Useful Python Resources
python.org
jedit.org
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=EA1FEF17E1E5C0DA

Maya Python for Games and Film: A Complete Reference for Maya Python and the Maya Python API [Hardcover]
by Adam Mechtley & Ryan Trowbridge
http://www.amazon.com/Maya-Python-Games-Film-Reference/dp/0123785782/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319180791&sr=8-1


Google "python command"   ..eg "python range", "python len"

 

Variables
A variable is piece of memory that contains data (value), such as a number or text.  The contents of the memory (value) can change when necessary.

In it's simplest form, a variable is a box, with a name. These boxes can contain different types of data (value). Therefore, a variable is defined as having 3 properties...

1. name : a label to retrieve and modify the value of the variable.
2. type :
    

   type		definition		example		Python syntax
   int (integer)		whole number		1, 56, 141, -6		fmInt=1
   float (floating point)		decimal number		3.141, -30.93		fmFloat=3.141
   string (text)		text characters		a, bcd, e!?		fmString="fridgemonsters"
   list (array)		collection of values		all of the above		fmList=[1,2,3,4]

    

3. value : the content of the variable.

Creating a variable is called "declaring a variable".
Giving a value to a variable is called "assigning a variable"

In Python, a variable in declared and assigned a value in the same line.
eg fmFloat=3.141

In other programming languages, the user is required to define the type of variable. ...type, name and value.
eg float $fmFloat=3.141 or int $myVal=42

Python does not require the user to define the type. However, it is important you understand that Python is automatically assigning the type for you, as you can not mix variables with different types later in your programme.

#Declaring and assigning a list type. Then using a for loop to print each element in the list.
listClassList=["chris","malcom","nick","livia"]
for myCount in listClassList:
     print myCount

#Declaring and assigning a list type. Then using a for loop and range function to print each element in the list.
myChars=["f","r","i","d","g","e"]
for i in range(len(myChars)):
     print  i

#############################################

Teaching myself via Digital Tutors

#this is a comment - a line in the code that starts with # is ignored by Python

"""

this is a blocked out comment - a block begins (line above) and ends (line below) with """ (3 quotes)

"""

#import the maya commends into Python
import maya.cmds as mc

#create a default polyCube with width=1, height=1 and depth=1
mc.polyCube()

#create a polyCube with argument values (parameters)
mc.polyCube(w=3,h=5,d=8,sd=2,sh=3,sw=5,ch=True)

#select pCube1
mc.select("pCube1")

#scale pCube1 by 50% in X, Y and Z axis
mc.scale(0.5,0.5,0.5,r=True)

#creating a cube and bevelling it
cubeToBevel=mc.polyCube(w=10,h=5,d=20)
mc.polyBevel(cubeToBevel,offset=0.2, offsetAsFraction=1, autoFit=1,segments=1, worldSpace=1, uvAssignment=0, fillNgons=1, mergeVertices=1, mergeVertexTolerance=.0001, smoothingAngle=0, miteringAngle=80, angleTolerance=80, ch=1)

#creating and defining a text string and concatenating (appending it with more text)
original = "Fridgemonsters is cool"
myStr = original + "...and we love Python"
print myStr

 

Variable Type (string, int, float, list)

#creating and defining an int type variable (integer) and appending it to a string type
intLife=42
print "the value of intLife is : %d" % intLife

#creating and defining a float type variable (decimal point) and appending it to a string type
fPi=3.1415926
print "The value of Pi is %f" % fPi

#Appending an int and a float type variable to a string type
print "The meaning of Life is %d and the value of Pi is %f" % (intLife,fPi)

#creating list type (array) which can contain different types
myFirstList=["red",21.00,1]

#print the whole list
print myFirstList

#print the 1st element on the list
print myFirstList[0]

 

range() function
range() : (start value, stop value, increment value)
It is most often used in for loops. The arguments must be plain integers. If the step argument is omitted, it defaults to 1.
If the start argument is omitted, it defaults to 0.

#One argument defined.
#By default, starts counting from 0, incrementing by 1. Stops at 4
fmRangeList=[range(4)]
print fmRangeList
Result : [0, 1, 2, 3]

#Two arguments defined.
#Starts counting from 1. Stops counting at 5.
#By default, counting is incremented by 1
fmRangeList=[range(1,5)]
print fmRangeList
Result : [1, 2, 3, 4]

#Three arguments defined.
#Starts counting from 1. Stops counting at 10.
#Counting is incremented by 1
fmRangeList=[range(1,10,1)]
print fmRangeList
Result : [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

#Three arguments defined.
#Starts counting from 1. Stops counting at 10.
#Counting is incremented by 2
fmRangeList=[range(1,10,2)]
print fmRangeList
Result : [1, 3, 5, 7, 9]

#Three arguments defined.
#Starts counting from 10. Stops counting at 1.
#Counting is incremented by -1
fmRangeList=[range(10,1,-1)]
print fmRangeList
Result : [10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2]

for loop

#create 4 polyCubes and move space them 6 units apart on the X axis
for i in range(4):
     fmCubeObj=mc.polyCube(w=2,h=2,d=2)
     mc.move((6*i),0,0,fmCubeObj,r=True)

#creating a list (listObjs) and assign all select objects to the list
listObjs=mc.ls(sl=True)

#print the list
print listObjs

#calculate the size(length) of the list then print that value
selSize=len(listObjs)
print selSize

"""
range() : In the example below the for loop is going to loop from 0 to the stop value (selSize) and increment by 1
Note : the colon on the end of the for loop and the indented commands below the for loop
"""
for i in range(0,selSize,1):
     print "Object %d" %i
     print listObjs[i]
print "done"

#alternative print code to the example above that prints as one line
for i in range(0,selSize,1):
      print "Object %d is : " %(i+1) + listObjs[i]

##################################################
#
#User : Create 4 Polygon Cubes and space them along the X axis
#then parent them together
#
#Code : Assigns selected objects to a list and parents 1st to 2nd, etc
#
##################################################

fmSelList=mc.ls(selection=True)
for i in range(len(fmSelList)-1):
     mc.parent(fmSelList[i],fmSelList[i+1])

 
##################################################
#
#User : Create 4 Polygon Cubes and space them along the X axis
#
#Code : Assigns selected objects to a list and scale by a scale factor that
#increments by 0.5 (1,1.5,2,2.5...)
#
##################################################

import maya.cmds as mc

listObjs=mc.ls(sl=True)
selSize=len(listObjs)
for i in range(0,selSize,1):
     rescaler = 1+(i*0.5)
     mc.scale(rescaler,rescaler,rescaler,listObjs[i], r=True)

##################################################
#
#Creates 10 polySpheres. Moves each object 3 units in the X axis and 
#alternate objects 5 units in Y axis.
#
##################################################

import maya.cmds as mc

sphereNum=10
for i in range(0,sphereNum,2):
     sphere=mc.polySphere()
     mc.move(3*i,0,0,sphere[0])
     sphere=mc.polySphere()
     mc.move(3*(i+1),5,0,sphere[0])

##################################################
#
#Create a polyPipe and select all the faces around the outside
#
##################################################

import maya.cmds as mc

#create a polyPipe
pipeGear=mc.polyPipe(r=6,h=5,t=1.5)

#get the value for Subdivisions Axis (face around the circumference (default 20)
intSA=mc.getAttr(pipeGear[1]+".subdivisionsAxis")

"""

the faces around the outside edge are numbered 40 - 59
the range function requires a start value (40) and stop value (60)..  See below
calculate the start face id number (40)

"""
intStartVal=intSA*2

#calculate the stop value : end face id number (default 59)
intStopVal=(intSA*3)

#deselect everything
mc.select(deselect=True)

#select all the faces around the outside edge
for i in range(intStartVal,intStopVal,1):
     mc.select(pipeGear[0]+".f[%d]" %i, add=True)

##################################################
#
#Create a polyPipe and select alternate faces around the outside.
#Extrude the selected faces by 2.5.
#
# Explain here how the pipeGear[0] and  pipeGear[1] works here
#
##################################################

import maya.cmds as mc

pipeGear=mc.polyPipe(r=6,h=5,t=1.5)
intSA=mc.getAttr(pipeGear[1]+".subdivisionsAxis")
intStartVal=intSA*2
intStopVal=(intSA*3)
mc.select(clear=True)

#select alternate faces around the outside edge
#notice incremental count is 2
for i in range(intStartVal,intStopVal,2):
     mc.select(pipeGear[0]+".f[%d]" % i, add=True)

#extrude selected faces 2.5 in the local Z Axis
mc.polyExtrudeFacet(ltz=2.5)

#deselect everything
mc.select(deselect=True)

#######################################################
#
#Open a Prompt window for User to input number of
#required teeth then creates the gear.
#
#######################################################

import maya.cmds as mc

pdStatus=mc.promptDialog(message="Input number of teeth", button="OK")

# pdStatus will return either "OK" or "dimiss"
print pdStatus

if pdStatus == "OK":
    numTeeth=mc.promptDialog(query=True, text=True)
    #convert Unicode (text) to an int (integer) value
    numTeeth=int(numTeeth)

    pipeGear=mc.polyPipe(r=1,h=0.5,t=0.25, sa=numTeeth*2)
    intSA=mc.getAttr(pipeGear[1]+".subdivisionsAxis")
    intStartVal=intSA*2
    intStopVal=(intSA*3)
    mc.select(clear=True)

    #select alternate faces around the outside edge
    #notice incremental count is 2
    for i in range(intStartVal,intStopVal,2):
        mc.select(pipeGear[0]+".f[%d]" % i, add=True)

    #extrude selected faces 0.5 in the local Z Axis
    mc.polyExtrudeFacet(ltz=0.5)

    #deselect everything
    mc.select(deselect=True)



#######################################################

#######################################################
#
# Randomiser Tool
#
#######################################################

import maya.cmds as mc
import random

selList=mc.ls(selection=True)
for eachObj in selList:
    rangeX=random.randint(-10,10)
    rangeZ=random.randint(-10,10)
    mc.setAttr(eachObj + ".translateX", rangeX)
    mc.setAttr(eachObj + ".translateZ", rangeZ)   

   
#######################################################


#list the functions in the random class
help(random)


#######################################################
#
# Randomiser Window with User Input
#
#######################################################

import maya.cmds as mc
import random

# function to randomise selected objects translate value
def fmRand():
    selList=mc.ls(selection=True)

    #query the 3 value input by the User into fmRangeFieldGrp
    rangeX=mc.floatFieldGrp(fmRangeFieldGrp,query=True,value1=True)
    rangeY=mc.floatFieldGrp(fmRangeFieldGrp,query=True,value2=True)
    rangeZ=mc.floatFieldGrp(fmRangeFieldGrp,query=True,value3=True)

    for eachObj in selList:
        valX=random.randint(-rangeX,rangeX)
        valY=random.randint(-rangeY,rangeY)
        valZ=random.randint(-rangeZ,rangeZ)
        mc.setAttr(eachObj + ".translateX", valX)
        mc.setAttr(eachObj + ".translateY", valY)
        mc.setAttr(eachObj + ".translateZ", valZ)
#function end

#Define Window and Buttons/Fields

#Check if the window is already exists.
#If it does, Delete it..!!
if mc.window("fmRandWin", exists=True):
    mc.deleteUI("fmRandWin",window=True)



if mc.window(window, exists=True):
    mc.deleteUI( window, window=True )
window = mc.window(title="fmRandomiser", wh=(200,100))
mc.paneLayout()
mc.button()
mc.showWindow( window )



#Create a Window and assign it to memory (fmRanWin)
fmRandWin=mc.window(title="fmRandomiser", wh=(300,200))

#Default column layout in window
mc.columnLayout(adjustableColumn=True)

#Create a button with a label
mc.button(label="Randomise Objs", command="fmRand()")

#Use input values for..
#Text label (instructions to User)
mc.text(label="Set X Y Z Range Values")
fmRangeFieldGrp=mc.floatFieldGrp(numberOfFields=3)


#Launch the Window
mc.showWindow(fmRandWin)

#######################################################
#
# while loop
#
#######################################################

i=0
while(i<10):
    print i
    i+=1

#while loop with if/else statement and break
i=0
while(i<10):
    print i
    if i==5:
        break
    else:
        i+=1

#######################################################
#
#while loop through the frmaes on the TimeLine
#
#######################################################

import maya.cmds as mc

startFrame=mc.playbackOptions(query=True,minTime=True)
endFrame=mc.playbackOptions(query=True,maxTime=True)
currentFrame=startFrame
while(currentFrame<endFrame):
    print "The current frame is %d" % currentFrame
    mc.currentTime(currentFrame)
    currentFrame+=1

#######################################################
#
#while loop through the frames on the TimeLine
#
#######################################################

import maya.cmds as mc

startFrame=mc.playbackOptions(query=True,minTime=True)
endFrame=mc.playbackOptions(query=True,maxTime=True)
currentFrame=startFrame
while(currentFrame<endFrame):
    print "The current frame is %d" % currentFrame
    mc.currentTime(currentFrame)
    currentFrame+=1

#######################################################
#
#while loop through the frames on the TimeLine and set
#keyframes.
#
#######################################################

Dimport maya.cmds as mc

startFrame=mc.playbackOptions(query=True,minTime=True)
endFrame=mc.playbackOptions(query=True,maxTime=True)
currentFrame=startFrame

target="pCube"


while(currentFrame<endFrame):
    print "The current frame is %d" % currentFrame
    mc.currentTime(currentFrame)
    currentFrame+=1




###############################################
#
# Chapter 22 - 26
#
###############################################

import maya.cmds as mc