Page History

Mode | animmode – Chooses between different options for animation control:

Linear – This is the default mode. The cache sequence is played with a constant speed and can be offset forward or backward on the timeline, as well as sped up or slowed down.
Cache Index – The Direct Cache Index specifies which cache file will be loaded for the current timeline frame. Can be used to either show a static simulation, or the Direct Cache Index can be animated in case you want varying play speed, including playing the simulation backwards.
Loop – A specified piece of the simulated sequence is looped. Can be used for flowing and repeated effects such as fireplaces, campfires or torch fires, water in fountains, waterfalls or boiling liquid. In this mode, the Cache Origin parameter specifies the beginning of the looped sequence, the Length parameter specifies the length of the loop, and Loop Overlap specifies the number of overlapped frames that ensure smooth transition between the end and the start of the loop. Note that you need to have simulated at least Cache Origin + Length + Loop Overlap cached frames for this mode to work correctly. When looping particles, make sure to export the particle ID channel in the Output rollout.

Direct Cache Index | t2f – Used in Cache Index mode, specifies the cache file index for the current timeline frame. Can be animated in order to achieve more interesting time-bend effects.

Play Length | inplength – The duration in timeline frames. In Linear mode, when this parameter is larger than 0, the sequence length is limited to its value. In Loop mode this parameter shows the loop length. 

Auto Origin | autoOrigin – When enabled, if there are any loaded cache files, automatically set the Timeline Origin and the Cache Origin to the first frame of the cache sequence, so changing the Play Speed will stretch the sequence relative to this frame.

Timeline Origin | playat – An offset specifying which timeline frame the starting cache will be placed on. You can think of it this way: "Put cache #(Cache Origin) on timeline frame #(Timeline Origin)".

Cache Origin | inpoffset – An offset specifying which cache file from the sequence will be placed on the timeline at frame Timeline Origin. You can think of it this way: "Put cache #(Cache Origin) on timeline frame #(Timeline Origin)".

Loop Overlap | loopjnt – In Loop mode, specifies the number of timeline frames after the loop's end that will be blended with the loop's beginning to make for a smooth transition. Keep in mind that the end transition frames are not in front of the sequence end, but after it. For example if the loop starts at frame 35 and has a Length of 20 and a Loop Overlap of 5, the transition frames will start at frame 55 and will end at frame 59, which means the simulation must be at least 59 frames long. It is recommended that the Loop Overlap value be longer than the average "lifetime" of the simulation elements while involved in highly visible motion. For example, for a waterfall, the Loop Overlap value should be at least the average time it takes for a water droplet to fall the full distance before being absorbed into the water at the bottom. For a campfire, it should be at least the average time for a particle to rise up and disappear/die. Correct setting of this value is especially important for simulations that contain particles.

Interpolation – Simple linear interpolation suitable for slow simulations. This is the fastest method but it does not capture movement well and may produce flickering.
Velocity – Velocity-based interpolation. Produces better results, but works more slowly. Captures well the movement of the fronts of the plumes, but does not work well for smoke moving backwards, and also may produce flickering. It  requires an exported grid velocity channel from the Output rollout.
Precise Tracing - Improved Velocity based interpolation for Fire and Smoke simulations. Captures fire/smoke plume movement very well and can handle very low Play Speeds. Requires an exported grid Velocity channel, as well as Advection Origin channel from the Output rollout.

Load Nearest If Missing | loadnearest  – If there is no cache file at the required frame, the nearest cache is found and loaded. This is useful for a simulation that ends with a sequence of static frames (for example, still liquid or freezing fire) as it prevents the need to render multiple identical frames after movement has stopped.

Flip Up Axis | ifyz – When enabled, flips the Y and Z axis of the cache's transformation. This is useful when the cache was created with a different up axis (for example in Maya).