Go to: Synopsis. Return value. Flags. MEL examples.

Synopsis

button [-actOnPress boolean] [-actionIsSubstitute boolean] [-align string] [-annotation string] [-backgroundColor float float float] [-command script] [-defineTemplate string] [-docTag string] [-dragCallback script] [-dropCallback script] [-enable boolean] [-exists] [-height int] [-isObscured] [-label string] [-manage boolean] [-numberOfPopupMenus] [-parent string] [-popupMenuArray] [-preventOverride boolean] [-recomputeSize boolean] [-useTemplate string] [-visible boolean] [-width int] [string]

button is undoable, queryable, and editable.

Create a button control capable of displaying a textual label and executing a command when selected by the user.

Return value

stringFull path name to the control.

In query mode, return type is based on queried flag.

Flags

actOnPress, actionIsSubstitute, align, annotation, backgroundColor, command, defineTemplate, docTag, dragCallback, dropCallback, enable, exists, height, isObscured, label, manage, numberOfPopupMenus, parent, popupMenuArray, preventOverride, recomputeSize, useTemplate, visible, width
Long name (short name) Argument types Properties
-exists(-ex) create
Returns true|false depending upon whether the specified object exists. Other flags are ignored.
-defineTemplate(-dt) string create
Puts a command in a mode where any other flags and args are parsed and added to the command template specified in the argument. They will be used as default arguments in any subsequent invocations of the command when templateName is set as the current template.
-useTemplate(-ut) string create
Force the command to use a command template other than the current one.
-parent(-p) string createquery
The parent layout for this control.
-enable(-en) boolean createqueryedit
The enable state of the control. By default, this flag is set to true and the control is enabled. Specify false and the control will appear dimmed or greyed-out indicating it is disabled.
-width(-w) int createqueryedit
The width of the control. The control will attempt to be this size if it is not overruled by parent layout conditions.
-height(-h) int createqueryedit
The height of the control. The control will attempt to be this size if it is not overruled by parent layout conditions.
-visible(-vis) boolean createqueryedit
The visible state of the control. A control is created visible by default. Note that a control's actual appearance is also dependent on the visible state of its parent layout(s).
-isObscured(-io) query
Return whether the control can actually be seen by the user. The control will be obscured if its state is invisible, if it is blocked (entirely or partially) by some other control, if it or a parent layout is unmanaged, or if the control's window is invisible or iconified.
-manage(-m) boolean createqueryedit
Manage state of the control. An unmanaged control is not visible, nor does it take up any screen real estate. All controls are created managed by default.
-numberOfPopupMenus(-npm) query
Return the number of popup menus attached to this control.
-popupMenuArray(-pma) query
Return the names of all the popup menus attached to this control.
-preventOverride(-po) boolean createqueryedit
If true, this flag disallows overriding the control's attribute via the control's right mouse button menu.
-annotation(-ann) string createqueryedit
Annotate the control with an extra string value.
-backgroundColor(-bgc) float float float createedit
The background color of the control. The arguments correspond to the red, green, and blue color components. Each component ranges in value from 0.0 to 1.0. (Windows only flag)
-docTag(-dtg) string createqueryedit
Add a documentation flag to the control. The documentation flag has a directory structure like hierarchy. Eg. -dt render/multiLister/createNode/material
-dragCallback(-dgc) script createedit
Adds a callback that is called when the middle mouse button is pressed. The MEL version of the callback is of the form:

global proc string[] callbackName(string $dragControl, int $x, int $y, int $mods)

The proc returns a string array that is transferred to the drop site. By convention the first string in the array describes the user settable message type. Controls that are application defined drag sources may ignore the callback. $mods allows testing for the key modifiers CTL and SHIFT. Possible values are 0 == No modifiers, 1 == SHIFT, 2 == CTL, 3 == CTL + SHIFT.

In Python, it is similar, but there are two ways to specify the callback. The recommended way is to pass a Python function object as the argument. In that case, the Python callback should have the form:

def callbackName( dragControl, x, y, modifiers ):

The values of these arguments are the same as those for the MEL version above.

The other way to specify the callback in Python is to specify a string to be executed. In that case, the string will have the values substituted into it via the standard Python format operator. The format values are passed in a dictionary with the keys "dragControl", "x", "y", "modifiers". The "dragControl" value is a string and the other values are integers (eg the callback string could be "print '%(dragControl)s %(x)d %(y)d %(modifiers)d'")

-dropCallback(-dpc) script createedit
Adds a callback that is called when a drag and drop operation is released above the drop site. The MEL version of the callback is of the form:

global proc callbackName(string $dragControl, string $dropControl, string $msgs[], int $x, int $y, int $type)

The proc receives a string array that is transferred from the drag source. The first string in the msgs array describes the user defined message type. Controls that are application defined drop sites may ignore the callback. $type can have values of 1 == Move, 2 == Copy, 3 == Link.

In Python, it is similar, but there are two ways to specify the callback. The recommended way is to pass a Python function object as the argument. In that case, the Python callback should have the form:

def pythonDropTest( dragControl, dropControl, messages, x, y, dragType ):

The values of these arguments are the same as those for the MEL version above.

The other way to specify the callback in Python is to specify a string to be executed. In that case, the string will have the values substituted into it via the standard Python format operator. The format values are passed in a dictionary with the keys "dragControl", "dropControl", "messages", "x", "y", "type". The "dragControl" value is a string and the other values are integers (eg the callback string could be "print '%(dragControl)s %(dropControl)s %(messages)r %(x)d %(y)d %(type)d'")

-label(-l) string createqueryedit
The label text. The default label is the name of the control.
-align(-al) string createqueryedit
The label alignment. Alignment values are "left", "right", and "center". Note that the alignment will only be noticable if the control is wider than the label length. By default, the label is aligned "center".
-recomputeSize(-rs) boolean createqueryedit
If true then the control will recompute it's size to just fit the size of the label. If false then the control size will remain fixed as you change the size of the label. The default value of this flag is true.
-command(-c) script createqueryedit
Command executed when the control is pressed.
-actOnPress(-aop) boolean createqueryedit
If true then the command specified by the command flag will be executed when a mouse button is pressed. If false then that command will be executed after the mouse button is released. The default value is false.
-actionIsSubstitute(-ais) boolean createqueryedit
If true then we allow the command associated to this control to substitute the modifiers its parameter such as key press, #1, #2, etc.

Flag can appear in Create mode of command Flag can appear in Edit mode of command
Flag can appear in Query mode of command Flag can be used more than once in a command.

MEL examples

window -width 150;
columnLayout -adjustableColumn true;
    button -label "Default";
    button -label "Left"   -align "left";
    button -label "Center" -align "center";
    button -label "Right"  -align "right";
showWindow;