Chapter 7. Using MEL Commands

In this chapter you will learn

  • What a MEL command is.

  • How to find the right MEL command.

  • What query, create, and edit modes are.

  • How MEL commands can be executed in a script.

  • That, when possible, you should avoid using MEL commands in expressions.

What Is a MEL Command?

Not every MEL statement is a MEL command. MEL commands are operations that manipulate your Maya scene that are either built in to Maya or provided by plug-ins. Like functions (both built-in functions and those that are implemented in MEL), MEL commands can return data values to your script. Like procedures written in MEL, MEL commands can alter your scene in useful ways.

However, most MEL commands differ from built-in functions and operators that are solely ...

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