hyperGraph

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Synopsis

hyperGraph [-addBookmark] [-addDependGraph name] [-addDependNode name] [-animateTransition boolean] [-attributeEditor string] [-bookmarkName] [-clear] [-collapseContainer] [-connectionDrawStyle string] [-control] [-defineTemplate string] [-deleteBookmark string] [-dependGraph] [-dependNode string] [-docTag string] [-down] [-downstream] [-dragAndDropBehaviorCommand string] [-dropNode string] [-dropTargetNode string] [-edgeDblClickCommand string] [-edgeDimmedDblClickCommand string] [-enableAutomaticLayout boolean] [-exists] [-expandContainer] [-feedbackGadget string] [-feedbackNode string] [-filter string] [-filterDetail string boolean] [-fitImageToHeight] [-fitImageToWidth] [-focusCommand string] [-fold] [-forceMainConnection string] [-forceRefresh] [-frame] [-frameBranch] [-frameGraph] [-frameHierarchy] [-freeform boolean] [-fromAttr string] [-getNodeList] [-getNodePosition string] [-graphLayoutStyle string] [-graphType string] [-highlightConnection string] [-iconSize string] [-image string] [-imageEnabled boolean] [-imageForContainer] [-imagePosition float float] [-imageScale float] [-isHotkeyTarget] [-layout] [-layoutSelected string] [-lockMainConnection] [-look float float] [-mainListConnection string] [-mergeConnections boolean] [-navigateHome] [-nextView] [-nodeDropCommand string] [-nodePressCommand string] [-nodeReleaseCommand string] [-opaqueContainers boolean] [-orientation string] [-panel string] [-parent string] [-popupMenuScript string] [-previousView] [-range float float] [-rebuild] [-removeNode string] [-rename] [-resetFreeform] [-restoreBookmark string] [-scrollUpDownNoZoom boolean] [-selectionConnection string] [-setNodePosition string float float] [-showConnectionFromSelected boolean] [-showConnectionToSelected boolean] [-showConstraints boolean] [-showDeformers boolean] [-showExpressions boolean] [-showInvisible boolean] [-showRelationships boolean] [-showShapes boolean] [-showUnderworld boolean] [-stateString] [-transitionFrames int] [-unParent] [-unfold] [-unfoldAll] [-unlockMainConnection] [-updateMainConnection] [-updateNodeAdded boolean] [-updateSelection boolean] [-upstream] [-useFeedbackList] [-useTemplate string] [-viewOption string] [-visibility boolean] [-zoom float] [string]

hyperGraph is undoable, queryable, and editable.

The hypergraph provides the user with the ability to view and edit the maya scene graph. The hypergraph supports two types of graphs: the DAG or scene hierarchy and the dependency graph.

The default view of the hypergraph editor is the DAG view. The user can show the dependency graph for a collection of nodes by first selecting the nodes and navigating to the dependency graph using one of the graph options. The user can save any view by setting a bookmark to that view. The user can also show previous views using the view options provided.

The hypergraph supports a simple editing mechanism for editing hierarchy in the DAG view and connections in dependency graph view. In the DAG view, the user can reparent or reorder nodes in the graph using drag-and-drop. In the dependency graph view, the user can select connections and delete them or make new connections by dragging and dropping nodes or existing connections.

The hypergraph supports two layout modes in the DAG view: automatic and freeform. In automatic mode, the graph nodes are automatically positioned according to the layout preferences. In freeform mode, the user can position nodes manually. The node position is saved in the scene. A background image can be placed behind DG or DAG in freeform mode. This can be used as a template for positioning nodes in a user-defined layout.

Nodes in the DAG view can be expanded or collapsed. The state is saved in the scene. The performance of the graph drawing will increase as hierarchies are collapsed.

In addition to hierachy relationships, the hypergraph can show expression, constraint and deformation relationships in the DAG. These can be enabled/disabled through the options provided. There are also additional filters for showing shape nodes and invisible nodes. The amount of detail show may affect the speed of the display of the graph.

Most of the UI features of the hypergraph are addressable through the hypergraph command-line interface. The available command-line options are described in the next section.

Return value

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

Flags

Long name (short name)	Argument types	Properties
-exists(-ex)
Returns true|false depending upon whether the specified object exists. Other flags are ignored.
-defineTemplate(-dt)	string
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
Force the command to use a command template other than the current one.
-panel(-pnl)	string
Specifies the panel that the editor belongs to. By default if an editor is created in the create callback of a scripted panel it will belong to that panel. If an editor doesn't belong to a panel it will be deleted when the window that it is in is deleted.
-parent(-p)	string
Specifies the parent layout for this editor. This flag will only have an effect if the editor is currently un-parented.
-unParent(-up)
Specifies that the editor should be removed from its layout. This cannot be used with query.
-control(-ctl)
Query only. Returns the top level control for this editor. Usually used for getting a parent to attach popup menus. Caution: It is possible, at times, for an editor to exist without a control. This flag returns "NONE" if no control is present.
-mainListConnection(-mlc)	string
Specifies the name of a selectionConnection object which the editor will use as its source of content. The editor will only display items contained in the selectionConnection object.
-forceMainConnection(-fmc)	string
Specifies the name of a selectionConnection object which the editor will use as its source of content. The editor will only display items contained in the selectionConnection object. This is a variant of the -mainListConnection flag in that it will force a change even when the connection is locked. This flag is used to reduce the overhead when using the -unlockMainConnection , -mainListConnection, -lockMainConnection flags in immediate succession.
-selectionConnection(-slc)	string
Specifies the name of a selectionConnection object which the editor will synchronize with its own selection list. As the user selects things in this editor, they will be selected in the selectionConnection object. If the object undergoes changes, the editor updates to show the change.
-highlightConnection(-hlc)	string
Specifies the name of a selectionConnection object which the editor will synchronize with its highlight list. Not all editors have a highlight list. For those that do, it is a secondary selection list.
-filter(-f)	string
Specifies the name of an itemFilter object to be placed on this editor. This filters the information coming onto the main list of the editor.
-lockMainConnection(-lck)
Locks the current list of objects within the mainConnection, so that only those objects are displayed within the editor. Further changes to the original mainConnection are ignored.
-stateString(-sts)
Query only flag. Returns the MEL command that will edit an editor to match the current editor state. The returned command string uses the string variable $editorName in place of a specific name.
-unlockMainConnection(-ulk)
Unlocks the mainConnection, effectively restoring the original mainConnection (if it is still available), and dynamic updates.
-updateMainConnection(-upd)
Causes a locked mainConnection to be updated from the orginal mainConnection, but preserves the lock state.
-docTag(-dtg)	string
Attaches a tag to the Maya editor.
-addBookmark(-abk)
Create a bookmark for the current hypergraph view.
-addDependNode(-adn)	name
Add a dependency node to the dependency graph view
-addDependGraph(-adg)	name
Add a dependency graph starting at the named node to the view
-animateTransition(-atr)	boolean
Turns animate transitions off and on.
-attributeEditor(-ae)	string
Launches attribute editor on selected node.
-bookmarkName(-bn)
Returns the bookmark name for the most recently created bookmark.
-connectionDrawStyle(-cds)	string
Specify how connections between nodes should be drawn. Valid values are "center" (draws connection lines from the center of one node to the center of the other) and "side" (draws connection lines from the right side of the source node to the left side of the destination node). The default is "center". This flag does not apply to Hypershade graphs, which are always drawn with the "side" connection draw style.
-clear(-clr)
Clears the current hypergraph view and deletes the graph UI. (see also -rebuild flag)
-collapseContainer(-cc)
Collapses containers selected in DG graph.
-deleteBookmark(-dbk)	string
Delete the bookmark with the corresponding node name.
-dependGraph(-dg)
Displays dependency graph iterated from specified node.
-dependNode(-dn)	string
Displays dependency node in view.
-dropNode(-dr)	string
Returns the name of the source node in a drag and drop connection, when called during processing of a drop.
-dropTargetNode(-drt)	string
Returns the name of the destination node in a drag and drop connection, when called during processing of a drop.
-dragAndDropBehaviorCommand(-ddc)	string
Mel proc called when a drag and drop onto a hyperGraph node has occurred. Proc signature is procName (string $editor, string $sourceNode, string $destinationNode).
-edgeDblClickCommand(-edc)	string
Mel proc called when an edge is double clicked. Proc signature is procName (string $editor, string $edge).
-edgeDimmedDblClickCommand(-edd)	string
Mel proc called when a dimmed edge is double clicked. Proc signature is procName (string $editor, string $edge).
-enableAutomaticLayout(-eal)	boolean
Rebuild the graph if a node is added or removed from the graph via drag and drop or dg messages. Default is true.
-expandContainer(-ec)
Expands containers selected in DG graph.
-fromAttr(-fat)	string
Returns the name of the source attribute in a drag and drop connection, when called during processing of a drop.
-feedbackGadget(-fbg)	string
Returns the name of the current gadget.
-fitImageToWidth(-fiw)
Changes position and scale of background image, so its width fits current editor view.
-fitImageToHeight(-fih)
Changes position and scale of background image, so its height fits current editor view.
-feedbackNode(-fbn)	string
Returns the name of the current feedback or highlight node.
-focusCommand(-fc)	string
Mel proc to be run when the mouse is clicked in the hyper graph. Primarily of use in setting the window focus.
-filterDetail(-fd)	string boolean
This flag is obsolete. Use the showConstraints, showExpressions, showDeformer, showInvisible, showShapes and showUnderworld flags instead.
-fold(-fo)
Folds (Collapses) selected object.
-forceRefresh(-frf)
Forces the hypergraph to refresh (redraw) its contents.
-frame(-fr)
Frames the selected objects
-frameBranch(-frb)
Frames the the branch from the selected node on downward.
-frameGraph(-fg)
Frames the entire graph.
-frameHierarchy(-frh)
Frames the hierarchy that contains the selected node.
-graphLayoutStyle(-gls)	string
Selects the graph layout style : "circularLayout"|"hierarchicalLayout"|"orthogonalLayout"|"symmetricLayout"|"treeLayout"
-getNodeList(-gnl)
Returns a string array that represents a list of all the nodes in the graph.
-getNodePosition(-gnp)	string
Returns the position of a specified node in x,y graph coords. This flag and its argument must be passed to the command before the -q flag (see examples). In query mode, this flag can accept a value.
-graphType(-gt)	string
Returns the type name of the current graph in the view (either DAG or DG).
-iconSize(-ics)	string
Set or query the icon size for this hyper graph editor. The currently allowed icon sizes are "small", "medium" and "large".
-viewOption(-vo)	string
Set or query the view option for this hyper graph editor. The currently allowed views are "asIcons" and "asList".
-isHotkeyTarget(-iht)
For internal use.
-image(-img)	string
Specify background image to be loaded from the project image directory.
-imageEnabled(-ime)	boolean
Enable display of a loaded background image (Freeform DAG view or DG view)
-imagePosition(-imp)	float float
Position of the background image.
-imageScale(-ims)	float
Uniform scale of the background image.
-imageForContainer(-ifc)
Specify that the following flags work on selected containers instead of the whole image: -imageScale,-imagePosition, fitImageToWidth, -fitImageToHeight, -image
-layout(-lay)
Perform an automatic layout on the graph.
-layoutSelected(-lsl)	string
Perform an automatic layout on the selected object. "circularLayout"|"hierarchicalLayout"|"orthogonalLayout"|"symmetricLayout"|"treeLayout"
-look(-loo)	float float
Look at a coordinate in the graph view
-down(-do)
Navigate down to the dependency graph containing the current selection. Shows upstream and downstream connections.
-mergeConnections(-mc)	boolean
Merge groups of connections into 'fat' connections.
-navigateHome(-hom)
Navigate to the home (DAG) view.
-nodeDropCommand(-ndr)	string
Set the command to be called when a node is dropped in the hypergraph window.
-nodePressCommand(-np)	string
Set the command to be called when the user presses a mouse button while the cursor is over a node in the hypergraph window.
-nodeReleaseCommand(-nr)	string
Set the command to be called when the user releases a mouse button while the cursor is over a node in the hypergraph window.
-nextView(-nvw)
Changes the view to the next DAG view.
-opaqueContainers(-opc)	boolean
Sets expanded container background opacity.
-orientation(-or)	string
Selects orientation style of graph: "horiz"|"vert"
-previousView(-pvw)
Changes the view back to the previous DAG view.
-popupMenuScript(-pms)	string
Set the script to be called to register the popup menu with the control for this hypergraph. The script will be called with a string argument which gives the name of the hypergraph whose control the popup menu should be parented to.
-range(-rg)	float float
Limits the display of nodes to only those within the range. There are two float values expected, the first the lower threshold of the range and the second the upper threshold of the range. The values are absolute timing values, not percentages.
-rebuild(-rb)
Rebuilds graph
-rename(-rn)
Pops up text field over selected object for renaming
-resetFreeform(-rf)
Resets freeform position on all nodes.
-freeform(-fre)	boolean
Enable freeform layout mode.
-restoreBookmark(-rbk)	string
Restore the view corresponding to the bookmark.
-removeNode(-rmn)	string
Removes the node identified by string from the graph.
-scrollUpDownNoZoom(-snz)	boolean
Specify if we want to be in the scroll along y only with no free zooming mode. By default, hyper graph editor allows user to pan left and right.
-showConstraints(-shc)	boolean
Show constraint relationships in the DAG.
-showExpressions(-shx)	boolean
Show expression relationships in the DAG.
-showDeformers(-shd)	boolean
Show deformer or geometry filter relationships in the DAG.
-showInvisible(-shi)	boolean
Show invisible nodes in the DAG.
-showConnectionFromSelected(-scf)	boolean
Show the connects (constraints, expresions, and deformers - see showConstraints for example) leaving from selected nodes. This can be combined with showConnectionToSelected to show both arrive and leaving connects. If both flags are false then all the connections will be shown.
-showConnectionToSelected(-sct)	boolean
Show the connects (constraints, expresions, and deformers - see showConstraints for example) arriving at selected nodes. This can be combined with showConnectionFromSelected to show both arrive and leaving connects. If both flags are false then all the connections will be shown.
-showRelationships(-shr)	boolean
Show relationship (message) connections.
-showShapes(-shs)	boolean
Show shape nodes in the DAG.
-showUnderworld(-shu)	boolean
Show underworld graphs in the DAG.
-setNodePosition(-snp)	string float float
Sets the node identified by string to the (x,y) position in the window specified by the two floats. If the node is not in the graph than it will be added to the graph and then moved to the new position.
-transitionFrames(-tfr)	int
Specify te number of transition frames for animate transitions.
-unfold(-uf)
Unfolds (expands) selected object.
-unfoldAll(-ua)
Unfolds everything under selected object.
-updateNodeAdded(-una)	boolean
Update graph when a new node is added to the database
-updateSelection(-us)	boolean
Update selection state in the graph when the selection state of database changes.
-upstream(-ups)
Show upstream dependency graph of selected node(s).
-downstream(-ds)
Show downstream dependency graph of selected node(s).
-useFeedbackList(-ufl)
Use feedback or highlight list as the target selection when processing other hypergraph command-line options.
-visibility(-vis)	boolean
Set the visible state of the selected node(s).
-zoom(-zm)	float
Specify the zoom factor for animating transitions

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

// The hyperGraph command is not one which would commonly be used
// by the user.
polySphere -r 1 -sx 20 -sy 20 -ax 0 1 0 -tx 2 -ch 1;

// Gets the position of the node in the graph.
HypergraphHierarchyWindow;
string $editor = "hyperGraphPanel1HyperGraphEd";
float $position[] = `hyperGraph -getNodePosition pSphere1 -q $editor`;