Attribute Editor

[imoh3n]

hi.
i want to add custom frameLayout in attribute editor of an object that has been selected.
how can i do it with mel.
thanx.

[joojaa]

find the name of the parent layout, of the ae frame. chreate a new layout wit -p that name. RefreshAE.

But if you need it to actually act like ae and just not be permanently stupid. you need to delete the parent redefine the ae template functions in entirety by just reloading the same function with your own. Then jsut rerefresh AE

[imoh3n]

I have tested it using (-q $gAETabLayoutName) before. in this way, our parent of polygon panel is ( AttrEdmeshFormLayout ).
the problem is that, {the frame is added to all panels of polygons in our scene}.
as you know there is another way ( -q $gAECurrentTab ) but the problem with this way, is that we can't get the parent of panel.

[joojaa]

QUOTE(imoh3n @ 09/04/08, 12:49 PM) [snapback]290977[/snapback]
the problem is that, {the frame is added to all panels of polygons in our scene}.

Yes that would be the point. Ae templates are shared between types. Same type same layout.

Anyway like i said you need to redefine the entire AEtemplateName procedure (lest it be permanently stupid). See theres a onload function and a on reload function available for call custom entries. And thus you must delete and recreate the whatever you want in those functions each and every time the ae loads something.

[imoh3n]

Hi

i want to add custom attributes in custom frame of the attribute editor of the selected object only ( not to all the same kind node) . some thing like renderman for maya, shave and haircut, finalRender ,.... do when add attributes to an object.
they all use AENewFloat, AENewColor, AENewEnum and . . .
but when i use then in mel, they don't work correctly, my attributes and frames add to all object with same type.
should i use api or all thing done in mel?

thanx.

[joojaa]

Yes yes i know that im not stupid you said that on the first go Like is siad theis approach makes the AE template permanently stupid re deifine the entire procedure its WAY EASIER. Really i wont wirte a example bacuse i dont have time.

anyway you dont seem to understand exactly what you are doing here.

But let me do a assimily imagine me spray painting the wall with a tag. Theres now a tag on the wall. No matter what you project witha overhead projector on top the tag will stay. Thsi is what you do whan you add a item to the AE template gui.

Now if you want the tag to be only on some of the slides you will need to repaint the wall Each and every TIME YOU CHANGE THE SLIDE. For this end you will need to reevaluate the whole AE template file (basically because its the only way you can target the right areas accuarately).

To this purpose you need to add a editorTemplate gui item that HAS the:

QUOTE
-callCustom(-ccu) string string string... create

Specifies that at this point in the template when building the dialog, the procedure specified by the first argument is to be called to create some UI objects when a new node type is edited. The procedure specified by the second argument is to be called if an attribute editor already exists and another node of the same type is now to be edited. The replacing procedure should connect any controls created by the creating procedure to the equivalent attributes in the new node. A list of zero or more attributes specifies the attributes which the two procedures will involve. The procedures should have the signature:

proc AEcustomNew(string attributeName1, string attributeName2)

The number of attributes specified in the call should correspond to the number of attributes in the procedure signature.

(quoted From the manual) Defined. Now then you will need to delete your custom ae gui item each time you load a new node and you will need to recreate it each time too!

Theres plenty of samples in existing templates. Such as the switch nodes. Or indeed the template mechanism tha came form pixar look into the files and read.

[imoh3n]

thanks a lot joojaa.
that's right

[joojaa]

No prob. tough to be honest, in hind sight, many people would have gotten a fit form that answer. For god of me i would be over filled with joy if someone could show me a piece of info i didn't know but i should have understood.

Now the thing is the two diferent outlooks of worls are NOT compatible. Anyway something to think about:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/dan\_gil...e\_we\_happy.html

[joojaa]

Heres a completely stupid (does nothing usefull) example:

CODE
if(window -ex AEWindow)
  deleteUI AEWindow;

proc AEcustomNew(string $attributeName1){
   //do Nothing
  // no permanent things made
}

// if node has cutom attribs their names will
// come first else dont show the section

proc AEcustomUpdate(string $attributeName1){
   $node=match("[^.]*",$attributeName1);
   $parent=setParent("-q");
   string $children[];
   $attribs=listAttr -ud $node;
   $children= layout -q -ca $parent;
   for ($item in $children)
      deleteUI ($parent +"|" +$item);
   for ($item in $attribs)
     text -label $item;
   print (size($attribs)>0);

   setParent ..;
   setParent ..;
   $parent=setParent("-q");
   layout -e -vis (size($attribs)>0) $parent;
}

global proc AElocatorTemplate( string $nodeName )
{
    editorTemplate -beginScrollLayout;

             editorTemplate -beginLayout "Custom Stuff Go Here" -collapse 0;
                 editorTemplate -callCustom AEcustomNew AEcustomUpdate "";
          editorTemplate -endLayout;

        editorTemplate -beginLayout (uiRes("m_AElocatorTemplate.kLocatorAttributes")) -collapse 0;
            AElocatorCommon $nodeName;
        editorTemplate -endLayout;

        AElocatorInclude $nodeName;

    editorTemplate -addExtraControls;
    editorTemplate -endScrollLayout;
}