External Layer references

[Jkoseattle]

When I go to Update Layer Reference for a reference layer, the dialog has an option "Replace mismatched vectors" that is unchecked. What is this for, and why is it unchecked? In creating some test vector layers, I can't see that it makes any difference checked or not, and whether the source is in the same project or an external one.

Also, under what conditions might I need to use that option? Would I only ever need to use it if the reference is to an external document? Is it like updating source images, (where sometimes I can edit the image externally and Moho picks it up it it's feelin' it, but usually I have to Reset Source Image), or do I always have to Update Layer Reference if I change the source layer in the external project?

Lastly, in the spirit of "You just have to know Moho does it this way and won't work that way", what are the caveats regarding reference layers to external projects that I should be aware of?

[Greenlaw]

When I go to Update Layer Reference for a reference layer, the dialog has an option "Replace mismatched vectors" that is unchecked. What is this for...?

The Replace Mismatched Vector option in Update Layer Reference... checks for changes in the artwork of vector layers. By that, I mean adding/deleting points and curves. If Moho detects this kind of change, and you check that box, it replaces your altered artwork with the original from the Reference. Note that this affects the artwork itself and not the animation of the artwork (i.e., moved points vs. adding/deleting points.) When the box is not checked, Moho keeps the changes you made to the art in the current project...which is probably what you normally want, and thus it's disabled by default.

If you want to revert to any animation that existed in the original project, then you use Sync All Channels instead. If you only want to revert part of the animation, then you want to do that in the Timeline by r-clicking the channel you want to update and choosing Sync Channel To Original.

Note that there are a few things that won't carry over when using the Update Layer Reference... command. For example, if you change Bone Strength in the original, this will not update in the project containing the reference. I believe this is because Strength isn't a key-frameable property. So, if you do make changes to Bone Strength (or any other non-key-frameable property,) you'll need to make that change in any target projects that use the reference manually.

At work, when I make such changes to a rig, I send a message to animators who are already using the rig so they can make the automated and/or manual changes as they see fit.

When your target project is already animated and you don't need the changes, just ignore the red arrows and don't update the rig. You don't have to update it if you don't need the updates. If the red arrows bother you, you can use the Break Layer Reference command. This converts the layers into regular layers so they don't get updated accidentally.

Using Layer References is a very powerful feature, especially after you've started animating scenes but are also still working on the rigs. But as you can see from the above explanations, you need to be careful about how you use them.

Hope this helps.