Duplicate Along Path 1.5.1 for Maya (maya script)

Duplicate Along Path

This script gives the user the ability to duplicate multiple objects along a path in maya while retaining attachment to the path, a function that does not fully exist in default maya as a modeling tool.  This tool updates when you make a change to any of the options.  You can now also do an easy "flow path" of an object, which deforms your object along the curve while maintaining proportions.

-------------------------

To use:

1. Save the script to your documents\maya\*version*\prefs\scripts folder.
2. Start Maya.
3. In your command line or script editor, type the following and execute the following MEL script:

   DupAlongPathToolbox;

4. Define your object and your path by selecting the item first, then pressing the "Object" or "Curve" button to save your selection.
5. Duplicate along the path by choosing amount of duplicates and/or distance between objects.

-------------------------

NOTES
- Curve button will activate create curve tool if nothing is selected.
- If you adjust a curve with duplicates that have a specified distance, you have to refresh the duplicates to correct the distances.

-------------------------
DUPLICATE TAB
-------------------------

QUANTITY
Number of duplicates along curve.

DISTANCE
Distance between duplicates.  If set to 0, the Quantity will spread along the curve from end to end evenly.

START %
Buffer percent at the start of the curve.  Duplicates will start after this buffer.

END %
Buffer percent at the end of the curve.  Duplicates will terminate after this buffer.

-------------------------

REFRESH
Refreshes the duplicates.

REVERSE
Reverse the direction of the curve.

DELETE
Delete the duplicates.

DETACH
Detach the duplicates from the motion path and also removes constraints.

-------------------------

ROTATE
Fixed - each object is rotated to the same angle
Additive - each object's rotation is added from the previous
Random - rotation is randomly generated based on the given values
Constrain - constrain rotation on specific axes to have all objects orient to the rotation of the original

SCALE
Fixed - each object is scaled the same
Additive - scale is added with each instance
Random - scale is randomly generated based on the given values
Constrain - constrains scale between axes to prevent undesired squishing

SCATTER
Adds a random positional element to your duplications

OPTIONS
Change between copied or instanced duplicates.
Change the default directionality of the duplications.

-------------------------
DEFORM TAB
-------------------------

DUPLICATE, MERGE, AND DEFORM ALONG PATH
If your object has flat ends and is pointing in X, you can create a merged duplicate mesh that is extruded along the curve rather than duplicated using separate pieces.  This operation is independant from the rest of the options in the UI.

-------------------------

REFRESH
Refreshes the deformation.

REVERSE
Reverse the direction of the curve.

DELETE
Delete the deformation.

DETACH
Detach the deformation from path.