book

Complete Maya Programming

by David Gould

January 2003

Beginner

528 pages

9h 59m

English

Morgan Kaufmann

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Dedication
1.1. Maya's Programmability1.1.1. Customization1.1.2. Integration1.1.3. Automation1.1.4. Extensions1.2. Programming Interfaces1.2.1. MEL1.2.2. C++1.2.3. MEL or C++?Ease of UseSpecific FunctionalityCross-Platform PortabilitySpeedDisclosure
2.1. Maya Architecture2.1.1. Overview2.2. The Dependency Graph2.2.1. 3D Application DesignPast ApproachesMaya Approach2.2.2. The Scene2.2.3. Visualizing the Dependency Graph2.2.4. Data Flow2.2.5. Nodes2.2.6. Attributes2.2.7. Compute FunctionDependent AttributesTime2.2.8. Connecting Nodes2.2.9. DAG NodesTransforms and ShapesParentingDAG PathsThe UnderworldInstances2.2.10. Dependency Graph UpdatingPush-Pull ApproachUpdating in PracticeKeyframe Animation Updating
3.1. Introduction3.1.1. Behind the Scenes3.2. The MEL Programming Language3.2.1. CommandsIssuing CommandsCommand ArgumentsCommand HelpCommand QueryCommand EditCommand Modes3.2.2. VariablesVariable TypesAutomatic Variable TypesAutomatic Type Conversions3.2.3. Comments3.2.4. OperatorsAssignment OperatorArithmetic OperatorsBooleansRelational OperatorsLogical OperatorsOperator Precedence3.2.5. LoopingForWhileDo-WhileInfinite LoopsContinueBreak3.2.6. Procedures3.2.7. ScopeGlobal and LocalInitialization of GlobalsConflictsGlobal ProceduresScript Editor3.2.8. Additional Execution MethodsCommand ResultsEval Command3.2.9. EfficiencyExplicit Type DeclarationArray Sizes3.2.10. Additional ConstructsAssignment ChainingIn-Place Arithmetic OperatorsIncrement and Decrement OperatorsConditional OperatorSwitch StatementFor-In Statement3.3. Scripting3.3.1. Text Editor3.3.2. Storing ScriptsDefault Script DirectoriesCustom Script DirectoriesAutomatic Startup3.3.3. Development Preparation3.3.4. Sourcing3.3.5. Debugging and TestingSave Before Executing!Showing Line NumbersTracing Script ExecutionDisplaying Warnings and ErrorsRuntime CheckingDetermining Types3.3.6. Versioning3.3.7. DeploymentUpdating3.4. Objects3.4.1. BasicsListall Script3.4.2. Hierarchies3.4.3. TransformsTransformation MatricesSpacesObjToWorld ScriptSpaceToSpace Script3.4.4. AttributesDynamic AttributesAttribute Information3.5. Animation3.5.1. Time3.5.2. Playback3.5.3. Animation CurvesFunctionsKeyframingEvaluationInfinityKeysExamples3.5.4. SkeletonsOutputJoints ScriptScaleSkeleton ScriptCopySkeletonMotion Script3.5.5. Motion Paths3.6. Graphical User Interfaces3.6.1. Introduction3.6.2. Fundamental Concepts3.6.3. Windows3.6.4. LayoutsColumnLayoutRowLayoutGridLayoutFormLayoutFrameLayoutTabLayoutScrollLayoutMenuBarLayout3.6.5. ControlsMenusButtonsCheck BoxesRadio ButtonsTextListsGroupsImagesPanelsTools3.6.6. Connecting ControlsAttribute GroupsNameFieldOther Elements3.6.7. User FeedbackHelpDisplaying Progress3.7. Expressions3.7.1. Learning ExpressionsWiggleFlashMagnet3.7.2. Expression GuidelinesAttribute Assignment OnlySupported Attribute TypesAvoid setAttr and getAttr CommandsConnected AttributesAutomatic Deletion3.7.3. Debugging ExpressionsError CheckingTracingDisablingBroken ConnectionsObject Renaming3.7.4. Particle ExpressionsCreation and Runtime Expression EvaluationPer Object and Per Particle AttributesVector Components3.7.5. Advanced ExpressionsCombining Expressions with Keyframe Animation
4.1. Introduction4.2. Fundamental Concepts4.2.1. Abstracted Layer4.2.2. ClassesNaming ConventionDesign4.2.3. MObject4.2.4. MFn Function SetsCustom Function Sets4.3. Developing Plugins4.3.1. Plugin Development under WindowsSetupExecutionEditingDebuggingRelease4.3.2. Initialization and UninitializationHelloworld2 Plugin4.3.3. ErrorsCheckingReportingIntegration4.3.4. Loading and Unloading4.3.5. DeploymentUpdating4.4. Commands4.4.1. Creating Commands4.4.2. Posts1 Plugin4.4.3. Adding Arguments4.4.4. Posts2 Plugin4.4.5. Posts3 Plugin4.4.6. Providing HelpAutomatic HelpPosts4 Plugin4.4.7. Undo and RedoMaya's Undo/Redo MechanismMpxcommand Support for Undo/RedoUndoable and Nonundoable CommandsPosts5 Plugin4.4.8. Edit and QueryClock Plugin4.5. Nodes4.5.1. GoRolling Plugin4.5.2. Melt Plugin4.5.3. GroundShadow Plugin4.5.4. AttributesCreating AttributesCompound AttributesDefault ValuesAttribute PropertiesDynamic Attributes4.5.5. Compute Function4.5.6. Plugs4.5.7. Datablocks4.5.8. Node Design GuidelinesSimplicityContextLocalityNetworks of Nodes4.6. Locators4.6.1. BasicLocator Plugin4.7. Manipulators4.7.1. BasicLocator2 Plugin4.8. Deformers4.8.1. SwirlDeformer Plugin4.8.2. Dependency Graph Changes4.8.3. Accessories4.8.4. SwirlDeformer2 Plugin4.9. Advanced C++ API4.9.1. GeneralReferencing NodesProxiesNetworked and Nonnetworked Plugs4.9.2. Dependency GraphContextsDatablocksPropagation FlagsHandling Pass-ThroughCyclic Dependencies
Online ResourcesCompanion WebsiteAdditional WebsitesAlias | WavefrontHighend3DBryan EwertMaya ApplicationDocumentationLearning MELLearning C++ APIMEL ReferenceC++ API ReferenceExamplesMEL ExamplesC++ API Examples
MathematicsProgrammingGeneralC++ LanguageComputer GraphicsGeneralModelingAnimationImage Synthesis

Content preview from Complete Maya Programming

Appendix B. MEL for C Programmers

For those familiar with C programming, it may come as no surprise that when you first look at a MEL command or script you note a great deal of similarity with the syntax used in the C programming language. In fact MEL is sometimes colloquially referred to as “C with $ signs.” While this isn't entirely devoid of truth, there are some important exceptions that differentiate the two languages.

Following is a list of the important differences:

Since MEL is designed for fast prototyping and also to be more accessible to less-sophisticated programmers, it does away with many of the lower-level system responsibilities that a C programmer is burdened with. One of these responsibilities is the allocation and deallocation ...