9

Link Constraint 405
Inter face
Once you assign a Lin k constraint, you can access
itspropertiesontheLinkParamsrolloutinthe
Motion panel. In this rollout you can add and
delete targets and animate the time at which each
target becomes the active parent of the constrained
object.
Add Link —Adds a new link target.
Link to World—Links t he object to the world (the
scene as a whole). We recommend this be the first
target in the list. This prevents the object from
reverting to its independent creation or animation
transforms if other t argets are deleted from the list.
Delete Li nk —Removes a lin k target. Once a link
target is removed, it will no longer influence the
constrained object.
Start Time—The start time spinner is used to assig n
or edit the f rame value of a target. Select one of the
target object names in the list window and see the
frame where the object becomes a parent. You can
adjustthevaluetochangewhenthelinktransfer
takes place.
Key Mode group
Note: The options Key Nodes and Key Entire
Hierarchy have no effect u n less the object you
are constraining is already par t of a hierarchy. If
youaddobjectstothehierarchyafteryouapply
the Link constraint, you have to reapply the Link
constraint using the key options you desire.
No Key —When used, no key frames are written
to the constrained object or its targets. The link
con trol happens without inserting any keys. This
is similar to how the Link Controller worked in
3ds Max 3.1 and earlier versions.
Key Nodes—When used, keyframes are written to
thespecifiedoption.Therearetwooptions:Ch ild
and Pare nts.Childsetsakeyframeonlyonthe
constrained object. Parents sets keyf rames for the
constrained object and all of its targets.
K ey Entire Hierarchy —Sets keyframes up the
hierarchy for the specified option. There are two
options: Child and Pa r e nt s.Childsetsakeyframe
only on the constrained object and its parents.
Parents sets keyframes for the constrained object,
its targets, and their upper hierarchy.