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# MFnSkinCluster Class Reference
OpenMayaAnim - API module for animation | FunctionSet classes

This reference page is linked to from the following overview topics: Maya Architecture Overview, Skinning, Example C++ plug-in descriptions.

Search for all occurrences

## Detailed Description

skinCluster function set

MFnSkinCluster is the function set for skinClusters. SkinCluster nodes are created during a smooth bindSkin. The purpose of the skinCluster is to store a weight per influence object for each component of each geometry that is deformed. Influence objects can be joints or any transform.

Note that unlike most deformers, a skinCluster node can deform only a single geometry. Therefore, if additional geometries are added to the skinCluster set, they will be ignored.

This function set provides methods for getting and setting weights on skin cluster nodes. It parent class, MFnGeometryFilter provides methods for accessing the skin cluster's input and output geometry.

Examples:

  exportSkinClusterDataCmd.cpp.

`#include <MFnSkinCluster.h>`

Inheritance diagram for MFnSkinCluster:
[legend]

List of all members.

## Public Member Functions
virtual MFn::Type | type () const
| Function set type.
virtual | ~MFnSkinCluster ()
| Destructor.
| MFnSkinCluster ()
| Default constructor.
| MFnSkinCluster (MObject &object, MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
| Constructor.
MStatus | getWeights (const MDagPath &path, const MObject &components, unsigned int influenceIndex, MDoubleArray &weights) const
| Gets the skinCluster weights for the influence object for the specified components of the object whose dagPath is specified.
MStatus | getWeights (const MDagPath &path, const MObject &components, MDoubleArray &weights, unsigned int &influenceCount) const
| Gets the skinCluster weights for all influenceObjects for the specified components of the object whose dagPath is specified.
MStatus | getWeights (const MDagPath &path, const MObject &components, MIntArray &influenceIndices, MDoubleArray &weights) const
| Gets the skinCluster weights for the influence objects for the specified components of the object whose dagPath is specified.
MStatus | setWeights (const MDagPath &path, const MObject &components, unsigned int jointIndex, double value, bool normalize=true, MDoubleArray *oldValues=NULL)
| Sets the skinCluster weight for the influence object on the specified components of the object whose dagPath is specified.
MStatus | setWeights (const MDagPath &path, const MObject &components, MIntArray &influenceIndices, MDoubleArray &values, bool normalize=true, MDoubleArray *oldValues=NULL)
| Sets the skinCluster weight on the specified components of the object whose dagPath is specified for the influence objects corresponding to the specified influence indices.
MStatus | getPointsAffectedByInfluence (const MDagPath &path, MSelectionList &result, MDoubleArray &weights)
| During deformation, the skinCluster algorithm is applied for a given influence object on all points in the deformer's set whose weights are non-zero.
unsigned int | indexForInfluenceObject (const MDagPath &path, MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL) const
| Returns the logical index of the matrix array attribute where the specified influence object is attached.
unsigned int | influenceObjects (MDagPathArray &paths, MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL) const
| Returns an array of paths to the influence objects for the skinCluster.
MStatus | getWeights (const MDagPath &path, const MObject &components, unsigned int influenceIndex, MFloatArray &weights) const
| This method is obsolete.
MStatus | getWeights (const MDagPath &path, const MObject &components, MFloatArray &weights, unsigned int &influenceCount) const
| This method is obsolete.
MStatus | setWeights (const MDagPath &path, const MObject &components, unsigned int jointIndex, float value, bool normalize=true, MFloatArray *oldValues=NULL)
| This method is obsolete.
MStatus | setWeights (const MDagPath &path, const MObject &components, MIntArray &influenceIndices, MFloatArray &values, bool normalize=true, MFloatArray *oldValues=NULL)
| This method is obsolete.
MStatus | getPointsAffectedByInfluence (const MDagPath &path, MSelectionList &result, MFloatArray &weights)
| This method is obsolete.
MStatus | getBlendWeights (const MDagPath &path, const MObject &components, MDoubleArray &weights) const
| This method returns weights from skinCluster's blend weight array.
MStatus | setBlendWeights (const MDagPath &path, const MObject &components, const MDoubleArray &weights)
| This method sets weights in skinCluster's blend weight array.
| MFnSkinCluster (const MObject &object, MStatus *ReturnStatus=NULL)
| Constructor.
## Protected Member Functions
virtual const char * | className () const
| Class name. Search for all occurrences

## Constructor & Destructor Documentation

MFnSkinCluster | ( | MObject & | object,
|  | MStatus * | ReturnStatus = `NULL`
| ) |  |

Constructor.

Class constructor that initializes the function set to the given MObject.

Parameters:

  [in] | object | The MObject to attach the function set to
  [out] | ReturnStatus | the return status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess if the function set is successfully attached
  - MS::kInvalidParameter if the MObject does not represent a valid Maya object or if the function set is not allowed to attach to this MObject

MFnSkinCluster | ( | const MObject & | object,
|  | MStatus * | ReturnStatus = `NULL`
| ) |  |

Constructor.

Class constructor that initializes the function set to the given MObject.

Parameters:

  [in] | object | The MObject to attach the function set to
  [out] | ReturnStatus | the return status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess if the function set is successfully attached
  - MS::kInvalidParameter if the MObject does not represent a valid Maya object or if the function set is not allowed to attach to this MObject

## Member Function Documentation

MFn::Type type | ( |  | ) | const`[virtual]`

Search for all occurrences

Function set type.

Return the class type : MFn::kSkinClusterFilter.

Reimplemented from MFnGeometryFilter.

MStatus getWeights | ( | const MDagPath & | path,
|  | const MObject & | components,
|  | unsigned int | influenceIndex,
|  | MDoubleArray & | weights
| ) |  | const

Search for all occurrences

Gets the skinCluster weights for the influence object for the specified components of the object whose dagPath is specified.

Note that if some of components are not deformed by the skinCluster, zeros will be returned as the weights. For example, on periodic nurbs surfaces, some of the cvs enforce the periodicity of the surface. There is no weight data for these components. They do not get deformed since their position is automatically maintained by the nurb so that the periodicity of the surface will not be lost. Zeros will be returned for such components.

The influence object is specified using the physical (non-sparse) index of the influence object. This corresponds to the order the influences are returned by the influenceObjects method.

The length of the returned array will be equal to the number of specified components. The values in the returned array will be ordered in the same order as the input components.

Parameters:

  [in] | path | path to object deformed by the skinCluster
  [in] | components | components to return weights for
  [in] | influenceIndex | physical index of influence object
  [out] | weights | weight values

Returns:
  The status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed
  - MS::kInvalidObjectType component was invalid, shape was not attached to skinCluster, or invalid influenceIndex was specified

MStatus getWeights | ( | const MDagPath & | path,
|  | const MObject & | components,
|  | MDoubleArray & | weights,
|  | unsigned int & | influenceCount
| ) |  | const

Search for all occurrences

Gets the skinCluster weights for all influenceObjects for the specified components of the object whose dagPath is specified.

Returns the weights in an array of size number of components x number of influenceObjects. The array elements are ordered by components: i.e. all of the weight values for the first component first, followed by all the weight values for the next component, and so on. For the first component, the weights are ordered by influence object in the same order that is returned by the MFnSkinCluster::influenceObjects method.

The number of influence objects is returned in influenceCount.

Parameters:

  [in] | path | path to object deformed by the skinCluster
  [in] | components | components to return weights for
  [out] | weights | weight values returned (one per component, per influence)
  [out] | influenceCount | count of influence objects

Returns:
  The status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed
  - MS::kInvalidObjectType component was invalid, shape was not attached to skinCluster, or invalid influenceIndex was specified

MStatus getWeights | ( | const MDagPath & | path,
|  | const MObject & | components,
|  | MIntArray & | influenceIndices,
|  | MDoubleArray & | weights
| ) |  | const

Search for all occurrences

Gets the skinCluster weights for the influence objects for the specified components of the object whose dagPath is specified.

Returns the weights in an array of size number of components x number of influence objects. The array elements are ordered by components: i.e. all of the weight values for the first component first, followed by all the weight values for the next component, and so on. For the first component, the weights are ordered by influence object in the same order as in influenceIndices.

Parameters:

  [in] | path | path to object deformed by the skinCluster
  [in] | components | components to return weights for
  [in] | influenceIndices | indices of influence objects to get
  [out] | weights | weight values returned (one per component, per influence)

Returns:
  The status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed
  - MS::kInvalidObjectType component was invalid, shape was not attached to skinCluster, or invalid influenceIndex was specified

MStatus setWeights | ( | const MDagPath & | path,
|  | const MObject & | components,
|  | unsigned int | influenceIndex,
|  | double | value,
|  | bool | normalize = `true`,
|  | MDoubleArray * | oldValues = `NULL`
| ) |  |

Search for all occurrences

Sets the skinCluster weight for the influence object on the specified components of the object whose dagPath is specified.

The influence is specified using the physical (non-sparse) index of the influence object. This corresponds to the order the influences are returned by the influenceObjects method.

In order to undo the setWeight operation, it is necessary to save the oldValues array and call setWeight with the oldValues array at the time of undo. The number of oldValues returned will be of size number of specified components x the total number of influence objects. The values in the oldValues array will be ordered with first the all the values for the first component, then all the values for the next, and so on.

Note that unlike most deformers, a skinCluster node can deform only a single geometry. Therefore, if additional geometries are added to the skinCluster set, they will be ignored, and weights cannot be set for the additional geometry.

Parameters:

  [in] | path | path to object deformed by the skinCluster
  [in] | components | components to be weighted
  [in] | influenceIndex | physical index of influence object for the weight
  [in] | value | weight value
  [in] | normalize | whether or not to normalize weights on other influence objects
  [in] | oldValues | previous weight values, for undo

Returns:
  The status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed
  - MS::kInvalidObjectType component or influence index was invalid, or shape was not attached to skinCluster

MStatus setWeights | ( | const MDagPath & | path,
|  | const MObject & | components,
|  | MIntArray & | influenceIndices,
|  | MDoubleArray & | values,
|  | bool | normalize = `true`,
|  | MDoubleArray * | oldValues = `NULL`
| ) |  |

Search for all occurrences

Sets the skinCluster weight on the specified components of the object whose dagPath is specified for the influence objects corresponding to the specified influence indices.

The influence is specified using the physical (non-sparse) index of the influence object. This corresponds to the order the influences are returned by the influenceObjects method.

If you want to set the same values on all of the specified components, the number of values in the values array should equal the number of indices in the influence indices array. If you want to specify a unique value for each component, the number of values in the values array should equal the number of components x the number of indices in the influence indices array. The ordering of the values array should be such that first all the values for the first component are listed, then the second, and so on. For example, if you want to set the weights for three components for influences 7 and 10, the influence array would contain [7,10], and the values array would contain: [component#1 weight for influence 7, component #1 weight for influence 10, component#2 weight for influence 7, component#2 weight for influence 10, ...].

In order to undo the setWeights operation, it is necessary to save the oldValues array and call setWeights with the oldValues array at the time of undo. The number of oldValues returned will be of size number of components x total number of influence objects. The values in the oldValues array will be ordered with first the all the values for the first component, then all the values for the next, and so on.

Note that unlike most deformers, a skinCluster node can deform only a single geometry. Therefore, if additional geometries are added to the skinCluster set, they will be ignored, and weights cannot be set for the additional geometry.

Parameters:

  [in] | path | path to object deformed by the skinCluster
  [in] | components | components to be weighted
  [in] | influenceIndices | physical indices of influence objects to set
  [in] | values | weight values
  [in] | normalize | whether or not to normalize weights on other influence objects
  [in] | oldValues | previous weight values, for undo

Returns:
  The status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed
  - MS::kInvalidObjectType component was invalid, or shape was not attached to skinCluster, or invalid influenceIndices were specified

MStatus getPointsAffectedByInfluence | ( | const MDagPath & | path,
|  | MSelectionList & | result,
|  | MDoubleArray & | weights
| ) |  |

Search for all occurrences

During deformation, the skinCluster algorithm is applied for a given influence object on all points in the deformer's set whose weights are non-zero.

This method allows the user to query the non-zero weights for a particular influence object.

Returns a selection list containing the dag path and the components that are affected by the specified influence object. To retrieve the components from the returned MSelectionList, use MSelectionList::getDagPath. Also returns the corresponding weights for the components. If no components are weighted for a specified influence, the resulting selection list will be empty.

Parameters:

  [in] | path | path of the influence object
  [out] | result | selection list of components affected by the influence object for this skinCluster (return)
  [out] | weights | weights for the affected components (return)

Returns:
  Return status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed, or path is not an influence object

unsigned int indexForInfluenceObject | ( | const MDagPath & | mpath,
|  | MStatus * | ReturnStatus = `NULL`
| ) |  | const

Search for all occurrences

Returns the logical index of the matrix array attribute where the specified influence object is attached.

Parameters:

  [in] | mpath | path of the influence object
  [out] | ReturnStatus | return status

Returns:
  The logical index of the influence object

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed, or transform is not an influence object

unsigned int influenceObjects | ( | MDagPathArray & | paths,
|  | MStatus * | ReturnStatus = `NULL`
| ) |  | const

Search for all occurrences

Returns an array of paths to the influence objects for the skinCluster.

Parameters:

  [in] | paths | influence objects
  [out] | ReturnStatus | return status

Returns:
  The number of influence objects

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed

MStatus getWeights | ( | const MDagPath & | path,
|  | const MObject & | components,
|  | unsigned int | influenceIndex,
|  | MFloatArray & | weights
| ) |  | const

Search for all occurrences

This method is obsolete.

Maya's skinCluster nodes store their weights as doubles. This method has been replaced by one which uses doubles instead of floats. This method only exists for backwards-compilability of old plug-in code.

Parameters:

  [in] | path | path to object deformed by the skinCluster
  [in] | components | components to return weights for
  [in] | influenceIndex | index of influence object
  [out] | weights | weight values

Returns:
  The status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed
  - MS::kInvalidObjectType component was invalid, shape was not attached to skinCluster, or invalid influenceIndex was specified

MStatus getWeights | ( | const MDagPath & | path,
|  | const MObject & | components,
|  | MFloatArray & | weights,
|  | unsigned int & | influenceCount
| ) |  | const

Search for all occurrences

This method is obsolete.

Maya's skinCluster nodes store their weights as doubles. This method has been replaced by one which uses doubles instead of floats. This method only exists for backwards-compilability of old plug-in code.

Parameters:

  [in] | path | path to object deformed by the skinCluster
  [in] | components | components to return weights for
  [out] | weights | weight values returned (one per component, per influence)
  [out] | influenceCount | count of influence objects

Returns:
  The status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed
  - MS::kInvalidObjectType component was invalid, shape was not attached to skinCluster, or invalid influenceIndex was specified
  - MS::kInvalidParameter operation failed, NULL MObject passed or the MObject does not support components

MStatus setWeights | ( | const MDagPath & | path,
|  | const MObject & | components,
|  | unsigned int | influenceIndex,
|  | float | value,
|  | bool | normalize = `true`,
|  | MFloatArray * | oldValues = `NULL`
| ) |  |

Search for all occurrences

This method is obsolete.

Maya's skinCluster nodes store their weights as doubles. This method has been replaced by one which uses doubles instead of floats. This method only exists for backwards-compilability of old plug-in code.

Parameters:

  [in] | path | path to object deformed by the skinCluster
  [in] | components | components to be weighted
  [in] | influenceIndex | index of influence object for the weight
  [in] | value | weight value
  [in] | normalize | whether or not to normalize weights on other influence objects
  [in] | oldValues | previous weight values, for undo

Returns:
  The status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed
  - MS::kInvalidObjectType component was invalid, or shape was not attached to skinCluster, or invalid influenceIndex was specified

MStatus setWeights | ( | const MDagPath & | path,
|  | const MObject & | components,
|  | MIntArray & | influenceIndices,
|  | MFloatArray & | values,
|  | bool | normalize = `true`,
|  | MFloatArray * | oldValues = `NULL`
| ) |  |

Search for all occurrences

This method is obsolete.

Maya's skinCluster nodes store their weights as doubles. This method has been replaced by one which uses doubles instead of floats. This method only exists for backwards-compilability of old plug-in code.

Parameters:

  [in] | path | path to object deformed by the skinCluster
  [in] | components | components to be weighted
  [in] | influenceIndices | indices of influence objects to set
  [in] | values | weight values
  [in] | normalize | whether or not to normalize weights on other influence objects
  [in] | oldValues | previous weight values, for undo

Returns:
  The status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed
  - MS::kInvalidObjectType component was invalid, or shape was not attached to skinCluster, or invalid influenceIndices was specified

MStatus getPointsAffectedByInfluence | ( | const MDagPath & | path,
|  | MSelectionList & | result,
|  | MFloatArray & | weights
| ) |  |

Search for all occurrences

This method is obsolete.

Maya's skinCluster nodes store their weights as doubles. This method has been replaced by one which uses doubles instead of floats. This method only exists for backwards-compilability of old plug-in code.

Parameters:

  [in] | path | path of the influence object
  [out] | result | selection list of components affected by the influence object for this skinCluster (return)
  [out] | weights | weights for the affected components (return)

Returns:
  Return status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed, or path is not an influence object

MStatus getBlendWeights | ( | const MDagPath & | path,
|  | const MObject & | components,
|  | MDoubleArray & | weights
| ) |  | const

Search for all occurrences

This method returns weights from skinCluster's blend weight array.

These weights are used to determine the blending between classical linear skinning and dual quaternion bases skinning on a per vertex basis. The function returns the weights associated with the components passed. The components are defined on the object whose dagPath is specified.

Parameters:

  [in] | path | path to object deformed by the skinCluster
  [in] | components | the components to return weights for
  [out] | weights | the weight values returned (one per component in the order given)

Returns:
  The status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed
  - MS::kInvalidObjectType component was invalid, shape was not attached to skinCluster.

MStatus setBlendWeights | ( | const MDagPath & | path,
|  | const MObject & | components,
|  | const MDoubleArray & | weights
| ) |  |

Search for all occurrences

This method sets weights in skinCluster's blend weight array.

These weights are used to determine the blending between classical linear skinning and dual quaternion bases skinning on a per vertex basis. The function sets the weights for the given components of the object whose dagPath is specified. The array size should match the number of components passed. Failing this, it will set the smaller of the two.

Parameters:

  [in] | path | path to object deformed by the skinCluster
  [in] | components | the components list for the new weight values
  [out] | weights | the weight values (one per component in the order given)

Returns:
  The status

Status Codes:
  - MS::kSuccess operation successful
  - MS::kFailure operation failed
  - MS::kInvalidObjectType component was invalid, shape was not attached to skinCluster.

MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster
MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster MFnSkinCluster