Renamer 2.1

Installation

Compatibility

Maya	2022	2023	2024	2025
	✓	✓	✓	✓

How to install

1. Extract the RS_Assets folder from the RS_Assets.zip

2. Extract RS_Renamer.pyc from RS_Renamer_MAYAVERSION.zip (depending on your Maya Version)

3. Copy RS_Renamer.pyc or RS_Renamer.py (Studio Version) and the RS_Assets folder to:

   Attention

   If an RS_Assets folder already exists in the location below, please copy the RS_Renamer folder (from inside the extracted RS_Assets folder) and paste it into the RS_Assets folder in the location below.

   WindowsLinuxMac

   \Users\USERNAME\Documents\maya\MAYAVERSION\prefs\scripts
   

   $HOME/maya/MAYAVERSION/prefs/scripts
   

   $HOME/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya/MAYAVERSION/prefs/scripts
   

4. Launch / Restart Maya

5. In Maya, open a Python Tab in the Script Editor and execute :

   Attention

   Please make sure that there are no Space characters in front of each code line.

   Maya 2022 & above

   from importlib import reload
   import RS_Renamer
   reload(RS_Renamer)
   RS_Renamer.MainClass_Renamer.show_ren_dialog()
   

   Maintain settings during a Maya instance

   The code above will load a new instance of the tool every time it is executed. To maintain the settings during a Maya session, even if the tool is closed, use the code below:

   import RS_Renamer
   RS_Renamer.MainClass_Renamer.show_ren_dialog()
   

Environment Variables

1. To set and use a custom folder location, please open the Maya.env file.

   The Maya.env file is located here

   WindowsLinuxMac

   \Users\USERNAME\Documents\maya\MAYAVERSION
   

   $HOME/maya/MAYAVERSION
   

   $HOME/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya/MAYAVERSION
   

2. Add the following lines to the Maya.env file:

   MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH = path\to\your\custom\script\folder
   PYTHONPATH = path\to\your\custom\script\folder
   RS_TOOLS_PATH = path\to\your\custom\script\folder
   

   Attention

   1. Replace path\to\your\custom\script\folder with the actual path to your scripts.
   2. Make sure there is no forward slash (/) or backward slash (\) at the end of the path.

Interface Basics

Tool Menu

  Renamer tools

  Renamer preferences

  About / Links / Shortcuts / Scale UI

Tool Settings

Indicator

A blue line at the bottom of a button indicates that optional tool settings are available.

How to open?

Open the settings with a RMB ² click.

Position & What settings are open?

1. The settings widget will appear at the bottom of the tool.

2. The background of an icon button turns dark gray to indicate it's settings are currently open.

How to close?

To close the settings page RMB ² click the active button again.

Tooltips

1. Hover over a button until a tooltip shows up.
2. Tooltips include information about available Modifier Alt Ctrl Shift and RMB ² settings options.

Please make sure that tooltips are enabled!

In Maya's main menu go to:

Windows > Settings / Preferences > Preferences > Interface > Help

and check DisplayToolClips under PopupHelp

Expand / Collapse tabs

It is possible to expand or collapse all tabs on an active page.

Expand

Ctrl   click on

Collapse

Alt   click on

Note

A settings page will automatically close when expand or collapse all tabs is used.

Keyboard Shortcuts

It is possible to control aspects of the tools interface with keyboard shortcuts.

Access pages

1   -   Renamer Page

2   -   About Page

3   -   Toggle Tool Menu Visibility

Requirements

The tool needs to have focus, for the shortcuts to work.

Expand / collapse tabs

 Ctrl   +   1   to expand all tabs on the Renamer Page

  Alt   +   1   to collapse all tabs on the Renamer Page

Attention

This only works on the currently active page.

Minimize to main menu

 Alt   +   3 to minimize the tool

About Page

Access the About page by clicking on

The page contains information about the tool, several web links and an option to set up hotkey shortcuts.

Interface - About Page

Create Hotkey Shortcuts

Click on the Create Hotkey Shortcuts button to make multiple functions available within Maya's hotkey editor.

How to: Open Hotkey Editor

1. access the Hotkey Editor under Windows > Settings/Preferences > Hotkey Editor
2. or  Alt   click on Create Hotkey Shortcuts button

Scale UI

1. Open About Page
2. Choose a UI scale size in the drop-down menu: 100%, 125%, 150%, 200%
3. Click the Set UI Scale button
4. Close and reload the tool

Preferences

Set preferences for the default naming convention.

How to use

1. Click on in the tool menu to open the preferences window.

Naming

Prefix

Suffix

Note

The first three rows are used for group, geometry and curve suffix preset shortcuts throughout the tool.

Mat Tags

1. Enter a new Material name in the second row and press   Enter   to add it to the list.
2. To delete materials from the list, please select one or multiple list items and click   Del  .

Renamer

Interface

Name / Insert

Rename one or multiple objects within your scene.

How to use: Name

1. Select objects
2. Enter a new name in the text field
3. RMB ² click the N button to open the settings
4. Choose Mode: Name
5. Specify the Renamer's numeration behaviour within the settings page.
6. LMB ¹ click the N button to start the naming process. The script automatically sorts the objects within their parent group.

How to use: Insert

1. Select objects
2. Enter something into the text field
3. RMB ² click the N button to open the settings
4. Choose Mode: Insert
5. Specifiy the Position where to insert the text and the direction, either from the Start or End
6. LMB ¹ click the N button to start the naming process

Switch Mode Shortcut

1. MMB ³ click the N button to switch between Name and Insert mode

How to use: Additional functions

1. Get Name from selected object:
   • Alt   click the N button
2. Select by name:
   • Ctrl   click the N button

   Wildcards

   The Name textfield supports wildcards in connection with the Select by name function

3. Sort Outliner selection:
   • Shift   click the N button

Settings

Mode: Name - Settings

• Padding: Abc
  • adds 3 letters at the end and counts them up. (Example: name_aaa, name_baa, name_caa etc - when the first letter arrives at z the second one goes up: name_aba, name_bba and so on)
• Padding: Numeric
  • defines the digit amount. It adds leading zeros before nonzero digits to match the given value.
  • Start: Sets where the counter starts.
  • Step: Defines the counter increase.

Mode: Insert - Settings

• Positon: Specifies where to insert the text
• From Start or End defines from which direction the text will be inserted at the specified position

Prefix

Adds a prefix to the object name.

How to use

1. Select objects
2. Select a preset prefix option from the RMB ² settings menu.
3. or choose input and enter a custom name.
4. Click on the P button to start the naming process.

Shortcuts

• Add L_ Prefix:   Alt   click on the P button
• Add R_ Prefix:   Ctrl   click on the P button
• Add C_ Prefix:   Shift   click on the P button

Settings

Suffix

Adds a suffix to the object name.

How to use: Add Suffix

1. Select objects
2. In the RMB ² settings menu: choose a preset or select input and enter a custom name
3. Click on the S button to start the naming process

How to use: Auto add or remove by type

1. Select objects or groups
2. RMB ² click S to open the settings menu

3. Choose a scope, either Selection or Hierarchy

   Hierarchy Scope

   1. Only works with Groups
   2. Option to choose a type Filter: All, Groups, Geometry, Curves

4. Add:   Alt   click on the S button

5. Remove:   Ctrl   click on the S button

Switch Scope Shortcut

1. MMB ³ click the S button to switch between the Selection and Hierarchy scope

Settings

Search & Replace

Search for and replace words or characters.

How to use

1. Select objects
2. Enter a name in the search text field
3. Enter a name in the replace text field
4. Click on the R button to start the naming process

Preset: L_ and R_

1. Select Objects
2.   Alt   click on the R button: Automatically searches for L_ and R_ prefixes and replaces them with the other

Swap Text Field Contents

MMB ³ click the R button: Automatically swaps the text in the Search and Replace Text Fields

Extras

Format

How to use: All capital or small letters

1. Select objects

2. LMB ¹ click on : Converts all characters to capital letters.

   Example

   abc > ABC

3. add   SHIFT   : Converts all characters to small letters.

   Example

   ABC > abc

How to use: Modify single letters

1. Select objects
2. RMB ² click to open the Settings
3. enter a Position value

4.   Alt   click on : Turns the letter at the choosen position into a capital letter

   Example

   Position: 5

   abcdef > abcdEf

5. add   SHIFT   : Turns the letter at the choosen position into a small letter

   Example

   Position: 4

   abcDef > abcdef

Settings

Remove

How to use

1. Select objects
2. RMB ² click on to open the settings
3. In the settings: Set letter removal amount
4. Remove from the start of the name: LMB ¹ click on
5. Remove from the end of the name:   Alt   click on

Settings

Automate

How to use: Name Grp Children

1. Select a group

2. LMB ¹ click on : Renames all group children, based on their group name.

   

How to use: Transfer Names

1. RMB ² click on to open the settings
2. Select source objects and click on Set Sources in the settings
3. Select target objects and click on Set Targets in the settings

4.   Alt   click on : Transfers the names from the source to the target objects

   

How to use: Fix Duplicate Names

1.   Ctrl   click on : Adds unique numeric suffix numbers to all object names that are identical within the scene

   

How to use: Fix Shape Names

1. Select objects

2.   Shift   click on : Fixes shape names of selected objects

   

Settings

Material Tags

How to use

1. Select objects
2. RMB ² click to open the settings
3. Choose a material from the list
4. LMB ¹ click on to add the material tag. If the object already has a material tag, it will be automatically replaced.
5. To remove a material tag   Alt   click

Attention

4 & 5 only work with listed materials. If the object has a material tag that is not on the list, it adds an additional tag.

Customize Preferences

The preceding underscores and the material list can be adjusted in the Renamer Preferences () under Mat Tags.

Minimalist Mode

Info

Opens a single line interface that has a minimal workspace footprint. It opens right under the current mouse cursor position.

Setup

How to set up

1. Click on to go to the Renamer About Page
2. Click on Create Hotkey Shortcuts
3. Open Maya's Hotkey Editor (Windows > Settings/Preferences > Hotkey Editor)
4. In the Hotkey Editor, under Edit Hotkeys For: choose the Custom Scripts category
5. Under Custom Scripts, expand RS Renamer
6. Set Keyboard Hotkeys for Minimalist Mode and Swap L R

Name

How to use: Name

1. Select objects
2. Use the Keyboard Hotkey set in the Editor (See Setup above) to open the Minimalist interface
3. Enter a name for the objects. When multiple objects are selected the script will automatically add numeric padding according to the Renamer Preferences ()

Insert

How to use: Insert

1. Select objects
2. Use the Keyboard Hotkey set in the Editor (See Setup above) to open the Minimalist interface
3. Type in a position number followed by a ^ (caret) and at last the text you want to insert

Example

6^Large

Add Prefix

How to use: Prefix

1. Select objects
2. Use the Keyboard Hotkey set in the Editor (See Setup above) to open the Minimalist interface
3. Enter a prefix and end the line with a < (Less-than sign). The < character indicates that the preceding text is a prefix.

Example

C_<

Add Suffix

How to use: Suffix

1. Select objects
2. Start the line with with a > (Greater-than sign) and add a suffix. The > character indicates that the following text is a suffix.

Example

>_geo

Search / Replace

How to use: Search & Replace

1. Select objects
2. Enter a search string, a : (colon) and a replace string. With the : inbetween the character strings, the tool will search for what is in front of the colon and will replace it with what comes after the colon.

Example

search:replace

Swap "L_" and "R_"

How to use: Swap L and R

1. Select objects
2. Use the Keyboard Hotkey set in the Editor (See Setup above) to swap the position prefix from L_ to R_ and vice versa.

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1. LMB - Left Mouse Button ↩↩↩↩↩↩

2. RMB - Right Mouse Button ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩

3. MMB - Middle Mouse Button ↩↩↩