Replace nCaches

You can replace an entire nCache file with a new simulation, or you can strategically replace individual cache frames in an nCache file. For example, you can improve an object’s cached simulation by resimulating specific frames and replacing only those frames in its nCache file.

To replace an nCache

  1. Select the object for which you want to replace a cache.
    Note:

    You cannot replace an nCache for an object that has more than one enabled cache.

  2. Depending on the object type, in the FX menu set do one of the following:
    • For Nucleus objects, select nCache > Replace Cache > nObject.
    • For fluid objects,nCache > Replace Cache > Maya Fluid
  3. (Optional) If an nCache file with the same name already exists in the directory specified in the Replace nCache Options or Replace Fluid nCache Options window, the Create Cache Warning message appears.

    Do one of the following:

    • Click Rename to change the name of the replacement cache you want to create. The Replace nCache Options or Replace Fluid nCache Options window appears. Type a new name for the replacement cache in the Cache Name field and click Replace.
    • Click Auto-rename to create a new nCache file. The new cache file is saved to a new folder on disk, the object’s current nCache file is detached from its cache node, and the new nCache file is attached to the object’s cache node.
    • Click Cancel to exit the Replace Cache operation.
    • Click Replace Existing to create a new nCache file. The object’s current nCache file on disk is replaced with the new simulation, and the new nCache file is attached to the object’s cache node.

    After the simulation, a cache is created for the selected object, replacing its current cache at the time range specified in the Replace nCache Options or Replace Fluid Cache Options window.

To replace nCache frames

  1. Select the object for which you want to replace individual nCache frames.
    Note:

    You cannot replace nCache frames for an object that has more than one enabled cache.

  2. From the FX menu set, select nCache > Replace Cache Frame.

    After the simulation, a cache is created for the frame or range of frames specified in the Replace nCache Frame(s) Options window, replacing your object’s current cache at the specified time range, and backups of the original unchanged cache and description files are generated (named backup#_originalCacheName by default). This is required for undo operations.

    See nCache > Replace Cache Frame.

To undo a replace nCache frames operation

Note:

If Delete backup files was on when you replaced your nCache frames, then you cannot undo the Replace operation because the frames that were replaced were also deleted from disk.

When you replace nCache frames, backup files of the original cache data are automatically generated and named by prefixing the original cache file names with backup_, backup1_ and so on. To undo a replace nCache frames operation, the backup files that were generated need to be renamed to the original file names. For example, to undo a replace nCache frames operation on an nCache named Cape, you would rename its backup_Cape.xml and backup_Cape.mc backup files to Cape.xml and Cape.mc.

When you replace nCache frames on a One File Per Frame cache, only the frames that are replaced are backed up. To undo a replace nCache frames operation on a One File Per Frame cache, the backup frame files that were generated need to be renamed to the original frame file names. For example, to undo a replace nCache frames operation on the nCloth One File Per Frame caches named CapeFrame1, CapeFrame2, and CapeFrame3, you would rename their backup_Cape.xml file to Cape.xml, and the replaced frame backup files backup_CapeFrame1.mc, backup_CapeFrame2.mc, and backup_CapeFrame3.mc to CapeFrame1.mc, CapeFrame2.mc, and CapeFrame3.mc.