Scripting for Artists in Maya

🥱 Automate the "boring" stuff in Maya:
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An introduction to the scripting basics in Maya with MEL and Python. We compare both languages and how to work with the script editor, the echo commands, create shelves and import external files.
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VIDEO overview
00:22 - Language Introduction
01:28 - Compare Python & MEL
02:53 - MEL
08:38 - Python in Maya
13:10 - Shelf
13:42 - Import external files
16:00 - Outro
DOWNLOAD scripts
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SEE also
Python: • Python for Artists - P...
3ds Max: • Scripting for Artists ...
Maya: • Scripting for Artists ...
Nuke: • Python for Artists in ...
Batch: • Custom startups for Ma...
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[@liakim1572]

Very nice introduction!

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Thx! Very nice hair! 😉

[@himanshi869]

Nice Content! Thanks .

[@alexanderrichtertd]

You're welcome! :)

[@RohanGulig]

i need help .. Actually i need script which can open a particular path within maya to open maya files existed in that folder ... for e.g animation folder, lighting folder, Layout folder.. so the individual buttons can open that particular folder in one click and I can manually chose which file to open... can anyone help me with that ??

[@alexanderrichtertd]

I've made an 8 weeks masterclass teaching skills like this: www.alexanderrichtertd.com/python-maya

[@RohanGulig]

@@alexanderrichtertd thank you for your help but its very expensive for me

[@JuyongJeon]

Thank you so mush!!! really Thanks

[@alexanderrichtertd]

You're welcome. :) For more content check out my new weekly blog: www.alexanderrichtertd.com/blog

[@yapudi]

Amazing set of videos! So great! How did you setup maya python as an IDE with drop down commands and have the quick help attached. That would be awesome

[@alexanderrichtertd]

I explain that in the video. If you really like to learn Python in Maya I've created a masterclass with essential code feedback: www.alexanderrichtertd.com/python-maya

[@yapudi]

@@alexanderrichtertd Oh that's awesome ! Will take a look at that as well!

[@claytomcs]

is there a way of creating a vray attribute for all selected texture nodes in MEL?

[@alexanderrichtertd]

sounds reasonable. Go through the process step by step: 1. Get a list of selected textures 2. Find the variable name of the VRay attribute 3. Fill the attribute with the list

[@MrSubinantony]

Hi sir, how to assign variable to polyEvaluate -t? i tried like this "string $polycount[] = ` polyEvaluate -t`; But didn't work.

[@alexanderrichtertd]

By not using MEL. ;) download.autodesk.com/global/docs/maya2012/en_us/CommandsPython/polyEvaluate.html

[@liamoohay24365]

hi do you know how to keep a python script to float on top of maya UI? when i click on the viewport the script disappears into the background. i'm using macOS.

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Using PySide it is: self.setWindowFlags(self.windowFlags() ^ QtCore.Qt.WindowStaysOnTopHint) # This one: "WindowStaysOnTopHint" Check this one out for more context: stackoverflow.com/questions/41065556/stay-window-on-the-top-with-pyside

[@manucheremeh5303]

Thank you so much, this video is really helpful! What is the maya script path on mac?

[@alexanderrichtertd]

I don't use a Mac. Just copied your question into Google: knowledge.autodesk.com/support/maya/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2020/ENU/Maya-EnvVar/files/GUID-228CCA33-4AFE-4380-8C3D-18D23F7EAC72-htm.html or polycount.com/discussion/204467/where-is-the-maya-scripts-folder-on-the-mac

[@freenomon2466]

You are awesome. Ive sent you a message on your coaching page. Hope its not too expensive. Is there a mel script that can connect one blendshape to drive another blendshape but with a delay? (Maybe with 5 to 10 frames delay). I can connect blendshapes via connection editor or use set driven keys but there isnt a way to add delay..

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Thank you! 😊 If I understand you correctly you could do it by setting the merge value to 0 until 5-10 frames later. Sounds possible but it would need more investigation.

[@tiaz805]

Thanks for the tutorial. What if I want to run an external file with a UI function and the UI contains a button to execute another function(def buttonOne) in the same py file? When I wrote down "import myScript" and "myScript.UI()", it only displayed the UI. But then I clicked the button, I got an error showing my buttonOne function is not defined.

[@alexanderrichtertd]

I had this problem before. In the command you have to write: c = 'myScript.buttonOne()' So basically you have to tell the command which module it should execute since when it is used in Maya it is detached from the script. Maya executes the string separately but doesn't know to what the function is attached to.

[@tiaz805]

@@alexanderrichtertd Thanks for the reply! I just solved the problem by using c = buttonOne instead of c = 'buttonOne()'. NOt sure if this is the best way but it works too!

[@RohanGulig]

i want script for "select currently displayed node" can someone help me ?

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Displayed where?

[@RohanGulig]

@@alexanderrichtertd when we go in tx manager and select a texture ... It cannot select a texture it only displayed in attribute editor to select it.... We have to go to attribute editor.... And at the bottom we have select option ... ( Select currently desplayed node )and i want a script for that only..... To discribe fully what i want to do ... Is simple.. i want to make gray scale texture= raw,ignore colorspace rule, alpha is luminance... .. i did make script for this 3 things but..... When i have to select a texture .... From tx mamager ... It not selecting a texture it only display in attribute aditor so that.... I want a script for that select bottom.... So that ... I will take that script and add it to my main script at the top ... So we can directly click tx manager texture and hit a script that will do alpha is luminance, raw thing for me ...i hope u will understand what i am trying to say...

[@bruno_casquet]

Great video, thank you! Which color theme is that for sublime?

[@alexanderrichtertd]

flatland is my current one.

[@Grom84]

why it's so hard to make toggling buttons in maya? sometimes it takes a single line like makeLive; other times you need to check panel states add flags and if - else things to make a single button to toggle wireframe on or off. i wanted to make my custom hotkeys with marking menus with toggleable commands in them for easier access but it's so damn hard(((

[@alexanderrichtertd]

Because Maya is an inconsistent mess. You can check if there are alternatives to toggle buttons that work for you. Merry Christmas

[@Grom84]

@@alexanderrichtertd Ahahah) yep it seems so. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you!

[@AdventureTimeWithAsh]

cool i like it am been month studing programming and tech art wizardry after 4 years of 2d and 3d xd i wish you hame the font bigger my video buffer at 720P and at 480p xd i live in syria

[@alexanderrichtertd]

You can find all the code used in the video here: github.com/alexanderrichtertd/SfA/tree/master/season01/scripting_for_artists_maya

[@deltaxz]

hey, I'm having a problem running a script. every time I try to run it in Maya 2017 I keep getting this "line 1.5: Syntax error" I don't know what's going on and it only happens with MEL scripts.

[@alexanderrichtertd]

If you look into my last Python Video where I talk about Errors you see that Syntax Error means your code is grammatly not accepted. Some brackets etc are mitplaced. Look at the line and see if you can figure it out. Or send it to me.

[@prasadkathare2258]

What is scripting

[@alexanderrichtertd]

the art of communicating with software in a logical for us understandable way. See also: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHS7hqRjbN6bg9E

[@catsnorkel]

I disagree about mel having better. Help than python. With python you have all the python developers in any field to learn from, but mel is really niche and there are very few places you can go for help with it.

[@alexanderrichtertd]

A good point but my argument was directed at getting help to control Maya. Most problems I found MEL solutions for it and have to Google longer for the Python alternative. In terms of just Python there is definitely more help in understanding the language.

[@catsnorkel]

@@alexanderrichtertd in python you can almost always use the same code as Mel, just slightly simplify the syntax

[@danielsemmelrock7808]

So weird listening to a German speaking English as an Austrian

[@alexanderrichtertd]

I am originally from Kazakhstan by the way. :P