[choo-chee]

hi, is it possible to have MXS references that have pre-determined layers inside them?
I mean, when having a scene with 10 cars, 20 trees and 50 plants, every time I place a reference maya will
automatically recognize the built-in layer inside each MXS and add it to the correct layer in the main scene?
so if I need to test the scene without the cars and trees but wanna see the plants, I'll be able to turn layers on and off
for all those heavy objects, in a simple click, without having to add each MXS to the right layer when I place it inside the scene...?

[ababak]

Even if it was available I'd choose to move cars, plants and people to separate mxs. That gives more flexibility and doesn't require a lot of extra work. Just my thoughts

[Mihnea Balta]

Hi,

No, the MXS reference system is not flexible enough to allow for this. Maybe in the future, but it requires non-trivial changes at the engine level.

[choo-chee]

thanks. So maybe is it possible to write a simple script that places an MXS reference and then links it to a pre-specified layer?
like having 3 toolbar buttons, one for cars, one for trees, one for plants ....?

[ababak]

Maybe I don't understand your workflow. Isn't assigning an MXS reference to a layer in Maya a one-click action? Why do you need a script for this?

[choo-chee]

imagine a scene with a house and 5 cars, 20 plants, 10 trees etc.... all are MXS references.
Now in order to work fast on the house itself (guess what? the architect just changed half of it...) I want to work on the model itself without those objects that just clatter the viewport.
so I put all MXS in a layer that is easy to turn on and off. but sometimes I want to keep some of the MXS to work, say all the plants in the balconies... but don't want all other MXS (cars, trees etc.). So I have to manually select each object and assign it to a different layer or just hide it. too much work. having separate layers for each type of objects is not my idea....

[ababak]

Yes, there's no doubt that layers help a lot. I just can't understand why you can't assign all the trees to a separate layer just by clicking one button in Maya.

[choo-chee]

When you place lots of plants of different types, you don't want to click each and assign it to a layer. you want it to be automatically. like when modelling, I use a different color for each material of the model's materials, and don't need to re-assign every object I create, since the app knows that the current color is the object's material.

[ababak]

You may check "Add new objects to current layer" and just select an appropriate layer before placing the objects.

[choo-chee]

I know but I'm trying to avoid that since this causes mistakes since forgetting to set the correct current layer is common
take example from artlantis render (I played with it a few years ago), you can drag library instances (=MXS) and it will automatically divide it to the corresponding object type groups (cars, people etc.)