# Shapenode Name

**URL:** https://forum.highend3d.com/t/shapenode-name/1273
**Category:** Maya
**Tags:** mel
**Created:** [November 12, 2008, 6:51am UTC](https://forum.highend3d.com/t/shapenode-name/1273 "2008-11-12T06:51:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 3
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![shantanu11](https://forum.highend3d.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@shantanu11](https://forum.highend3d.com/u/shantanu11)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2008, 6:51am UTC](https://forum.highend3d.com/t/shapenode-name/1273/1 "2008-11-12T06:51:07Z")

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hi, can anyone help me in determining the name of the shape node.

```
 "Create a distance tool" , two locaters are created.
```

there is a start point and an end point and one distance.

can the name of the start and the end point be overridden or changed.while creating it.

```
  I WANT TO MENTION THIS IN A SCRIPT FOR CALCULATING THR STRETCH FACTOR IN AN IK SETUP. IN MAYA
```

thanks a lot

please help.

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### Author: ![ewerybody](https://forum.highend3d.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@ewerybody](https://forum.highend3d.com/u/ewerybody)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://forum.highend3d.com/t/shapenode-name/1273/2 "2008-11-12T13:16:24Z")

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you want to use the distance tool in your script for IK setup stuff?  
Don't.

Script it by yourself. You know distance is easy to calculate: d

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### Author: ![molemansd7](https://forum.highend3d.com/user_avatar/forum.highend3d.com/molemansd7/32/109_2.png) [@molemansd7](https://forum.highend3d.com/u/molemansd7)
#### Post date: [November 12, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://forum.highend3d.com/t/shapenode-name/1273/3 "2008-11-12T16:10:12Z")

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if you're using it to find the max length of the chain before stretching is taken into affect...try looking at the child joint's translation. Say you setup a chain in the side viewport, with XYZ orientation, then the child joint's x translation is in essence the length of the joint. May be another way to go about it.