Softimage SDK Programmer's Guide > Script Development > Accessing Scene Elements > String Expressions >

# Parameters

Properties and parameters are specified using a dot notation. For example, the following string is the local X position of the object named "myCube":

"aModel.myCube.kine.local.posx"

This string represents a path through the scene hierarchy where:

- "aModel" is the name of a model.

- "myCube" is the name of an object in aModel.

- "kine" is the scripting name of the Kinematics property.

- "kine.local" is the scripting name of the Local Transforms property.

- "posx" is the scripting name of the X position parameter.

A property (sometimes called a property set) is a container for a group of related parameters. For example, the Local Transforms (local) property contains the X, Y, and Z position parameters. A property can also contain other properties. For example, the Kinematics property contains the Local Transforms, Global Transforms, and Constraints property.

If an object is not part of a model, you can omit the model name. For example, write:

"aCube"

instead of

"Scene_Root.aCube"

If you are applying a command to the currently selected object, you can omit the object name. For example, the following is theglobal X position of the currently selected object:

"kine.global.posx"

Local transforms are the default, so you do not have to explicity refer to it. For example, the following is the local X position of the currently selected object:

"kine.posx"

You can also omit property names such as surfmsh, polymsh, and crvlist. For example:

This expression is the equivalent ... | to this expression ...
--- | ---
"aBall.surfmsh.geom.subdivu" | "aBall.geom.subdivu"
"cube.polymsh.cls.Point.red" | "cube.cls.Point.red"
"circle.crvlist.geom.subdivu" | "circle.geom.subdivu"

If there are multiple properties with the same name, you can reference them using square brackets:

    SelectObj "null1.kine.poscns[2]"

When separating a list of objects and a list of parameters, use a slash (/) character. For example, the following command saves a key on the local position of objects named "Fluffy" and "Sparky":

    SaveKey "{Fluffy,Sparky}/kine.local.pos"

Tip

To determine a parameter name, change the parameter value in a property editor and see what gets logged in the command history. Alternatively, set Show Use Script Names in an explorer.