Import or export a HumanIK skeleton template

When setting up a skeleton in the HumanIK window, you can export a template of the joint positioning, then re-use that template to build other similar skeletons.

To export a HumanIK skeleton template file

1. In the HumanIK window, select > Edit Skeleton > Export Skeleton Template.
2. In the Export Template window that appears, enter a file name and click Save.

   The global translation data for the joints is saved as a text file in the location you selected in the Export Template window.

To import a HumanIK skeleton template file

1. Load or create a default skeleton.
2. In the HumanIK window, select > Edit Skeleton > Import Skeleton Template.
3. In the Import Template window that appears, select an .hik template file that you previously saved, and click Open.
   Note:

   You can locate the templates that are installed with Maya here:

   • Windows: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\<Maya version>\resources\CharacterControls
   • Mac OS X: /Applications/Autodesk/<Maya version>/Maya.app/Contents/resources/CharacterControls
   • Linux:/usr/autodesk/Maya/resources/CharacterControls
   Note:

   By default, the character controls templates are created in CharacterControls directory during installation. These files are used to create the default layouts for the Controls and Custom Rig tabs.

   The skeleton that you created or loaded updates to use the joint positions from the template file.

Related topics

• Create and define a HumanIK skeleton