Links
Access Maya object and Maya object concepts
General Grammar
Mel with Maya objects
Maya GUI scripting
DIY Plugin related melscript
Mel ScriptJob and ScriptNode
Math in 3D
Common mel function lib
Rigging related function
- Mesh-Joint weight map store and restore
OS-System related function
- open project folder in OS File Manager
Custom UI creation function
- custom menu creation
- Custom HUD creation
GUI mel for my own use
- shiShelfTool
- mm_shi_sel_filter
scripts for my own use
Portable hotkey

Access Maya object and Maya object concepts

Curve (Nurbs curve)
- Curve structure
  - CV (control vertex, or control point) is the main fixed access to structure of curves, you can hook Locator to CV's position
```
connectAttr ($tmpControlLocator+".worldPosition[0]") ($baseCurve+".cp["+$i+"]");
```
  - EP (editable point) is a relative definited structure of curve, as curve must pass through all the Editable Points, good for curve build based on passed points, after rebuild curve, the curve will not fit perfect to the editable points, it is always a rough way to initial define the curve shape
  - arcLen (arcLength) is measurement of the length of the curvature, good for stretch calculation of curve
```
string $curveInfo = `arclen -ch true $baseCurve`;float $len_origin=`getAttr ($curveInfo+".arcLength")`;
```
  - span is the segment of the curve defined by Editable points,
```
int $seg_cnt=`getAttr ($baseCurve+".spans")`;
EP_count = span_cnt + 1; 
CP_count = span_cnt + 3;
```
  - parameter of curve is defining the U position (like UV poition of nurbs surface), rebuild curve into 0-1 parameter range will make read and see the point on curve position easier, or U number is always hard to mean anything (official ref)

General Grammar

comment
```
// single comment
/*
line 1
line 2
*/
```
undeclare a variable, no possible, ref: http://xyz2.net/mel/mel.076.htm

eval

string $cmds="string $selected[]=`ls -sl`;print ($selected[0]+\".hellow\");"
eval($cmds);

dynamic hotkey assign

global proc setHotKey(string $curName, string $curCmd, string $curKey, string $modkey)
{
  string $cmds="string $hotKey = \`nameCommand -ann \""+$curName+"\" -c \""+$curCmd+"\"\`;hotkey -k \""+$curKey+"\" "+$modkey+" -name $hotKey;";
  eval($cmds);
 
}
setHotKey("shiHome","move -rpr 0 1 0","x","-ctl");

array operation

ref: http://autodesk.com/us/maya/2011help/index.htm
// catenate (combine) 2 arrays
string $string1[] = {"light1", "light2"};
string $string2[] = {"light3","light4","light5"};
stringArrayCatenate($string1, $string2);
// Result: light1 light2 light3 light4 light5 //
 
// append array: appendStringArray(string $copyTo[], string $copyFrom[], int $copySize)
string $to[] = { "a", "b", "c" };
string $from[] = { "d", "e", "f" };
appendStringArray($to, $from, 2);
// $to == { "a", "b", "c", "d", "e" }
 
// remove from an array
string $removeBone[] = `ls -sl -type joint`;
string $Skinbones[] = stringArrayRemove($removeBone, $Skinbones);
 
//sort array
$listOfFloats={42.42, 1.2, 8.4, -3.4, -100};
$listOfFloats = `sort $listOfFloats`;
// Result: -100 -3.4 1.2 8.4 42.42 //
 
//empty array
string $tracks[]={};
clear($tracks);
 
//store array cmd
string $selected[]=`ls -sl`;
print $selected;
string $tP="string $selected[]={";
for($tS in $selected){$tP+=("\""+$tS+"\""+",");}
$tP+="};";
$tP=`substitute ",}" $tP "}"`;
print("\n"+$tP+"\n");
 
//------------------------------
// string array operation
//------------------------------
stringArrayToString({ "red", "blue", "green" }, "");
// Result: redbluegreen //
 
stringArrayToString({ "red", "blue", "green" }, ", ");
// Result: red, blue, green //
 
string $array[];
 
$array = stringToStringArray("red blue green", " ");
print ("// " + $array[0] + "\n");
print ("// " + $array[1] + "\n");
print ("// " + $array[2] + "\n");
// red
// blue
// green

multi-dimension array

// maya mel array is 1 D array, for 2D, try matrix[][], for 3d and above, try
$table[]={car_4_2,plane_3_2}; // then combine with stringToStringArray and StringArrayToString method.

// also note: matrix cant be resized once defined, so use Array creatively for multi-D array

string operation

// regex examples: http://ewertb.soundlinker.com/mel/mel.094.php
//match related operation
 
// abstract match, also good for finding and check string with pattern
 if(`gmatch $autoObj "*_L"`) { $mirrorable=1; $autoTarget = `substitute "_L" $autoObj "_R"`; }
 
// pattern match
endsWith("abc", "bc"); // 1 true, 0 false, endsWith(string, subfix)
 
// absolute compare
string $s1="hello";
string $s2="goodbye";
int $compare = `strcmp $s1 $s2`;
// Result: 1 //
$compare = `strcmp $s2 $s1`;
// Result: -1 //
$compare = `strcmp "hello" $s1`;
// Result: 0 //
 
// break string
string $objectName="namespace:objName";
string $buffer[]; 
tokenize $objectName ":" $buffer;
 
string $namespace = $buffer[0] ; // "namespace"
 
// uppercase and lowercase
 
tolower "UnSatIsfIEd";
// Result:unsatisfied//
toupper "UnSatIsfIEd";
// Result:UNSATISFIED//
capitalizeString("maya")
// Result: "Maya" //
 
// search and replace substring
string $text = "one + two + three + four";
string $result = substituteAllString($text, "+", "plus");
print $result;
 
global proc stringToChars(string $charString){
string $array[];
for($index=1; $index <= size($charString); $index++)
{
$array[$index-1] = `substring ($charString) ($index) ($index)`;
}
return $array;
}

simple sort step

string $selected[]=`ls -sl`;

for($i=0;$i<(size($selected)-1);$i++){
print $selected[$i];
print $selected[($i+1)];
if(strcmp($selected[$i],$selected[($i+1)])>0) {
print "small";
reorder -r 1 $selected[$i] ;
}
print "\n";
}

file test
```
filetest -f "vortex.xpm";
```
get env variable
```
getenv XBMLANGPATH;
```

change namespace

namespace -mv "theNameSpace" ":" -force;

try catch

catch( `createNode -name myTransform transform` )

trace and print for debug

// trace does what print does,but has option to give where is the command
trace -where ();
 
warning -showLineNumber 1 "Info here"; // Warning: Info here
 
error "No"; // Error: No
 
// get Type
whatIs "$aa"; // variable type
objectType $ball; // object type

get Maya system and version

float $t=float(`about -version`);
about -operatingSystem; // win64

Mel with Maya objects

selection and info related

Note and Issues about Maya selection

Maya does not store the vertex in selection order

select none
```
select -cl
```
show short name and long name of objects
```
ls -sl -l; ls-sl -sn;
```
select pick navigate
```
pickWalk -d down;
```

save selection and restore selection

string $select[] = `ls -sl`;
select -r $select;
for ( $node in $select )     // process each selection
{
   /* … */
}

select to shell
```
ConvertSelectionToShell;
```
face selection to selection border (Face > Outline Edge)
```
select -r `polyListComponentConversion -ff -te -bo`;
```
last item from selection
```
string $lastItem[] = `ls -sl -tl 1`;
```

list vertex

ls -sl -fl
ls -sl -flatten  // individual list
ls -sl -type float3

list by type
```
ls -sl -showType
```
list top group (transform)
```
ls -as; //persp top front side Group
```
list all sets
```
string $sets[]=`ls -type objectSet`;
```

get selected masked

string $select[] = `ls -sl`;
// Result: pSphere1 nurbsSphereShape1 //
 
filterExpand -selectionMask 12;   // Poly Mesh
// Result: pSphere1 //
 
filterExpand -selectionMask 10;   // Nurbs Surfaces
// Result: nurbsSphere1;
Selection Mask	Component Type
31	Polygon Vertices
32	Polygon Edges
34	Polygon Facets
35	Polygon UV Map Coordinates
46	Lattice Points
47	Particle Components
70	Polygon VtxFace
 
// select all poly geo from top node
$allChild = `listRelatives -ad "root_node"`;
$allGeo = `filterExpand -selectionMask 12 $allChild`;

get/select children/parents

string $children[] = `listRelatives -children pSphere1`; // all children
string $parent[] = `listRelatives -parent pSphere1`; // all parent
// Pick next object on same level
string newSelect[] = `pickWalk -direction right`;
// Pick previous object on same level
string newSelect[] = `pickWalk -direction left`;
// Move down to and select child
string newSelect[] = `pickWalk -direction down`;
// Move up to and select parent
string newSelect[] = `pickWalk -direction up`;

getAllShape

proc string[] getShapes( string $xform )
{
   string $shapes[];
 
   $shapes[0] = $xform;
 
   if ( "transform" == `nodeType $xform` )
   // If given node is not a transform, assume it is a shape
   // and pass it through
   {
      $shapes = `listRelatives -fullPath -shapes $xform`;
   }
 
   return $shapes;
}

get1stShape

global proc string shi_getShape(string $dag)
{
string $rel[] = `listRelatives -pa -ni -s $dag`;
 
if (size($rel) > 1)
warning("Expected a single shape under transform " + $dag +
".  Function may not behave as expected.");
 
if (size($rel) > 0)
$dag = $rel[0];
 
return $dag;
}

getTransform

proc string getTransform( string $shape )
{
   string $transform = "";
 
   if ( "transform" != `nodeType $shape` )
   // If given node is already a transform, just pass on through
   {
      string $parents[] = `listRelatives -fullPath -parent $shape`;
      $transform = $parents[0];
   }
 
   return $transform;
}

polygon info mel tool

// topological information on polygonal objects
polyInfo -edgeToFace `ls -sl`; // -ef
polyInfo -vertexToFace `ls -sl`; //-vf
polyInfo -faceToEdge `ls -sl`; //-fe
polyInfo -faceToVertex(-fv); // -fv
polyInfo -faceNormals(-fn);
 
//required counts on the specified objects.
polyEvaluate -f;
polyEvaluate -e;
polyEvaluate -v;
polyEvaluate -uv;
polyEvaluate -shell;
polyEvaluate -b; //xmin xmax ymin ymax zmin zmax, ((xmin,xmax), (ymin,ymax), (zmin,zmax))
polyEvaluate -b2; // uv: xmin xmax ymin ymax  ((xmin,xmax), (ymin,ymax), (zmin,zmax))
 
polyEvaluate -faceComponent; //-fc : about selected
polyEvaluate -bc; // about selected
polyEvaluate -bc2; // about selected
 
polyEvaluate -area; // about face area
polyEvaluate -worldArea;
 
// bounding box method
getAttr pCube1.center
getAttr pCube1.boundingBoxCenterX
 
getAttr pCube1.boundingBoxSizeZ

get bounding box array

// can take poly object and group
float $getBoundArray[] = `xform -q -ws -bb`; //-x,-y,-z, x,y,z
 
// can take poly object and group
float $bbox[] = `exactWorldBoundingBox`; //-x,-y,-z, x,y,z
 
// can take poly object and group
getAttr ("object_or_grp"+".boundingBoxMin") //-x,-y,-z
getAttr ("object_or_grp"+".boundingBoxMax") //x,y,z
 
// require poly object input/selected, can't do group bb
polyEvaluate -b; // mel: -x x -y y -z z; py:(-x x) (-y y) (-z z)

get namespace and work with namespace

global proc string shi_getNamespace(string $object)
{
    string $parts[];
    int $num = `tokenize $object "|" $parts`;
    $num =  `tokenize $parts[$num-1] ":" $parts`;
    string $namespace= "";
    for ($i = 0; $i < $num-1; $i++)
    {
        $namespace += ":" + $parts[$i];
    }
    if (size($namespace) == 0)
        $namespace = ":";
    return $namespace;
}

select without worry for namespace
```
`ls -recursive 1 "r_hand_CTRL"`;
```

get namespace

string $objectName = "Character:r_arm_CTRL" ; // Our Object Name  
string $buffer[] ; // Create Empty Array To Hold Tokens  
tokenize $objectName ":" $buffer ; // Split $objectName by ":"  
 
string $namespace = $buffer[0] ; // "Character"  
string $object = $buffer[1] ; // "r_arm_CTRL"
// simplier and more accurate
string $objectWithoutNamespace = $buffer[size($buffer)-1] ;

get workspace

workspace -q -rd // get workspace directory

get current Manipulator display position

// create locator at move manipulator
float $moveManip[] = {};
// switch to translate mode
setToolTo $gMove;
// get manipulator position
$moveManip = `manipMoveContext -q -position Move `;
// create locator
string $locator[] = `spaceLocator -p 0 0 0`;
setAttr ($locator[0]+".translate") $moveManip[0] $moveManip[1] $moveManip[2];

get member of a set

string $children[] = `sets -q $setName`;

select all texture file node and list them

string $texes[]=`ls -type file`;
string $tex;
for ($tex in $texes){
    print (`getAttr ($tex+".fileTextureName")`);
    print "\n";
}

a true fully-tested advanced renamer
- http://www.rodgreen.com/?p=117

curve interaction and intersection

string $intersectNode=`createNode "curveIntersect"`;
connectAttr -f ($wheel_link+".worldSpace[0]") ($intersectNode+".inputCurve1");
connectAttr -f ($wheel_circle+".worldSpace[0]") ($intersectNode+".inputCurve2");
string $posOnCurveNode=`createNode "pointOnCurveInfo"`;
connectAttr -f ($wheel_link+".worldSpace[0]") ($posOnCurveNode+".inputCurve");
connectAttr -f ($intersectNode+".parameter1[0]") ($posOnCurveNode+".parameter");
 
string $loc_results[]=`spaceLocator -n ($prefix+"loc_result_pos")`;
string $loc_result=$loc_results[0];
connectAttr ($posOnCurveNode+".position") ($loc_result+".t");

code mel

object creation related

create object with unique name
```
spaceLocator -n "name#"; 
```

check object or attribute exists

int $objTest = `objExists $myObject` ; // 1 or 0
if(`objExists "R_Arm_Ctrl.IKFK"`) print "It Exists!" ;

create camera
```
camera
```
create annotation
```
 
```

draw curve based on locator pos

string $locArray[]=`ls -sl`;
$i=0;
$curveGenCmd="curve -d 3 ";
for($i=0;$i<size($locArray);$i++){        
    if(`objExists $locArray[$i]`){
        string $tmpX=`getAttr ($locArray[$i]+".tx")`;
        string $tmpY=`getAttr ($locArray[$i]+".ty")`;
        string $tmpZ=`getAttr ($locArray[$i]+".tz")`;
        $curveGenCmd=$curveGenCmd+"-p "+$tmpX+" "+$tmpY+" "+$tmpZ+" ";
    }
}
$curveGenCmd=$curveGenCmd+";";
eval($curveGenCmd);

draw polyFace based on locator pos

string $locArray[]; // after already stored
string $cmd = "polyCreateFacet -ch on -tx 1 -s 1";
for ($i=0; $i<size($locArray); $i++)
{
	$xyzPos = `xform -q -ws -t $locArray[$i]`;
	$cmd = ($cmd+" -p "+$xyzPos[0]+" "+$xyzPos[1]+" "+$xyzPos[2]+" ");
}
eval($cmd);

draw polyFace based on Curve (like Fill Color in illustrator)

string $selected[]=`ls -sl`;
string $curve=$selected[0];
$cvs = `getAttr ($curve+".spans")`;
string $cmd = "polyCreateFacet -ch on -tx 1 -s 1";
string $type="cv"; // cv / ep
if($type=="cv") $cvs+=2;
for ($n=0; $n<=$cvs; $n++)
{
	$xyzPos = `xform -q -ws -t ($curve+"."+$type+"["+$n+"]")`;
	$cmd = ($cmd+" -p "+$xyzPos[0]+" "+$xyzPos[1]+" "+$xyzPos[2]+" ");
}
string $newMesh[] = `eval ($cmd)`;

block based instance generation (select a group of object to instant, run this, you can get a window for quick instance creation)

if ( `window -exists shiBlock` ) {
    deleteUI shiBlock; // delete window when it exists
}
window -t "Block Lister by Shining" -wh 200 400 -mxb 0 shiBlock;
 
gridLayout  -numberOfColumns 2 -cwh 100 40;
string $selected[]=`ls -sl`;
string $children[] = `listRelatives -children $selected[0]`; 
int $count = size($children);
for($i=0;$i<$count;$i++){
string $buffer[] ; 
clear($buffer); 
tokenize $children[$i] ":" $buffer;  
$label=$buffer[(size($buffer)-1)];
string $tcmd="$newBlock=`instance \""+$children[$i]+"\"`;parent -w $newBlock;move -ws -a 0 0 0 $newBlock;";
button -l $label -c $tcmd;
}
showWindow shiBlock;

common ctrlShape curve creation

curve -d 1 -p -0.3093823805 -4.440892099e-16 4.999995973e-10 -p 0.3093823805 -4.440892099e-16 4.999995973e-10 -p 5.000000414e-10 -4.440892099e-16 4.999995973e-10 -p 5.000000414e-10 0.309382381 8.499999815e-09 -p 5.000000414e-10 -0.309382381 -8.500000259e-09 -p 5.000000414e-10 -4.440892099e-16 4.999995973e-10 -p 5.000000414e-10 7.999999774e-09 -0.3093823805 -p 5.000000414e-10 -9.000000301e-09 0.3093823805 -n "locator";

Python sample code

selected=cmds.ls(sl=1)
deg=3
pos_list = [ cmds.xform(obj, q=1, ws=1, t=1) for obj in selected]
created = cmds.curve(d=deg, p=pos_list)

object tranform related

get object position and apply transform

float $pos[3] = `xform -q -ws -a -rp $object`; 
xform -ws -a -t $pos[0] $pos[1] $pos[2] $object2;

get and move position of a vertex

xform -a -ws -t 0 0 0 pCube1.vtx[0]; // move
float $vtxPos[3] = `xform -q -ws -t pCube1.vtx[0]`;
print $vtxPos; //get

create a locator at selected vertex

string $lastItem[] = `ls -sl -tl 1`;
float $pos[3] = `xform -q -ws -t $lastItem[0]`; 
spaceLocator -p $pos[0] $pos[1] $pos[2];
 
// or move locator after create
string $lastItem[] = `ls -sl -tl 1`;
float $pos[3] = `xform -q -ws -t $lastItem[0]`; 
spaceLocator; move -a $pos[0] $pos[1] $pos[2];

get position and pivot position

xform -q -ws -rp $selected[0];
xform -q -ws -t $selected[0];

sync First selected object orientation axis to 2nd selected object

string $selected[]=`ls -sl`;
parent $selected[0] $selected[1];
makeIdentity -apply true -t 1 -r 1 -s 1 -n 0 -jointOrient $selected[0];
parent -w $selected[0];

store current orientation axis

global proc shi_loc_pivot_rot(){
string $selected[] = `ls -sl`;
string $a;
for($a in $selected){
float $pos[3] = `xform -q -ws -rp $a`;
float $rot[3] = `xform -q -ws -ro $a`;
spaceLocator; 
move -a $pos[0] $pos[1] $pos[2];
rotate -a -ws $rot[0] $rot[1] $rot[2];
}
}

reset transformation and avoid attribute lock

   if(!`getAttr -lock ($t+".sx")`) setAttr ($t+".sx") 1;
   if(!`getAttr -lock ($t+".sy")`) setAttr ($t+".sy") 1;
   if(!`getAttr -lock ($t+".sz")`) setAttr ($t+".sz") 1;

transfer UV layout from srcModel to toModel

// object must be the same
string $srcNamespace = "srcModel"; // move newUV into oldModel
string $toNamespace = "toModel"; 
string $srcMesh[]=`ls -type "mesh" ($srcNamespace+":*")`;
for ($eachSrc in $srcMesh){
    string $buffer[];
    tokenize $eachSrc ":" $buffer;
    string $objName = $buffer[size($buffer)-1];
    if(`objExists($toNamespace+":"+$objName)`){
        print($toNamespace + ":" + $objName+"\n");
        print($eachSrc+"\n");
        polyTransfer -uv 1 -ao $eachSrc ($toNamespace + ":" + $objName);
        // identical topology, same vertex, edge, and face numbering.
        // uv v vc
    }
}

get curve length (ref)

float $curveLength = `arclen $curve`;
 
// If the ‘-constructionHistory’ flag is specified the command creates a "curveInfo" node downstream of the curve. This offers a persistent node which you can use to track changes to the curve.
 
string $curveInfo = `arclen -ch true $curve`;
// Result: curveInfo1 //
 
getAttr ( $curveInfo + ".arcLength" );
// Result: 5.335323 //
 
move -r -os -wd 0 0 1.0 ( $curve + ".cv[1]" );
 
getAttr ( $curveInfo + ".arcLength" );
// Result: 4.309423 //

stop inherit parent transform
```
inheritTransform -off $ball;
```

copy transformation from A to B

string $selected[] = `ls -sl`;
print ($selected[0]+" is positioned at "+$selected[1]+"\n");
float $pos[3] = `xform -q -ws -t $selected[1]`;xform -t $pos[0] $pos[1] $pos[2] $selected[0];
float $pos[3] = `xform -q -ws -ro $selected[1]`;xform -ro $pos[0] $pos[1] $pos[2] $selected[0];

// simple way
parent -r $grp $child;  // xform -q all
parent -w $grp; // xform all

locator and inform sampling

shi_loc_4in1_pose (orient obj in aim, facing, siding)

global proc string shi_loc_4in1_pose(){
print("\n\nselect 4 object center(left right), aim and up)\n");
string $object[] = `ls -sl -fl`;
 
float $crdFront[] = `xform -q -ws -t $object[0]`;
float $crdBack[] = `xform -q -ws -t $object[1]`;
float $crdLoc[];
$crdLoc[0] = ($crdFront[0] + $crdBack[0]) /2;
$crdLoc[1] = ($crdFront[1] + $crdBack[1]) /2;
$crdLoc[2] = ($crdFront[2] + $crdBack[2]) /2;
string $locs[] = `spaceLocator`;
move -ws $crdLoc[0] $crdLoc[1] $crdLoc[2] $locs[0];
string $cst[] = `aimConstraint -offset 0 0 0 -weight 1 -aimVector 1 0 0 -upVector 0 1 0 -worldUpType "object" -worldUpObject $object[3] $object[2] $locs[0]`;
delete $cst;
return $locs[0];
}

aim by AimLoc-AimAxis, 2ndDirLoc-2ndDirAxis (Up)

aimConstraint -offset 0 0 0 -weight 1 -aimVector 0 1 0 -upVector 0 0 1 -worldUpType "object" -worldUpObject $dir2ndLoc $aimLoc $obj;

Transform tool related

move tool

// get move tool option example
manipMoveContext -q -orientJointEnabled Move
// set move tool option example
manipMoveContext -e -orientJointEnabled 0 Move;

Common Mel Tool

system detection

add custom folder to script path, so sourcing the name directly can run the script

$old_path = `getenv "MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH"`;
putenv "MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH" ($old_path +";D:/myCustomScriptPath/;");

detect os and source file

global proc loadScript(string $path){
    string $command = "source \""+$path+"\"";  
    eval $command ;  
}
//-------------------------------------
string $z_sys="";
 
// check os
// check os
string $checkOS = `about -os`;
if($checkOS == "windows" || $checkOS == "win64" ) $z_sys=system("echo %z_sys%"); // windows
else $z_sys=system("printf $z_sys"); // linux, osx (bash,csh) echo do the name but with new line
 
// remove new line
$a=stringToStringArray($z_sys,"\r"); // windows echo use \r newline
$aS=stringArrayToString($a,"");
$a=stringToStringArray($aS,"\n"); // linux echo use \n newline
$z_sys=$a[0];
 
$z_sys = substituteAllString($z_sys, "\\", "/"); // to normal directory format for windows
 
// make sure system environment got defined
if($z_sys!="") print $z_sys;
 
// another simple way is to use mel command to get z_system variable
$z_sys=`getenv "z_sys"`;
 
//-------------------------------------
string $rootPath=$z_sys+"/../dev/melTool/v1.0.3/";
loadScript($rootPath+"shiFun_info.mel");

path format that works for both win, linux(mac)

global string $rootPath="/user_data/dev/melTool/v1.0.3/"; // linux, mac
global string $rootPath="D:/z_sys/xTool/resMaya/scripts/"; // windows

get Maya version as float number

global proc float getMayaVersionAsFloat(){
    float $version=2012;
    if (`exists getApplicationVersionAsFloat`) return `getApplicationVersionAsFloat`;
    string $versionString=`about -v`;
    string $tempString[];
    string $char;
    tokenize $versionString $tempString;
    //default to 2012, if versionString is not all numbers
    for ($i=0;$i<size($tempString[0]);$i++){
        $char=`substring $tempString[0] ($i+1) ($i+1)`;
        if (!`gmatch $char "[0-9]"`) return 2012;
    }
    $version=$tempString[0];
    return $version;
}
if (`getMayaVersionAsFloat`<2012) $iconExt="xpm"; // none one use 2012

get script's own location, with this function inside

// Fully auto install, with Python script name inside this file name as "install_PythonFileName.mel"
global proc Tool_Locator (){} // a catcher empty functon for get cmd path
global proc string[] Tool_Location_v2 (){
    string $whatIs=`whatIs Tool_Locator`; // actual main dir path get function
    string $fullPath=`substring $whatIs 25 999`;
    string $buffer[];
    int $numTok=`tokenize $fullPath "/" $buffer`;
    int $numLetters=size($fullPath);
    int $numLettersLastFolder=size($buffer[ $numTok - 1 ]);
    string $scriptLocation=`substring $fullPath 1 ($numLetters-$numLettersLastFolder)`;
    string $script_name_mel = $buffer[ $numTok - 1 ];
    string $bufferB[];
    int $numTokB=`tokenize $script_name_mel "_." $bufferB`;
    string $script_name = $bufferB[ $numTokB - 2 ];
    return {$scriptLocation,$script_name};
}
string $tool_info[] = `Tool_Location_v2`; // file path, file name without extension

File operation

load object
```
catch(`loadPlugin "objExport.mll"`);
```

load plugin

if(`pluginInfo -q -loaded "fbxmaya"` == 1) print "loaded";

file obj export

// import eps
file -import -type "EPS" -mnc false -rpr "TMP_" -options "sc=1.1;group=on" "D:/z01_txt_v002.eps";
 
// export selected to obj
file -f -options "groups=1;ptgroups=1;materials=1;smoothing=1;normals=1" -typ "OBJexport" -pr -es "D:/zTxt_001_obj.obj";
 
// export selected to mb
file -f -options "v=0;" -typ "mayaBinary" -pr -es "D:/zTxt_KS_z01_v001.mb";

get current mel working directory, normally the maya startup directory in cmd, used by chdir, system, fopen, and popen cmd
```
pwd
```
get workspace directory, normally defined by set project cmd
```
workspace -q -dir
```
workspace set
```
workspace -dir "C:/Users"
```

workspace in python

cmds.workspace (dir='C:/Users')
 
startingDir = cmds.workspace(q=True, rootDirectory=True)
destDir = QtGui.QFileDialog.getExistingDirectory(None,'Open working directory', startingDir, QtGui.QFileDialog.ShowDirsOnly)
 
startingDir = 'C:/Program Files'
dialog = QtGui.QFileDialog()
dialog.setFileMode( QtGui.QFileDialog.FileMode() )
dialog.getExistingDirectory( None, 'Open working directory', startingDir )
 
dialog.getOpenFileName( None, 'Open working directory', startingDir )
 
os.startfile(startingDir)

modeling mel tool

//select mode
SelectVertexMask
SelectEdgeMask
SelectFacetMask
SelectToggleMode
 
updateLockSelectionIcon; // select lock
 
// display mode
ToggleBackfaceGeometry;
DisplayWireframe;
DisplayShaded;
ToggleFaceNormalDisplay;
 
ShowManipulatorTool;
 
//mirror x
 
//delete history
delete -ch;
 
// bevel plus for curves
bevelPlus -ch 1 -js 1 -tol 0.01 -ns 4 -cap 4 -width 0.1 -depth 0.1 -ed 0.5 -bevelInside 0 -outerStyle 2 -innerStyle 2 -polygon 1 -no 1 -polyOutMethod 2 -polyOutExtrusionType 3 -polyOutExtrusionSamples 2 -polyOutCurveType 3 -polyOutCurveSamples 6 -polyOutUseChordHeightRatio 0 `ls -sl`;
 
// rebuild with reduce for curves
rebuildCurve -ch 1 -rpo 1 -rt 1 -end 1 -kr 0 -kcp 0 -kep 1 -kt 0 -s 4 -d 3 -tol 0.9 `ls -sl`;

Loop	SplitEdgeRingTool
Brid	performPolyBridgeEdge 0
Extr	performPolyExtrude 0
Fill	FillHole
Spli	SplitPolygonTool
AveV	performPolyAverageVertex 0
Cetr	MergeToCenter
Save	SaveScene
-0-	setAttr \“testMat.transparency\” -type double3 1 1 1
-7-	setAttr \“testMat.transparency\” -type double3 0.7 0.7 0.7
-%-	setAttr \“testMat.transparency\” -type double3 0 0 0

scripting mel tool

check what is the command source code

// check where is the command
whatIs ScriptEditor; // check what is the ScriptEditor command
 
// if the result shows the file name, that means, the source code is there.
// if the result says "RunTimeCommand", check Hotkey Editor, the source code is there under its name. or use this cmd
runTimeCommand -q -c "PasteVertexSkinWeights";
 
// if the result says "Command", it is C++ compiled maya command or built-in maya command which written in C++.

scripting history related

// toggle echo history
handleScriptEditorAction "echoAllCommands";
 
// scriptEditor clear upper
cmdScrollFieldReporter -e -clear $gCommandReporter;

script running time related

// beginning of code
$startTime = `timerX`;
 
// process code here
 
// end of code
$totalTime = `timerX -startTime $startTime`;
print ("\nTotal Time: "+$totalTime); // it is in seconds

get selected attributes

// one line code
$attrs = `selectedChannelBoxPlugs`;
 
// actual code of that function, It reads object attr, shape attr, history attr, 
string 	$main[], $mainObjects[];
string 	$shape[], $shapeObjects[];
string 	$history[], $historyObjects[];
string  $outputs[], $outputObjects[];
 
$main = `channelBox -q -selectedMainAttributes $gChannelBoxName`;
$shape = `channelBox -q -selectedShapeAttributes $gChannelBoxName`;
$history = `channelBox -q -selectedHistoryAttributes $gChannelBoxName`;
$outputs = `channelBox -q -selectedOutputAttributes $gChannelBoxName`;
 
string  $attr;
 
$main = `channelBox -q -selectedMainAttributes $gChannelBoxName`;
$mainObjects = `channelBox -q -mainObjectList $gChannelBoxName`;
 
$shape = `channelBox -q -selectedShapeAttributes $gChannelBoxName`;
$shapeObjects = `channelBox -q -shapeObjectList $gChannelBoxName`;
 
$history = `channelBox -q -selectedHistoryAttributes $gChannelBoxName`;
$historyObjects = `channelBox -q -historyObjectList $gChannelBoxName`;
 
$outputs = `channelBox -q -selectedOutputAttributes $gChannelBoxName`;
$outputObjects = `channelBox -q -outputObjectList $gChannelBoxName`;
 
if( size( $main ) > 0 ) {
	for( $object in $mainObjects ) {
		for ($mattr in $main) {
			$result[ size($result) ] = ($object+"."+$mattr);
		}
	}
}
 
if( size( $shape ) > 0 ) {
	for( $object in $shapeObjects ) {
		for ($mattr in $shape) {
			$result[ size($result) ] = ($object+"."+$mattr);
		}
	}
}
 
if( size( $history ) > 0 ) {
	for( $object in $historyObjects ) {
		for ($mattr in $history) {
			$result[ size($result) ] = ($object+"."+$mattr);
		}
	}
}
 
if( size( $outputs ) > 0 ) {
	for( $object in $outputObjects ) {
		for ($mattr in $outputs) {
			$result[ size($result) ] = ($object+"."+$mattr);
		}
	}
}

material and hypershade mel tool

connect nodes

connectAttr node1.attrA node2.attrB
connectAttr -f node1.attrA node2.attrB //force connection

batch material creation and texture linking

int $i=10;
print $i;
$i++;
$newMat=`shadingNode -asShader blinn`;
$newTex=`shadingNode -asTexture file`;
setAttr -type "string" ($newTex+".fileTextureName") ("/robot/maya/sourceimages/v04/sepiaRobot_Diffuse.10"+$i+".tif");
connectAttr -f ($newTex+".outColor") ($newMat+".color");
rename $newMat ("robotMat"+$i);
rename $newTex ("robotTex"+$i);

distanceBetween node, auto create distance measurer between 2 object

global proc createDistanceNodeFromTwo(){
string $selected[]=`ls -sl`;
string $newDist=`shadingNode -asUtility distanceBetween`;
string $dname =$selected[0] +"_distanceBetween";
rename $newDist $dname;
//connectAttr -f (`shi_getShape $selected[0]`+".worldPosition[0]") ($dname+".point1"); // for locator only
//connectAttr -f (`shi_getShape $selected[1]`+".worldPosition[0]") ($dname+".point2");
connectAttr -f ($selected[0]+".t") ($dname+".point1");
connectAttr -f ($selected[1]+".t") ($dname+".point2");
connectAttr -f ($selected[0]+".parentMatrix") ($dname+".inMatrix1");
connectAttr -f ($selected[1]+".parentMatrix") ($dname+".inMatrix2");
}

setRange, animCurve, clamp: range mapping and linear or non-linear data value mapper

shadingNode -asUtility setRange;
// Result: setRange1 // 
shadingNode -asUtility clamp;
// Result: clamp1 // 
 
createNode animCurveUU;
setKeyframe -f 0 -v 0;
setKeyframe -f 1 -v 1;
 
//ref: http://download.autodesk.com/us/maya/2011help/Nodes/animCurve.html
 
// read and access this animCurve node:
// http://nccastaff.bournemouth.ac.uk/jmacey/RobTheBloke/www/mel/DATA_anim_curves.html
 
animCurveTL time distance
animCurveTA time angle
animCurveTT time time
animCurveTU time double
animCurveUL double distance
animCurveUA double angle
animCurveUT double time
animCurveUU double double

Rigging mel tool

display local rotation axis

setAttr ("MyJoint"+".displayLocalAxis") 1;

override display color

# python
node = cmds.ls(sl=1)[0]
colorIndex = 1
cmds.setAttr(node+'.overrideEnabled',1)
cmds.setAttr(node+'.overrideColor', colorIndex)
# node, the transform node and shape node can have different override setting, so make sure you choose the right one you want
# color index
0,1,2,3: grey, black, dark grey, light grey
4,5,6: dark red blue, light blue
7,8: dark green, purple
9: magenta, 
10,11,12: dark orange, brown, light brown
13,14,15: bright red, green, blue
16,17,18,19,20,21: white, yellow, cyan, green, pink, brown, 
22,23,24, middle yellow, green, brown, 
29-31 mud, mud green, mud deep green, mud blue, mud deep blue, mud purple, mud red
orange: 11
cyan:18
pink: 20

un-template all the mesh or template all the mesh

string $mesh[]=`ls -sl -type transform`;
string $mesh[]=`ls -sl`;
 
int $i=0;
int $n=0;
for($i=0; $i<size($mesh);$i++){ 
CBdeleteConnection ($mesh[$i]+".overrideEnabled");
setAttr -lock false ($mesh[$i]+".overrideEnabled");
setAttr -lock false ($mesh[$i]+".overrideDisplayType");
setAttr ($mesh[$i]+".overrideEnabled") 0;
setAttr ($mesh[$i]+".overrideDisplayType") 0;
if(`exists ($mesh[$i]+"Shape")`){
    setAttr -lock false ($mesh[$i]+"Shape.overrideEnabled");
    setAttr -lock false ($mesh[$i]+"Shape.overrideDisplayType");
    setAttr ($mesh[$i]+"Shape.overrideEnabled") 0;
    setAttr ($mesh[$i]+"Shape.overrideDisplayType") 0;
}
else {print ($mesh[$i]+"Shape");print "\n ";print $n;print "\n";$n++;}
}
// improve can be done
// 1. no group detection; 2. no bad named shape node detection

delete constrains

string $constrain[]=`ls -sl`;
for($i=0;$i<size($constrain);$i++){
    if(objectType($constrain[$i])=="parentConstraint") {delete $constrain[$i];print $constrain[$i];print "\n";}
    else if(objectType($constrain[$i])=="orientConstraint") {delete $constrain[$i];print $constrain[$i];print "\n";}
    else if(objectType($constrain[$i])=="pointConstraint") {delete $constrain[$i];print $constrain[$i];print "\n";}
}

create constrains

select -r ($legSide + "HipFK") ;
select -tgl ($legSide + "Hip") ;
orientConstraint -offset 0 0 0 -weight 1;
 
poleVectorConstraint -weight 1;// PV constrain

additional constrain plugin:

decomposeMatrix (like Parent+Scale constrain)

createNode decomposeMatrix;
//ref: http://www.sigillarium.com/blog/lang/en/186/

visibility switch (expression)

lod02.visibility=(mainCtrl.lod==1);
lod01.visibility=(mainCtrl.lod==0);

data sampling

curve length and position

float $pos[3]=`pointOnCurve -top true -pr ($i*1.0/$CurveBone_cnt) -p $tC`;

distance

skinCluster and weight related

// get all the skin cluster in the scene
ls -type "skinCluster"
 
// get affected geo
skinCluster -q -g "skinCluster1"
 
// bind
// bind skin for fixed parts
    select -r $tj;
    select -add $fix_geo_list;
    SmoothBindSkin;
 
// bind
select -cl;
select -add ("bar_up_"+$i+"_env") ("bar_mid_"+$i+"_env") ("bar_low_"+$i+"_env") ("bar_btm_"+$i+"_env");
select -add $bar_geo_list[$i];
skinCluster -tsb -ih -mi 3 -omi false -dr 4 -rui false -name ("skinCluster_bar_"+$i);
 
string $SelectedMesh[] = `ls -sl -fl`;
string $SourceSkin = `findRelatedSkinCluster $SelectedMesh[0]`;
string $Skinbones[] = `skinCluster -q -wi $SelectedMesh[0]` ; // list non-zero weight bones
string $Skinbones[] = `skinCluster -q -inf $SelectedMesh[0]` ; // list all weight bones
 
print $Skinbones;print (size($Skinbones)); 
 
// one line bind all geo in selection with bones in selection
$tmpAll = `ls -sl`;
$tmpBones = `ls -sl -type joint`;
$tmpGeos = stringArrayRemove($tmpBones, $tmpAll);
for($each in $tmpGeos) skinCluster -n ($each+"_skinCluster") -tsb $tmpBones $each;
 
// skincluster normalize method
1. post: weight can go beyond 1, then affect based on total average
2. interactive: move on the fly, stay as 1
ref: http://chrislesage.com/character-rigging/how-to-stop-collapsing-vertices-in-maya-post-normalization/
 
// normalize weight
doNormalizeWeightsArgList 1 {"4"};
 
// back to bind pose
dagPose -reset -name bindPose1; // the bindPose node

ik creation

string $selected[]=`ikHandle -sol ikRPsolver -sj $IKstart -ee $IKend`;
string $curIKhandle=$selected[0];
rename $curIKhandle ($skiBuild_prefix+"ik_handle");

get Contraint weight attribute like w0, w1

$userAttr=`listAttr -ud $curLink`; // a way to get w0, w1, w2 from *Contraint object

fix copy skin weight function not working in Maya in 2012, when there are objects with same short name in outliner

// Error: file: /apps/Linux64/aw/maya2012/scripts/others/findSkinClusterFromSelectedComponent.mel line 44: Could not find skin cluster node. // 
 
// problem: copy skin weight give error saying can't find skinCluster since their code cant deal with 2 same short name in scene
// solution: by tracing the error, I found their code of line 35, the Mesh related in short name instead of long time
 
string $selMesh[] = `listRelatives -shapes -ni $selElems[0]`; // original line 35
// which instead of returning group2|pCube1|pCubeShape1 ; it returns pCubeShape1, which there is another group1|pCube1|pCubeShape1 ;
 
// corrected line 35
string $selMesh[] = `listRelatives -shapes -ni -pa $selElems[0]`;// full path returned

animation mel tool

timeline navigation

currentTime 1
 
NextFrame
PreviousFrame
 
$pSolverRootFrame = `currentTime -q`;
$pSolverFrameStart = `playbackOptions -q -min`;
$pSolverFrameEnd = `playbackOptions -q -max`;
$pSolverFrameIncrement = `playbackOptions -q -by`;

keyframe

keyframe -query -name ($ball+".tx"); // return linked node.
`isAnimCurve($nodes[0])` // check if anim curve
listAnimatable $ball; // return all attributes that keyable
keyframe -time 250 -query -eval ($ball+".tx"); // sample value at time on AnimCurve

animation curve

setInfinity -q -preInfinite ($ball+".tx");
setInfinity -preInfinite "cycle" ($ball+".tx");
setInfinity -postInfinite "linear" ($ball+".tx"); // constant, linear, cycle, cycleRelative, oscillate

setKeyframe -time 1 -value -5 ($ball+".tx");
setKeyframe -time 48 -value 5 ($ball+".tx");
setKeyframe -insert -time 24 ($ball+".tx"); // add a key without change
keyframe -q -keyframeCount ($ball+".tx"); // return number of keys on the curve

// other key ref: http://download.autodesk.com/us/maya/2010help/Commands/keyframe.html
keyframe -edit -time 48 -timeChange 20 ($ball+".tx"); // move key from f48 to f20, -absolute/-relative 
keyframe -edit -time 25 -valueChange 2 ($ball+".tx"); // move key value to 2, -absolute/-relative

// edit keys by key index, like key array index
keyframe -edit -index 0 -index 1 -relative -timeChange 10 ($ball+".tx"); // push value of 1st,2nd key up 10
// edit keys by frame range
keyframe -edit -time "0:12" -relative -valueChange 5 ($ball+".tx"); // or :20 or 20: or : for bound range
keyframe -edit -index "1:20" -valueChange 3 ($ball+".tx"); // key 2 to key 21 change

// get time of indexed key
keyframe -index 0 -q -timeChange ($ball+".tx"); // get frame of 1st key

// scale key range
scaleKey -timePivot 5 -time ":" -valueScale 0.5 ($ball+".tx");
scaleKey -timeScale 0.5 ($ball+".tx");

setDrivenKeyframe -driverValue 0 -value 0 -currentDriver ($ball+".tx") ($box+".tx"); // creation
setDrivenKeyframe -driverValue 2 -value 10 ($box+".tx"); // add

// align key on int frame
snapKey -timeMultiple 1 ($ball+".tx"); // 1 frame interval snap

// normal key and breakdown key, prime key vs procedure key
keyframe -time 1 -breakdown true ($ball+".tx");

// key tangents: (int, out) type, angle,weighting, locking 
keyTangent -index 0 -outTangentType flat -inTangentType spline ($ball+".tx");

copy and paste key

copyKey -index 0 ($ball+".tx");
pasteKey -time 12 -option insert ($ball+".tx");
cutKey -index 1 -option keys ($ball+".tx");

Expression linking and Rigging mel

// create a expression
expression -s "battery01.ty=batteryCover.rx/10.0*(-0.5);"  -o battery01 -n "expBattery01move" -ae 1 -uc all ;
 
// update a expression
expression -e -s "battery01.ty=batteryCover.rx/10.0*(-0.5);"  -o battery01 -ae 1 -uc all expBattery01move;
 
//delete a expression
delete expBattery01move;

force a mel scripted animation refresh
```
dgdirty -a;
```

camera mel tool

Now you can just press down and hold \ key, and use middle mouse to 2D pan and right mouse to 2D zoom

// pan image plane
// -down
 
string $currentPanel = `getPanel -up`;
string $camera = `modelPanel -q -camera $currentPanel`;
float $verticalFilmOffset = `getAttr ($camera + ".verticalFilmOffset")`;
setAttr  ($camera+ ".verticalFilmOffset")  ($verticalFilmOffset - 0.02) ;
print ($camera + ".verticalFilmOffset = " +($verticalFilmOffset - 0.02) + "\n"); 
 
// -home
string $currentPanel = `getPanel -up`;
string $camera = `modelPanel -q -camera $currentPanel`;
setAttr  ($camera + ".verticalFilmOffset") 0.0;
setAttr  ($camera +".horizontalFilmOffset") 0.0;
setAttr  ($camera + ".overscan")  1.0 ; 
 
// -in
string $currentPanel = `getPanel -up`;
string $camera = `modelPanel -q -camera $currentPanel`; float $overscan =
`getAttr ($camera + ".overscan")`; setAttr  ($camera + ".overscan")
($overscan - 0.1) ; print ($camera + ".overscan = " + ($overscan - 0.1)  +
"\n");
 
// -left
string $currentPanel = `getPanel -up`;
string $camera = `modelPanel -q -camera $currentPanel`;
float $horizontalFilmOffset = `getAttr ($camera + ".horizontalFilmOffset")`;
setAttr ($camera + ".horizontalFilmOffset")  ($horizontalFilmOffset - 0.02) ;
print ($camera +".horizontalFilmOffset = " + ($horizontalFilmOffset - 0.02)  + "\n"); 
 
// -out
string $currentPanel = `getPanel -up`;
string $camera = `modelPanel -q -camera $currentPanel`; float $overscan =
`getAttr ($camera + ".overscan")`; setAttr  ($camera + ".overscan")
($overscan + 0.1) ; print ($camera + ".overscan = " + ($overscan + 0.1)  +
"\n"); 
 
// -right
string $currentPanel = `getPanel -up`;
string $camera = `modelPanel -q -camera $currentPanel`;
float $horizontalFilmOffset = `getAttr ($camera + ".horizontalFilmOffset")`;
setAttr ($camera + ".horizontalFilmOffset")  ($horizontalFilmOffset + 0.02) ;
print ($camera +".horizontalFilmOffset = " + ($horizontalFilmOffset + 0.02)  + "\n"); 
 
// -up
string $currentPanel = `getPanel -up`;
string $camera = `modelPanel -q -camera $currentPanel`;
float $verticalFilmOffset = `getAttr ($camera + ".verticalFilmOffset")`;
setAttr  ($camera+ ".verticalFilmOffset")  ($verticalFilmOffset + 0.02) ;
print ($camera + ".verticalFilmOffset = " +($verticalFilmOffset + 0.02 ) + "\n");

window mel tool

Windows and Its UIs

// maya windows
ScriptEditor;
OutlinerWindow;
DisplayLayerEditorWindow;
toggleUIComponentVisibility "Channel Box / Layer Editor"
GraphEditor;
HypershadeWindow;
 
// render
PlayblastWindow;
RenderViewWindow;
unifiedRenderGlobalsWindow;
renderWindowRender redoPreviousRender renderView;
BatchRender;
 
// animation
toggleUIComponentVisibility "Time Slider";
toggleUIComponentVisibility "Range Slider";
PreferencesWindow;
SetProject; // set project window
file import; // import window
 
// layout
setNamedPanelLayout "Four View";
 
// advanced window
ReferenceEditor;
mentalrayApproxEditor;

get modelPanel camera name (run in shelf button, or it will not work in script editor)

$panel=`getPanel -withFocus`;
$curCamShape=`modelPanel -q -cam $panel`;
$curCam="";
if( `nodeType $curCamShape` == "camera" )
{
	$curCam=getTransform($curCamShape);
}

get window layout and its child UIs

global proc string findWindowLayout( string $windowUI )
{
  string $controls[] = `lsUI -l -controlLayouts`;
  string $pattern = $windowUI + "*";
  string $layout = "";
  for ( $ui in $controls )
  {
    if ( `gmatch $ui $pattern` )
    {
      string $tokens[];
      int $numTokens = `tokenize $ui "|" $tokens`;
      if ( $numTokens > 1 )
      {
        $layout = $tokens[0] + "|" + $tokens[1];
        break;
      }
    }
  }
  return $layout;
}

string $render_layout = findWindowLayout( "unifiedRenderGlobalsWindow" );
print($render_layout);

// dig into its child uis
string $ca[] = `layout -q -childArray $render_layout`;
print($ca);
//rgMainForm
string $ca[] = `layout -q -childArray "rgMainForm"`;
// rendererPlusLayerLayout tabForm rgCloseBtn
// continues

// query width and change layout size
layout -q -w ($render_layout+"|rgMainForm|tabForm|arnoldTabLayout|arnoldAOVsTab|arnoldAOVsScrollLayout");
// layout -e -width 800 -height 800 ($render_layout+"|rgMainForm|tabForm|arnoldTabLayout|arnoldAOVsTab|arnoldAOVsScrollLayout");

get main window and attach menu

global string $custom_menu;
if (`menu -exists $custom_menu`) deleteUI $custom_menu;
 
global string $gMainWindow;
string $name="Custom";
$custom_menu = `menu -p $gMainWindow -to true -l $name`; // create menu, that can tear-off
 
menuItem -p $custom_menu -l "About Me" -c "print \"Cool!\"";

HUD mel tool

Head-up-display tools

if(`headsUpDisplay -ex myHUD`) headsUpDisplay -rem myHUD;

example and ref
- watch attributes: http://mayastation.typepad.com/maya-station/2010/01/watch-attribute-values-in-the-hud.html

maya preference setup

get maya script path
```
getenv MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH;
```

mel path var and python sys var

// maya path var operation
string $mayaScriptPaths[];
string $mayaScriptPath = `getenv MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH`;
tokenize $mayaScriptPath ":" $mayaScriptPaths;
 
//Removing any paths that don't exist:
for ($pathToCheck in $mayaScriptPaths)
{
  if (!`filetest -d $pathToCheck`)
  $mayaScriptPaths = stringArrayRemove({$pathToCheck}, $mayaScriptPaths);
}
 
$mayaScriptPaths = stringArrayRemove({$path}, $mayaScriptPaths);
stringArrayInsertAtIndex(0, $mayaScriptPaths, $path);
$mayaScriptPath = stringArrayToString ($mayaScriptPaths, ":");
putenv MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH $mayaScriptPath;
 
// sys path var operation
python ("if '" + $path + "' in sys.path: sys.path.remove ('" + $path + "')");
python ("sys.path.insert ( 0, '" + $path + "')");

// APSC 1.5x crop DSLR (inch)
optionVar -floatValue cameraHorizAper 0.929;
optionVar -floatValue cameraVertAper 0.618;
 
// maya unit
optionVar -sv "workingUnitLinear" "cm" ;
 
// maya version
about -f
 
// getenv "varName"
 
// load maya rc file
if ( `filetest -r $myScriptFile` ) eval( "source \""+$myScriptFile+"\";" );
 
optionVar -sv "ViewImageDir" "xn_view";
optionVar -sv "ViewSequenceDir" "djv_view";
optionVar -sv "ViewImageCmdFormat" "%f %s-%e";
optionVar -sv "ViewSequenceCmdFormat" "%f %s-%e";

Render related scripting

quick tool to turn curve render-friendly
- http://www.ldaustinart.com/paul/index.php?cat=scripts&type=maya

Maya GUI scripting

Maya UI interaction

layer panel

 //built-in functions
global proc layerEditorLayerButtonVisibilityChange(string $layer)
{
	int $visible = `getAttr ($layer + ".visibility")`;	
	if (0 == $visible) $visible = true;
	else $visible = false;		
	setAttr ($layer + ".visibility") $visible;
}

global proc layerEditorLayerButtonTypeChange(string $layer)
{
	int $type = `getAttr ($layer + ".displayType")`;
	
	if (0 == $type) $type = 1;
	else if (1 == $type) $type = 2;
	else $type = 0;
		
	setAttr ($layer + ".displayType") $type;
}

global proc layerEditorLayerButtonRenderabilityChange(string $layer)
{
	int $renderable = `getAttr ($layer + ".renderable")`;
	
	if (0 == $renderable) $renderable = true;
	else $renderable = false;		
	setAttr ($layer + ".renderable") $renderable;
}

basic UI elements

elements

// button
button -l "Do It" -c "print \"do it\"";
 
// dash line for seperation
separator -style "in" -hr false;
separator -st "none";
 
//text
text -label "Default";
 
// shelf button
shelfButton
-visible 1
-l "tMat"
-c "select -r \"testMat\""
-dcc "HypershadeWindow"
-width 34
-commandRepeatable 1
-mi "Assign" ("hyperShade -assign testMat;")
-mi "shade" ("setAttr \"testMat.transparency\" -type double3 0 0 0 ;")
-mi "30" ("setAttr \"testMat.transparency\" -type double3 0.3 0.3 0.3 ;")
-mi "50" ("setAttr \"testMat.transparency\" -type double3 0.5 0.5 0.5 ;")
-mi "70" ("setAttr \"testMat.transparency\" -type double3 0.7 0.7 0.7 ;")
-mi "line" ("setAttr \"testMat.transparency\" -type double3 1 1 1 ;")
-mi "create" ("shadingNode -n \"testMat\" -as lambert")
-st "iconOnly"
-imageOverlayLabel "T"
-image1 "render_lambert.xpm"
;
 
//

layout format

// row layout, side by side
rowColumnLayout -numberOfColumns 5;
  // buttons here
setParent ..;
 
// grid layout, grid box like
gridLayout -numberOfColumns 3;

built-in UI manipulation

maya window title

// list all ui window
lsUI -windows; // list all window uis
 
// query
window -q -title $gMainWindow
 
// check exist and delete 
if (`window -ex outlinerPanel1Window`) deleteUI outlinerPanel1Window;else OutlinerWindow; // toggle outliner
 
// change
$window=$gMainWindow
string $newT="Autodesk Maya 2009 x64 Unlimited: untitled | cool";
window -edit -title $newT $window;
// hide title bar (true no UI by: press ctrl+space; then run this cmd)
window -e -titleBar (!`window -q -titleBar $gMainWindow`) $gMainWindow;

get panel reference
```
getPanel -visiblePanels;
```

dialog

confirmDialog -title "Confirm" -message "Are you sure?"
    -button "Yes" -button "No" -defaultButton "Yes"
    -cancelButton "No" -dismissString "No";

prompt

string $text;
string $result = `promptDialog
        -title "Command Window"
        -message "Enter your cmd: (like ?)"
        -text "default answer here"
        -button "move" -button "rotate" -button "scale" -button "Cancel"
        -defaultButton "OK" -cancelButton "Cancel"
        -dismissString "Cancel"`;
 
if ($result == "move") {
        $text = `promptDialog -query -text`;
        eval("move -"+$text);
}

simple window gui

string $windowName = "Maya_Weight_Tool";
if(`window -ex $windowName`) deleteUI $windowName;
window -t $windowName -rtf 1 -s 0 -mxb 0 -wh 180 250 -ip $windowName;
//resize-to-fit, res-izable, max button -interactivePlacement
// layout:gridLayout -numberOfColumns 3; columnLayout -adjustableColumn 1 ;
// add gui elements

float channel box

//ref: http://download.autodesk.com/us/maya/2010help/Commands/channelBox.html
window;
formLayout form;
channelBox dave;
formLayout -e
    -af dave "top" 0
    -af dave "left" 0
    -af dave "right" 0
    -af dave "bottom" 0
    form;
showWindow;
 
// Color all attributes names, which have an attribute name
// beginning with "T", white (with a black background) for
// all current and future nodes.
// Then, color all attributes beginning with "A", which are
// contained in nodes that have their names beginning with "D", black.
 
channelBox -attrRegex "T*" -attrColor 1.0 1.0 1.0 -attrBgColor 0.0 0.0 0.0 "cb1";
channelBox -e -nodeRegex "*" -attrRegex "A*" -attrColor 0 0 0 "cb1";

open project in Explore (windows, mac, linux detectable)

global proc shi_openProjectInExplorer()
{
	// get the current project
	string $projectRootPath = `workspace -q -rd`;
	string $nativeProjectRootPath = toNativePath($projectRootPath);
	string $systemCommand="";
	if(`about -os` == "nt") $systemCommand = "explorer /e,"+$nativeProjectRootPath;
	if(`about -os` == "linux64") $systemCommand = "konqueror "+$nativeProjectRootPath;
 
	system ($systemCommand);
 
}

QT Gui for Maya 2011 and above

basic mel and QT gui design and interact:
- http://www.creativecrash.com/tutorials/maya-mel-qt-and-you-interfacing-with-the-qt-designer
more GUI elements interaction:
- http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/tutorials/scripting/mel/c/using-qt-designer-for-mel-interfaces
Another QT in Maya design example
- http://www.attackack.com/maya-tool-pg1

QT ui and Maya mel ui

QT	MEL
1-push Button (under Buttons group)	button
2-radio button (under Buttons group)	radioButton
3-check box(under Buttons group)	checkBox
4-combo box (under containers group)	optionMenu
5-line edit (under input widgets group)	textField
6-spin box (under input widgets group)
7-double spine box (under input widgets group)
8-dial (under input widgets group)
9-list view (under item views model based)	textScrollList
10-horizontal slider (under input widgets)	intSlider
11-label (under display widgets group)	text
12-progress bar (under display widgets group)	progressBar
13-vertical slider (under input widgets)	intSlider
14-horizontal line (under input widgets)
15-vertical line (under input widgets)
16-group box (under containers group)
17-tab widget (under container group)	tabLayout
18-main window	window

other maya mel ui
- scrollfield (like textArea)

make QT dockable

string $layout1=`paneLayout -cn "single" -p $gMainWindow`;
dockControl -aa "all" -a "right" -fl off -con $layout1 -l "MainWindow";
control -e -p $layout1 $dialog;

DIY Plugin related melscript

load and unload plugin

loadPlugin "/user_data/ARCHIVE/dev/mayadev/pickExample.so";
unloadPlugin "/user_data/ARCHIVE/dev/mayadev/pickExample.so";
unloadPlugin hellow
hellow cool
hello "yes"
pickExample

Mel ScriptJob and ScriptNode

I came across this when I was developing a rig system that requires how-condition-scripting and embeded script function for a on-server maya file.

ScriptJob: run a maya mel function when “a condition happens” like attribute change or thing selected. (like a “EventListener”)
ScriptNode: contains a piece of mel code inside a node called ScriptNode (accessible in Expression Editor); it runs when a “Maya Event happens”, like file open/close, gui open/close.

Short difference is:

ScriptJob is normally running through the your working time
ScriptNode is running at initialize or end stage.

ScriptNode←—ScriptJob—→ScriptNode

Math in 3D

get camera to target (object to object direction)

//Get camera's position:
vector $camPos = `camera -query -position $cameraName`;
//Get camera's target's position:
vector $camTarget = `camera -query -worldCenterOfInterest $cameraName`;
 
//Calculate direction:
vector $cameraDir = $camTarget - $camPos;
//Normalize direction:
vector $normalizedDir = unit ($cameraDir);
 
print ("Direction: " + $normalizedDir);

vector2rot

// script for converting vector into worldspace rotations.
 
// adrian@kolektiv.com Jun 20/04
// AWGUA Maya Seminar August 2004
 
// Description: An essential script for converting velocity and up vectors into
// Euler rotations.
// NOTE: If you're using this for particle instancing, make sure to convert rotational
// values in degrees to radians *twice*, due to a little legacy bug. Like this:
// vector $direction = worldVelocity;
// vector $up = normalPP;
// float $rot[] = `vector2rot $direction $up`;
// float $rotX = deg_to_rad( deg_to_rad( $rot[0] ) );
// float $rotY = deg_to_rad( deg_to_rad( $rot[1] ) );
// float $rotZ = deg_to_rad( deg_to_rad( $rot[2] ) );
 
// Special thanks goes out to Steve Hwan for providing the guts, I just Maya-nized it.
 
////
// main proc
global proc float[] vector2rot( vector $direction, vector $up ) {
 
// normalize vectors first
$direction = unit( $direction );
$up = unit( $up );
 
// calculate the side vector
vector $sideVec = cross( $up, $direction );
vector $upVec = cross( $direction, $sideVec );
 
float $cosY = sqrt( ($sideVec.x)*($sideVec.x) + ($sideVec.y)*($sideVec.y) );
 
// solve each angle
float $rotZ = atan2( ($sideVec.y), ($sideVec.x) );
float $rotY = atan2( -($sideVec.z), ( (($sideVec.x)+($sideVec.y)) / (cos( $rotZ ) + sin( $rotZ ) ) ) );
float $rotX = atan2( ($upVec.z), ($direction.z) );
 
// convert to degrees
$rotX = rad_to_deg( $rotX );
$rotY = rad_to_deg( $rotY );
$rotZ = rad_to_deg( $rotZ );
 
// return x,y,z rotations
return { $rotX, $rotY, $rotZ };
 
} // vector2rot

Common mel function lib

display func

outliner show

// toggle show hide of outliner
global proc tOutliner()
{
if ( `window -exists outlinerPanel1Window` )
deleteUI -window outlinerPanel1Window;
else
tearOffPanel "Outliner" "outlinerPanel" false;
}

toggle wireframe

// toggle wireOnShade of cursor below window
global proc tWireOnShade()
{
global int $g_tWireOnShade=0;
 
if ($g_tWireOnShade != 1){
	setWireframeOnShadedOption 1 `getPanel -underPointer`;
	$g_tWireOnShade = 1;
	}
else{
	setWireframeOnShadedOption 0 `getPanel -underPointer`;
	$g_tWireOnShade = 0;
	}
}

general edit

rename selected prompt

global proc gxRename()
{
string $text;
 
string $result = `promptDialog 
	-title "Super Rename Window"
	-message "Enter new Name:"
	-button "OK" -button "Cancel"
	-defaultButton "OK" -cancelButton "Cancel"
	-dismissString "Cancel"`;
 
if ($result == "OK") {
 
	// query the entry typed by the user
	$text = `promptDialog -query -text`;
	string $selected[] = `ls -sl`;
	rename $selected[0] $text;
	//print("HELLO to "+ $text +"\n");
}				  
else {
	//print("fine. I won't say hello then :(\n");
}
}

move 2nd selected object to 1st selected object

global proc gxMove2()
{
string $attributeList[] = {"tx", "ty", "tz", "rx", "ry", "rz", "sx", "sy", "sz"};
string $sel[] = `ls -sl`;
string $attribute;
for($attribute in $attributeList) {
setAttr ($sel[1] + "." + $attribute) `getAttr ($sel[0] + "." + $attribute)`;
}
}

create a layer from selected

global proc gxNewObjLayer()
{
// create a layer from selected object and use first object's name + "Lyr" as layer name
to be added later
}

manual tune a channel value

global proc gxTune(string $ch,float $val){
string $selected[] = `ls -sl`;
float $old=`getAttr ($selected[0]+"."+$ch)`;
setAttr ($selected[0]+"."+$ch) ($old+$val);
}
button -l "+001" -c "gxTune(\"ry\",0.001)";
button -l "-001" -c "gxTune(\"ry\",-0.001)";
button -l "-002" -c "gxTune(\"ry\",-0.002)";

select func

set face-edge-point select mode

global proc tSelectMode(int $curMode)
{
global int $g_tSelectMode=0;
 
if ($g_tSelectMode != $curMode){
	if ($curMode == 1) {SelectVertexMask;}
	if ($curMode == 2) {SelectEdgeMask;}
	if ($curMode == 3) {SelectFacetMask;}
	if ($curMode == 0) {SelectToggleMode;}
	$g_tSelectMode = $curMode;
	}
else{
	SelectToggleMode;
	$g_tSelectMode = 0;
	}
}

Rigging related function

Mesh-Joint weight map store and restore

// vtx
$selVtx=`ls -sl -fl`;
$countVtx=size($selVtx);
print ("vtx :"+$countVtx);
// bones
string $selJnt[]=`ls -sl`;
$countJnt=size($selJnt);
print ("jnt :"+$countJnt);
print $selJnt;
// matrix
string $declare = ( "matrix $wmap[" + $countJnt + "][" + $countVtx + "];" );
eval $declare;
// joint based store data
for ( $i = 0; $i < $countJnt ; $i++ ) {
    print ("now storing $selJnt["+$i+"] : "+$selJnt[$i]+"\n");
 
    for ( $j = 0; $j < $countVtx ; $j++ ) {
        $tmpW=`skinPercent -t $selJnt[$i] -q skinCluster1 $selVtx[$j]`;
        string $declare = ( "$wmap[" + $i + "][" + $j + "]="+$tmpW+";" );
        eval $declare;
    }
    print ("Finished storing $selJnt["+$i+"] : "+$selJnt[$i]+"\n");
}
 
// test query
skinPercent -t $selJnt[0] -q skinCluster1 $selVtx[0];
print $wmap[0][0];
// apply weight, name the targe joint as jointName+"new"
// skinPercent -tv joint1 0.2 skinCluster1 pPlane1.cv[100];
 
// vtx base re-assign
float $tmpWt;
$countJnt1=$countJnt-1;
// vtx base re-assign, manual turn off all the holding
for ( $i = 0; $i < $countJnt1 ; $i++ ){
    print ("now apply for $selJnt["+$i+"] : "+$selJnt[$i]+"\n");
    $newJnt=($selJnt[$i]+"new"); // new jnt naming convention
    for ( $j = 0; $j < $countVtx ; $j++ ) {
        string $declare = ( "$tmpWt=$wmap[" + $i + "][" + $j + "];" );
        eval $declare;
        skinPercent -tv $newJnt $tmpWt skinCluster1 $selVtx[$j];
    }
    print ("Finished for $selJnt["+$i+"] : "+$selJnt[$i]+"\n");
    // hold it
    setAttr ($newJnt+".liw")  1;
}
print $wmap;
// test query
skinPercent -t $selJnt[0] -q skinCluster1 $selVtx[0];

OS-System related function

open project folder in OS File Manager

// expanded based on http://oy-maya-scripts.googlecode.com
global proc shi_openProjectInExplorer()
{
// get the current project
string $projectRootPath = `workspace -q -rd`;
string $nativeProjectRootPath = toNativePath($projectRootPath);
string $systemCommand="";
if(`about -os` == "nt") string $systemCommand = "explorer /e,"+$nativeProjectRootPath;
if(`about -os` == "linux64") string $systemCommand = "konqueror "+$nativeProjectRootPath;
 
system ($systemCommand);
}

for os detection in python

import os
if os.name == 'nt' :
    maya = 'maya.exe'
else :
    maya = 'maya.bin'

get mel proc file and the arguments

global proc printMelArgs(string $procedure)
{
string $scriptFile = `whatIs $procedure`;
int $fileId = 0;
$scriptFile = substitute(".* found in: ", $scriptFile, "");
$fileId = fopen($scriptFile, "r");
print("Found " + $procedure + " in file " + $scriptFile + ".\n");
 
if($fileId)
{
  while(!feof($fileId))
  {
    $currentLine = fgetline($fileId);
    if(`match (".*proc.*" + $procedure) $currentLine` != "")
    print ($currentLine);
  }
  fclose $fileId;
}
}

Custom UI creation function

custom menu creation

global proc myMenu()
{
global string $showMyMenuCtrl;
if (`menu -exists $showMyMenuCtrl`)
   deleteUI $showMyMenuCtrl;
string $name = "My Menu";
global string $gMainWindow;
$showMyMenuCtrl = `menu -p $gMainWindow -to true -l $name`;
menuItem -p $showMyMenuCtrl -l "Alpha" -c ("source \"alpha.mel\"; ");
menuItem -p $showMyMenuCtrl -l "Bravo" -c ("source \"bravo.mel\"; ");
menuItem -p $showMyMenuCtrl -l "Charlie" -c ("source \"charlie.mel\"; ");
};
myMenu;

Custom HUD creation

read this guide from Maya Help file: link

GUI mel for my own use

toolbox	shiShelfTool
markingmenu	mm_Sel_filter
menu	vip_item_menu

shiShelfTool

A floating shelf with built-in functions and Realtime Strategy Game like Commanding icons.

mm_shi_sel_filter

mm_shi_sel_filter.mel

    menuItem
        -label "shiSelectPoly" 
        -command "setObjectPickMask \"All\" 0;selectType -polymesh 1;\n" 
        -radialPosition "N" 
        menuEditorMenuItem2;
 
    menuItem
        -label "shiSelectLocator" 
        -command "setObjectPickMask \"All\" 0;selectType -locator 1\n" 
        -radialPosition "NE" 
        menuEditorMenuItem8;
 
    menuItem
        -label "shiSelectCluster" 
        -command "setObjectPickMask \"All\" 0;selectType -cluster 1;\n" 
        -radialPosition "E" 
        menuEditorMenuItem4;
 
    menuItem
        -label "shiSelectLattice" 
        -command "setObjectPickMask \"All\" 0;selectType -lattice 1;\n" 
        -radialPosition "SE" 
        menuEditorMenuItem6;
 
    menuItem
        -label "shiSelectCurve" 
        -command "setObjectPickMask \"All\" 0;setObjectPickMask \"Curve\" 1;\n" 
        -radialPosition "S" 
        menuEditorMenuItem3;
 
    menuItem
        -label "shiSelectIK" 
        -command "setObjectPickMask \"All\" 0;selectType -ikHandle 1;\n" 
        -radialPosition "SW" 
        menuEditorMenuItem7;
 
    menuItem
        -label "shiSelectJoint" 
        -command "setObjectPickMask \"All\" 0;setObjectPickMask \"Joint\" true;\n" 
        -radialPosition "W" 
        -enableCommandRepeat 1
        menuEditorMenuItem5;
 
    menuItem
        -label "shiSelectDeformer" 
        -command "setObjectPickMask \"All\" 0;setObjectPickMask \"Deformer\" true;\n" 
        -radialPosition "NW" 
        menuEditorMenuItem9;
 
    menuItem
        -label "shiSelectLight" 
        -command "setObjectPickMask \"All\" 0;selectType -light 1;\n" 
        menuEditorMenuItem10;
 
    menuItem
        -label "shiSelectCam" 
        -command "setObjectPickMask \"All\" 0;selectType -camera 1;\n" 
        menuEditorMenuItem11;
 
    menuItem
        -divider 1
        menuEditorMenuItem12;
 
    menuItem
        -label "shiSelectMaskAll" 
        -command "setObjectPickMask \"All\" 1;\n" 
        menuEditorMenuItem13;
 
    menuItem
        -label "shiLockSelection" 
        -command "updateLockSelectionIcon;" 
        menuEditorMenuItem14;
 
setParent -m ..;

scripts for my own use

material	color_bucket_gen	mm_paint_list
modeling	common_create	cube_softify

ref creation

// ref: http://xyz2.net/mel/mel.103.htm
// usage: it create refPlane01, and refMat01, and load ref01.png under ref/ folder
// refPlane
polyPlane -ax 0 0 1 -w 10 -h 10 -sx 2 -sy 2 -n "refPlane01";
move -a 0 0 -5;
//refMat;
string $myRefMat = `shadingNode -asShader lambert -name "refMat01"`;
string $mySG = `sets -renderable true -noSurfaceShader true -empty -name "refMatSG01"`;
connectAttr -f ( $myRefMat + ".outColor" ) ( $mySG + ".surfaceShader" );
string $myFileNode = `shadingNode -asTexture file -name "refFile01"`;
connectAttr -f ( $myFileNode + ".outColor" ) ( $myRefMat + ".color" );
string $filepath = "ref/ref01.png";
setAttr -type "string" ( $myFileNode + ".fileTextureName" ) $filepath;
select refPlane01;
hyperShade -assign refMat01;
/* // link map png transparency
connectAttr -force refFile01.outTransparency refMat01.transparency;
*/

color bucket button set (Setup+UI)

// color bucket - create preset materials
// (red,blue,green,grey,white,black,yellow)
/*
color bucket
*/
global proc ccMatSetup()
{
string $myNewColor = `shadingNode -asShader lambert -name "ccRed"`;
setAttr -type double3 ( $myNewColor + ".color" ) 1 0 0;
string $myNewColor = `shadingNode -asShader lambert -name "ccGreen"`;
setAttr -type double3 ( $myNewColor + ".color" ) 0 1 0;
string $myNewColor = `shadingNode -asShader lambert -name "ccBlue"`;
setAttr -type double3 ( $myNewColor + ".color" ) 0 0 1;
string $myNewColor = `shadingNode -asShader lambert -name "ccWhite"`;
setAttr -type double3 ( $myNewColor + ".color" ) 1 1 1;
string $myNewColor = `shadingNode -asShader lambert -name "ccGrey"`;
setAttr -type double3 ( $myNewColor + ".color" ) 0.5 0.5 0.5;
string $myNewColor = `shadingNode -asShader lambert -name "ccBlack"`;
setAttr -type double3 ( $myNewColor + ".color" ) 0 0 0;
string $myNewColor = `shadingNode -asShader lambert -name "ccYellow"`;
setAttr -type double3 ( $myNewColor + ".color" ) 1 1 0;
}
/* please put this shelf button in your fav UI
shelfButton
-label "ccMat" 
-imageOverlayLabel "ccMat" 
-image "render_rampShader.xpm" 
-image1 "render_rampShader.xpm"
-style "iconOnly" 
-command "HypershadeWindow" 
-mi "ccRed" ("hyperShade -assign ccRed;")
-mi "ccGreen" ("hyperShade -assign ccGreen;")
-mi "ccBlue" ("hyperShade -assign ccBlue;")
-mi "ccWhite" ("hyperShade -assign ccWhite;")
-mi "ccGrey" ("hyperShade -assign ccGrey;")
-mi "ccBlack" ("hyperShade -assign ccBlack;")
-mi "ccYellow" ("hyperShade -assign ccYellow;")
-mi "-----------" ("")
-mi "-----------" ("")
-mi "ccMatSetup" ("ccMatSetup")
-sourceType "mel" 
-commandRepeatable 1
;
*/

mm_shi_cc_assign.mel

/* setup guide - total manual way in hotkey editor
// yourMM_press
if (`popupMenu -exists tempMM`) { deleteUI tempMM; }
popupMenu -button 1 -ctl false -alt false -allowOptionBoxes true -parent viewPanes -mm 1 tempMM;
source "mm_shi_cc_assign.mel"; // only to change this
// yourMM_release
if (`popupMenu -exists tempMM`) { deleteUI tempMM; }
*/
    menuItem -label "ccRed" -command "hyperShade -assign ccRed;" mmCCAmi_red;
    menuItem -label "ccGreen" -command "hyperShade -assign ccGreen;" mmCCAmi_green;
    menuItem -label "ccBlue" -command "hyperShade -assign ccBlue;" mmCCAmi_blue;
    menuItem -label "ccWhite" -command "hyperShade -assign ccWhite;" mmCCAmi_white;
    menuItem -label "ccGrey" -command "hyperShade -assign ccGrey;" mmCCAmi_grey;
    menuItem -label "ccBlack" -command "hyperShade -assign ccBlack;" mmCCAmi_black;
    menuItem -label "ccYellow" -command "hyperShade -assign ccYellow;" mmCCAmi_yellow;
    menuItem -label "---------" -command "" mmCCAmi_dash;
    menuItem -label "ccMatSetup" -command "ccMatSetup" mmCCAmi_ccMatSetup;
setParent -m ..;

Play with Cube

// title: random cube generator v0.1a
// usage: create random shaped cube
for($i=0;$i<10;$i++){
int $tmpVary=6;
int $tmpSize=10;
polyCube -w $tmpSize -h $tmpSize -d $tmpSize -cuv 4;
string $selected[]=`ls -sl`;
$tmpCube=$selected[0];
//move -5 -5 -5 ($tmpCube+".scalePivot") ($tmpCube+".rotatePivot") ;
move (50) (0+15*$i) 0;
 
$tmpP1=floor(rand(0,2));
$tmpP2=floor(rand(3,5));
$tmpP3=floor(rand(6,7));
select -r $tmpCube.vtx[$tmpP1] ;
move -r (rand($tmpVary)) (rand($tmpVary)) (rand($tmpVary));
select -r $tmpCube.vtx[$tmpP2] ;
move -r (rand($tmpVary)) (rand($tmpVary)) (rand($tmpVary));
select -r $tmpCube.vtx[$tmpP3] ;
move -r (rand($tmpVary)) (rand($tmpVary)) (rand($tmpVary));
}
select -cl;

// selected cubic soft edge script - v0.1
// shining 2011 mar
// able to handle multi cube selection, no cube as tmpCube
 
string $selected[] = `ls -sl`;
 
for ($selectedItem in $selected) { //loop 1 starts
rename $selectedItem "tmpCube" ;
// find rough size
$tmpSizeValue=`polyEvaluate -boundingBox tmpCube`;
float $tmpSizeValueX = ($tmpSizeValue[1]-$tmpSizeValue[0]);
float $tmpSizeValueY = ($tmpSizeValue[3]-$tmpSizeValue[2]);
float $tmpSizeValueZ = ($tmpSizeValue[5]-$tmpSizeValue[4]);
float $tmpCubeValue=0.1*min($tmpSizeValueX,min($tmpSizeValueY,$tmpSizeValueZ));
// scale in cube
move -r 0 ($tmpCubeValue) 0 tmpCube.vtx[0:1] tmpCube.vtx[6:7];
move -r 0 (-1*$tmpCubeValue) 0 tmpCube.vtx[2:5];
move -r 0 0 (-1*$tmpCubeValue) tmpCube.vtx[0:3];
move -r 0 0 ($tmpCubeValue) tmpCube.vtx[4:7];
move -r (-1*$tmpCubeValue) 0 0 tmpCube.vtx[1] tmpCube.vtx[3] tmpCube.vtx[5] tmpCube.vtx[7];
move -r ($tmpCubeValue) 0 0 tmpCube.vtx[0] tmpCube.vtx[2] tmpCube.vtx[4] tmpCube.vtx[6];
// extrube back cube
polyExtrudeFacet -constructionHistory 1 -keepFacesTogether 1 -divisions 1 -twist 0 -taper 1 -off 0 -lt 0 0 ($tmpCubeValue) -smoothingAngle 30 tmpCube.f[0] tmpCube.f[2];
polyExtrudeFacet -constructionHistory 1 -keepFacesTogether 1 -divisions 1 -twist 0 -taper 1 -off 0 -lt 0 0 ($tmpCubeValue) -smoothingAngle 30 tmpCube.f[4] tmpCube.f[5] tmpCube.f[7] tmpCube.f[9] tmpCube.f[11] tmpCube.f[13];
polyExtrudeFacet -constructionHistory 1 -keepFacesTogether 1 -divisions 1 -twist 0 -taper 1 -off 0 -lt 0 0 ($tmpCubeValue) -smoothingAngle 30 tmpCube.f[1] tmpCube.f[3] tmpCube.f[6] tmpCube.f[8] tmpCube.f[10] tmpCube.f[12] tmpCube.f[14:16] tmpCube.f[18:19] tmpCube.f[21:24] tmpCube.f[26:27] tmpCube.f[29];
polySmooth  -mth 0 -dv 1 -c 1 -kb 1 -ksb 1 -khe 0 -kt 1 -kmb 1 -suv 1 -peh 0 -sl 1 -dpe 1 -ps 0.1 -ro 1 -ch 1 tmpCube;
polyDelEdge -cv true -ch 1 tmpCube.e[216:240] tmpCube.e[242] tmpCube.e[244] tmpCube.e[246] tmpCube.e[248] tmpCube.e[250] tmpCube.e[252] tmpCube.e[254] tmpCube.e[256] tmpCube.e[258] tmpCube.e[260] tmpCube.e[262] tmpCube.e[264] tmpCube.e[266] tmpCube.e[268] tmpCube.e[270] tmpCube.e[272] tmpCube.e[274] tmpCube.e[276] tmpCube.e[278] tmpCube.e[284] tmpCube.e[286] tmpCube.e[296] tmpCube.e[298] tmpCube.e[304] tmpCube.e[306] tmpCube.e[308] tmpCube.e[310] tmpCube.e[316] tmpCube.e[318] tmpCube.e[328] tmpCube.e[330] tmpCube.e[336] tmpCube.e[338] tmpCube.e[340] tmpCube.e[342] tmpCube.e[344] tmpCube.e[346] tmpCube.e[364] tmpCube.e[366] tmpCube.e[384] tmpCube.e[386] tmpCube.e[388] tmpCube.e[390] tmpCube.e[392] tmpCube.e[394] tmpCube.e[412] tmpCube.e[414];
rename tmpCube $selectedItem ;
} 
//loop 1 ends

Portable hotkey

Mel hotkey initialize sequence

userRunTimeCommands.mel (defining a mel script into alisa name)
userNamedCommands.mel (give a link name to each alias command)
userHotkeys.mel (assign keystroke to each link)

Runtime command vs Name command

runtime command is more like “alias” in bash or “doskey” in dos, simply a one word short command for a multi-line commands
- if you use functions most, then you can ignore the alias
runtime command is used for hokey editor registration,
name command is more and enough for working with hotkey assigning, if you call from hotkey, you need a name command

Example of NameCommand-only way of shortcut

require “shi_fun.mel” load first for my personal cmds;

//-----------------------modeling
nameCommand -ann "NC_shiToggleMode_1" -c ("shiToggleMode(1)") NC_shiToggleMode_1;
hotkey -k "1" -ctl -n ("NC_shiToggleMode_1");
 
nameCommand -ann "NC_shiToggleMode_2" -c ("shiToggleMode(2)") NC_shiToggleMode_2;
hotkey -k "2" -ctl -n ("NC_shiToggleMode_2");
 
nameCommand -ann "NC_shiToggleMode_3" -c ("shiToggleMode(3)") NC_shiToggleMode_3;
hotkey -k "3" -ctl -n ("NC_shiToggleMode_3");
 
//------------------------ view port
nameCommand -ann "NC_view_tWireframe" -c ("shiToggleWireOnShade") NC_view_tWireframe;
hotkey -k "f" -ctl -alt -n ("NC_view_tWireframe");
 
//------------------------ windows
 
// outliner
nameCommand -ann "NC_win_outliner" -c ("if (`window -ex outlinerPanel1Window`) deleteUI outlinerPanel1Window;else OutlinerWindow;") NC_win_outliner;
hotkey -k "4" -ctl -n ("NC_win_outliner");
 
// script editor
nameCommand -ann "NC_win_scriptEditor" -c ("if (`window -ex scriptEditorPanel1Window`) deleteUI scriptEditorPanel1Window;else ScriptEditor;") NC_win_scriptEditor;
hotkey -k "x" -ctl -alt -n ("NC_win_scriptEditor");
 
// hyperShade
nameCommand -ann "NC_win_hyperShade" -c ("if (`window -ex hyperShadePanel1Window`) deleteUI hyperShadePanel1Window;else HypershadeWindow") NC_win_hyperShade;
hotkey -k "s" -ctl -alt -n ("NC_win_hyperShade");
 
// graph editor
nameCommand -ann "NC_win_graphEditor" -c ("if (`window -ex graphEditor1Window`) deleteUI graphEditor1Window;else GraphEditor") NC_win_graphEditor;
hotkey -k "g" -ctl -alt -n ("NC_win_graphEditor");
 
//------------------------ redo
nameCommand -ann "NC_fun01" -c ("fun01") NC_fun01;
hotkey -k "d" -ctl -alt -n ("NC_fun01");

Example of RunTimeCommand NameCommand way of shortcut