Add assembly representations

Before you add representations, save the Alembic-based caches and Maya scene files you plan to use as representations. See Prepare to create representations.

You can add assembly representations to an Assembly definition using the Outliner, scene view menus, or Attribute Editor.

To add a representation to the assembly definition

  1. In the Outliner, select the assemblyDefinition node.
  2. Do either of the following:
    • -click in the Outliner or scene view and select Scene Assembly from the menu that appears.
    • In the Attribute Editor, expand the Assembly Representations heading.
  3. Select (or click) Add Cache representation, Add Scene representation, or Add Locator representation.

    If you selected Add Locator representation, the locator appears in the scene.

    Tip:

    For Locator representations, you can use the Data attribute to add notes. When the Locator is the active representation, the note text displays near the locator in the scene.

    If you selected Add Cache representation or Add Scene representation, Maya browses the project cache/alembic and scene directories for the files.

  4. (Optional) Turn on Load representation if you want this representation to be active.

    See Switching active assembly representations.

    If Load representation is on, the newly added representation is added to the scene as the active representation. The list of available representations in the Outliner and scene view Scene Assembly menus list the new representation. The Representation List in the assembly definition Attribute Editor lists the new representation.

Tip:

Using the arrow icons, you can change the order of representations in the list. The ordering of the Representation List also defines how the representations appear in the Outliner and the scene view menus.

After adding a representation, you can modify Representation Attributes, such as the representation Label. See assemblyDefinition.

Note: You cannot delete or rename nodes contained by Scene representation.

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