List Transform Nodes Of Polymesh

[cyberika]

Hi, I'm trying to list transform nodes of poly objects of the scene.

In case of list just trasnfer nodes the code will be : ls -tr
In case of list just poly objects : ls -type mesh.

But I don't know how to list trasform nodes of poly objects.
Any suggestions?

[ewerybody]

CODE
listRelatives("-p","-type", "transform", ls -type "mesh");
lists all transform parents of any mesh shapes :]

[cyberika]

Thanks!
Could you explain me please why did you use commas , quotes and brackets? Well, I would like to know how this code works? I don't want just copy and paste it in my script.

[joojaa]

Mel syntax works like this:

CODE
when you type something like this

it is shorthand for typing:

CODE
when("you","type","something","like","this")

Now inorder for the shorthand to know that some part is executed under the command there sthe backtick operator wich basically reads execute the sub expression here in place example:
CODE
print ls -sl

is expanded as if it was wirtten:
CODE
{
$temp=ls("sl");
print $temp;
}

So backticks redirect output the the surrounding block as result. Now the problem with backticks is that they supercede all other things in mel and since they dont distinguish form open close you can not expect to put backtick within backticks. So you must revert to the more elaborate coding practices as functions do return values normally.

So what everybody is doing is compressing the code by opening up the syntax so he can at some point expand it if need be.

[ewerybody]

yea no problem:
There are 2 methods to pass the return of a command string to a variable or another command: either the `-bachtick- or the brackets()-method.

for most issues the backtick-one is adequate because you can wrap stuff simply into the backticks and done:

CODE
$sel[] = ls -sl;

with the other method it would look this way:
CODE
$sel[] = ls("-sl"); //or
$sel[] = ls("-sl","-tr");

you see with the brackets you'd have to write a little more if you have lots of flags: they'd need to be in qoutation marks and like any item you pass this way ($variables and of course other commands) separated by commas.
Now the downside of the backtick-method is: you cannot pack a command into another command:
CODE
//WRONG:
$meshTransforms = listRelatives  -p -type "transform"ls -type "mesh";

So to make this inline you'd need to have it the brackets-way. Of course you could also get all the meshes into another variable and put the variable into the listRelatives call as well:

CODE
$meshes[] = ls -type "mesh";
$meshTransforms[] = listRelatives("-p","-type", "transform", $meshes);

// or of course:

$meshes[] = ls -type "mesh";
$meshTransforms[] = listRelatives -p -type "transform" $meshes;

you see each method has its use.
some people even double mix up these ones like this:
CODE
float $tx = getAttr ($obj + ".tx");
which works! but ...

this said you could write that line bracket-style only of course:
CODE
listRelatives("-p","-type", "transform", ls("-type", "mesh"));

ah! Another drawback of the backtick-method: Of course It doesn't work standalone! Only when passing:
CODE
ls -type "mesh"; // works
ls ("-type", "mesh"); // works
ls -type "mesh"; // doesn't work

[cyberika]

Wow!!!!!
ewerybody, Joojaa Thank you !

[ewerybody]

Hey Joojaa! I've completely overseen you posted already ^^ pardon me.