I'm having trouble getting the plugin to accept the reference bones I've selected. Whether I have all the relevant bones or just the root bone of the section I want to reference (the neck, though starting from the root of the character in the hips makes no difference,) and when I click import nothing happens. When I click 'export' I get the following message:
"// Error: Controls must have a layout. No layout found in window :
I'm at a loss as to how to fix this, or even if I'm going about things the right way. Is there something really simple that I'm missing here?
I'm not familiar with that error, and I can not reproduce it. It sounds like there is some problem with the FaceFX.mel script (which controls the GUI). Make sure that hasn't been modified. Also make sure you have the FaceFX.mll loaded when you source the FaceFX.mel script.
One good troubleshooting step would be if the fxexportrefpose and fximportrefpose MEL commands (syntax: http://facefx.com/documentation/2013/W95) work. That would demonstrate that the problem really is with the MEL script and that the MLL plugin is working correctly. If that doesn't work, make sure you have the correct MLL file installed for your version of Maya.
I managed to get it working and you were indeed correct, it was a problem with the MEL script. I ensured that the facefx.mll file was correct to my version of Maya, was loaded and responding to MEL scripts as it should but this didn't fix anything. I then replaced the facefx.mel script in the scripts folder and updated the code in my shelf button and everything started working properly. I'm not sure how it happened but somewhere along the line I've managed to either fudge the MEL script or simply use an old or otherwise incorrect version of it. It's probably happened as I've been jumping between Mac/Windows versions of Maya 2013/13 and dragging my plug-ins and shelves with me each time. Many thanks. :)