Selecting Objects In Series

[jenn7]

guys,
I have a series of profiles named in series - ie Fone1, Fone2, Fone3 etc.. up to Fone35

I need to select them one by one so I can apply a plane to them as I cant do it in one go if I select all 35 at once (or maybe I can do it differently?)

so I am attempting to do,

select "Fone1*"; //and this should cary on selecting one by one yeah?

and then in between each selection a plane will be applied to each profile..

I use the code above but it stops selecting at 18 and it misses certain numbers up to 18. They are all numbered in series so I dont know what the deal is. I tried making everything 2 digits but no luck..

basically, I have 35 profiles i need to make surfaces.
can someone suggest the best script for this??

thankyou

[jenn7]

can noboday provide some assistance?

thanks

[thanasis_scifi]

The Fone* will select all the Fone objects, and then the command you may want will be applied to all the selected at once (I assume, I never tried anything like that cause it's not the best practice to do so ) .

You have to use a "for" loop, easiest one for this case being the for-in loop.

this is what you do

try this code

//select the Fones
select -r Fone*;
string $fones [] = ls -sl;

for ($each in $fones )

{
//be careful to use $each inside the loop to refer to the individual phone

   // put your command here

 print ("I am now ready to apply a command to " + $each  +"\n");

}

I don't really understand what you mean by profiles / planes / surfaces / whatever, if you could be more specific I might be able to figure out the command or procedure that would need to be created to get the job done.

[jenn7]

thanks for your help but i get syntax error with your code?

i was originally using this but it only selects half, it shouldnt it should slect all?
select "Fone1*";

maybe I explain my whole problem and you can comment better...

basically, run the below code, each profile I have to turn into a nurbs plane. whats the quickest way to do this?

thnkyou so much
jen

Please note, I am learning Mel, so the below code might be crazy but its working!

code,

////////////// 1

nurbsSquare -c 2 23 0 -nr 0 0 1 -sl1 46 -sl2 4 -sps 1 -d 3 -ch 1 ;

select -r bottomnurbsSquare1 topnurbsSquare1 ;
loft -ch 0 -u 1 -c 0 -ar 1 -d 1 -ss 1 -rn 0 -po 0 -rsn true "bottomnurbsSquare1" "topnurbsSquare1";
select -r loftedSurface1 ;
rename Fone1S;

select -r bottomnurbsSquare1 rightnurbsSquare1 ;
delete -ch bottomnurbsSquare1;
delete -ch rightnurbsSquare1;
attachCurve -ch 0 -rpo 1 -kmk 1 -m 0 -bb 1 -bki 0 -p 0.1 "bottomnurbsSquare1" "rightnurbsSquare1" ;
delete rightnurbsSquare1;

select -r topnurbsSquare1 leftnurbsSquare1 ;
delete -ch topnurbsSquare1;
delete -ch leftnurbsSquare1;
attachCurve -ch 0 -rpo 1 -kmk 1 -m 0 -bb 1 -bki 0 -p 0.1 "topnurbsSquare1" "leftnurbsSquare1" ;
delete leftnurbsSquare1;

select -cl ;
select -r bottomnurbsSquare1 ;
select -tgl topnurbsSquare1 ;
attachCurve -ch 0 -rpo 1 -kmk 1 -m 0 -bb 1 -bki 0 -p 0.1 "bottomnurbsSquare1" "topnurbsSquare1" ;
delete topnurbsSquare1;

select -r bottomnurbsSquare1 ;
rename Fone1;

//////////////// 2

nurbsSquare -c 24.5 8.5 0 -nr 0 0 1 -sl1 17 -sl2 41 -sps 1 -d 3 -ch 1 ;

select -r bottomnurbsSquare1 topnurbsSquare1 ;
loft -ch 0 -u 1 -c 0 -ar 1 -d 1 -ss 1 -rn 0 -po 0 -rsn true "bottomnurbsSquare1" "topnurbsSquare1";
select -r loftedSurface1 ;
rename Fone2S;

select -r bottomnurbsSquare1 rightnurbsSquare1 ;
delete -ch bottomnurbsSquare1;
delete -ch rightnurbsSquare1;
attachCurve -ch 0 -rpo 1 -kmk 1 -m 0 -bb 1 -bki 0 -p 0.1 "bottomnurbsSquare1" "rightnurbsSquare1" ;
delete rightnurbsSquare1;

select -r topnurbsSquare1 leftnurbsSquare1 ;
delete -ch topnurbsSquare1;
delete -ch leftnurbsSquare1;
attachCurve -ch 0 -rpo 1 -kmk 1 -m 0 -bb 1 -bki 0 -p 0.1 "topnurbsSquare1" "leftnurbsSquare1" ;
delete leftnurbsSquare1;

select -cl ;
select -r bottomnurbsSquare1 ;
select -tgl topnurbsSquare1 ;
attachCurve -ch 0 -rpo 1 -kmk 1 -m 0 -bb 1 -bki 0 -p 0.1 "bottomnurbsSquare1" "topnurbsSquare1" ;
delete topnurbsSquare1;

select -r bottomnurbsSquare1 ;
rename Fone2;

////////////////////////// 3

nurbsSquare -c 76 23 0 -nr 0 0 1 -sl1 46 -sl2 62 -sps 1 -d 3 -ch 1 ;

select -r bottomnurbsSquare1 topnurbsSquare1 ;
loft -ch 0 -u 1 -c 0 -ar 1 -d 1 -ss 1 -rn 0 -po 0 -rsn true "bottomnurbsSquare1" "topnurbsSquare1";
select -r loftedSurface1 ;
rename Fone3S;

select -r bottomnurbsSquare1 rightnurbsSquare1 ;
delete -ch bottomnurbsSquare1;
delete -ch rightnurbsSquare1;
attachCurve -ch 0 -rpo 1 -kmk 1 -m 0 -bb 1 -bki 0 -p 0.1 "bottomnurbsSquare1" "rightnurbsSquare1" ;
delete rightnurbsSquare1;

select -r topnurbsSquare1 leftnurbsSquare1 ;
delete -ch topnurbsSquare1;
delete -ch leftnurbsSquare1;
attachCurve -ch 0 -rpo 1 -kmk 1 -m 0 -bb 1 -bki 0 -p 0.1 "topnurbsSquare1" "leftnurbsSquare1" ;
delete leftnurbsSquare1;

select -cl ;
select -r bottomnurbsSquare1 ;
select -tgl topnurbsSquare1 ;
attachCurve -ch 0 -rpo 1 -kmk 1 -m 0 -bb 1 -bki 0 -p 0.1 "bottomnurbsSquare1" "topnurbsSquare1" ;
delete topnurbsSquare1;

select -r bottomnurbsSquare1 ;
rename Fone3;

//// stop select duplicate offset facade 2

refresh; pause -sec 1;

select -r Fone1 Fone2 Fone3 Fone1S Fone2S Fone3S ;
duplicate -rr;

string $selected[]=ls -sl;
for($x=0; $x<size($selected); ++$x){
$randX=rand(-4,46);
$randY=rand(-4,46);
$randZ=rand(-4,46);
move -r $randX $randY $randZ $selected[$x];
}

// stop select duplicate offset facade 3

refresh; pause -sec 1;

select -r Fone1 Fone2 Fone3 ;
duplicate -rr;

string $selected[]=ls -sl;
for($x=0; $x<size($selected); ++$x){
$randX=rand(-32,40);
$randY=rand(-32,40);
$randZ=rand(-32,40);
move -r $randX $randY $randZ $selected[$x];
}

// stop select duplicate offset facade 4

refresh; pause -sec 1;

select -r Fone1 Fone2 Fone3 ;
duplicate -rr;

string $selected[]=ls -sl;
for($x=0; $x<size($selected); ++$x){
$randX=rand(-9,38);
$randY=rand(-9,38);
$randZ=rand(-9,38);
move -r $randX $randY $randZ $selected[$x];
}

// stop select duplicate offset facade 5

refresh; pause -sec 1;

select -r Fone1 Fone2 Fone3 ;
duplicate -rr;

string $selected[]=ls -sl;
for($x=0; $x<size($selected); ++$x){
$randX=rand(-12,38);
$randY=rand(-12,38);
$randZ=rand(-12,38);
move -r $randX $randY $randZ $selected[$x];
}

// stop select duplicate offset facade 6

refresh; pause -sec 1;

select -r Fone1 Fone2 Fone3 ;
duplicate -rr;

string $selected[]=ls -sl;
for($x=0; $x<size($selected); ++$x){
$randX=rand(-10,20);
$randY=rand(-10,20);
$randZ=rand(-10,20);
move -r $randX $randY $randZ $selected[$x];
}

// stop select duplicate offset facade 7

refresh; pause -sec 1;

select -r Fone1 Fone2 Fone3 ;
duplicate -rr;

string $selected[]=ls -sl;
for($x=0; $x<size($selected); ++$x){
$randX=rand(-13,20);
$randY=rand(-13,20);
$randZ=rand(-13,20);
move -r $randX $randY $randZ $selected[$x];
}

// stop select duplicate offset facade 8

refresh; pause -sec 1;

select -r Fone1 Fone2 Fone3 ;
duplicate -rr;

string $selected[]=ls -sl;
for($x=0; $x<size($selected); ++$x){
$randX=rand(-9,32);
$randY=rand(-9,32);
$randZ=rand(-9,32);
move -r $randX $randY $randZ $selected[$x];
}

// stop select duplicate offset facade 9

refresh; pause -sec 1;

select -r Fone1 Fone2 Fone3 ;
duplicate -rr;

string $selected[]=ls -sl;
for($x=0; $x<size($selected); ++$x){
$randX=rand(-9,59);
$randY=rand(-9,59);
$randZ=rand(-9,59);
move -r $randX $randY $randZ $selected[$x];
}

// stop select duplicate offset facade 10

refresh; pause -sec 1;

select -r Fone1 Fone2 Fone3 ;
duplicate -rr;

string $selected[]=ls -sl;
for($x=0; $x<size($selected); ++$x){
$randX=rand(-8,102);
$randY=rand(-8,102);
$randZ=rand(-8,102);
move -r $randX $randY $randZ $selected[$x];
}

[joojaa]

QUOTE(jenn7 @ 09/17/07, 06:10 AM) [snapback]273393[/snapback]
i was originally using this but it only selects half, it shouldnt it should slect all?
select "Fone1*";

No it wont select Fone2 Fone3 because they dont start Fone1 but yes it selects Fone12 up to Fone19 and then again Fone101

[jenn7]

QUOTE(Joojaa @ 09/16/07, 09:55 PM) [snapback]273396[/snapback]
No it wont select Fone2 Fone3 because they dont start Fone1 but yes it selects Fone12 up to Fone19 and then again Fone101

oh ok, yeah now i see..

basically I need to select all objects and turn them into surfaces, I cant work out the best way to do it?
how would you recomend i do it?

thanks

[thanasis_scifi]

QUOTE
thanks for your help but i get syntax error with your code?

about the syntax error... my bad.

I should have written

select -r "Fone*"; // this will select the shapes as well, so...

string $fones [] = ls -sl -type "transform";

this would be the appropriate way to start, with all the things you need in an array
now you have all the fone objects in an array and you can do anything you want with them using a "for" loop.
You then dont need to write down the same commands many times, but you have to be careful how you use the extra variables (strings specifically ) that you need to put in the loop. Keeping stuff organized and stored in strings will make the constant use of the select command unnecessary, and you will be able to better see what is happening to what.

Why do you use the pause command? Do you want it to go slow? Are you animating this and you want some delay? Running the script to get the modelling part is ok, then it would be better to animate the attributes and use expressions if necessary. Why do you use the toggle on the selection command?

You also may want to keep the history in the lofts, you might need it in the process and you can always delete it in the end.

QUOTE
basically I need to select all objects and turn them into surfaces, I cant work out the best way to do it?
how would you recomend i do it?

by objects you mean the nurbs curves i suppose. Lofting seems ok, but whether or not it is the best way to go I don't think anyone could say for sure unless they know exactly what you are trying to do.

It seems to me that if you want a solid shape (too simple though) from a flat curve you can go with a loft between the two copies, top and bottom and then you would need a planar to cap it. MEL can do many things for you as soon as you find out how to ask nicely.

[jenn7]

thanasis,
thanks for your comments, if it wasnt for people like you my learning would take much longer...

I use the delay for presentation purposes. yes, I could animate it i suppose, but this is working fine at the moment.
Im almost there, with your comments and others Im achioeving what I need to, my code is anything but efficient or the right thing to do , but its working..
will poost results in the coming weeks.

cheers