In the old KineFX workflow, we can wrap Rig Pose SOP inside another HDA: just set default state to kinefx__rigpose, and promote the parameters from the inner Rig Post SOP to the outer HDA.

However, in APEX, things are not that easy. I can still set default state to apexanimate, but APEX animation data isn't stored in parameters, but in channel primitives instead. I don't know how to 'promote' them to the outer HDA to make it work.

As you can see in the attachment, simply setting the default state isn't enough. The viewer state let you animate the rig, but the channle primitives are stored nowhere - you can't keyframe anything. Everything is lost when you leave the viewer state.

raincole
but APEX animation data isn't stored in parameters, but in channel primitives instead.

all the data that APEX Animate needs to store ( which is more complex than just Channel Primitives, but can include Channel Primitives) is stored in Geometry Data parameter called 'animation' on the HDA, this parameter is hidden as it's usually the case

so you need to promote it and you should be fine
in the attached file I made it visible on both HDAs, so that it makes sense, but feel free to hide it

Thank you for the answer!

Slightly off topic, is it possible to dump out the Geometry Data (as a... a geometry?) so I can inspect what are really inside?

Yes, you can for example RMB/Copy Parameter and paste into Stash SOP's Geometry parameter, then inspect what the Stash outputs

Is it possible to do the same thing within a geometry network/subnet? I've got a whole character set up in a geo network, including APEX, Vellum and so on, and I'd like to be able to animate from OBJ level.