This documentation is for a prerelease version of O3DE. Click here to switch to the latest release, or select a version from the dropdown.

Version:

Icon of a magnifying glass.
  Edit on GitHub

IN THIS ARTICLE

Animation Editor File Types

When you import .fbx files from your DCC to O3DE Editor, Asset Processor creates files that you use in the Animation Editor. The following example shows how the file types are created and modified. For more information about processing files for character and animations, see Customize FBX asset export with FBX Settings.

See an overview of how Animation Editor files are created and processed in O3DE.

The following are file types used in the Animation Editor:

Files Types

When you import .fbx files into O3DE, Asset Processor generates the following file types used for the Animation Editor:

  • .actor files are created when the .fbx file has at least one bone. You want to use your character’s skinned mesh as your .actor file. The .actor file is the character that displays the animation.
  • .motion files are created when the .fbx file with a bone has at least one keyframe. If your .fbx file has animation keyframes, a .motion file is created. Your .motion files contain the animations that are added to your motion set before you build your animation graph.
  • .mtl files are created when the .fbx file has at least one material, which is the case for most DCC tools. If you make changes to the material in the Material Editor, the .mtl file is no longer a child of the .fbx file and the .mtl file is a sibling in the source directory of the .fbx file. You can make other changes to the .mtl file with a text editor or the Material Editor.

When a .motion file is created, an .actor file is also created. The .actor file that you want to use in the Animation Editor is generally the skinned mesh in the bind pose that you export from your DCC. Keep track of your skinned mesh that you want to use as your .actor file in the Animation Editor. You can go to the FBX Settings tool and delete the actor files that you don’t need.

File Types Required for Animation Graphs

When you create your animation graph in the Animation Editor, the animation graph must have the following files:

  • .actor
  • .motion
  • .motionset
  • .animgraph

Saving Animation Editor Files

Saving your project in the Animation Editor creates a .workspace file. The workspace saves the actor, motion, motion set and animation graphs that you are using. When you open a workspace, the Animation Editor loads the files so that you can pick up where you last left off.

To save your workspace

  • In the Animation Editor, choose File, and then choose one of the following:
    • Save Workspace
    • Save Workspace As

When .actor and .motion files are saved, the Animation Editor creates an .assetinfo file, alongside the source .fbx file. The .assetinfo files stores the configuration and settings for the .actor and .motion files.

Settings saved for .actor files include the actor name, motion extraction node, excluded bounds, collision mesh setup, and mirror setup.

Settings saved for .motion files include the motion extraction capture height option and motion events.

To save .actor and .motion files:

  • In the Animation Editor, do one of the following:
    • Click Save All to saves any changes made to the .actor, .motion, .motionset, and .animgraph files. A dialog box prompts you to choose which files to save.
    • Click Save Workspace to saves your current workspace. If you don’t have a workspace saved, a dialog box appears so that you can name your workspace and save it to your preferred directory.
    • Click Save Workspace As to saves your workspace with a different name or to another directory.
    • To save motion files individually, click the save icon in the Motions pane.
    • To save actor files individually, click the save icon in the Actor Manager pane.