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Cache Manager

cache-Manager is a Blender Add-on to streamline the alembic cache workflow of assets.

Table of Contents

Disclaimer

This addon is not used in the production of the Blender-Studio anymore and is not maintained actively.

Installation

  1. Download latest release
  2. Launch Blender, navigate to Edit > Preferences select Addons and then Install,
  3. Navigate to the downloaded add-on and select Install Add-on

How to get started

After installing the addon you need to setup the addon preferences.

Root Cache Directory: Root directory in which the caches will be exported. Will create subfolders during export

Features

The goal of this add-on was:

  • Automate export of Alembic caches on a collection basis by tagging them as a "cache collection"
  • Export of a cacheconfig.json that holds metadata and contains animation values of properties that are not supported by Blender's implementation of Alembic.
  • Automate import of the Alembic cache on top of existing assets by using the Mesh Sequence Cache Modifier and Transform Cache Constraint
  • Being able to process the cacheconfig.json
    • Link in all assets from their source file based on metadata in the cacheconfig.json
    • Applying additional animation which is stored in the cacheconfig.json

You can control if modifiers should be disabled / enabled during import /export:

  • enable disable modifiers for cache with suffix in modifier name
    • modifier_name.cacheoff -> modifier off for export on for import
    • modifier_name.cacheon -> modifier on for export off for import