ArrayOfObjGenerator_0.02.mel

/*
ArrayOfObjGenerator_0.02.mel (early beta)
giovanni, January 2008

MEL script generating 3D arrays of Objects.
This software comes with absolute no warranty, use it at your own risk.
*/

/*
-------------
USE:

#### source the script ###
1 - window > general editors >script editor
2 - file > load  (and choose this file)
    edit > select all
    command > execute
The IDE window with the sliders should appear.


### create an object ###
3 - create > polygon primitives > cube 
    you can create any object you like instead of a cube.
    I usually get nice results using 3d letters or short words.
    You can also use multiple objects, just need to group them
    toghether afterward(ctrl+g).
    If you are going to create a very high number of instances,
    try to keep your geometry easy.

4 - modify > center pivot (if needed)


### create first group of instances ###
5 - choose the number for "Instances 1st grade" (e.g. 5)
    This slider with the number of instances is the only one you can
    not modify once created the instances
    (if you do you will get errors), so make sure you decide now how
    many instances you like to have.
6 - make sure your object is still selected and press the 
    "create first grade instances" button.
You may did not notice it, but instances of your object has been created.

7 - use the "translate X offset" slider to see and move the instances
8 - if you want use also the "rotate" sliders to get an idea what this 
    script can do
At this point you can already keyframe an animation using the timeslider
and the "key 1st grade" button.


### create second group of instances ###
Sometimes the first group of instances will satisfy your needs, but often
you will want to use a second level.
In some cases also a third level.
Use the black arrows to expand the frames and access the sliders of
second and third level.

9 - choose the number for "Instances 2nd grade" (e.g. 5)
10- use the "Translate Y offset" for those instances.

If you want you can create "Instances 3rd grade" and use the 
"Translate Z offset" to separate those new instances.

Now notice that you can still control the translation and rotation
sliders of all the 3 groups.

Keyframe the groups separatly using the buttons "key 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade".
When you are done, the button "delete static channels and exit" will delete
the static unused channels and close the window.

Hope you enjoy.

------------------
Advanced Tip: 

You can translate the pivot (ins key) of the instances groups before using 
the rotation sliders to get completly different results. Make sure you make
the right selections in the outliner before translating the pivot.
Do this carefully.

------------------
Bugs and problems:

Very rarely you may notice a strange behave after a rotation and a translation, trying to reset the rotation,
e.g.:
- move the Rotate Z slider and then
- move the Translate Y slider
Resetting the Rz slider to 0 will not return the instances to the original positions.

This is because changing the distance Tx the pivot of the rotation Rz has changed.

*/

proc finestra()
{
string $winName = "finestra";
if (`window -exists $winName`)deleteUI $winName;

window -title "array of objects generator, inspired by blender" -wh 350 900 $winName;

columnLayout;


//##################################################### 1 #########################################
frameLayout -collapsable true -label "FIRST grade instances";
columnLayout;

intSliderGrp -label "Number of instances" -field true
                          -minValue 2 -maxValue 10
                          -fieldMinValue 2 -fieldMaxValue 50
                          -value 5
        -cc "$instances = `intSliderGrp -q -v instancesSlider`;"
        -dc "$instances = `intSliderGrp -q -v instancesSlider`;" 
        instancesSlider;

button -l "       create first grade instances        " -c ("$instances =`intSliderGrp -q -v instancesSlider`; crea(1, $instances);");

floatSliderGrp -label "Translate X offset" -field true
                          -minValue -10 -maxValue 10
                          -fieldMinValue -30 -fieldMaxValue 30
                          -value 0
        
        -cc "$offsetX = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetXSlider`;aggiorna_tX(1, $instances, $offsetX);"
        -dc "$offsetX = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetXSlider`;" 
        offsetXSlider;

floatSliderGrp -label "Translate Y offset" -field true
                          -minValue -10 -maxValue 10
                          -fieldMinValue -30 -fieldMaxValue 30
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offsetY = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetYSlider`;aggiorna_tY(1, $instances, $offsetY);"
        -dc "$offsetY = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetYSlider`;" 
        offsetYSlider;

floatSliderGrp -label "Translate Z offset" -field true
                          -minValue -10 -maxValue 10
                          -fieldMinValue -30 -fieldMaxValue 30
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offsetZ = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetZSlider`;aggiorna_tZ(1, $instances, $offsetZ);"
        -dc "$offsetZ = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetZSlider`;" 
        offsetZSlider;


floatSliderGrp -label "Rotate X offset" -field true
                          -minValue -30 -maxValue 30
                          -fieldMinValue -200 -fieldMaxValue 200
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offset_rot_X = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_XSlider`;aggiorna_rX(1, $instances, $offset_rot_X);"
        -dc "$offset_rot_X = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_XSlider`;" 
        offset_rot_XSlider;

floatSliderGrp -label "Rotate Y offset" -field true
                          -minValue -30 -maxValue 30
                          -fieldMinValue -200 -fieldMaxValue 200
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offset_rot_Y = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_YSlider`;aggiorna_rY(1, $instances, $offset_rot_Y);"
        -dc "$offset_rot_Y = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_YSlider`;" 
        offset_rot_YSlider;

floatSliderGrp -label "Rotate Z offset" -field true
                          -minValue -30 -maxValue 30
                          -fieldMinValue -200 -fieldMaxValue 200
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offset_rot_Z = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_ZSlider`;aggiorna_rZ(1, $instances, $offset_rot_Z);"
        -dc "$offset_rot_Z = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_ZSlider`;" 
        offset_rot_ZSlider;

/*floatSliderGrp -label "Scale" -field true
                          -minValue 0 -maxValue 2
                          -fieldMinValue 0 -fieldMaxValue 4
                          -value 1
        -cc "aggiorna_s(1, $instances, $offset_scale);"
        -dc "$offset_scale = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_scale_Slider`;" 
        offset_scale_Slider;*/

button -l " key 1st grade " -c ("chiava(1);");
text " ";

//##################################################### 2 #########################################
setParent ..;
setParent ..;
frameLayout -collapsable true -collapse true -label "SECOND grade instances";
columnLayout;


intSliderGrp -label "Number of instances" -field true
                          -minValue 2 -maxValue 10
                          -fieldMinValue 2 -fieldMaxValue 50
                          -value 5
        -cc "$instances2 = `intSliderGrp -q -v instancesSlider2`;"
        -dc "$instances2 = `intSliderGrp -q -v instancesSlider2`;" 
        instancesSlider2;

button -l "       create second grade instances        " -c ("$instances2 =`intSliderGrp -q -v instancesSlider2`; crea(2, $instances2);");

floatSliderGrp -label "Translate X offset" -field true
                          -minValue -10 -maxValue 10
                          -fieldMinValue -30 -fieldMaxValue 30
                          -value 0
        
        -cc "$offsetX2 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetXSlider2`;aggiorna_tX(2, $instances2, $offsetX2);"
        -dc "$offsetX2 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetXSlider2`;" 
        offsetXSlider2;

floatSliderGrp -label "Translate Y offset" -field true
                          -minValue -10 -maxValue 10
                          -fieldMinValue -30 -fieldMaxValue 30
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offsetY2 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetYSlider2`;aggiorna_tY(2, $instances2, $offsetY2);"
        -dc "$offsetY2 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetYSlider2`;" 
        offsetYSlider2;

floatSliderGrp -label "Translate Z offset" -field true
                          -minValue -10 -maxValue 10
                          -fieldMinValue -30 -fieldMaxValue 30
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offsetZ2 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetZSlider2`;aggiorna_tZ(2, $instances2, $offsetZ2);"
        -dc "$offsetZ2 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetZSlider2`;" 
        offsetZSlider2;


floatSliderGrp -label "Rotate X offset" -field true
                          -minValue -30 -maxValue 30
                          -fieldMinValue -200 -fieldMaxValue 200
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offset_rot_X2 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_XSlider2`;aggiorna_rX(2, $instances2, $offset_rot_X2);"
        -dc "$offset_rot_X2 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_XSlider2`;" 
        offset_rot_XSlider2;

floatSliderGrp -label "Rotate Y offset" -field true
                          -minValue -30 -maxValue 30
                          -fieldMinValue -200 -fieldMaxValue 200
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offset_rot_Y2 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_YSlider2`;aggiorna_rY(2, $instances2, $offset_rot_Y2);"
        -dc "$offset_rot_Y2 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_YSlider2`;" 
        offset_rot_YSlider2;

floatSliderGrp -label "Rotate Z offset" -field true
                          -minValue -30 -maxValue 30
                          -fieldMinValue -200 -fieldMaxValue 200
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offset_rot_Z2 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_ZSlider2`;aggiorna_rZ(2, $instances2, $offset_rot_Z2);"
        -dc "$offset_rot_Z2 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_ZSlider2`;" 
        offset_rot_ZSlider2;

/*floatSliderGrp -label "Scale" -field true
                          -minValue 0 -maxValue 2
                          -fieldMinValue 0 -fieldMaxValue 4
                          -value 1
        -cc "aggiorna_s(2, $instances2, $offset_scale2);"
        -dc "$offset_scale2 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_scale_Slider2`;" 
        offset_scale_Slider2;*/

button -l " key 2nd grade " -c ("chiava(2);");
text " ";
//##################################################### 3 #########################################
setParent ..;
setParent ..;
frameLayout -collapsable true -collapse true -label "THIRD grade instances";
columnLayout;

intSliderGrp -label "Number of instances" -field true
                          -minValue 2 -maxValue 10
                          -fieldMinValue 2 -fieldMaxValue 50
                          -value 5
        -cc "$instances3 = `intSliderGrp -q -v instancesSlider3`;"
        -dc "$instances3 = `intSliderGrp -q -v instancesSlider3`;" 
        instancesSlider3;

button -l "       create third grade instances        " -c ("$instances3 =`intSliderGrp -q -v instancesSlider3`; crea(3, $instances3);");

floatSliderGrp -label "Translate X offset" -field true
                          -minValue -10 -maxValue 10
                          -fieldMinValue -30 -fieldMaxValue 30
                          -value 0
        
        -cc "$offsetX3 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetXSlider3`;aggiorna_tX(3, $instances3, $offsetX3);"
        -dc "$offsetX3 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetXSlider3`;" 
        offsetXSlider3;

floatSliderGrp -label "Translate Y offset" -field true
                          -minValue -10 -maxValue 10
                          -fieldMinValue -30 -fieldMaxValue 30
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offsetY3 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetYSlider3`;aggiorna_tY(3, $instances3, $offsetY3);"
        -dc "$offsetY3 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetYSlider3`;" 
        offsetYSlider3;

floatSliderGrp -label "Translate Z offset" -field true
                          -minValue -10 -maxValue 10
                          -fieldMinValue -30 -fieldMaxValue 30
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offsetZ3 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetZSlider3`;aggiorna_tZ(3, $instances3, $offsetZ3);"
        -dc "$offsetZ3 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offsetZSlider3`;" 
        offsetZSlider3;


floatSliderGrp -label "Rotate X offset" -field true
                          -minValue -30 -maxValue 30
                          -fieldMinValue -200 -fieldMaxValue 200
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offset_rot_X3 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_XSlider3`;aggiorna_rX(3, $instances3, $offset_rot_X3);"
        -dc "$offset_rot_X3 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_XSlider3`;" 
        offset_rot_XSlider3;

floatSliderGrp -label "Rotate Y offset" -field true
                          -minValue -30 -maxValue 30
                          -fieldMinValue -200 -fieldMaxValue 200
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offset_rot_Y3 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_YSlider3`;aggiorna_rY(3, $instances3, $offset_rot_Y3);"
        -dc "$offset_rot_Y3 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_YSlider3`;" 
        offset_rot_YSlider3;

floatSliderGrp -label "Rotate Z offset" -field true
                          -minValue -30 -maxValue 30
                          -fieldMinValue -200 -fieldMaxValue 200
                          -value 0
        -cc "$offset_rot_Z3 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_ZSlider3`;aggiorna_rZ(3, $instances3, $offset_rot_Z3);"
        -dc "$offset_rot_Z3 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_rot_ZSlider3`;" 
        offset_rot_ZSlider3;

/*floatSliderGrp -label "Scale" -field true
                          -minValue 0 -maxValue 2
                          -fieldMinValue 0 -fieldMaxValue 4
                          -value 1
        -cc "aggiorna_s(3, $instances3, $offset_scale3);"
        -dc "$offset_scale3 = `floatSliderGrp -q -v offset_scale_Slider3`;" 
        offset_scale_Slider3;*/

button -l " key 3rd grade " -c ("chiava(3);");
text " ";


setParent ..;
setParent ..;


button -l "delete static channels and exit" -c ("uscita();");



showWindow $winName;
}


proc crea(int $power, int $istanze)
{
   if($power == 2)
   { select "_1copia*"; group; rename "_2copia_0";}
   else if($power == 3)
   { select "_2copia*"; group; rename "_3copia_0";}


    string $nodes[] = `ls -sl -tail 1`; //ogg selezionati
    $oggetto = $nodes[0]; // ultimo selezionato

    if(!size($nodes)) // nel caso in cui non sia selezionato niente
      {
        print "WARNING:  select an object or a group first!!!\n";
      }
    else
      {
        select $oggetto;     //seleziona solo l ultimo
        if($power == 1) rename "_1copia_0";

        $oggetto = "_1copia_0";
        
        print ("object selected: ---" + $oggetto + "---\n");
        
        setAttr($oggetto + ".tx") 0; // metti l oggetto al centro dell universo
        setAttr($oggetto + ".ty") 0;
        setAttr($oggetto + ".tz") 0;
        
        
        int $i;
        for($i=1; $i<=$istanze; $i++)  // per ogni istanza
          {
        instance -name ("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i);  // crea istanza
          }
      }
}


proc aggiorna_tX(int $power, int $istanze, float $distX)
{
    int $i;
    for($i=1; $i<=$istanze; $i++)  // per ogni istanza
    {
        setAttr (("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i) + ".tx") ($distX *$i);  // posiziona istanza
        move 0 0 0 ("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i + ".scalePivot") ("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i + ".rotatePivot"); 
    }
}
proc aggiorna_tY(int $power, int $istanze, float $distY)
{
    
    int $i;
    for($i=1; $i<=$istanze; $i++)  // per ogni istanza
    {
        setAttr (("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i) + ".ty") ($distY *$i);
        move 0 0 0 ("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i + ".scalePivot") ("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i + ".rotatePivot"); 
    }
}

proc aggiorna_tZ(int $power, int $istanze, float $distZ)
{
    
    int $i;
    for($i=1; $i<=$istanze; $i++)  // per ogni istanza
    {
        setAttr (("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i) + ".tz") ($distZ *$i);
        move 0 0 0 ("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i + ".scalePivot") ("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i + ".rotatePivot"); 
    }
}

proc aggiorna_rX(int $power, int $istanze, float $ruotaX)
{
    int $i;
    for($i=1; $i<=$istanze; $i++)  // per ogni istanza
    {
      setAttr (("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i) + ".rx") ($ruotaX *$i);  // ruota istanza
      //      move 0 0 0 ("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i + ".scalePivot") ("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i + ".rotatePivot"); 
    }
}

proc aggiorna_rY(int $power, int $istanze, float $ruotaY)
{
    int $i;
    for($i=1; $i<=$istanze; $i++)  // per ogni istanza
    {
        setAttr (("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i) + ".ry") ($ruotaY *$i);
        //      move 0 0 0 ("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i + ".scalePivot") ("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i + ".rotatePivot"); 
    }
}

proc aggiorna_rZ(int $power, int $istanze, float $ruotaZ)
{
    int $i;
    for($i=1; $i<=$istanze; $i++)  // per ogni istanza
    {
        setAttr (("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i) + ".rz") ($ruotaZ *$i);
        //      move 0 0 0 ("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i + ".scalePivot") ("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i + ".rotatePivot"); 
    }
}

proc chiava(int $power)  // procedura per settare le chiavi sui frames
{
  print $power;

  if($power == 1)
    { select "_1copia*"; select -hierarchy;}
  else if($power == 2)
    { select "_2copia*";select -hierarchy;}
  else if($power == 3)
    { select "_3copia*"; select -hierarchy;}

  setKeyframe -at translate;
  setKeyframe -at rotate;
  //  setKeyframe -at rotate;
}


proc uscita()
{
  select "_*copia*";
  select -hierarchy;
  delete -staticChannels;
  deleteUI "finestra";
}

finestra();

/*proc aggiorna_s(int $power, int $istanze, float $scala)
{
    int $i;
    for($i=1; $i<=$istanze; $i++)  // per ogni istanza
    {
        setAttr (("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i) + ".sx") ($scala);
        setAttr (("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i) + ".sy") ($scala);
        setAttr (("_" + $power + "copia_" + $i) + ".sz") ($scala);
    }
}/*