Updating Shelfs

[kunzang]

I have a custom shelf that I build from a mel script. After I have added the shelf, if I change the mel commands that are associated with the shelf icons, the new behavior is not reflected when I click on the icons. Is there a way to refresh the shelf without deleting and re-adding it?

[joojaa]

In that case dont put the cde into shelves but into global procs that you then call form shelves, now if you edit those mel files re source them and it will update.

[rgkovach]

I'm trying to deploy a Shelf through a module (i admit this is perhaps not the most efficient way of doing it), and I would like the shelf to be re-created each time Maya is launched, so i can make updates in the future to the shelf and have them automatically show up for the end user.

Currently, Maya is saving off the shelf into the user's prefs, which is giving me some problems. Since the shelf already exists, Maya won't load the shelf from the module's location.

I'm using the loadNewShelf command, calling it in the userSetup.mel file.

[joojaa]

You can do this theres somne discussion in the manual on having shelves in many places.

[rgkovach]

I got Maya to load my custom shelf by going through the Maya.env file.
However, I'm running into a problem unique to my development environment.

We are using a game engine that heavily customizes the Maya UI through a series of convoluted batch files which define various env variables at the system level. Thus my attempt to add my own location for a shelf through the Maya.env file is being thwarted (according to the documentation, system level definitions take priority over the Maya.env).

However, my MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH and XBMLANGPATH are getting appended correctly from my Maya.env even though they have already been defined in a batch file at the system level. It appears that only the MAYA_SHELF_PATH is failing.

My question is, can the Maya.env be used to append to an environment variable (MAYA_SHELF_PATH) which has previously been defined (though a batch file)?

[joojaa]

QUOTE(rgkovach @ 09/17/07, 11:24 PM) [snapback]273418[/snapback]
My question is, can the Maya.env be used to append to an environment variable (MAYA_SHELF_PATH) which has previously been defined (though a batch file)?

I dont think so. I don think for the matter your local envi is read at all if theres a global declaration. HOWEVER, you can det the variables yourself from within maya. you'd just need to do it early enough, the first called mel file would be a good place to put a setEnv statement.

However theres a easier way. Make a batch file thet sets env by appending yours and then launch maya form that subshell (next line of batch).

Anyway why don't you change the globals?

[rgkovach]

QUOTE
Anyway why don't you change the globals?

I wish a had a good answer. We are using a 3rd party game engine that requires launching Maya using their batch file which does a bunch of silly things because I have the sneaky feeling they don't quite understand Maya well enough.

From what I can tell, they wanted all their tools and custom UI changes to be kept absolutely separate from Maya, so the regular Maya icon will launch factory Maya.

What I am trying to do is add some scripts, plugins, icons, etc. gathered from the web and elsewhere and deploy those to everyone on the team so they can use those scripts whether they use factory Maya or modified Maya.

I think I can throw a hook into their batch files though to append my path, I was just curious why my other environment variables were working, but not my shelf path.

Another quick question though...can setenv be used to append to the variable? Looking over the documentation for setenv, it looks like it replaces the contents of the variable with the defined string...?

[rgkovach]

More Shelf woes...Maya is now loading my shelf as empty, even though the shelf .mel file contains buttons, icons and scripts etc...

I added the items to the shelf within Maya so the appropriate flags would be set for me for each shelf button and the code is all there, but when Maya starts up the shelf is empty...?

I found my issue, i think, I was declaring MAYA_SHELF_PATH after MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH and XBMLANGPATH. By putting MAYA_SHELF_PATH at the top of my Maya.env file, it appears to be working now...

[joojaa]

Cant you just load the mll's without the initializations? Or better yet write your own exporter (this has a LOT of benefits)