Hierarchy Panel

Found in the Command Panel, the Hierarchy panel provides access to tools to adjust the hierarchical linkage between objects.

The Hierarchy panel

• Command panel > Hierarchy panel

Gyroscope assembled as a hierarchy:

The parent is the outer ring with handle.

The flywheel is the lowest child.

By linking one object to another, you create a parent-child relationship. Transformations applied to the parent are also transmitted to the child. By linking more objects to both parent and child objects you can create complex hierarchies.

Common uses of linking are:

• Creating complex motions.
• Simulating jointed structures.
• Providing the basis for inverse kinematics.
• Setting rotational and sliding parameters for Bones.

The Hierarchy panel is divided into three areas:

Pivot

IK

Link Info

Note: For important background information on hierarchies and kinematics, see Animating with Forward Kinematics and Inverse Kinematics (IK).