Noob: How to query attribute and store as variable?

[rxgeez]

$variable = `getAttr cube1.translateX`;


the ` is the button under the esc key.


-k

[jorx]

Ah,

getAttr is the command I was looking for!

Thank you very much!

[bankievr6]

how would you then assign that variable to an attribute?

[Phlok]

In my script, there is a sytax error thrown using a construction just as the one stated here:


$actScale = `getAttr $objects[1].scaleZ`;


$objects[1] conatins a simple polygon sphere.

What did I do wrong?

[NaughtyNathan]

$actScale = `getAttr $objects[1].scaleZ`;
What did I do wrong?

.scaleZ is not an attribute (or method!) of the variable "$object[1]", but rather an attribute of the contents of the string (e.g. "pCube1"), so it must be constructed and concatanated as a string. (not sure I've explained that very well but..)

$actScale = `getAttr ($objects[1] + ".scaleZ")`;

you're combining (catenating) a string variable and a literal string and gettingAttr on the combined result.

:nathaN

[Phlok]

I found a fix for that matter, but it still stays a little unclear to me. If I had an array in C++, e.g. I defined a class called obj and then I define an array that can contain elements of the type obj, called array.

Let's say Obj provides a public method DoSomething(), a public int variable MyInt and my array has been filled with objects of type obj.

Then operations such as array[i].DoSomething() or int j = array[i].MyInt are usually possible.

What's the difference with MEL in that case?

[NaughtyNathan]

MEL has NOTHING like this. MEL is the most basic scripting language. it has no object orientated features, no classes, no methods, no structures, nothing.

it has only basic types: int, float, string, vector, and a 1D array version of each and that IS IT..!

(it also has a matrix type too)

you can set a variable and read/use it. that's pretty much it. you can't really do anything sophisticated with them.

have a read of "MEL for Programmers" in the Maya docs (Using Maya > General > MEL and Expressions > Background > )

:nathaN

[Phlok]

Thanks for the hints. Also the "MEL for Programmers" is very helpful.

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