Maya 2022 Intermediate: Scripting

Name: Maya 2022 Intermediate: Scripting
Author: Stephen Steinbach

Create a MEL and Python script using the script editor.

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Course: On-Demand

Hello, my name is Steven Steinbach and in these lessons, we're gonna explore scripting in Maya 2022. Maya uses two languages for scripting, MEL scripting, which is Maya embedded language, and Python. With scripting, you can speed up the efficiency of any task. In fact, any execution or tool in Maya is actually a MEL script. We're gonna look at the script editor. You can open up the script editor in multiple places. The first one is down at the very bottom right-hand corner, there's an icon. And if you click on that, you can see the script editor. Another way is if you had multiple planes, something like this, and you wanted the script editor to be here, we could go to panel, panel, and go to the script editor here. And finally, you can find it under Windows general editors, script editor. The script editor has two major windows: the history panel and the input panel. So when you write code, you put it here, and then when you execute it, it will come up into the history. So if I wanna delete everything, I can select here. This resets everything. So, you can see here that if I was to create a shape like a sphere, well that's a MEL script right there. And you can see here that we've created a poly in relationship and this is the size of it. And then this is the results. So anytime you see two commas, that's just a comment here. So this is actually what was executed, and you can see that here. So, this is actually the script itself. So if I was to copy this right here, hit edit, copy, and then bring this up here to paste, well, if I run that it will duplicate that sphere. So I'm gonna run this MEL script and press play. And now we have a second sphere. So here, I'm moving the sphere over here and you can see that I've moved it over 13 units in X. Okay, so here's the coding right here. So we've moved this in relationship 13 over, and this is X, Y, and Z. So if I wanted to move this up and code it, I can do that here. I can actually just select this here. I can edit, copy, bring this down here, paste, control+V, and this time I wanna move it zero in X and maybe 10 units up, and then none here. Now, if I press play it will take the MEL script and delete it here. But if I wanted to keep this, if I select it all and press play, then it will move it up here and the code will stay there. If I don't do that and I uncheck it and press play, it will just copy that and move it back up here. So if you want this code back again, you'd have to copy that and paste it back down here. You can find lots of scripts online for free. And here's how you load up a script. So, we wanna find out where our script folder is and the easiest way to do that is go to file, open script and then you'll see your path right here. Generally under documents, Maya 22 scripts, depending on how you install Maya 2022 will determine where the script folder is. But again, all you have to do is go to file, open script, and then we're gonna copy and paste this. Copy. Then just open up a new file explorer and then we'll just hit control+V to paste and we'll see that folder here. Currently, there's no script. So here, we're just going to take from my downloaded and I have one called Art Tracker MEL script. I'm gonna bring it in and now it's loaded in my scripts. Okay, so once we do that, we can open up the script now and we're gonna go to file, open script and we'll just hit that and press okay. Now, once you have this, we can actually put it on the shelf. So here under one of my shelves here, I have a MEL or I can create another one here. I can create a new shelf, but I have one called MEL. And what I'm gonna do right quick is with this loaded right here, I'm gonna go to save script to shelf and we'll just call this "Arch" and whatever you wanna name it. And if I want to rename it, I can do it here. Edit and under shelves, I can save it there. And now I have that script. So if I run it now, I will get the script for this. In the next lesson, we're going to cover MEL scripting. Thanks for watching.

Intermediate Provider : Stephen Steinbach 3 Lessons · 22m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese

Course Description

In this module, you’ll expand your capabilities in Maya 2022 even farther by learning how to script within the program. By integrating MEL (Maya Embedded Language) and Python with Maya’s engine, you’ll discover that the creative possibilities are limitless. We’ll begin by going over the script editor and its basic functions, including the history and input windows, and the command line for script commands. You’ll be introduced to Maya Embedded Language, the source code for all execution and tools in Maya, and the fundamentals of how this particular language works. Find out how to use MEL code, and what shortcuts to use for quick information and help for each command. You’ll learn how to create a simple code, apply it to multiple objects simultaneously, and save the MEL command to Maya’s shelf. Finally, we’ll explore the possibilities of integrating the universal scripting language Python into Maya, creating an array with a simple Python script.

What You'll Learn

Utilize the Script Editor for coding within Maya 2022, including the history and input windows and the command line
Analyze MEL (Maya Embedded Language) coding from Maya tools to understand how execution and tools work
Create a MEL script and apply it to multiple objects simultaneously
Save MEL commands to Maya's shelf for quick reuse
Use MEL code shortcuts to get quick information and help for each command
Integrate Python into Maya, creating an array with a simple Python script

Key Takeaways

Scripting in Maya 2022 uses both MEL (Maya Embedded Language) and Python integrated with Maya's engine.
MEL is the source code behind all execution and tools in Maya.
The Script Editor provides history and input windows plus a command line for entering script commands.
A simple MEL script can be created, applied to multiple objects at once, and saved to Maya's shelf.
Python is a universal scripting language that can be integrated into Maya, for example to create an array.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this Maya 2022 Intermediate course cover?

It covers scripting in Maya 2022 using MEL (Maya Embedded Language) and Python, including the Script Editor and its functions, MEL fundamentals and shortcuts, creating and applying MEL scripts, saving commands to Maya's shelf, and integrating Python to create an array.

What scripting languages will I learn?

You will learn MEL (Maya Embedded Language), the source code for all execution and tools in Maya, and Python, a universal scripting language integrated into Maya.

What lessons are included?

The course includes three lessons: The Script Editor, Creating Mel Scripts, and Python Basics.

What skills does this course build?

It builds skills in Autodesk Maya, Maya Embedded Language, scripting, SIMSCRIPT, WMLScript, and Autodesk Maya Certified User.

Will I learn how to reuse my scripts?

Yes. You will learn to create a simple MEL script, apply it to multiple objects simultaneously, and save the MEL command to Maya's shelf, along with shortcuts for quick command information and help.