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Synopsis

timerX([startTime=float])

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

timerX is undoable, NOT queryable, and NOT editable.

Used to calculate elapsed time. This command returns sub-second accurate time values. It is useful from scripts for timing the length of operations. Call this command before and after the operation you wish to time. On the first call, do not use any flags. It will return the start time. Save this value. After the operation, call this command a second time, and pass the saved start time using the -st flag. The elapsed time will be returned.

Return value

float This command returns a different value depending on the flag used. If no flag is used, then the start time is returned. If the "-st" flag is used, then it returns the elapsed time since the start time.

Flags

startTime
Long name (short name) Argument types Properties
startTime(st) float create
When this flag is used, the command returns the elapsed time since the specified start time.
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

# Example 1: Simple timing
#
start = cmds.timerX()
# code that is being timed
totalTime = cmds.timerX(startTime=start)
print "Total time: ", totalTime

# Example 2: Iterative timing
#
startTime = cmds.timerX()
for i in range(0,5):
  elapsedTime = cmds.timerX()
  print "Elapsed Time: ", elapsedTime

# Example 3: Stacked timing calls
#
startTime1 = cmds.timerX()
startTime2 = cmds.timerX()
for i in range(0,5):
  elapsedTime = cmds.timerX()
  print "Elapsed Time: ", elapsedTime

totalTime = cmds.timerX(startTime=startTime1)
print "Total Time: ", totalTime