MassFX Explorer

The MassFX Explorer is a specialized version of Scene Explorer dedicated to working with MassFX simulations. It allows you to view simulation properties for all objects in the simulation and change such properties as rigid body type and whether bodies take part in the simulation.

MassFX Tools: Simulation Tools Panel > Utilities rollout > Explore Scene
Standard menu: Animation menu > MassFX > Utilities > Open Dynamics Explorer
Enhanced menu: Simulate menu > Tools - MassFX > Open Dynamics Explorer
Enhanced menu: Scene menu > Manage Scene Content > Dynamics Explorer
Scene Explorer > View toolbar > Open drop-down list > Add Default Scene Explorer > Default MassFX Explorer

This topic covers controls specific to the MassFX Explorer version of Scene Explorer.

Interface

Display menu

The MassFX Explorer menus contain a single MassFX-related command:

Display non-Dynamics Objects

By default, this option, found on the Display menu, is off and MassFX Explorer lists only the following types of objects:

Objects to which the MassFX Rigid Body modifier is applied.
MassFX Constraint helpers
Ragdoll helpers

To show other types of objects in the scene in MassFX Explorer, turn on the Display Non-Dynamics Objects option. It's also found at the right end of the MassFX Explorer toolbar as .

MassFX Explorer toolbar

This section describes toolbar controls specific to MassFX Explorer. For descriptions of general Scene Explorer toolbar tools, see Scene Explorer Toolbars.

Set Dynamics Mode to Dynamic

Sets the rigid body type for highlighted rigid bodies to Dynamic. For details, see Rigid Body Types: Dynamic, Kinematic, and Static.

This setting is also available on the MassFX Explorer right-click menu by choosing Dynamics Simulation Mode Dynamic. You can also change the setting by clicking the object's entry in the SimMode column and choosing from the drop-down list.

Set Dynamics Mode to Kinematic

Sets the rigid body type for highlighted rigid bodies to Kinematic. For details, see Rigid Body Types: Dynamic, Kinematic, and Static.

This setting is also available on the MassFX Explorer right-click menu by choosing Dynamics Simulation Mode Kinematic. You can also change the setting by clicking the object's entry in the SimMode column and choosing from the drop-down list.

Set Dynamics Mode to Static

Sets the rigid body type for highlighted rigid bodies to Static. For details, see Rigid Body Types: Dynamic, Kinematic, and Static.

This setting is also available on the MassFX Explorer right-click menu by choosing Dynamics Simulation Mode Static. You can also change the setting by clicking the object's entry in the SimMode column and choosing from the drop-down list.

Include in Simulation

When active, the rigid body takes part in the simulation.

This setting is also available on the MassFX Explorer right-click menu by choosing Dynamics Include In Simulation. Alternatively, toggle the setting with the object's SimEnabled checkbox.

Exclude from Simulation

When active, the rigid body does not take part in the simulation.

This setting is also available on the MassFX Explorer right-click menu by choosing Dynamics Exclude From Simulation. Alternatively, toggle the setting with the object's SimEnabled checkbox.

Bake

Resets the simulation and then runs it while storing transforms for all highlighted Dynamic rigid bodies as animation keyframes. When complete, the baked rigid bodies are converted to Kinematic. Also sets an internal "baked" flag for the rigid bodies for unbaking. This flag is visible in MassFX Explorer as a checked box for baked items in the SimBaked column.

Restore baked objects to Dynamic status with the Unbake command (see following).

This command is available on the MassFX Explorer right-click menu by choosing Dynamics Bake. Baking functions are also available on the MassFX Tools dialog Simulation Tools panel Simulation rollout.

Unbake

Deletes keyframes for all highlighted rigid bodies set to kinematic by baking (see preceding) and restores them to dynamic.

This command is available on the MassFX Explorer right-click menu by choosing Dynamics Unbake. Baking functions are also available on the MassFX Tools dialog Simulation Tools panel Simulation rollout.

Capture Transforms

Sets the initial transform for each highlighted dynamic object to its current transform. Subsequent uses of Reset Simulation return the dynamic objects to these transforms.

For example, you might use this to start a simulation with a stable pile of bricks. You could create a bunch of bricks in the air, run the simulation, wait until everything settles, and then invoke this menu command. Thereafter Reset Simulation would always return the bricks to their new, piled-up locations.

Display Non-Dynamics Objects

When on, the MassFX Explorer can list all objects on the scene, depending on other display settings. When off (the default), only dynamics objects (rigid bodies, constraints, ragdolls) appear in the list.

MassFX Explorer columns

This section describes columns specific to MassFX Explorer. For descriptions of general Scene Explorer columns, see Scene Explorer Columns.

SimType: This read-only field shows whether the object is a rigid body, a constraint, or a ragdoll.
SimMode: For rigid bodies, this field shows the type: kinematic, dynamic, or static. To change the type, click the field and choose the new type from the drop-down list.
SimEnabled: When on, the rigid body takes part in the simulation. To toggle this setting, click the checkbox.
For constraints and ragdolls, the setting is visible but unavailable; those object types are always enabled for the simulation.
SimBaked: This read-only checkbox shows whether the rigid body is baked or not. When on, you can use the Unbake function to restore it to dynamic status.