I looked at the new saber animations tutorial, but noticed that there was this multicolored skeleton that was being animated. Where can I find this skeleton to import? I tried clicking on the link in the modelling FAQ What is Character Animation all about? but that doesn't seem to work. Where can I find that tutorial?

Note - The tutorial links XSI Online Documentation, XSI Support Wiki, and XSIbasics6x_en.pdf don't work either. Where can I find these?

The unit you are talking about can be found here PyschoFred's Site
Download the one at the bottom Unit Template Beta

Hang on, is it even possible to animate with XSI Modtool 6.01? I don't want to export, just animate, I know you need the full version to export. But can you animate with the trial version? I found a video tutorial, but when it gets to a part that goes "Draw IK Chain", then the cursor goes to a drop-down menu I don't have, called "Animation".

I've also looked at Unit_Template_beta before, and it looks like a Clone trooper, but the one in the New Saber Animations tutorial looks like a guy made of twigs.

Fiodis wrote:Note - The tutorial links XSI Online Documentation, XSI Support Wiki, and XSIbasics6x_en.pdf don't work either. Where can I find these?

Those links are currently down, most likely due to additional restructuring by Autodesk.

Fiodis wrote:Hang on, is it even possible to animate with XSI Modtool 6.01?

Yes, there is no difference between Mod Tool and full versions except for a few limitations due to it being free.

Fiodis wrote:I don't want to export, just animate, I know you need the full version to export. But can you animate with the trial version?

Do you mean the trial version of Foundation? Yes, it is a fully functional full version of XSI.

Fiodis wrote:I found a video tutorial, but when it gets to a part that goes "Draw IK Chain", then the cursor goes to a drop-down menu I don't have, called "Animation".

I think you mean "Animate", press hotkey 2 on your keyboard to switch to the Animate module, you can also find the same thing in the top toolbar if you have Module Menus active.

Fiodis wrote:I've also looked at Unit_Template_beta before, and it looks like a Clone trooper, but the one in the New Saber Animations tutorial looks like a guy made of twigs.

Those are the bone chains which make up the skeleton of Unit_Template_Beta, it comes enveloped and weighted already when you import it.

Perhaps "trial" was a poor choice of words, I meant the free version of XSI Modtool 6.01. And I've looked at the Animate module, but the tutorial talks about a step called "Draw 3-D IK Chain" or somethign like that, which they get from a dropdown menu. I don't have that dropdown menu, and couldn't find anything about IK chains in the Animate module.

How do I get the bone chains out of the model of the Unit_Template_beta?

Easiest way is just delete the mesh for the model. Or if you press Freeze as opposed to Freeze M then that will also do it. That removes the envelope.

I've tried deleting the mesh, but the frame of the trooper remains, with the bones buried inside it. I'll try the Freeze thing. Um, where can I find the freeze button? I know where Freeze All Transforms is, but I don't think that's what you mean.

On the bright side, one thing I have found is the Draw 3-D chain button. Thanks, Ace!

Which Menu set are you using? Modtools or XSI. This can be switched via the mode button at the top. Try to use the xsi ones (can't remember exact name) because that is what most people relate to when they start talking about where things are.

In XSI menus the freeze and freeze M are down in the lower right corner normally.

Make sure you freeze or delete the shadow volume as well.

Well, normally I use XSI Default (Pro Mode). I found a couple freeze buttons down the lower right column in Modtools mode, though. Thanks. When I click them, though, the bones turn a solid green color instead of staying nicely rainbow. Why is this, and how can I avoid it?

Also, I've watched the video tutorial and have understood it, and now can animate. Thanks everyone! Now if I can just sort out that skeleton, I could get along to saber animations.

Green is good means they are no longer enveloped to the mesh if that was indeed what we were going for.