Arma Reforger:Enfusion Blender Tools: Import/Export Animation

Animations for Enfusion are exported into an intermediate human-readable format TXA. This format needs to be further compiled by the Enfusion engine into ANM - a binary format used during the runtime.

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Before going any further, make sure that Enfusion Blender Tools Data is installed correctly. Without it, export profiles will be missing!

APR files are used for animations export. These files contain export profiles. Profiles can be found in anims\export_profiles. The export profile defines which bones to export and how to export them. Export profiles have to correspond with the used skeleton in the take.

It exports animation data for Enfusion. To have an animation created in Blender in Enfusion, follow these steps:

1. Export the FBX model from Blender with an armature matching the animation you want to export
2. Import the FBX model into Enfusion
3. Export the animation from Blender (TXA format)
4. Import the animation TXA file into the Enfusion

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If you are trying to make animation to already existing character then you can skip directly to Export Animation from Blender paragraph

FBX

Export FBX from Blender

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  Rest position

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  Blender FBX export settings

Set the pose mode to rest for a given skeleton to export the rig. When exporting this FBX, make sure that you uncheck Add leaf bones option.

Import FBX to Enfusion

Import settings inside Workbench

Import the model "As Model" and afterwards set import to import skinning too.

Animation

Export Animation from Blender

TXA Export is available in top section of viewport. From there, select Enfusion Tools -> Export -> Enfusion Animation (.txa) to initiate animation export.

Once that button is pressed, following window should be visible:

In export section all animation takes related to selected Armature (picked in Armature name option) should be listed. By clicking on Show exports checkbox next to desired action name, it is possible to enable export of that animation and further define what action should be exported.

In export options section it is possible to change following things:

• Pick animation export profile. All the profiles have to be in anims\export_profiles or in a subdirectory. By default, assuming Enfusion Blender Tools Data was correctly installed, there should be dozens of available animation exports which were used on Reforger assets. Selected profile has to correspond with the skeleton - otherwise no animation will be exported.
• Select animation for difference animations. This is only used if additive animation export profile is used.
• Change file name of exported animation. If this field is empty, plugin will use action name for creation of new txa

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Selecting proper export profile is crucial for correct export of animation! In case of custom rig, it might be necessary to create custom animation export profiles

Location of where TXA files will be generated can be changed by selecting different directory in the save location field in the top section of export window.

Once all desired animation actions are selected and properly configured for export (meaning they have correct animation export profile selected), it is now possible to finally perform export to TXA. To do so, press Export TXA button in bottom right section of the export window.

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Deepening on complexity of the animation (character animations can be especially demanding), export can take up to 4 minutes while using 100% of the CPU.

Default Profile

If you create a new rig, you will need to create a new set of export profiles for it. As this can get tedious, you can generate a new export profile from the Workbench:
in the model's import settings, check the "Generate Default Profile" option that will generate a sample profile. This default profile will export the transformation and rotation of each bone as absolute values. You can build your own profiles based on this profile.

Import Animation to Enfusion

Once TXA is generated, there are two ways how to convert TXA into .ANM file:

• Drag and drop the TXA file into the Resource Browser.
• Click on TXA with Right Mouse Button and select "Register and Import" option from the Context Menu.

Once animation is imported, .ANM file will be automatically regenerated every time Workbench detects change in .TXA. If TXA was modified when Workbench was closed, manual reimport might be necessary.