For Loop to Duplicate objects in Maya — Python 2

Question

I have been using Maya for over 5 years and now want to start writing scripts for specific actions I want to perform in maya, using python. I do have some experience scripting in JS.

To briefly cover what I've already done:

I wanted to create multiple objects in Maya using a python for loop, to alter their positon or rotation. I was successful in this.

Now I want to select an object by name in Maya, and duplicate it, rotate/move/scale using a for loop. The problem I'm having is that I can't change the name of the object I am targeting when I duplicate it.

Normally using JS I would just use "i" and add it to the end of the name in the loop 'nameOfObject'+ i

Python only allows the name to be a string, and inputting an integer value gives me a syntax error.

Is there a way to perform this action?

My Code:

import maya.cmds as cmds
from random import randint

for i in range(0,50):
    cmds.duplicate('solitude')
    cmds.rotate(0,i*20,0)

It creates 50 of the same objects but I need to select the newly created object without hard coding the entire thing.

it gives you a sintax error? or a type error?, could you please add how you tried to change the name in the "JS" way? — developer_hatch, Jul 14 '17 at 18:54
cmds.duplicate('solitude'+i) By adding "i" the name will change everytime the for loop runs. But I receive a TypeError. — John Connor, Jul 14 '17 at 19:00
I see John, "Hasta la vista Baby", check my answer and let me know if that works :) — developer_hatch, Jul 14 '17 at 19:01

score 2 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 16 '17 at 02:21

2

I know you've already accepted an answer, and it will work to use the iterator number in conjunction with the source node's name - provided you don't already have a few duplicates in the scene...

A more "bulletproof" solution would be to capture what the duplicate command returns into a variable, and then use that item to do your rotation on. This way, you do not need to construct the name of the duplicate since you actually already have it regardless of whatever maya decided to name it.

If this is something you need to do a lot of, you can also capture your selection to use as a source node before doing the duplication and rotation. So, you could use the following code by selecting an item, and then running code.

import maya.cmds as mc

src = mc.ls(sl=True)[0]
dup = src
for i in xrange(50):
    dup = mc.duplicate(dup)[0]
    mc.rotate(0,i*20,0, dup)

also, a minor note - it doesn't seem like you're using randint in your code... you might be using it elsewhere, though...

answered Jul 16 '17 at 02:21

silent_sight

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That definitely also works, and is a more robust way of doing it! Noted! Thanks! – John Connor Jul 17 '17 at 03:50
@JohnConnor - of course! Hope it helps with some future scripts :D – silent_sight Jul 18 '17 at 03:08
@silent_sight Can you exaplain the [0] after the dulicate command? – Ghoul Fool Jun 29 '18 at 13:13
@GhoulFool Sure thing! It's basically just to get the zero index item that the duplicate command returns so it is stored in 'dup' - that way you don't have to use 'dup[0]' in the rotate command. – silent_sight Jun 30 '18 at 19:02
@silent_sight. Thanks! Much appreciated! – Ghoul Fool Jul 01 '18 at 18:55

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 29 '18 at 13:13

1

This type of error I think is common, try do the following:

cmds.duplicate('solitude'+str(i))

edited Jun 29 '18 at 13:13

Ghoul Fool

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answered Jul 14 '17 at 19:01

developer_hatch

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Works perfectly! – John Connor Jul 14 '17 at 19:07
@JohnConnor Happy to help :) – developer_hatch Jul 14 '17 at 19:08

For Loop to Duplicate objects in Maya — Python 2

2 Answers2