wannAPI, Sure. PyMel is a great learning tool for accessing Maya API. Though Maya Python and PyMel are kind of the same thing. PyMel is just a bajillion convenience functions wrapped around the sucky Maya Python implementation, lots of 'em making API calls a lot easier.
You may also want to try MRV: http://packages.python.org/MRV/index.html It looks to be kind of like PyMel but for Maya API only; bunch of convenience functions that make the leap to Maya API a little easier. But don't discount Owen's remarks. API is necessary for certain things in Maya (custom nodes, locators, and super-fast processes). But I've noticed that 95% of the tools and solutions anybody has ever needed in Maya can be solved better via scripting, and if you're gonna script, you should seriously think about using Python (and of course the PyMel module extensions). It is soooo superior to MEL that you're doing yourself an injustice by living in the dark ages of MEL. Just ask any serious scripter/Maya programmer. - jason On Apr 18, 2:19 pm, wannAPI <[email protected]> wrote: > Obviously you are more than just a python contributor, pardon my > ignorance. > > On 18 avr, 23:15, wannAPI <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > Hi Owen, thanks for your answer and for the links. > > > By principle I feel closer from PyMEL than python as a tool to do what > > you mentioned in point 2, but you didn't mention PyMEL at all hence my > > incomfort :) My past attempts with python were painfull I'm sorry to > > say, because of syntaxical details I presume. > > > Taking the risk to look rude (anyways I'm very french), please allow > > me to quote myself in order to underline my question: > > > > my concern is about the right trajectory to come to unveil the Maya API > > > with PyMEL. > > > My main question is: can PyMEL be learned alone to do this ? > > > I understand that I may miss some pure python benefits (?) with PyMEL, > > furthermore conceptually-wise but I believe that I have a basic > > understanding of classes, derivated objects and therefore that I own > > basic OO concepts (thanks to Maya). > > > For the sake of clarity (and despite purists ;)) : > > > Can I just discard python and learn PyMEL ? > > > Adam > > > PS: I'm honored to be received by a contributor of the python scene, > > and this is an evidence of the quality of this group, thank you Owen. > > > On 18 avr, 15:39, owen burgess <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Hi Adam, > > > > As a MEL scripter, I resisted the need to learn Python - indeed there > > > seemed > > > to be nothing to gain from writing scripts with a different syntax. > > > > However, I'm writing more and more scripts in Python these days, for two > > > reasons: > > > 1) string handling is much more flexible with Python than with Mel : since > > > you're already used to dealing with strings to query and manipulate your > > > data , you will appreciate that using Python can make your scripts > > > shorter.... > > > 2) I can access the Maya API, and manipulate objects and data in my scene > > > from a script in ways I could only dream about, without having to compile > > > anything! Sure, OOP is a different mindset, but not impossible to master > > > if > > > you're already used to how Maya works - and it sounds like you do. > > > > Here are a couple of simple examples of how to use the API in a python > > > script - they show you how to access object properties with the API in > > > Python, that you couldn't otherwise hope to achieve with MEL alone. > > > >http://mayastation.typepad.com/maya-station/2009/11/where-is-the-cent... > > > >http://mayastation.typepad.com/maya-station/2009/11/lock-up-your-sets... > > > >http://mayastation.typepad.com/maya-station/2010/03/references-and-re... > > > > I hope these examples help convince you that you're not that far from your > > > goal. If you have experience writing scripts with MEL, you're closer than > > > you think :) > > > > And welcome to the forum, there are lots of helpful people on here. > > > > O > > > > On 17 April 2010 22:07, wannAPI <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Hi to all, > > > > > MEL is where I'm sitting at the moment, the Maya API is what I want. > > > > > I have found 'similar' discussions but none matching my own profile, > > > > so I'm coming with the simplest questions for the kindest members. > > > > > From my standing point, I am glad there is something like PyMEL > > > > because python was looking way too redundant to me. And, I don't want > > > > to cope with compiling C++ plugins. > > > > > Therefore, my concern is about the right trajectory to come to unveil > > > > the Maya API with PyMEL. > > > > > My main question is: > > > > > - Can PyMEL be learned alone to do this ? > > > > > Thanks for your patience ! Off course, if the question was already > > > > answered somewhere you can point me to. > > > > > Adam > > > > > PS: again I'm not really interested in python but in Maya's API. I'm > > > > not looking for a job in the industry, no concerns regarding the later. > > > > > -- > > > >http://groups.google.com/group/python_inside_maya > > > > --http://groups.google.com/group/python_inside_maya-Masquerle texte des > > > messages précédents - > > > > - Afficher le texte des messages précédents - > > > --http://groups.google.com/group/python_inside_maya-Masquer le texte des > > messages précédents - > > > - Afficher le texte des messages précédents - > > --http://groups.google.com/group/python_inside_maya -- http://groups.google.com/group/python_inside_maya
