Select an object. > Animation menu > Wire Parameters > Wire Parameters
Select an object. > Right-click quad menu > Transform (lower-right) quadrant > Wire Parameters
Wire Parameters allow you to link any animatable parameters from one object to another in the viewport. This enables you to set up two-way links between specified object parameters, or to control one or more objects with a dummy object containing the desired parameters. Using wire parameters lets you set up object constraints directly without having to go to Track View and assign controllers.
Parameter wiring is accessed from the Animation menu or the quad menus. The Wire Parameters command is only available if there is a singly selected node in the viewport. Selecting the Wire Parameters command displays a hierarchical pop-up menu with levels and items corresponding to the animatable tracks that would be visible for that object in Track View.
When a parameter selection is made, a dashed line, similar to that displayed in the Select and Link mode, is drawn from the selected object. The cursor changes from an arrow to a cross whenever it is over a valid destination object. You can right-click at any time to cancel the parameter wiring.
You can either click empty space in the viewport (while the rubber-band connector is still being displayed) or on a destination node to display the Parameter Wiring dialog, which allows you to customize the relationship between two wired parameters. If you click empty space, the Parameter Wiring dialog will open showing the selected parameter in the left Tree View and a full scene in the right tree. Selecting a destination node (which can be the same as the originating node) displays a hierarchical pop-up menu for the destination object, allowing the user to choose the destination parameter. When a parameter is selected, the Parameter Wiring dialog is displayed.
Wire Parameters can be made either one-way or two-way between parameters. For one-way wires, one parameter is effectively slaved to the other and its value will change as the controlling parameter changes, according to a user-defined transfer expression. The controlling parameter can be animated and adjusted as needed using all the animating tools in gmax. Note that this includes making it a controlled parameter in another parameter-wiring set-up, so that you could potentially set up a chain of controlled parameters.
For two-way wiring, Wire controllers of the appropriate kind are assigned to each of the parameters and they are cross-linked so that changes to either parameter cause linked changes in the other.
Note: You should establish all object hierarchies before wiring parameters in a scene. If you change the hierarchy of an object that has a wired parameter, it will take on new parameters, which may introduce undesired results in your wired parameters.
Procedure
To attach wire parameters:
Select the first object you want to use.
Choose Animation menu > Wire Parameters > Wire Parameters.
A pop-up menu displays the parameters you can link.
Note: Wire Parameters only works for parameters that can be animated. The menu options displayed depend upon the selected object and are the same options you would see for the selected object in Track View.
Choose the parameter you want to link to another object from the displayed menu.
A dashed line displays.
Drag the dashed line to the second object you want to use. When the cursor changes from an arrow to a selection cross, you are over a valid destination object. Click to select the destination object.
A pop-up menu displays the parameters to which you can link.
Choose the parameter you want to link from the displayed menu.
The Parameter Wiring dialog displays.
Choose the desired parameters in the dialog, and click the direction buttons between the two panels to determine the control direction: one way or both directions (changes to either objectÆs selected parameters affect the other object).
Click Connect to complete the wiring.