GUI window help needed

[pkatzen]

I am having trouble with the following script. It creates a simple GUI with a text field and 2 bottons. I managed to get the "cancel" button to do what it is supposed to. The " export" button is the problem. Whenever i press it Maya gives me an error message saying " $textField is an undeclared variable".
I have tried to proof read the script a few times and am stuck. If anyone has any ideas as to why i am getting the error message i would be most grateful.

Thanks for your time,
Paul

// The main script procedure. It needs a name for any prefix you wish to the OBJ file
proc OBJexport (string $prefix)
{
 string $objects[] =ls -sl;
 int $size = size $objects;
 select -cl;
 for ($i=0; $i < $size; $i ++)
  {
   $name= $objects[$i];
   select $name;
   file -op"groups=0;ptgroups=0;materials=0;smoothing=0;normals=0" -typ "OBJexport" -pr
    -es ("C:/Documents and Settings/paul katzen/My Documents/maya/projects/Characters/data/"+$prefix+$name);
   select -cl;
  }
} 

//the button action procedures
proc export (string $prefixName)
{
 $pn=textFieldGrp -q -text $prefixName;
 OBJexport ($pn);
}

// build the dialogue window
global proc makeOBJexportUI ()
{
 string $OBJexportUI =window  -title "Export as OBJ File" -rtf true;
 string $column=columnLayout -bgc .8 .8 .8;
  string $textField=textFieldGrp -label "Add Prefix" -text "enter a prefix" -bgc .8 .8 .8;
  rowLayout -numberOfColumns 2 -bgc .8 .8 .8 -parent $column;
   button -width 100 -label "Export" -align "center" -command "export ($textField)";
   button -width 100 -label "Cancel" -align "center" -command "if (window -exists $OBJexportUI) deleteUI -window $OBJexportUI;";
showWindow $OBJexportUI;
}
makeOBJexportUI ();

[joojaa]

  button -width 100 -label "Export" -align "center" -command ("export (\""+"$textField+"\")");

[pkatzen]

Thanks fo the assist Joojaa. I made the change that you suggested and it still did not work. Is there some reason that Maya would not recognize the way i tried to define the variable $textField in the procedure for building the GUI?

[joojaa]

ahh yes indeed.

way i tried to define the variable $textField in the procedure for building the GUI?

yes $textfield is a variable that lives inside the scope of makeOBJexportUI, so you are passing the command absolutely NOTHING. see your script is long dead by the time the button is pressed. Its gone. So you must encode the NAME into the call not the actual variable, but its contents. So you make itpart of the string.

so this si what happens

makeOBJexportUI gets called
gui is built
makeOBJexportUI ends and everything in its local space is cleaned away. $textField is no more (or worse if it is its not THIS $textField)

however you have a second problem that is as follows:

proc export (string $prefixName)

proc OBJexport (string $prefix)

also DO no longer live when you press the button you must also make them global

global proc export (string $prefixName)

global proc OBJexport (string $prefix)

However now you REALLY dont want to call the procedure export unless you want to get into big trouble.

PS: there s quirk in maya that when you declare anything in script editors base level it becomes GLOBAL. this can suae things to work out in the script editor while nolonger in file. you are warned.

[pkatzen]

thanks Joojaa ! I think i get it now. I thought it migt be something related to the variables being seen outside the scope of each script.

Much appreciated explanation !

-Paul