project Folder	Specify the location to put FCS data
Actor	Name of the motion actor
Character	Name of the 3D model
Maya Scene	Path to the 3D model Maya scene
Maya Base	Path to the folder where workspace.mel is
Maya Ver	Version of the data created in the scene

1. Folders created when setting up a new project

   Click “Browse” button to launch a window for selecting a project folder.

   

   Specify any empty folder to store data with FCS.

   Create Project Folder.

   

   Create

   A pop-up will appear after the folder is successfully created.

   

   Close

   Facial and FCS folders will be created.

   

   Note

   We recommend putting your maya scene and assets under Project Folder→Facial→Assets and videos for analysis under Project Folder→Facial→RecData.

   

   Example assets folder

   

   Example RecData folder

2. Actor settings

   Click “+” and launch “Create new actor folder” to create an Actor Folder.

   • Enter the name you want to register in “Actor Name.”

   • “Actor” ＝ name of the motion actor

   • Create

   

   A pop-up will appear after the folder is successfully created.

   • close

   

   The Actor folder you entered will be created directly under the Project Folder folder in Explorer.

   

3. Setting Character

   Click the “+” button to launch the “Create New Character Folder” window to create a character folder.

   • Enter the desired name in the “Character Name” input field.

   • Create

   

   The Character folder you entered will be created directly under the Actor folder in Explorer.

   

4. Setting Maya Scene

   Click the Browse button to launch a window for selecting a MayaScene.

   • Setting Maya Scene

   

5. Setting Maya Base

   Click the Browse button to launch the window to select the Maya Base.

   • Folder which contains workspace.mel

   Attention

   Select the location where workspace.mel is located (the location registered in the Maya scene project settings)

   

6. Setting Maya Ver

   

   Version of the data created in the scene

   After completing all inputs, please press the Save button.

   

   Save

   

   fcs_session.yaml (FCS file) will be created directly under the character folder in Explorer.

   Note

   The .lock file is used to prevent others from accessing the file while you are working on it. They are automatically deleted when you finish your work properly.

   Note

   If the .lock file remains because of incorrect shut down, etc, please delete the file from the popup when you are starting FCS or delete the file directly in Explorer.

If a Session has already been created

Open Session from history or fcs_session.yaml file.

Open a recently used session

If you have recently opened the session, the history will be displayed under File→Session→Open.

• Click on the session file that you would like to open

Open Session from fcs_session.yaml file

• File→Session→Open→Open… After you open the Open Session window, local and network drives will be displayed.

• Select and open the fcs_session.yaml file located directly under the Character folder.

When opening a Session

Using multiple session files

Warning

While creating/opening a new Session, you cannot create or start another Session. To open another session, close the current session, restart FCS, and reopen it.

If “Maya Ver” is set incorrectly

You can check the setting details when you create the session under File→Session→info.

If the Maya Version setting in New Session is not reflected in info, right-click Maya Version on the info screen and select Edit so that you can edit the details.

Attention

Please click the Save button after changing settings.