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Synopsis

rename [-ignoreShape] [object] string

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

If the name has an absolute namespace part, it will be considered. Namespaces that do not exist will be created automatically as needed. If the name has a relative namespace part, it will be ignored. In that case, the object will be put under 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(-is) 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 be used more than once in a command.

MEL examples

// create two namespaces under the root namespace and create
// a sphere under the root namespace and a sphere under one
// of the new namespaces.
namespace -set ":";
sphere -n sphere1;
namespace -add nsA;
namespace -add nsB;
namespace -set nsA;
sphere -n sphere2;
namespace -set ":";
// change name of sphere1
rename sphere1 spinning_ball;
// result: spinning_ball //
// change name of spinning_ball back to sphere1
select -r spinning_ball;
rename sphere1;
// Result: sphere1 //
// move sphere2 to namespace nsB
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.
namespace -set nsB;
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.
namespace -set ":nsA";
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
namespace -set ":nsB";
rename nsA:sphere3 sphere4;
// Result: nsB:sphere4 //
// rename an object with an absolute name to move it into a new namespace.
// The namespace does not exist so will be created.
namespace -set ":nsB";
rename nsA:sphere3 :nsC:sphere4;
// Result: nsC:sphere4 //