Where I Can learn MEL/Python

[krishnendu-maity]

HI

I love to do Maya rigging.but i havnt any idea about scripting.I want to learn MEL script..
Can anybody give me suggestion from where I can learn it.

Plz post any link of some tutorial..

[molemansd7]

MEL scripting is beyond any particular tutorial you could find online. I'd recommend looking into books.
MEL Scripting for Maya Animators is a great introductory book.

You can find lots of other information on MEL online, but its nice to have a single, thorough resource to reference. I'd suggest reading through some of the initial chapters to get a feel for how to do basic commands and flow control. That way you know what 'tools' are available to you. Then just use it as you need it developing your own scripts. I've found it more helpful to have a goal of what script you want to make in mind, and then proceed from there. Otherwise you'll just be overwhelmed with all you could know.

Then, of course, this forum is a great resource if you get stuck.

[waynelee3d]

This book really helped me

1598220667   ISBN

Professional MEL Solutions for Production

[joojaa]

Well to be totally honest if you know rigging you sortof know mel allready. You just need to work out thwhere the pieces go. Watch your script edtor.

Avoid the David Gould book at all cost. Cant say much abbout the other books.

The biggest problem thats seldom covered in books is how do you apporach the engineering part of programming. Mainly because its fundamental, hard to teach and not much fun. But essential nonetheless.

[omniz3d]

http://ewertb.soundlinker.com/mel/mel.095.php
http://nccastaff.bournemouth.ac.uk/jmacey/RobTheBloke/www/index.html
http://www.tokeru.com/t/bin/view/Maya/MayaMelAndExpressions

As Joojaa said, keep your script editor open and watch the commands as you work. If something isn't showing up that you think should, enable 'echo all commands'. But be ready, you'll have lots of code flying at you. The commands are easy to pick up, which is all fine and dandy for your own personal workflow, but eventually you'll want create an easy to use UI for those commands (windows, buttons, etc.), finding examples & getting a feel for that aspect of MEL will probably be your next best step.

[joojaa]

Biggest problem with all things is that when you start you can not evaluate the values of a thing being discussed in nay article. Worst teachings come in nice packages that seem to work. I cant really pass judgement on the links as im involved to some degree with the quality or lack there of in fact. Certainly things could be done SO much better. 

Anyway if theres one sound advice i can give its as follows:

Do not even think about doing a GUI, for the first year or so. Because you come form a GUI world, you can think GUI, but thats just the stuff you see. Programming is about all the other things that are not in GUI. work on being literate in the code then start to think about GUI. As you now know what you can do, then you can think about the experience on others. Besides you don't design cool buttons you design stiff that omits any need for GUI if possible.

[krishnendu-maity]

Hey Thanks a lots for your valuable info..Ill follow..