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Synopsis

rename( [object] string , [ignoreShape=boolean])

Note: Strings representing object names and arguments must be separated by commas. This is not depicted in the synopsis.

rename is undoable, NOT queryable, and NOT editable.

Renames the given object to have the new name. If only one argument is supplied the command will rename the (first) selected object. If the new name conflicts with an existing name, the object will be given a unique name based on the supplied name. It is not legal to rename an object to the empty string. When a transform is renamed then any shape nodes beneath the transform that have the same prefix as the old transform name are renamed. For example, "rename nurbsSphere1 ball" would rename "nurbsSphere1|nurbsSphereShape1" to "ball|ballShape". If the new name ends in a single '#' then the rename command will replace the trailing '#' with a number that ensures the new name is unique.

Notes

When explicitly supplying the name of the object to rename, this name is defined relative to the root namespace. However, the new name is defined relative to the current namespace. (see example below).

Return value

string The new name. When undone returns original name.

Flags

ignoreShape
Long name (short name) Argument types Properties
ignoreShape(ignoreShape) boolean create
Indicates that renaming of shape nodes below transform nodes should be prevented.
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 have multiple arguments, passed either as a tuple or a list.

Python examples

import maya.cmds as cmds

# create two namespaces under the root namespace and create
# a sphere under the root namespace and a sphere under one
# of the new namespaces.
cmds.namespace( set=':' )
cmds.sphere( n='sphere1' )
cmds.namespace( add='nsA' )
cmds.namespace( add='nsB' )
cmds.namespace( set='nsA' )
cmds.sphere( n='sphere2' )
cmds.namespace( set=':' )
# change name of sphere1
cmds.rename('sphere1', 'spinning_ball')

# change name of spinning_ball back to sphere1
cmds.select( 'spinning_ball', r=True )
cmds.rename( 'sphere1' )

# move sphere2 to namespace nsB
cmds.rename( 'nsA:sphere2', 'nsB:sphere2' )
# Result: nsB:sphere2 #

# move sphere2 back to namespace nsA when not in the root namespace
# Note the ":" appearing in front of the new name to indicate
# we want to move the object to namespace nsA under the root namespace.
cmds.namespace( set='nsB' )
cmds.rename( 'nsB:sphere2', ':nsA:sphere2' )
# Result: nsA:sphere2 #

# Let's try this without the leading ":" in the new name.
# Since we are namespace nsA, in affect, what we are trying to do
# is rename :nsB:sphere2 to :nsA:nsB:sphere3. Since there isn't a
# nsB namespace under the namespace nsA, the namespace specification
# on new name is ignored and a warning is issued.
cmds.namespace( set=':nsA' )
cmds.rename( 'nsA:sphere2', 'nsB:sphere3' )
# Warning: Removing invalid characters from name. #
# Result: nsA:sphere3 #

# rename an object when not in the root namespace
# and move the object to current namespace
cmds.namespace( set=':nsB' )
cmds.rename( 'nsA:sphere3', 'sphere4' )
# Result: nsB:sphere4 #