Before you look at either pymel or mrv you need to have, at minimum, an understanding of and an interest in python. Neither of these packages are alternates to the python language. If you are really interested in working with the Maya api then I suggest taking what you know of mel and using that to help get yourself started learning python. You will really only be able to use the api with any facility once you have some understanding of the common programming concepts reflected in the structure of the api and the language used in the documentation.
On Mon, Apr 19, 2010 at 11:04 AM, wannAPI <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Jason, > > Thanks for the headup regarding MRV, if I heard about once by chance I > wasn't curious at the time. However they say the learning step is > relatively high for just MEL initiates. How would this point compare > with PyMEL, about the samme ? Subjective and picky question but it's > in case someone would have experienced both, as I'm here to lay the > ground as much as possible before making a choice. Indeed MRV is > introducing a choice for me, thanks again. > > >> Sure. > > Great ! > > >> 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" > > I was aware of this. > > >> lots of 'em making API calls a lot easier" > > That's why I'm asking if I can simply skip the tricky/awky part. > However I sense that simply skipping python is a bit... simplistic, > and risky... even tough and again I'm mainly after Maya's API. > > I guess I'll review both MRV and PyMEL, they stand on the same ground > to me for now, though PyMEL is ADSK's choice. Comparison/benefices > hints someone ? > > Then I'll try to evaluate how much python might be lacking to my > knowledge to enforce my aims. > > Thank you very much Owen and Jason, anyone feel please free to develop > the topic. > > > Adam > > > On 19 avr, 03:28, Count Zer0 <[email protected]> wrote: >> 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-Masquerletexte des >> > > > messages précédents - >> >> > > > - Afficher le texte des messages précédents - >> >> > > --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 >> >> --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
