DESCRIPTION
Very useful utility for quickly connecting multiple attributes using the Channel Box.
Can connect multiple attributes from a source object to multiple destination objects,
or simply copy the values of multiple attributes from a source object to
multiple destination objects.
Possible uses include, but are not limited to:
o Controlling the intensity of a hundred lights with one master light
o Transfering values from one side of the body to the other
o Lining up objects
o Snapping objects
TO USE
Source 'oaMimicChannels.mel'. Execute 'oaMimicChannels' to bring up the UI.
Select the destination objects first, and the source object last.
Highlight some channels and press Copy Values, Connect Attributes,
or Disconnect Attributes.
Works for all areas of the Channel Box: Main, Shapes, Inputs, and Outputs.
Outputs all commands to the Script Editor for potential use as a
shelf button.
Remember, you can use Shift and Ctrl to highlight multiple channels.
Also, you can make more attributes keyable by using
Window > General Editors > Channel Control.
Finally, feel free to use Break Connections instead of Disconnect Attributes.
Disconnect Attributes is only there for convenience when you have not
changed your selection yet.
PERMANENT INSTALLATION
If you'd like to add oaMimicChannels functionality to the Channel Box right-click menu,
do the following:
Edit your generateChannelMenu.mel file,
usually located in 'C:/Program Files/Alias/Maya6.0/scripts/startup/'.
In the enableDisableChannelMenu procedure, add the following lines at the end, like this:
...menuItem -e -enable $channelsSelected ( $parent + "|drivenItem" );
//Add oaMimicChannels enable/disable functionality
menuItem -e -enable $channelsSelected ( $parent + "|copyValuesItem" );
menuItem -e -enable $channelsSelected ( $parent + "|connectAttrsItem" );
In the generateChannelMenu procedure, add the following lines just before the
Break Connections menu item:
//Add oaMimicChannels functionality
menuItem -l "Copy Values" -c "oaMimicChannelsCopy" copyValuesItem;
menuItem -l "Connect Attributes" -c "oaMimicChannelsConnect" connectAttrsItem;
menuItem -l "Break Connections" -c "channelBoxCommand -break" breakItem;
Finally, add the following line to the very end of the generateChannelMenu.mel file:
source oaMimicChannels.mel;
Restart Maya. You should now have Copy Values and Connect Attributes available in your
Channel Box right-click menu.
Enjoy!
HISTORY
v1.0 (October 18, 2005)
o Original Release
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