Activate Camera -A very simple question for a noob

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On 25/08/2011 at 22:05, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Hello clever folks,

I have just starting using Cinema 4D and Xpresso and loving every minute, but i dont know Python, and I must say there arnt many 'entry level' documentation for it yet, so please help me...

1. What is the command to set a particular camera to active please.

2. Also, if I dont want any camera to be active, how can i set the active camera to the default scene perspective? Thanks.

I bet it's like 2 lines :blush:...

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On 25/08/2011 at 22:32, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Read the Python Tutorial, this is the best place to start. At least until (including) chapter 9.
http://docs.python.org/tutorial/index.html

If you don't know how to write Python code, you should really start with reading this Tutorial.

Take a look into the Py4D documentation and search for "camera".
The first 2 search-results are what you need. "GetEditorCamera" and "GetSceneCamera".

Yow probably won't understand this code, which contains all info you need.

import  c4d  
  
def **ResetToEditorCamera** (doc) :  
 _     '''  
  Resets the document camera to the standart editor camera.  
  '''_  
  _# Returns a BaseDraw instance that is hold in the active document_  
  bd  = doc.GetActiveBaseDraw()  
 _     # Get the standart editor camera from the BaseDraw_  
  cam = bd.GetEditorCamera()  
 _     # Set the active camera to the cam we've obtained from the BaseDraw_  
  bd.SetSceneCamera(cam)

Edit: corrected code.

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On 25/08/2011 at 22:47, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Hi nux,

thanks for the help. Couldnt get it to work however. What am i doing wrong. Copied it into Python script editor. Created Camera, set it to active and then ran the script. Nothing.

COnsole reports nothing also.

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On 25/08/2011 at 22:58, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Originally posted by xxxxxxxx

Read the Python Tutorial, this is the best place to start. At least until (including) chapter 9.
http://docs.python.org/tutorial/index.html

To whet your appetite, call the function.

def **main** () :  
  ResetToEditorCamera(doc)  
  
main()

Please note that I have edited the code above, there was something wrong, sorry.

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On 25/08/2011 at 23:44, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Originally posted by xxxxxxxx

Originally posted by xxxxxxxx

Read the Python Tutorial, this is the best place to start. At least until (including) chapter 9.
http://docs.python.org/tutorial/index.html

To whet your appetite, call the function.

def **main** () :  
  ResetToEditorCamera(doc)  
 
main()

Please note that I have edited the code above, there was something wrong, sorry.

Err, sorry dude. I still have nothing...:cry:

import  c4d

def main() :

'''
  Resets the document camera to the standart editor camera.
  '''
  # Returns a BaseDraw instance that is hold in the active document
  bd  = doc.GetActiveBaseDraw()
  # Get the standart editor camera from the BaseDraw
  cam = bd.GetEditorCamera()
  # Set the active camera to the cam we've obtained from the BaseDraw
  bd.SetSceneCamera(cam)

main()

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On 25/08/2011 at 23:59, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Please put code into a code-block using [*Code][/*Code] (Without  the * )

works, whats the problem ? After calling the Skript, you must update C4D by clicking into the Editor. Or call c4d.EventAdd().

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On 26/08/2011 at 01:18, xxxxxxxx wrote:

simply use this code:

import c4d   
  
bd = doc.GetActiveBaseDraw()   
cam = bd.GetEditorCamera()   
bd.SetSceneCamera(cam)

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On 26/08/2011 at 01:37, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Thanks guys. I'll try that when I get home. Appologies for being a colossal noob.

You've been most helpful.

Also, is there a way to set the active camera to one supplied by a variable, then save that scene file with a unique name Which is also a variable (eg. ProjectName_Cam#.c4d).? Where projectname, it's path and cam# are all variables provided with user data.

For example, if I had 7 cameras in a scene, I could iterate a loop that would first activate the camera 1, then save it off to the renderfarm. Then it would do the same with camera 2,3,4 etc...

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On 26/08/2011 at 01:42, xxxxxxxx wrote:

its hard to describe the basics, but if that is the only thing you want to, take a look at the plugin. "renderelements"
else, you should take a look to the examples of the python api.

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On 26/08/2011 at 02:53, xxxxxxxx wrote:

I've got render elements. Great plugin. However from memory it cannot record camera states. I also wish to automate the entire process for many cameras with just 1 button push.

Allow me to explain exactly what I wish to do so you can point me further in the right direction and I won't waste anyones time.

Basically I have already constructed a stereo/autostereo rig using xpresso. I had rigged up a control to change scene cameras using the stage object which was input from link data from an integer user input. Long story short this failed when merging my camera setup to a new scene. I need a better solution to activate various cameras from user data. Enter python.

What I want it a small loader plug in with a simple ui that is capable of 2 main functions (2 buttons).

1. Merge the external camera rig c4d scene into the active document.

2. Batch export the scene 8 times, to 8 separate scenes with unique naming. The only difference in each scene is the active camera 1-8. The logic behind this is that I can put these files to the renderfarm.

This sounds like fairly simple stuff to me. Could I achieve all of this with Python?

Thanks folks

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On 26/08/2011 at 05:14, xxxxxxxx wrote:

As you wish..

Place a file '01.c4d' onto your C:\ local drive and run the script with a new document opened..
Youll find 8 new files on you local drive. Make sure there is an object in 01.c4d.

import  c4d  
from    c4d.documents       import LoadDocument, SaveDocument, GetActiveDocument, InsertBaseDocument  
  
  
def Example() :  
  doc     = GetActiveDocument()  
  preset  = LoadDocument(r'C:\01.c4d', c4d.SCENEFILTER_OBJECTS)  
  InsertBaseDocument(preset)  
  cam_pr  = preset.GetFirstObject().GetClone()  
  
  doc.InsertObject(cam_pr)  
  
  for i in xrange(8) :  
      cam_pr.SetAbsPos(c4d.Vector(0, i * 50, 0))  
      # ... Change whatever you want  
      SaveDocument(doc, r'C:\MySavedFile0' + str(i) + '.c4d', c4d.SAVEDOCUMENTFLAGS_0, c4d.FORMAT_C4DEXPORT)  
  
Example()

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On 28/08/2011 at 18:49, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Thanks nux, Very helpful.:slightly_smiling_face:

How about these 2 problems...?

1. I actually want to non destructively merge the base camera rig into my working scene rather than just loading it in separately into its own scene. I looked through the sdk, tried the c4d.documents.MergeDocument command but it didnt work.

Also...

2. I have user data with an integer setting...0-7 which controls which camera is active using the stage object/xpresso. How might i be able to adapt your script to iterate this integer value user data, before saving the scene off. Ive tried some things but i cant access the user data properly!

Much appreciated you guys

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On 29/08/2011 at 02:01, xxxxxxxx wrote:

1. How about doing it the other wey round ? Instead of loading the Scene to the Preset, load the Preset to the scene. (That was actually my intention with the naming of the variables).

2. op[c4d.ID_USERDATA, id] # id: the id of the userdata entry

Cheers,

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On 29/08/2011 at 08:02, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Here's how to Merge a .c4d file:

import c4d, os  
from c4d import documents  
  
def main() :  
  doc = documents.GetActiveDocument()  
  fn = c4d.storage.GeGetC4DPath(c4d.C4D_PATH_DESKTOP) #Gets the desktop path  
  path = os.path.join(fn,'MyFile.c4d')                #The actual .c4d file   
  merge = documents.MergeDocument(doc, path, 1)  
  c4d.EventAdd()  
  
if __name__=='__main__':  
  main()

Look up the other paths (C4D_PATH_DESKTOP, etc...)  you can use in the docs.

-ScottA

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On 29/08/2011 at 17:26, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Originally posted by xxxxxxxx

Here's how to Merge a .c4d file:

import c4d, os  
from c4d import documents  
 
def main() :  
  doc = documents.GetActiveDocument()  
  fn = c4d.storage.GeGetC4DPath(c4d.C4D_PATH_DESKTOP) #Gets the desktop path  
  path = os.path.join(fn,'MyFile.c4d')                #The actual .c4d file   
  merge = documents.MergeDocument(doc, path, 1)  
  c4d.EventAdd()  
 
if __name__=='__main__':  
  main()

Look up the other paths (C4D_PATH_DESKTOP, etc...)  you can use in the docs.

-ScottA

Thanks Scott, will try that asap. Ill let you know how i go.

One thing I am still struggling with is how to setup that for loop with the user data. Like where do i need to specify the ID. and where do i put 'i' for an integer list type user data setup.

Basically at the moment the user data integer list is set up so ...

0=perspec using nux's little python script tag. (Thanks mate!)
1=cam 1
2=cam 2
3=cam 3 etc...

can you specify a for loop where i is between a range say 1-5 for example?

I know Python integration is fairly new to c4d, but I am amazing how little true code examples there are on the net. Who can understand reading an SDK. Half of it isnt even in context. Just raw comands. And it's so brutal when it comes to debugging that somelike me has no chance to find what is wrong with the code.

One thing i can say is how surprised I am of the support you guys have given me already. I know you think im lazy for asking for code, but I guess i learn faster with examples. And reverse engineering code rather than inventing it.

Thanks all. :smile:

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On 29/08/2011 at 19:21, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Note: Using xrange() is more efficient and should always be used when you do not require a list.

Edit: Made layout more nice. :)

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On 29/08/2011 at 20:50, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Originally posted by xxxxxxxx

Here's how to Merge a .c4d file:

import c4d, os  
from c4d import documents  
 
def main() :  
  doc = documents.GetActiveDocument()  
  fn = c4d.storage.GeGetC4DPath(c4d.C4D_PATH_DESKTOP) #Gets the desktop path  
  path = os.path.join(fn,'MyFile.c4d')                #The actual .c4d file   
  merge = documents.MergeDocument(doc, path, 1)  
  c4d.EventAdd()  
 
if __name__=='__main__':  
  main()

Look up the other paths (C4D_PATH_DESKTOP, etc...)  you can use in the docs.

-ScottA

That worked and makes sense thank you.

NUX; i'm going to attempt this for loop thing now from the documentation you posted. Will let you know when i fail...:joy:.

Has anyone ever got Python to save the entire project including scene file and tex folder? 'Render Elements' does it, so i asked the creator how he did it and he said that there was no easy way. He had to gather all the information in the scene and collect files manually with his code. He basically rewrote the save project command in c4d. It was his understanding that saving a project could not be scriptable because it promts the user every time for a save path, meaning its useless for long loops etc. I would like my script to 'for loop' the scene x amount of times changing a user data entry each time, then save the entire project to it's own folder with it's name also being driven by a user data string variable.

Saving a project through Python seems to be the next hurdle for me now.

Thanks!

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On 29/08/2011 at 21:03, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Originally posted by xxxxxxxx

Note: Using xrange() is more efficient and should always be used when you do not require a list.

Edit: Made layout more nice. :)

Your image files are not allowed aparently. What layout are you refering to?

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On 29/08/2011 at 21:06, xxxxxxxx wrote:

You cannot see the images ? :cry:
Ehm, layout ? Do you mean websites ?
Actually, theese are the links:

Python Docs: http://docs.python.org/index.html
Xrange function: http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html?highlight=xrange#xrange
Range function: http://docs.python.org/tutorial/controlflow.html#the-range-function
for statement: http://docs.python.org/tutorial/controlflow.html#for-statements

Edit: Using the SaveDocument function works just fine and no dialog appears.

import c4d  
from c4d.documents import SaveDocument  
  
  
def main() :  
  SaveDocument(doc, 'C:\\foo.c4d', 1, c4d.FORMAT_C4DEXPORT)  
  
if __name__=='__main__':  
  main()

You just have to make sure that the file-path is absolute, not relative.

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On 29/08/2011 at 21:29, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Originally posted by xxxxxxxx

You cannot see the images ? :cry:
Ehm, layout ? Do you mean websites ?
Actually, theese are the links:

Python Docs: http://docs.python.org/index.html
Xrange function: http://docs.python.org/library/functions.html?highlight=xrange#xrange
Range function: http://docs.python.org/tutorial/controlflow.html#the-range-function
for statement: http://docs.python.org/tutorial/controlflow.html#for-statements

Edit: Using the SaveDocument function works just fine and no dialog appears.

import c4d  
from c4d.documents import SaveDocument  
 
 
def main() :  
  SaveDocument(doc, 'C:\\foo.c4d', 1, c4d.FORMAT_C4DEXPORT)  
 
if __name__=='__main__':  
  main()

You just have to make sure that the file-path is absolute, not relative.

Yeah mate I've got my head around that function now which is great.

However from the SDK there doesnt seem to be an option/flag to make it a 'SAVE PROJECT' function where the entire project folder is saved INCLUDING tex folder, GI files etc.

So I want to iterate the same function as when the user goes File/Save Project...

not sure if i made sense.