MFileIO Class Reference

Search for all occurrences

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Detailed Description

I/O operations on scene files.

Methods for opening, saving, importing, exporting and referencing files.

The MFileIO class provides a set of global functions that can be used to load and store scene elements into maya files. Methods are also provided to import elements from other files into the current scene, and export elements of the current scene into files. As well, references to other files can be created and removed.

This class implements only the most common operations from the full set possible with the MEL command "file." See the documentation of this command for a complete listing of all the possiblities. If more control is required than provided by this class, a MEL command can be constructed according to the instructions for the "file" command, and issued via the executeCommand method of the MGlobal class.

#include <MFileIO.h>

List of all members.

Public Types
enum	ReferenceMode { kLoadDefault, kLoadAllReferences, kLoadNoReferences }
	Specifies which references to load. More...
enum	MayaFileFormatVersion
	Specifies the unique identifier for official Maya file format versions.
Public Member Functions
	MFileIO ()
	Default class constructor.
	MFileIO (const MString &fileName)
	Class constructor that sets the current active scene.
virtual	~MFileIO ()
	The class destructor.
Static Public Member Functions
static MString	currentFile ()
	Return the name of the currently active scene.
static MStatus	setCurrentFile (const MString &fileName)
	Set the name of the current active scene.
static MString	fileType ()
	Return the type of the current active scene.
static MStatus	getFileTypes (MStringArray &types)
	Returns an array of all the valid type names that Maya currently supports.
static MStatus	newFile (bool force=false)
	Set everything back to a new file state.
static MStatus	open (const MString &fileName, const char *type=NULL, bool force=false, ReferenceMode refMode=kLoadDefault, bool ignoreVersion=false)
	Open the given file, and set the current active scene to this file.
static MStatus	save (bool force=false)
	Save the contents of the current scene.
static MStatus	saveAs (const MString &fileName, const char *type=NULL, bool force=false)
	Save the contents of the current scene to the given file.
static MStatus	importFile (const MString &fileName, const char *type=NULL, bool preserveReferences=false, const char *nameSpace=NULL)
	Import the scene elements from the given file into the current scene.
static MStatus	exportSelected (const MString &fileName, const char *type=NULL, bool preserveReferences=false)
	Export all currently selected scene elements to the given file.
static MStatus	exportAll (const MString &fileName, const char *type=NULL, bool preserveReferences=false)
	Export the current scene to the given file.
static MStatus	exportAnimFromReference (const MString &fileName, const char *type=NULL)
	Export the animation from reference, to the specified file.
static MStatus	exportAnimFromReference (const MString &fileName, const MString &refNodeName, const char *type=NULL)
	Export the animation from the specified reference node, to the specified file.
static MStatus	exportSelectedAnimFromReference (const MString &fileName, const char *type=NULL)
	Export the selected animation from reference, to the specified file.
static MStatus	exportSelectedAnimFromReference (const MString &fileName, const MString &refNodeName, const char *type=NULL)
	Export the selected animation from reference, to the specified file.
static MStatus	exportAnim (const MString &fileName, const char *type=NULL)
	Export animation to the specified file.
static MStatus	exportSelectedAnim (const MString &fileName, const char *type=NULL)
	Export selected animation to the specified file.
static MStatus	exportAsReference (const MString &fileName, const char *type=NULL)
	Export the selected objects into a reference file.
static MStatus	getReferences (MStringArray &references, bool wantUnresolvedNames=false)
	Return an array of all the files referenced from the currently active scene.
static MStatus	getFiles (MStringArray &files, bool wantUnresolvedNames=false, bool wantReferencesOnly=false)
	Return an array of all the files used by the currently active scene.
static MStatus	getReferenceNodes (const MString &fileName, MStringArray &nodes)
	Return an array of all the nodes referenced by the given filename.
static MStatus	getReferenceNodes (const MString &fileName, MSelectionList &list)
	Return an array of all the nodes referenced by the given filename.
static MStatus	getReferenceConnectionsMade (const MString &fileName, MStringArray &connections)
	Return an array of attribute pairs representing connections made to nodes in the given referenced file.
static MStatus	getReferenceConnectionsBroken (const MString &fileName, MStringArray &connections)
	Return an array of attribute pairs representing connections broken to nodes in the given referenced file.
static MStatus	getReferenceConnectionsBroken (const MString &fileName, MPlugArray &srcPlugs, MPlugArray &destPlugs)
	Returns the source and destination plugs corresponding to all the connections broken between nodes in the given referenced file.
static MStatus	getReferenceConnectionsBroken (const MObject &node, MStringArray &connections, bool append=false, bool removeDuplicates=true)
	Returns an array of plug name pairs corresponding to the broken connections from referenced files, where those connections involved the specified node.
static MStatus	getReferenceConnectionsBroken (const MObject &node, MPlugArray &srcPlugs, MPlugArray &destPlugs, bool append=false, bool removeDuplicates=true)
	Returns arrays of source and destination plugs corresponding to the broken connections from referenced files, where those connections involved the specified node.
static MStatus	reference (const MString &fileName, bool deferReference=false, bool lockReference=false)
	Add the given filename as a reference from the current file.
static MStatus	removeReference (const MString &fileName)
	Remove the named file as a reference from the current file.
static bool	isReadingFile ()
	Determine if Maya is currently in the middle of a file read operation.
static bool	isWritingFile ()
	Determine if Maya is currently in the middle of a file write operation.
static bool	isOpeningFile ()
	Determine if Maya is currently performing a file open operation.
static bool	isNewingFile ()
	Determine if Maya is currently performing a "new" operation.
static bool	isSavingReference ()
	Determine if Maya is currently in the middle of a save reference operation.
static bool	mustRenameToSave (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	Scenes may be flagged as needing to be renamed before saving.
static MStatus	setMustRenameToSave (bool)
	This method enabled or disables a state where the current Maya scene must save to a different file name.
static MString	mustRenameToSaveMsg (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	This method returns a string that is displayed when a user attempts to save a scene that was set to not overwrite itself.
static MStatus	setMustRenameToSaveMsg (const MString &)
	This method sets a string that is displayed when a user attempts to save a scene that was set to not overwrite itself.
static MString	beforeOpenFilename (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	Retrieves the name of the file requested to be opened.
static MString	beforeImportFilename (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	Retrieves the name of the file requested to be imported.
static MString	beforeSaveFilename (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	Retrieves the name of the file requested to be saved.
static MString	beforeExportFilename (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	Retrieves the name of the file requested to be exported.
static MString	beforeReferenceFilename (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	Retrieves the name of the file requested to be referenced.
static MPxFileTranslator *	beforeOpenUserFileTranslator (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	Retrieves the plug-in-defined file translator being used for file open, if any.
static MPxFileTranslator *	beforeImportUserFileTranslator (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	Retrieves the plug-in-defined file translator being used for import, if any.
static MPxFileTranslator *	beforeSaveUserFileTranslator (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	Retrieves the plug-in-defined file translator being used for file save, if any.
static MPxFileTranslator *	beforeExportUserFileTranslator (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	Retrieves the plug-in-defined file translator being used for export, if any.
static MPxFileTranslator *	beforeReferenceUserFileTranslator (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	Retrieves the plug-in-defined file translator being used for file reference, if any.
static MString	getLastTempFile (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	Returns the temp file used during file save.
static bool	getErrorStatus (MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
	Returns the error status of the last file read.
static MStatus	resetError ()
	Resets the error.
static MString	loadReference (const MString &referenceFileName, MStatus *returnStatus=NULL)
	Loads the reference, referenced by the given reference node name and file name.
static MString	loadReferenceByNode (const MString &referenceNodeName, MStatus *returnStatus=NULL)
	Loads the reference, referenced by the given reference node name.
static MString	loadReferenceByNode (MObject &referenceNode, MStatus *returnStatus=NULL)
	Loads the reference, referenced by the given reference node object.
static MString	unloadReference (const MString &referenceFileName, MStatus *returnStatus=NULL)
	Unloads the reference, referenced by the given reference node and file.
static MString	unloadReferenceByNode (const MString &referenceNodeName, MStatus *returnStatus=NULL)
	Unloads the reference, referenced by the given reference node.
static MString	unloadReferenceByNode (MObject &referenceNode, MStatus *returnStatus=NULL)
	Unloads the reference, referenced by the given reference node.
static MString	getReferenceFileByNode (MObject &referenceNode, MStatus *returnStatus=NULL)
	Returns the name of the reference file, which contains the given reference node.
static MStatus	cleanReference (const MString &referenceNodeName, const char *editCommand=NULL, MStatus *returnStatus=NULL)
	This function removes the edits from the passed in reference node.
static MStatus	saveReference (const MString &referenceNodeName, MStatus *returnStatus=NULL)
	This function saves reference node edits and connections to reference file.
static MString	fileCurrentlyLoading ()
	Return the name of the file currently being loaded.
static bool	isImportingFile ()
	Determine if Maya is currently in the middle of a file import operation.
static bool	isReferencingFile ()
	Determine if Maya is currently in the middle of a file reference operation.
static int	currentlyReadingFileVersion ()
	Each Maya file format version has a unique integer identifier.
static int	latestMayaFileVersion ()
	Each Maya file format version has a unique integer identifier.
static const char *	className ()
	Returns the name of this class.
static MStatus	import (const MString &fileName, const char *type=NULL, bool preserveReferences=false, const char *nameSpace=NULL)
	This method is obsolete. This method is not available in Python.

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Member Enumeration Documentation

enum ReferenceMode

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Specifies which references to load.

Enumerator:

kLoadDefault	Load references that were loaded when scene was saved. Search for all occurrences
kLoadAllReferences	Load all references in the scene. Search for all occurrences
kLoadNoReferences	Don't load any references. Search for all occurrences

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Constructor & Destructor Documentation

MFileIO

(

const MString &

fileName

)

Class constructor that sets the current active scene.

Parameters:

[in]

fileName

name of the new active scene

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Member Function Documentation

MString currentFile

(

)

[static]

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Return the name of the currently active scene.

Returns:

An MString containing the file name

Examples:

asciiToBinary.cpp, and readAndWrite.cpp.

MStatus setCurrentFile

(

const MString &

fileName

)

[static]

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Set the name of the current active scene.

Parameters:

[in]

fileName

the name of the new active scene.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MString fileType

(

)

[static]

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Return the type of the current active scene.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

Examples:

asciiToBinary.cpp, and readAndWrite.cpp.

MStatus getFileTypes

(

MStringArray &

types

)

[static]

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Returns an array of all the valid type names that Maya currently supports.

Only elements from this list are valid arguments for the type arguments to open, saveAs, import, exportSelected, and exportAll.

It should be noted that the results of this function will change as file translators that are implemented as plugins are loaded or unloaded.

The file types mayaAscii and mayaBinary will always be available.

Parameters:

[out]

types

a reference to an MStringArray which on return contains the list of supported file types.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus newFile

(

bool

force = false

)

[static]

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Set everything back to a new file state.

Parameters:

[in]

force

succeed even if there are unsaved changes

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

Examples:

asciiToBinary.cpp, and readAndWrite.cpp.

MStatus open	(	const MString &	fileName,
		const char *	type = NULL,
		bool	force = false,
		ReferenceMode	refMode = kLoadDefault,
		bool	ignoreVersion = false
	)		[static]

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Open the given file, and set the current active scene to this file.

If there are unsaved changes in the current scene, this operation will fail unless the force flag is set to true.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file to open
[in]	type	if NULL, Maya will try to deduce the type of the file. if not NULL, it contains a file type to use when opening the file.
[in]	force	succeed even if there are unsaved changes
[in]	refMode	specify whether to load all references, no references, or the references that were loaded when the scene was saved.
[in]	ignoreVersion	if true, then Maya will ignore the version number when opening the file

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

Examples:

asciiToBinary.cpp, readAndWrite.cpp, and surfaceTwist.cpp.

MStatus save

(

bool

force = false

)

[static]

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Save the contents of the current scene.

If there have been no changes to the scene since the last save, then this operation will succeed, but not actually rewrite the save file unless the force flag is set to true.

Parameters:

[in]

force

succeed even if there have been no changes

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus saveAs	(	const MString &	fileName,
		const char *	type = NULL,
		bool	force = false
	)		[static]

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Save the contents of the current scene to the given file.

If there have been no changes to the scene since the last save, then this operation will succeed, but not actually rewrite the save file unless the force flag is set to true.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file to write to
[in]	type	if NULL, Maya will write the file in mayaAscii format. if not NULL, it contains a file type to use when writing the file.
[in]	force	succeed even if there have been no changes since the last save operation

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

Examples:

asciiToBinary.cpp, and readAndWrite.cpp.

MStatus importFile	(	const MString &	fileName,
		const char *	type = NULL,
		bool	preserveReferences = false,
		const char *	nameSpace = NULL
	)		[static]

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Import the scene elements from the given file into the current scene.

This operation is similar to open, but instead of replacing the current scene with the one from the new file, it adds the elements from that file to the existing ones in the current scene.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file from which to import objects
[in]	type	if NULL, Maya will try to deduce the type of the file. if not NULL, it must contain a file type to use when importing the file.
[in]	preserveReferences	Boolean to indicate whether the references need to be preserved.
[in]	nameSpace	optional name of the namespace to use when importing objects. Use NULL for default of no namespace.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus exportSelected	(	const MString &	fileName,
		const char *	type = NULL,
		bool	preserveReferences = false
	)		[static]

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Export all currently selected scene elements to the given file.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file to which to export the objects
[in]	type	if NULL, Maya will write the file in mayaAscii format. if not NULL, it contains a file type to use when writing the file.
[in]	preserveReferences	Boolean to indicate whether the references need to be preserved.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus exportAll	(	const MString &	fileName,
		const char *	type = NULL,
		bool	preserveReferences = false
	)		[static]

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Export the current scene to the given file.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file to which to export the objects
[in]	type	if NULL, Maya will write the file in mayaAscii format. if not NULL, it contains a file type to use when writing the file.
[in]	preserveReferences	Boolean to indicate whether the references need to be preserved.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

Examples:

surfaceCreate.cpp, and surfaceTwist.cpp.

MStatus exportAnimFromReference	(	const MString &	fileName,
		const char *	type = NULL
	)		[static]

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Export the animation from reference, to the specified file.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file to which the animation will be exported.
[in]	type	if NULL, Maya will write the file in mayaAscii format. if not NULL, it contains a file type to use when writing the file.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus exportAnimFromReference	(	const MString &	fileName,
		const MString &	refNodeName,
		const char *	type = NULL
	)		[static]

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Export the animation from the specified reference node, to the specified file.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file to which the animation will be exported.
[in]	refNodeName	name of the reference whose animation will be exported.
[in]	type	if NULL, Maya will write the file in mayaAscii format. if not NULL, it contains a file type to use when writing the file.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus exportSelectedAnimFromReference	(	const MString &	fileName,
		const char *	type = NULL
	)		[static]

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Export the selected animation from reference, to the specified file.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file to which the animation will be exported.
[in]	type	if NULL, Maya will write the file in mayaAscii format. if not NULL, it contains a file type to use when writing the file.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus exportSelectedAnimFromReference	(	const MString &	fileName,
		const MString &	refNodeName,
		const char *	type = NULL
	)		[static]

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Export the selected animation from reference, to the specified file.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file to which the animation will be exported.
[in]	refNodeName	name of the reference whose animation will be exported.
[in]	type	if NULL, Maya will write the file in mayaAscii format. if not NULL, it contains a file type to use when writing the file.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus exportAnim	(	const MString &	fileName,
		const char *	type = NULL
	)		[static]

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Export animation to the specified file.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file to which the animation will be exported.
[in]	type	if NULL, Maya will write the file in mayaAscii format. if not NULL, it contains a file type to use when writing the file.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus exportSelectedAnim	(	const MString &	fileName,
		const char *	type = NULL
	)		[static]

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Export selected animation to the specified file.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file to which the animation will be exported.
[in]	type	if NULL, Maya will write the file in mayaAscii format. if not NULL, it contains a file type to use when writing the file.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus exportAsReference	(	const MString &	fileName,
		const char *	type = NULL
	)		[static]

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Export the selected objects into a reference file.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file to which the selected objects will be exported as reference.
[in]	type	if NULL, Maya will write the file in mayaAscii format. if not NULL, it contains a file type to use when writing the file.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus getReferences	(	MStringArray &	references,
		bool	wantUnresolvedNames = false
	)		[static]

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Return an array of all the files referenced from the currently active scene.

Parameters:

[out]	references	a reference to an MStringArray which on return contains the list of referenced files.
[in]	wantUnresolvedNames	specify if unresolved file names should be returned. Default is false.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

Examples:

maTranslator.cpp, and referenceQueryCmd.cpp.

MStatus getFiles	(	MStringArray &	files,
		bool	wantUnresolvedNames = false,
		bool	wantReferencesOnly = false
	)		[static]

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Return an array of all the files used by the currently active scene.

Includes file references, file textures, cache files, image planes etc.

Parameters:

[out]	files	a reference to an MStringArray which on return contains the list of referenced files.
[in]	wantUnresolvedNames	specify if unresolved file names should be returned. Default is false.
[in]	wantReferencesOnly	specify if only file references should be returned. Setting this to true makes this function equivalent to MFileIO::getReferences(). Default is false.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus getReferenceNodes	(	const MString &	fileName,
		MStringArray &	nodes
	)		[static]

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Return an array of all the nodes referenced by the given filename.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	an MString which contains the name of the referenced file.
[out]	nodes	a reference to an MStringArray which on return contains the list of nodes in the referenced file.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

Examples:

referenceQueryCmd.cpp.

MStatus getReferenceNodes	(	const MString &	fileName,
		MSelectionList &	list
	)		[static]

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Return an array of all the nodes referenced by the given filename.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	an MString which contains the name of the referenced file.
[out]	list	a reference to an MSelectionList which on return contains the list of nodes in the referenced file.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed due to multiple reference files with the same short name.
• MS::kFailure operation failed due to no reference files matching the fileName argument.
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus getReferenceConnectionsMade	(	const MString &	fileName,
		MStringArray &	connections
	)		[static]

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Return an array of attribute pairs representing connections made to nodes in the given referenced file.

The first element of the pair is the source attribute in the connection, and the second is the destination. These pairs correspond to the "connectAttr" statements in a scene file where changes to the referenced file occur after the referenced file has been opened.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	an MString which contains the name of the referenced file.
[out]	connections	a reference to an MStringArray which on return contains the source/destination connection pairs.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

Examples:

referenceQueryCmd.cpp.

MStatus getReferenceConnectionsBroken	(	const MString &	fileName,
		MStringArray &	connections
	)		[static]

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Return an array of attribute pairs representing connections broken to nodes in the given referenced file.

The first element of the pair is the source attribute in the connection, and the second is the destination. These pairs correspond to the "disconnectAttr" statements in a scene file where changes to the referenced file occur after the referenced file has been opened.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	an MString which contains the name of the referenced file.
[out]	connections	a reference to an MStringArray which on return contains the source/destination connection pairs.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

Examples:

maTranslator.cpp, and referenceQueryCmd.cpp.

MStatus getReferenceConnectionsBroken	(	const MString &	fileName,
		MPlugArray &	srcPlugs,
		MPlugArray &	destPlugs
	)		[static]

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Returns the source and destination plugs corresponding to all the connections broken between nodes in the given referenced file.

These pairs correspond to the "disconnectAttr" statements in a scene file where changes to the referenced file occur after the referenced file has been opened.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	an MString which contains the name of the referenced file.
[out]	srcPlugs	an MPlugArray which will receive the source plugs of each broken connection.
[out]	destPlugs	an MPlugArray which contains the destination plugs of each broken connection.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kInvalidParameter fileName is not a referenced file in the current scene.
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus getReferenceConnectionsBroken	(	const MObject &	node,
		MStringArray &	connections,
		bool	append = false,
		bool	removeDuplicates = true
	)		[static]

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Returns an array of plug name pairs corresponding to the broken connections from referenced files, where those connections involved the specified node.

To put it another way, if a referenced file contained a connection to the specified node when it was loaded, and that connection was later broken in the main scene, then the names of source and destination plugs for that connection will be returned.

The first element of the pair is the source plug in the connection, and the second is the destination. These pairs correspond to the "disconnectAttr" statements in a scene file where changes to the referenced file occur after the referenced file has been opened.

Parameters:

[in]	node	the node whose broken reference connections will be returned.
[out]	connections	a reference to an MStringArray which on return contains the source/destination connection pairs.
[in]	append	If true, the connection strings will be appended to the existing contents of the connections array. Otherwise the array will be cleared before the strings are added.
[in]	removeDuplicates	If true then any connections which are already in the connections array will be ignored. Otherwise they will be added to the array again.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus getReferenceConnectionsBroken	(	const MObject &	node,
		MPlugArray &	srcPlugs,
		MPlugArray &	destPlugs,
		bool	append = false,
		bool	removeDuplicates = true
	)		[static]

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Returns arrays of source and destination plugs corresponding to the broken connections from referenced files, where those connections involved the specified node.

To put it another way, if a referenced file contained a connection to the specified node when it was loaded, and that connection was later broken in the main scene, then the source and destination plugs for that connection will be returned.

Parameters:

[in]	node	the node whose broken connections should be returned.
[out]	srcPlugs	an MPlugArray which will receive the source plugs of each broken connection.
[out]	destPlugs	an MPlugArray which will receive the destination plugs of each broken connection.
[in]	append	if true, then srcPlugs and destPlugs will not be initially cleared, meaning that the plugs from any broken connections found will be appended after whatever is already in those arrays. This can be useful for building up an array of connections for several nodes.
[in]	removeDuplicates	if the append parameter is true, then it is possible that some of the broken connections found for node will already exist in plug arrays. For example, if node A and node B have a broken reference connection between them, then they will both return that connection when passed to this method. Setting removeDuplicates true will cause these duplicate connections to only appear in the plug arrays once.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus reference	(	const MString &	fileName,
		bool	deferReference = false,
		bool	lockReference = false
	)		[static]

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Add the given filename as a reference from the current file.

When a new file is opened, the contents of any files it references are read into the scene, however maya remembers that the elements came from the referenced file, and does not write them during a save operation. Instead the reference is written so the contents of the referenced file (which might have changed) will be read again when the scene is reloaded.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file to add as a reference
[in]	deferReference	boolean to indicate whether loading has to be deferred.
[in]	lockReference	If true, all nodes and attributes from the referenced file will be locked.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus removeReference

(

const MString &

fileName

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Remove the named file as a reference from the current file.

Parameters:

[in]

fileName

name of the file to remove as a reference

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed

bool isReadingFile

(

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Determine if Maya is currently in the middle of a file read operation.

File import operations and file reference operations are both also file read operations.

Returns:

• true if maya is currently in the process of reading a file
• false if maya is not currently reading a file

Examples:

cgfxShaderNode.cpp, and GLSLShaderNode.cpp.

bool isWritingFile

(

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Determine if Maya is currently in the middle of a file write operation.

Returns:

• true if maya is currently in the process of writing a file
• false if maya is not currently writing a file

bool isOpeningFile

(

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Determine if Maya is currently performing a file open operation.

This condition differs from isReadingFile() which is only true when were are actually reading the contents of the file from disk. In contrast, isOpeningFile() will be true during the pre-read operations such as the new operation to delete the current scene contents as well as post read-operations.

The isOpeningFile() method can be used in conjunction with isNewingFile() to determine if a "new" operation is currently being performed on behalf of an "open" operation.

Maya performs two types of "new" operations: 1) explicit "new" on account of a File>New or "file -new", and 2) implicit "new" due to file open. The isOpeningFile() method can be used in conjunction with isNewingFile() to determine if a "new" operation is currently being performed on behalf of an "open" operation. The following table lists how the isNewingFile() and isOpeningFile() methods can be used to determine the current state:

	isNewingFile() returns false	isNewingFile() returns true
isOpeningFile() returns false	Maya is neither in new nor open	Maya is perfroming an explicit new (a File>New or file -new)
isOpeningFile() returns true	Maya is opening a file, and is not currently performing a new	Maya is opening a file and is performing a new on behalf of the open

Based on the above table, it is easy to see how the four distinct states can easily be detected.

Returns:

• true if maya is currently in the process of opening a file
• false if maya is not currently opening a file

bool isNewingFile

(

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Determine if Maya is currently performing a "new" operation.

Maya performs two types of "new" operations: 1) explicit "new" on account of a File>New or "file -new", and 2) implicit "new" due to file open. The isOpeningFile() method can be used in conjunction with isNewingFile() to determine if a "new" operation is currently being performed on behalf of an "open" operation. The following table lists how the isNewingFile() and isOpeningFile() methods can be used to determine the current state:

	isNewingFile() returns false	isNewingFile() returns true
isOpeningFile() returns false	Maya is neither in new nor open	Maya is perfroming an explicit new (a File>New or file -new)
isOpeningFile() returns true	Maya is opening a file, and is not currently performing a new	Maya is opening a file and is performing a new on behalf of the open

Based on the above table, it is easy to see how the four distinct states can easily be detected.

Returns:

• true if maya is currently in the process of a new operation.
• false if maya is not currently in new.

bool isSavingReference

(

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Determine if Maya is currently in the middle of a save reference operation.

i.e. When you do File > Save Reference Edits from the Reference Editor or `file -saveReference`.

Returns:

• true if Maya is currently in the process of a save reference operation
• false if Maya is not currently doing a save reference

bool mustRenameToSave

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Scenes may be flagged as needing to be renamed before saving.

The purpose is to prevent overwriting the original file, which may have had a significant change. Users will need to use save as to save the scene with a different file name.

This method returns true if the scene must be renamed before it can be saved.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

The status.

Returns:

true if this file must be renamed before saving.

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Operation failed

MStatus setMustRenameToSave

(

bool

rename

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

This method enabled or disables a state where the current Maya scene must save to a different file name.

This can be used to prevent a user from overwriting the original scene if a particularly dangerous or experimental change was made.

If enabled, the user must use save as to save the scene to a different name.

Once the file is renamed, this state is cleared and the file may be saved.

Parameters:

[in]

rename

true, if the scene should be saved to a different name.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure operation failed

MString mustRenameToSaveMsg

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

This method returns a string that is displayed when a user attempts to save a scene that was set to not overwrite itself.

See the MFileIO::setMustRenameToSave() documentation.

If a custom message was not set, this method will return an empty string.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

status

Returns:

The error message to display.

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Operation failed

MStatus setMustRenameToSaveMsg

(

const MString &

errorMsg

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

This method sets a string that is displayed when a user attempts to save a scene that was set to not overwrite itself.

See the MFileIO::setMustRenameToSave() documentation.

To use the default error message, pass an empty string to this method.

Parameters:

[in]

errorMsg

The message to display when attempting a file save.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess Operation successful
• MS::kFailure Operation failed

MString beforeOpenFilename

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Retrieves the name of the file requested to be opened.

This name can be retrieved from within the beforeOpenCheck and beforeOpen callback functions (that must be registered using MSceneMessage::addCallback() before the file is attempted to be opened). If called outside of these two callback functions the results are undefined.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

Status code

Returns:

The name of the file to be opened

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in retrieving the file name.

Examples:

fileIOMsgCmd.cpp.

MString beforeImportFilename

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Retrieves the name of the file requested to be imported.

This name can be retrieved from within the beforeImportCheck and beforeImport callback functions (that must be registered using MSceneMessage::addCallback() before the file is attempted to be imported). If called outside of these two callback functions the results are undefined.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

Status code

Returns:

The name of the file to be imported

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in retrieving the file name.

Examples:

fileIOMsgCmd.cpp.

MString beforeSaveFilename

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Retrieves the name of the file requested to be saved.

This name can be retrieved from within the beforeSaveCheck and beforeSave callback functions (that must be registered using MSceneMessage::addCallback() before the file is attempted to be saved). If called outside of these two callback functions the results are undefined.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

Status code

Returns:

The name of the file to be saved

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in retrieving the file name.

Examples:

fileIOMsgCmd.cpp.

MString beforeExportFilename

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Retrieves the name of the file requested to be exported.

This name can be retrieved from within the beforeExportCheck and beforeExport callback functions (that must be registered using MSceneMessage::addCallback() before the file is attempted to be exported). If called outside of these two callback functions the results are undefined.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

Status code

Returns:

The name of the file to be exported

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in retrieving the file name.

MString beforeReferenceFilename

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Retrieves the name of the file requested to be referenced.

This name can be retrieved from within the beforeRefenceCheck and beforeRefence callback functions (that must be registered using MSceneMessage::addCallback() before the file is attempted to be referenced). If called outside of these two callback functions the results are undefined.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

Status code

Returns:

The name of the file to be referenced

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in retrieving the file name.

Examples:

fileIOMsgCmd.cpp.

MPxFileTranslator * beforeOpenUserFileTranslator

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Retrieves the plug-in-defined file translator being used for file open, if any.

If a standard Maya file translator (e.g. mayaAscii) is being used, returns NULL. The translator can be retrieved from within the beforeOpenCheck and beforeOpen callback functions (that must be registered using MSceneMessage::addCallback() before the file is attempted to be opened). If called outside of these two callback functions the results are undefined.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

Status code

Returns:

A pointer to the file translator being used for file open, or NULL.

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in retrieving the file translator.

MPxFileTranslator * beforeImportUserFileTranslator

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Retrieves the plug-in-defined file translator being used for import, if any.

If a standard Maya file translator (e.g. mayaAscii) is being used, returns NULL. The translator can be retrieved from within the beforeImportCheck and beforeImport callback functions (that must be registered using MSceneMessage::addCallback() before the file is attempted to be imported). If called outside of these two callback functions the results are undefined.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

Status code

Returns:

A pointer to the file translator being used to import, or NULL.

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in retrieving the file translator.

MPxFileTranslator * beforeSaveUserFileTranslator

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Retrieves the plug-in-defined file translator being used for file save, if any.

If a standard Maya file translator (e.g. mayaAscii) is being used, returns NULL. The translator can be retrieved from within the beforeSaveCheck and beforeSave callback functions (that must be registered using MSceneMessage::addCallback() before the file is attempted to be saved). If called outside of these two callback functions the results are undefined.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

Status code

Returns:

A pointer to the file translator being used for file save, or NULL.

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in retrieving the file translator.

MPxFileTranslator * beforeExportUserFileTranslator

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Retrieves the plug-in-defined file translator being used for export, if any.

If a standard Maya file translator (e.g. mayaAscii) is being used, returns NULL. The translator can be retrieved from within the beforeExportCheck and beforeExport callback functions (that must be registered using MSceneMessage::addCallback() before the file is attempted to be exported). If called outside of these two callback functions the results are undefined.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

Status code

Returns:

A pointer to the file translator being used to export, or NULL.

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in retrieving the file translator.

MPxFileTranslator * beforeReferenceUserFileTranslator

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Retrieves the plug-in-defined file translator being used for file reference, if any.

If a standard Maya file translator (e.g. mayaAscii) is being used, returns NULL. The translator can be retrieved from within the beforeRefenceCheck and beforeRefence callback functions. (that must be registered using MSceneMessage::addCallback() before the file is attempted to be referenced). If called outside of these two callback functions the results are undefined.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

Status code

Returns:

A pointer to the file translator being used for file reference, or NULL.

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in retrieving the file translator.

MString getLastTempFile

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Returns the temp file used during file save.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

Status code

Returns:

The name of the temp file

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in retrieving the file name.

bool getErrorStatus

(

MStatus *

ReturnStatus = NULL

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Returns the error status of the last file read.

Returns true if any error occurred during the last file read, else false is returned.

Parameters:

[out]

ReturnStatus

Status code

Returns:

Boolean value indicating the error status.

Status Codes:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in retrieving the file name.

MStatus resetError

(

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Resets the error.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in retrieving the file name.

MString loadReference	(	const MString &	referenceFileName,
		MStatus *	returnStatus = NULL
	)		[static]

Search for all occurrences

Loads the reference, referenced by the given reference node name and file name.

Parameters:

[in]	referenceFileName	MString containing the name of the reference file.
[out]	returnStatus	Status code

Returns:

The name of the loaded reference file

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in loading the reference.

MString loadReferenceByNode	(	const MString &	referenceNodeName,
		MStatus *	returnStatus = NULL
	)		[static]

Search for all occurrences

Loads the reference, referenced by the given reference node name.

Parameters:

[in]	referenceNodeName	MString, name of the reference node.
[out]	returnStatus	Status of the operation.

Returns:

The name of the loaded reference file

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in loading the reference.

MString loadReferenceByNode	(	MObject &	referenceNode,
		MStatus *	returnStatus = NULL
	)		[static]

Search for all occurrences

Loads the reference, referenced by the given reference node object.

Parameters:

[in]	referenceNode	MObject of the reference node.
[out]	returnStatus	Status of the operation.

Returns:

The name of the loaded reference file

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in loading the reference.

MString unloadReference	(	const MString &	referenceFileName,
		MStatus *	returnStatus = NULL
	)		[static]

Search for all occurrences

Unloads the reference, referenced by the given reference node and file.

Parameters:

[in]	referenceFileName	MString containing the name of the reference file.
[out]	returnStatus	Status of the operation.

Returns:

The name of the unloaded reference file

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in unloading the reference.

MString unloadReferenceByNode	(	const MString &	referenceNodeName,
		MStatus *	returnStatus = NULL
	)		[static]

Search for all occurrences

Unloads the reference, referenced by the given reference node.

Parameters:

[in]	referenceNodeName	MString containing the name of the reference node.
[out]	returnStatus	Status of the operation.

Returns:

The name of the unloaded reference file

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in unloading the reference.

MString unloadReferenceByNode	(	MObject &	referenceNode,
		MStatus *	returnStatus = NULL
	)		[static]

Search for all occurrences

Unloads the reference, referenced by the given reference node.

Parameters:

[in]	referenceNode	MObject containing the reference node.
[out]	returnStatus	Status of the operation.

Returns:

The name of the unloaded reference file

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure Error in unloading the reference.

MString getReferenceFileByNode	(	MObject &	referenceNode,
		MStatus *	returnStatus = NULL
	)		[static]

Search for all occurrences

Returns the name of the reference file, which contains the given reference node.

Parameters:

[in]	referenceNode	MObject containing the reference node.
[out]	returnStatus	Status of the operation.

Returns:

The name of the reference file, containing the given node.

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure

MStatus cleanReference	(	const MString &	referenceNodeName,
		const char *	editCommand = NULL,
		MStatus *	returnStatus = NULL
	)		[static]

Search for all occurrences

This function removes the edits from the passed in reference node.

The reference must be in an unloaded state.

Parameters:

[in]	referenceNodeName	Name of the reference node.
[in]	editCommand	Name of the edit command to be cleaned.
[out]	returnStatus	Status of the operation.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure

MStatus saveReference	(	const MString &	referenceFileName,
		MStatus *	returnStatus = NULL
	)		[static]

Search for all occurrences

This function saves reference node edits and connections to reference file.

Parameters:

[in]	referenceFileName	Name of the reference file.
[out]	returnStatus	Status of the operation.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess Operation succeeded
• MS::kFailure

MString fileCurrentlyLoading

(

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Return the name of the file currently being loaded.

Returns:

An MString containing the name of the file being loaded. An empty string if no load is taking place.

Examples:

filteredAsciiFile.cpp.

bool isImportingFile

(

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Determine if Maya is currently in the middle of a file import operation.

File import operations are a subset of file reading operations.

Returns:

• true if Maya is currently in the process of importing a file
• false if Maya is not currently importing a file

bool isReferencingFile

(

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Determine if Maya is currently in the middle of a file reference operation.

File reference operations are a subset of file reading operations.

Returns:

• true if Maya is currently in the process of referencing a file
• false if Maya is not currently referencing a file

int currentlyReadingFileVersion

(

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Each Maya file format version has a unique integer identifier.

Identifiers go up sequentially with each new file format.

This method returns the identifier for the version of the file that is currently being read into Maya.

Returns:

The version of the file that is currently being read, or -1 if a file is not currently being read.

int latestMayaFileVersion

(

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Each Maya file format version has a unique integer identifier.

This method returns the identifier for the file format version that will be saved by this version of Maya.

Returns:

The version of the file format saved by this version of Maya

const char * className

(

)

[static]

Search for all occurrences

Returns the name of this class.

Returns:

The name of this class.

MStatus import	(	const MString &	fileName,
		const char *	type = NULL,
		bool	preserveReferences = false,
		const char *	nameSpace = NULL
	)		[static]

Search for all occurrences

This method is obsolete. This method is not available in Python.

Deprecated:

Use the MFileIO::importFile method instead.

Import the scene elements from the given file into the current scene. This operation is similar to open, but instead of replacing the current scene with the one from the new file, it adds the elements from that file to the existing ones in the current scene.

Parameters:

[in]	fileName	name of the file from which to import objects
[in]	type	if NULL, Maya will try to deduce the type of the file. if not NULL, it must contain the file type to use when importing the file.
[in]	preserveReferences	Boolean to indicate whether the references need to be preserved.
[in]	nameSpace	optional name of the namespace to use when importing objects. Use NULL for default of no namespace.

Returns:

• MS::kSuccess operation successful
• MS::kFailure operation failed