Description:

Trying to learn Maya programming from the documentation can be daunting whether or not you are a programmer. The first edition of MEL Scripting for Maya Animators earned the reputation as the best introductory book on MEL, Maya’s scripting language. Now fully revised and updated, the second edition also includes new features, such as a discussion of global procedures, new chapters on fixing programming bottlenecks, advanced user interface techniques, and optimizing character rigs. New chapters on utility nodes and Maya's Web Panel feature provide new ideas on how to use MEL in applications. This new edition has kept the popular style of the first edition that offered very clear explanations of programming concepts to those without programming experience. A generous collection of code examples and Maya scene files is included on the companion Web site. This is a book for animators, artists, game developers, visual effects developers, and technical directors who want to learn the fundamentals of Maya, how to automate tasks, personalize user interfaces, build custom tools, and solve problems with MEL.

 

Table of Contents:

Preface
Special Acknowledgment

Chapter 1 Maya Under the Hood
In this chapter you will learn
Why Look Under the Hood?
The Dependency Graph, Attributes, and Connections
Example 1: Using the Hypergraph to Explore the Dependency Graph
Transform Hierarchy and Parent/Child Relationships
Examining the Hierarchy
Transform and Shape Nodes
Example 2: Exploring Transform and Shape Nodes, Instancing, and History
MEL and Maya’s User Interface
What to Remember About How Maya Works Behind the Scenes

Chapter 2 The Basics of MEL Commands
In this chapter you will learn
Can I Use MEL Without Scripting?
Command Line and Command Feedback Line
Command Shell
Script Editor
Script Editor Versus Command Shell
Script Editor’s Messages as MEL Code
Making a Shelf Button for a MEL Script
Saving a MEL Script
Seductive Dangers of the Status Message Area
The whatIs Command
Basic Structure of MEL Commands
Where to Find Information About Maya and MEL on the Internet Newsgroups
How to Use MEL Scripts Found on the Internet
What to Remember About How to Use MEL Without Writing Scripts

Chapter 3 Using Expressions
In this chapter you will learn
What Is an Expression?
How Does an Expression Work?
Equals Sign: Equality and Assignment
How Maya Implements Expressions
Is Maya’s Expression Language the Same as MEL?
When (and When Not) to Use an Expression
Defining Relationships Between Attributes
What Is Operator Precedence?
Walkthrough of Maya’s Expression Language
Definitions of Variables
Computing the Values of Attributes
Assigning Computed Values
Example 1: Eyes
Analyzing the Problem
Planning the Eyes’ Animation Controls
Writing the Expression
What to Remember About Using Expressions

Chapter 4 Controlling Particles with Expressions
In this chapter you will learn
Two Kinds of Particle Object Attributes: Per Object and Per Particle
All About Vectors
Two Kinds of Expressions: Ordinary and Particle
Example 1: Ordinary Expressions and a Newton Field
Example 2: A Simple Particle Expression
A Few Hints for Efficient Particle Expressions
Example 3: Helical Particles Around a Curve
What to Remember About Particle Expressions in Maya

Chapter 5 Problem Solving with MEL Scripting
In this chapter you will learn
MEL’s Role in Maya: Building Scenes
Strategies for Planning MEL Applications
The Simplest User Interface
Creating, Editing, and Querying Nodes in MEL
Adding, Setting, and Getting Values of Attributes in MEL
Connecting Attributes in MEL
Creating and Connecting Expression Nodes in MEL
Example 1: Using MEL to Automate Setup for Spiral Particles
What to Remember About Writing MEL Scripts

Chapter 6 Variables and Data Types
In this chapter you will learn
Declaring Variables (and Not Declaring Them)
Environment Variables
MEL Statements and Type Checking
Simple and Aggregate Data Types
What to Remember About Variables and Data Types in MEL

Chapter 7 Using MEL Commands
In this chapter you will learn
What Is a MEL Command?
Structure of a MEL Command
Using MEL Commands in MEL Scripts
Avoid Using MEL Commands in Expressions
What to Remember About Using MEL Commands

Chapter 8 Manipulating Nodes in MEL
In this chapter you will learn
Using ls Command to Find Nodes by Name or Other Properties
Using Select Command to Manage Object Selection
Creating Nodes in a Maya Scene
Finding a Node’s Parents and Children
Finding Information on Node Connections
About Maya’s Node Types and the Node and Attribute Reference
What to Remember About Managing Nodes in MEL

Chapter 9 Controlling the Flow of Execution
In this chapter you will learn
Controlling the Flow of Script Execution
Basic Conditional Operations: if-else and switch Loops
What to Remember About Controlling the Flow of Execution in MEL

Chapter 10 Procedures and Functions
In this chapter you will learn
Top-Down Design
Example 1: A Trip to the Grocery Store
What Are Procedures and Functions?
Example 2: Geometry-Constrained Locators
Example 3: Recursive Antenna
What to Remember About Procedures, Functions, and Top-Down Design in MEL

Chapter 11 Naming Nodes, Scripts, and Variables
In this chapter you will learn
Why Naming Conventions Are Important
Naming Scripts
Naming Variables
Naming Nodes
Example 1: Adding a Name Prefix to Objects in a Hierarchy
Example 2: Changing Name Prefixes in a Hierarchy
What Are Namespaces?
Strategies for Using Namespaces