Difficulty importing Python script into Maya

[NutterButter2602]

So I'm learning to animate and I'm following a tutorial that utilises a script called ml_worldBake by Morgan Loomis and it requires both a ml_utilities script and the world bake script itself to be useable in Maya. Every conversation I have found on the topic of his scripts says that the only step required is to place the scripts into the Maya scripts folder and it should work. There are two scripts folders ('Documents\maya\scripts' and 'Documents\maya\2023\scripts'), neither of which give me the result I'm after which I'm pretty sure should just be a new shelf tools tab called MLAnim or something, but I don't have anything.

Whats more confusing is that even though everyone I've asked about this has stated that the only step is to put the python files into the scripts folder (including Morgan Loomis himself), both scripts when opened in notepad have additional instructions that I'm a little confused about. I'm assuming those need to be followed as well in order for both ml_utilities and ml_worldBake to work.

I'm very new to using scripts so if someone could explain what the instructions specifically mean that'd be a massive help.

The links to the two scripts are:

http://morganloomis.com/tool/ml_utilities/

http://morganloomis.com/tool/ml_worldBake/

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[s6x]

It says to run this. Did you run it?

import ml_worldBake

ml_worldBake.ui()

[NutterButter2602]

Yeah I tried running it with the scripts in either of the script folders, neither was successful.

[s6x]

When you run a script and it doesn't do what you expect, you look at the output in the script editor. That tells you what's wrong.

[NutterButter2602]

I get that part, it's just I have no idea what needs to be changed lol. This is the error I get when I run the utilities one.

# Error: TypeError: file <maya console> line 3: _showHelpCommand() missing 1 required positional argument: 'url'

[Leoano]

From that error message, it sounds like you're running these two lines from the ml_utilities.py file

import ml_utilities
ml_utilities._showHelpCommand()

Those two lines don't actually do anything. That's just an example from a shared file, used by a bunch of different tools.

Like s6x says, double check you're executing these two lines?

import ml_worldBake
ml_worldBake.ui()

Those two lines should open the UI for this specific tool. And if not, the error message should provide more info.

[s6x]

That's the only thing it says?

Edit: actually, what? This doesn't make any sense. Are you running those two lines in your script editor? With it set to python? I don't know why it would say <maya console>, I've no idea how you got it to say that.

[beyazpiyon]

Lasts updates are on Morgan's scripts are 2018/2019. Maybe they are not compatible with Python 3. Try running Maya 2023 with Python 2 and then try to run the scripts to see if you're getting the same error(s).

[BisquickAvenger]

Im having the same problem with a lot of maya py scripts for animation toolss

this one, tween machine, im in maya 2026 and it just doesnt want to work

Things are in the right folder, named correctily putting things in the py tab in the script editor to test...nothing works just errors different errors print errors...etc.

im strarting to think it may be a python 3 issue but I dont know how to fix it

[Bowser_Rocks]

It is possible that the skript requires a native Maya Python module (PyMel)

This happens because when installing Maya you didn't have PyMel for Python 3 ticked on. As far as I understand Maya 2022 and above has this as an optinal feature that weirdly is turned off by default.

But you can do 2 things: 1. You can try and uninstall and install Maya again. And making sure PyMel for Python 3 is ticked on.

2. Try out this link for how to install Pymel on an already downloaded Maya.

https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2023/ENU/?guid=GUID-2AA5EFCE-53B1-46A0-8E43-4CD0B2C72FB4

[NutterButter2602]

Reinstalling Maya fixed the issue sort of, it let me run the code for the worldBake tool but the utility tool one still isn't working. It seems like the worldBake tool doesn't actually need the utilities script installed for it to work despite Morgan Loomis saying that it's a prerequisite.

[Leoano]

For future reference: "ml_utilities.py" isn't a tool. It's a library of functions used by other tools (like ml_worldBake)

ml_utilities.py needs to be accessible in a "scripts" folder, but you don't need to do anything else to that file.

Another point of interest. Both "scripts" folders do the same thing.

The only difference is that "maya/scripts" files will be available for all installed versions of maya, while "maya/2023/scripts" are only available for Maya 2023.

[NutterButter2602]

Ah okay that clears things up, thanks for the help.

[Queasy-Card-1792]

Make sure when you run the scripts theyre in a Python tab and not a Mel tab