CGTalk - Maya Programming

omg, switching to python.

Sun, 19 May 2013 20:40:03 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: jgibz
Post Time: 05-20-2013 at 01:40 AM
Text:

[Python] If I don't pass an argument, do 'something'

Sun, 19 May 2013 06:50:38 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: PozestStar
Post Time: 05-19-2013 at 11:50 AM
Text:

I feel silly asking this, but I'm not sure how to ask this question or look for a solution since the proper terminology eludes me. I know I've seen this done before, I just don't remember where or how it was done. I want to do something like this:

If I don't manually define number, then get the value of the intField. Does anyone know how I would I go about doing this? I'd appreciate any answer/source where the answer is located.

Thanks for your help

problem with using closest intersection in shading

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:37:25 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: youniversall
Post Time: 05-18-2013 at 05:37 PM
Text:

hi, I want to write a shading node for maya to change the color of a poly surface based on distance to other meshes. something like distance to surface below in vue. I'm trying to do
that by using world position of render sample and closest intersection in c++ api. everything
looks good but I can't get any result.this is the compute code, I hope someone can find my mistake here. thanks.

MStatus polyDistanceNode::compute( const MPlug& plug, MDataBlock& data )
{
MStatus returnStatus;

if( plug == aOutput )
{
// find plugs to this node
MPlugArray plugs;
MObject thisObj = thisMObject();
MPlug inPlug(thisObj,aInMesh);
inPlug.connectedTo(plugs,true, false);
MDagPath path;
if (plugs.length()>0)
{
// we need a MObject for MDagPath
MPlug pl = plugs[0];
MObject obj = pl.node();
// we need MDagPath to find intersections
returnStatus = MDagPath::getAPathTo(obj,path);
if (returnStatus != MS::kSuccess)
{
MGlobal::displayError( "can not get the path" );
return MS::kFailure;
}

}

// get point world sample and convert it to a vector for ray cast position
MDataHandle point = data.inputValue(aPointWorld, &returnStatus);
if( returnStatus != MS::kSuccess )
{
MGlobal::displayError( "Node polyDistanceNode cannot get aPointWorld\n" );
return returnStatus;
}
MFloatVector ray = point.asFloatVector();

MFloatPoint raySource(ray.x, ray.y, ray.z);

// get the direction of ray cast and convert to float vector
MDataHandle direct = data.inputValue(aDirection, &returnStatus);
if( returnStatus != MS::kSuccess )
{
MGlobal::displayError( "Node polyDistanceNode cannot get aDirection\n" );
return returnStatus;
}
MFloatVector rayDirection = direct.asFloatVector();

// get the max ray trace depth and convert to float
MDataHandle dist = data.inputValue(aMaxDistance, &returnStatus);
if( returnStatus != MS::kSuccess )
{
MGlobal::displayError( "Node polyDistanceNode cannot get aMaxDistance\n" );
return returnStatus;
}
float maxParam = dist.asFloat();

// if ray must be cast on both side
MDataHandle side = data.inputValue(aBothSide, &returnStatus);
if( returnStatus != MS::kSuccess )
{
MGlobal::displayError( "Node polyDistanceNode cannot get aBothSide\n" );
return MS::kFailure;
}
boolean testBothDirections = side.asBool();

// mesh function to find closest intersection
MFnMesh mesh;
// asign object to mesh function
returnStatus = mesh.setObject(path);
if( returnStatus != MS::kSuccess )
{
MGlobal::displayError( "Node polyDistanceNode cannot set object to intersect function\n" );
return MS::kFailure;
}

MMeshIsectAccelParams mmAccelParams = mesh.autoUniformGridParams();
MFloatPoint hitPoint;
int hitFace, hitTri;
float result,hitBray1, hitBray2;
MStatus stat;
MFloatPoint r(-6.954934, 4.483423, -2.156601);
MFloatVector d(0.0, 1.0, 0.0);
// cast a ray to find intersection
boolean hit = mesh.closestIntersection(raySource,rayDirection,NU LL,NULL,false,MSpace::kWorld,maxParam,testBothDire ctions,&mmAccelParams,hitPoint,&result,&hitFace,&hitTri,&hitBray1,&hitBray2,(float)1e-6,&stat);

if (stat == MS::kSuccess)
{
MDataHandle outputHandle = data.outputValue(aOutput, &returnStatus);
if( returnStatus != MS::kSuccess )
{
MGlobal::displayError( "Node distanceShader cannot get aOutput\n" );
return MS::kFailure;
}
// set the output
outputHandle.set( result );
data.setClean(plug);
}
else
{
return stat;
}
}
else
{
return MS::kUnknownParameter;
}

return MS::kSuccess;
}

problem with using closest intersection in shading

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:45:41 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: youniversall
Post Time: 05-18-2013 at 04:45 PM
Text:

hi, I'm trying to write a shading node in which works based on distance between poly objects.
something like distance to surface below in vue.
I want to get different shading based on distance. so for example where two poly objects are close to each other surface color changes. everything looks good but it doesn't work.
may be output type in not right. its a float attribute. this is the c++ code:

MStatus polyDistanceNode::compute( const MPlug& plug, MDataBlock& data )
{
MStatus returnStatus;

if( plug == aOutput )
{
// find plugs to this node
MPlugArray plugs;
MObject thisObj = thisMObject();
MPlug inPlug(thisObj,aInMesh);
inPlug.connectedTo(plugs,true, false);
MDagPath path;
if (plugs.length()>0)
{
// we need a MObject for MDagPath
MPlug pl = plugs[0];
MObject obj = pl.node();
// we need MDagPath to find intersections
returnStatus = MDagPath::getAPathTo(obj,path);
if (returnStatus != MS::kSuccess)
{
MGlobal::displayError( "can not get the path" );
return MS::kFailure;
}
}

// get point world sample and convert it to a vector for ray cast position
MDataHandle point = data.inputValue(aPointWorld, &returnStatus);
if( returnStatus != MS::kSuccess )
{
MGlobal::displayError( "Node polyDistanceNode cannot get aPointWorld\n" );
return returnStatus;
}
MFloatVector ray = point.asFloatVector();
MFloatPoint raySource(ray.x, ray.y, ray.z);

// get the direction of ray cast and convert to float vector
MDataHandle direct = data.inputValue(aDirection, &returnStatus);
if( returnStatus != MS::kSuccess )
{
MGlobal::displayError( "Node polyDistanceNode cannot get aDirection\n" );
return returnStatus;
}
MFloatVector rayDirection = direct.asFloatVector();

// get the max ray trace depth and convert to float
MDataHandle dist = data.inputValue(aMaxDistance, &returnStatus);
if( returnStatus != MS::kSuccess )
{
MGlobal::displayError( "Node polyDistanceNode cannot get aMaxDistance\n" );
return returnStatus;
}
float maxParam = dist.asFloat();

// if ray must be cast on both side
MDataHandle side = data.inputValue(aBothSide, &returnStatus);
if( returnStatus != MS::kSuccess )
{
MGlobal::displayError( "Node polyDistanceNode cannot get aBothSide\n" );
return MS::kFailure;
}
boolean testBothDirections = side.asBool();

// mesh function to find closest intersection
MFnMesh mesh;
// asign object to mesh function
returnStatus = mesh.setObject(path);
if( returnStatus != MS::kSuccess )
{
MGlobal::displayError( "Node polyDistanceNode cannot set object to intersect function\n" );
return MS::kFailure;
}

MMeshIsectAccelParams mmAccelParams = mesh.autoUniformGridParams();
MFloatPoint hitPoint;
int hitFace, hitTri;
float result,hitBray1, hitBray2;
MStatus stat;
MFloatPoint r(-6.954934, 4.483423, -2.156601);
MFloatVector d(0.0, 1.0, 0.0);
// cast a ray to find intersection
boolean hit = mesh.closestIntersection(raySource,rayDirection,NU LL,NULL,false,MSpace::kWorld,maxParam,testBothDire ctions,&mmAccelParams,hitPoint,&result,&hitFace,&hitTri,&hitBray1,&hitBray2,(float)1e-6,&stat);

if (stat == MS::kSuccess)
{
MDataHandle outputHandle = data.outputValue(aOutput, &returnStatus);
if( returnStatus != MS::kSuccess )
{
MGlobal::displayError( "Node distanceShader cannot get aOutput\n" );
return MS::kFailure;
}
// set the output
outputHandle.set( result );
data.setClean(plug);
}
else
{
return stat;
}
}
else
{
return MS::kUnknownParameter;
}

return MS::kSuccess;
}

def noob(): function not defined

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:37:59 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: jgibz
Post Time: 05-17-2013 at 06:37 PM
Text:

I can't seem to figure out why my button command won't call my function...

can anyone show me what I'm doing wrong?

select objects by number in name

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:21:26 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: InFisch
Post Time: 05-17-2013 at 01:21 PM
Text:

I have created 10 excact the same Geometries named geo_## (geo_01, geo_02,_geo_03...)
Further I created a joint and duplicated it 10 times, called joint_01, joint_02, joint_03..

I would like to select geo_01 and joint_01 and do a constraint. And this for ten times, for every geo and joint with the same numer.
is there any mel command to do so?
Furthermore I would like to parent all joints. joint_02 ist a parent of joint_01, joint_03 ist a parent of joint_02 and so on.

Im going crazy, because i don`t find anything like this

How to get Mental Ray render information in a custom Maya api node

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:01:10 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: vdearing
Post Time: 05-16-2013 at 06:01 PM
Text:

I have been recently getting into custom node development using the Maya api, and have been converting a decal propagation script I wrote to act as a single node. I based a lot of the core functionality off of the shift node found in the devkit. So when out color is being calculated, the uv's are intercepted, shifted to a new position, and a new color sample at those coordinates replaces the original sample. It all works great, and I haven't had any issues with it, but it does not work in either Mental Ray or VRay.

The uv input attribute does not receive any incoming connections, so I am assuming it receives the uv sample information from either Maya, or the connected texture via a color input, at calculation time because it has a common Maya attribute name. When rendering with the other two render engines, only the color at uv (0,0) is ever sampled, meaning no uv information is being caught by the node. Connecting the outUV from a texture's place 2D to the uv input on my node didn't help.

My question is this: how can I grab the uv points being sampled in mental ray and vray in a custom api node? I'm hoping there is some connection I can make, or some Mental Ray api hook I can use to grab that information. The same goes for VRay.

Here is some code going over the idea in python using a node named decalShifter:

# add the uv attribute in the initialize function
def nodeInitializer():
# create u and v temporary attributes
u = numAttr.create('uCoord', 'u', openMaya.MFnNumericData.kFloat, 0.0)
v = numAttr.create('vCoord', 'v', openMaya.MFnNumericData.kFloat, 0.0)

# create compound uv attribute
decalShifter.aUvInput = numAttr.create('uvCoord', 'uv', u, v)
numAttr.setStorable(False)
numAttr.setRenderSource(True)
numAttr.setHidden(True)
decalShifter.addAttribute(decalShifter.aUvInput)

# intercept and shift uv's in compute
def computeOutColor(self, plug, dataBlock):
colorHandle = dataBlock.inputValue(self.aColorInput)
color = colorHandle.asFloatVector()

uvHandle = dataBlock.inputValue(self.aUvInput)
initialUv = uvHandle.asFloat2()

>insert other calculations here<

outUvHandle = dataBlock.outputValue(self.aUvInput)
outUvHandle.set2Float(initialUv[0] - origin[0], initialUv[1] - origin[1])

newColorHandle = dataBlock.inputValue(self.aColorInput)
color = newColorHandle.asFloatVector()

maya UI question, tab layout problem

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:38:38 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: JoRM-159
Post Time: 05-16-2013 at 03:38 PM
Text:

MEL UI tabLayout question

I dont have lot of experience with mel and Im sort of learning by my own, Im working in UI creation,but Im having an issue, so the problem
is when I create a tabbed layout with a scroll layout, that works fine, but I want a form layout inside the Scroll layout cause I need to add an image and buttons and the only way I know to overlay buttons over an image is by using the form layout but i need the scroll because the image is very long like a list. And i get an error, this is the code

tabLayout ca_tabLayout;

string $scrollEyes = `scrollLayout -vst 16 -hst 16` ;
string $formEyes = `formLayout` ;
string $i_eyes = `image -image "path to image"`;

setParent ..;

and i get an error

// Error: Object 'ca_bunnyWindow|ca_tabLayout|scrollLayout1|scrollL ayout2' not found. //

Please help!

checker size tool for maya 2012?

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:54:04 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: JohnPetrucci
Post Time: 05-16-2013 at 02:54 PM
Text:

Hey guys
I'm wondering if there's a way to make this tool work for maya 2012?
what it does it lets you match the scale of any object to another you have picked as a target.
I emailed the person who wrote the script but he hasn't replied.
I wish I knew some scripting but I have no idea how could I implement it for maya 2012?

I get this error while trying to use it:

# Error: in method 'new_MScriptUtil', argument 1 of type 'bool'
# Traceback (most recent call last):
# File "", line 1, in
# File "", line 49, in get_sel_faces_UV_ratio
# File "/buildforge/Maya_2012_Linux64_Build/build/wrk/optim/runTime/lib/python2.6/site-packages/maya/OpenMaya.py", line 6117, in __init__
# TypeError: in method 'new_MScriptUtil', argument 1 of type 'bool' #

I wonder if it's something in the script that needs to be rewritten or if it's a problem that has to be fixed outside maya?

help!

finding the root joint with child joint selected

Thu, 16 May 2013 07:52:59 +0000

Storing User Data in Maya Node

Thu, 16 May 2013 05:21:50 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: techdreamer
Post Time: 05-16-2013 at 10:21 AM
Text:

A typical query, But would be great to get the safest solution. Need to store string data as attributes, so can be retrieved back after reopening the file. Two options struck,
1] Using Unknown nodes
2] Using Empty Group nodes.
The problem being, while doing File Optimize, user might delete Unknown nodes and Empty transform nodes. Any other way to store data. Need a very "light weight" node.

Thanks for reading. Waiting for your tips.

Disable one UI button with another [Python]

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:44:28 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: Jamone22
Post Time: 05-15-2013 at 03:44 PM
Text:

I need some help with a UI i'm developing. Basically I have two methods of adding information but only one can be used for the tool to work. I have looked at the disable command but I need a way to set it to alternate depending on which button is pressed first. This is kind of what I was thinking:

if button[1] is pressed:
cmds.disable(button[2])
if button[2] is pressed:
cmds.disable(button[1])

If there is a simpler way that would also be helpful to know. Thanks

pymel question (setting attrs)

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:56:10 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: royg
Post Time: 05-15-2013 at 05:56 AM
Text:

I'm hoping someone can answer this for me...

Does not work, but the following does:

I thought they were supposed to do the same thing?

How to draw EP cuve along each joint in hierarchy

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:00:13 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: theJackson
Post Time: 05-14-2013 at 03:00 PM
Text:

import maya.cmds as cmds startJoint = cmds.ls(sl=True)
cmds.select(hi = True)
selHi = cmds.ls(sl=True)
size = len(selHi)
cmds.select(selHi[size-1], r=True)
endJoint = cmds.ls(sl = True)
for each in selHi:
#i`m stuck at this point.
i`m basically trying to automate spine ik creation process with script.

any and all suggestions are greatly appriciated!

modify hardware render file output

Sun, 12 May 2013 08:55:37 +0000

Forum: Maya Programming
Posted By: pat0423
Post Time: 05-12-2013 at 01:55 PM
Text:

i would like to use hardware render to render some particle, but i can't set the file name like" name_0001.ext" because no selection for that. so is there anyway to modify the ext column or change the output format?
thanks