Ok im still learning maxscript and i using a naming convention for my rigs and max scene.
On my name convention i use firstable the name of the character or object follow by “_” example :
testcharacter_
later i ad the side L_ ( for left side ) or (R_ for right side) or C_( for center ).
I will like a script for every object selected that will select the inverse by name and if is C wil keep the selection.
so example : if i have select the $.testcharacter_L_arm if i execute my script wil select the
$.testcharacter_R_arm.
the dificult comes is i want to have my script as more as generic as posible.so the name of the begining (testcharacter could change to other like car_ or …)
so i wil like the script to detect the character name in this case testcharacter_ and replace the side .
one time i have the select inverse by name script working i start to build other utilities that make my life easier , like inverse position by name or inverse rotation by name so i only have to place one side of my rigs and the other wil be put in place by the script easly.
thanks for the help in advance.
what you need is filterString the object name for ‘_’.
this splits the name into an array.
the array looks like this:
[1] name of character
[2] Side
[3] item name.
using a ‘case of’ you can then invert your selection.
Georg
rdg has it it right. Here is a bit of hack untested code but will get the point across.
--Filter the string into its parts
fStr=filterString "theChracterName_R_arm" "_"
--returns #("theCharacterName,"R","arm")
--Swap the R for an L
if fStr[2]=="R" then fStr[2]="L"
--Build the name string back up
otherSide=fStr[1]+"_"+fStr[2]+"_"+fStr[3]
--Get the node by the name
theNode=getNodeByName otherSide
--Check if the node is valid and select it
if (isValidNode theNode) then select theNode
thanks paul and rdg. thanks is a quick feedback ;).
I am in the midle of finishing a rig but a soon as I could i will try the scirpt or ideas you give me and post my code to see if is well done .
Hi i found time to finish the script thanks a lot guys for the ideas, I dided so can work with diferent amount of “_” so will work with longer names like “test_L_test_1_2 “and can have space in between the names like “test_L_arm dedo”
the code:
– create empty array
SI_Array = #()
– loop for all the objects in selection
for obj in selection do
(
–get the name
SI_a =obj.name
–Filter the string into its parts
fStr= filterString SI_a ““
–Swap the R for an L and add varibale for append
if fStr[2]==“R” then (fStr[2]=“L”)
else (
if fStr[2]==“L” then ( fStr[2]=“R”) else ()
)
–Build the name string back up
SI_b = fstr.count
otherside= “”
for i = 1 to SI_b do
(
a= (if SI_b == i then fStr[i] else (fStr[i] + “”) )
otherside += a
)
–Get the node by the name
theNode= getNodeByName otherSide
– append to the SI_array if the object exist
if ( execute ( “$” + “’” + otherSide + “’” )) != undefined do (
append SI_Array thenode
)
)
clearSelection()
select SI_Array
this is the way i dided if anyone seensomething he will do diferent or could be done simple wil lbe great to know