Maya python batch shader update& re-export

Coding
1

I’m an infant tech artist just getting into Python for Maya.

I have a batch of game assets to re-export with an updated shader.
Each asset has its own directory structure with
…Assets\assetName\Source\assetName.mb
…Assets\assetName\Export\assetName.mmf (adobe’s alpine format)

I want to write a python script that will

1.) loop through Assets\ and open each assetName\assetName.mb file
2.) import myNEWshader.mb (which contains only a new shader)2replace myOldShader
3.) replace myOLDshader with my myNEWshader.mb
4.) export the asset to its corresponding assetName\Export\ folder

Manually a tedious process…
I’m certain this is the kind of batch operation gets done all the time by ‘grown up’ tech artists.
I woudln’t presume to ask anyone to write this for me, but if anyone knows of a python script with similar functionality
(and hopefully nice comments) I’d love to take a look at it.

2

Hm,

1.) Sounds like os.walk
2. 3. 4.) Sound like straight forward pymel

For batching, read this Support and Problem Solving | Autodesk Support

3

thanks!

4

Something dirty like this should in theory work and hopefully get you started with the batching process. (not tested)
Have fun and hope this helps!


import pymel.core as pm

#Specify something like 'X:/Project/Assets/'
batchDir = 'Assets/'

#Get folders in Assets\...
folder = pm.getFileList(folder=batchDir)
for assetFolder in folder:
    #Finds *.mb file in Assets\assetName\Source\
    sourceAssets = pm.getFileList(folder=(batchDir + assetFolder + '/Source/'), filespec="*.mb")
    
    #opens *.mb in Assets\assetName\Source\
    for assets in sourceAssets:
    	#opens *.mb in Assets\assetName\Source\
    	pm.system.openFile(batchDir + assetFolder + '/Source/' + assets, f=True)

    	############
    	#Batch Start
    	
    	#1. pm.system.importFile(myNEWshader.mb)
    	
    	#2. replace myOLDshader with myNEWshader
    	
    	#Batch End
    	############

    	#Saves *.mb to Assets\assetName\Export\
    	pm.system.saveAs(batchDir + assetFolder + '/Export/' + assets)