1. 3D Modelling & Animation
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3D Modelling & Animation
Programming Maya
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2. Agenda MEL Expressions and Scripting Referencing MEL Scripts
Python Scripting
The Maya C++ API

3. MEL Expressions Expression Editor
Create MEL Expressions using the expression editor
Windows - Animation Editors - Expression Editor
Set animation times on objects transformations/ rotations/ scaling
Expression Editor

4. Maya Embedded Language
Syntax very similar to the C language syntax
Supports usual types, conditional statements and control structures
Variables declared before use prefixed with the $ symbol
string $message = “Hello World”;
print ($message + “ from Maya”)
Supports arrays
string $names[] // an array of names
Does not support structured types or arrays of arrays (tables)
string $name[]
string $meshPosition[]
$meshPostion[2] = $name not supported

5. Maya Embedded Language
Has many functions to manipulate strings which can overcome limitations having no support for structured types or tables - see Maya MEL API from Help
Suppotrs procedures to encapsulate functionality for resuse
global proc makeSphere() {
sphere;
move 0 0 1; };

6. Maya Embedded Language
Procedures can take arguments and return values
global proc string[] generatePopulation(int $popSize, int $length){ /*
generates and returns an initial population of binary string values
of length $length and population size $popSize */

7. Maya Embedded Language
Maya has a script editor for entering MEL statements
Very basic scripting support - Maya 8.5 introduced script line numbering!
No syntax highlighting or auto indent etc.
MEL Script Editor

8. Maya Embedded Language
output
2. Evaluate Expression
(Press Enter on Numeric Keypad)
1. Define Expression

9. Access Script editor here or here
MEL output result here and here
Enter MEL commands here

10. Cutter - MEL (Java) Based Editor
Java based editor called Cutter
Provides enhanced editing environment syntax highlighting indent etc.
Easier access to MEL command reference from Maya
Also support for Renderman (Pixar)
see

11. MEL Editor (Cutter) GUI
see

12. see

13. Accessing MEL Scripts
Maya must access procedures via the usersetup.mel file found here:
C:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\maya\8.5\scripts\userSetup.mel

14. procedures listed in userSetup.mel

15. Use MEL to Customize the Maya GUI and Create new Interface Components

16. Python Scripting Python open-source object oriented language
Interfaces with development
frameworks such as .NET
Enter Python expressions
using the text interface
choose the Python tab

17. Maya C++ API Maya supports the development of plug-ins written in C++
Creates dynamic link libraries for extending Maya via additional plug-ins for various utilities and tools
May also has a MIDI API
Versions of Maya come with a Visual Studio Project Wizard that can be installed in Visual Studio to facilitate the creation of Maya dynamic link library plug-ins (.mll) e.g the 3D Studio mesh import plug-in is 3ds.mll (Maya Link Library) (see the readme in the zip file)
Maya 8.5 has a project wizard for Visual Studio 8 (Visual Studio 2005)
Reminder:These products are free to CEMS students via the Microsoft Software Alliance

18. Further Reading David Gould has written two books on MAYA programming
see
Some excellent MEL tutorials and other resources at