Import by Reference not working

[Waldo2D]

We are in the middle of an animation project and stumble on a problem since we upgraded to the latest version.

We import our charcaters and props by reference and update them to other characters and props by breaking the link to the original file and thus upload a different character or prop into the scene.
We can update the rigged characters, but not the props anymore.

So I did a quick and simple test in the latest version of Moho

- create 4 props in Moho (Prop1, Prop2, Prop3, Prop4)
- Import 2 of these props by reference into the scene (File -> Import -> Moho Object -> enable checkbox 'Import by Reference')
- On the desktop; renamed the two imported props (This will break the link to the scene)
- In Layers palette (Right-click on layer) -> Update Layer Reference
- Message 'The original file appears to be missing. ....' -> Yes
- Locate Prop 3
- NO UPDATE at all

Is there something changed? Bug?
This brings out project in big problems at the moment.
Any insights will be highly appreciated!

Lucas

[Waldo2D]

Yes, latest update of 13.5

[Waldo2D]

I guess I found the issue here.

Seems that every created moho.file has a unique identification number hidden inside.
If you duplicate that scene, erase everything in the scene and create something new in that file, the ID of the file stays the same.
When you then update the reference, the program wil do as expected.

This is a workaround for our problem, but in my opinion this has to be changed in future versions.

Lucas

[Daxel]

Thanks for sharing your workarround. I hope it gets fixed soon.

[chucky]

Hi Waldo2D,
Nice troubleshooting!
So , if you want external references to work consistently, the workaround is to not start a new file and import, but to use a duplicate of a scene with the 'original' of the reference inside?
I'm not sure I quite follow, us betas can alert dev ( although they might have already seen this) but I'm not clear yet on your solution.

[Waldo2D]

You got it, Chucky.
You will have to work with duplicates of one ‘master’ file.
Make it empty and rename it to whatever name you want.
I guess there is an internal ID that will be the same in all the copies you make.
That way you can switch the references without issues.
Lucas

[chucky]

Wow that's so weird and specific, I'll make a report tomorrow if someone doesn't beat me to it.

[Waldo2D]

I just discovered that you have to keep the original layer inside the duplicate.
Renaming of the layer, renaming of the file itself is no problem.
Removing the original layer breaks the connection of the reference
So... the unique ID is in the layer I suspect.

REMAINING ISSUE: added extra layers, created groups will not show up after update!

[chucky]

So you cannot important by reference?
It doesn't work?

[Waldo2D]

It works in these conditions:

- Work with duplicates of one ‘master’ file.
- Make the layer empty, place items in this layer, or draw in it. Rename the layer to whatever name you want, but DON'T delete the original layer, group or add layers.
- Rename the file to whatever name you want