[Tutor] MEL to Python Translation of array index in conditional statement

[Peter Otten]

Brian Schindler wrote:

> I'm trying to convert the following code from MEL (Maya Embedded Language)
> to Python and having trouble with syntax errors in the conditional
> statement. 

What did you try?

> Could you help me out?
> 
> float $pos[3] = `xform -q -rp $obj`;
>     if ($pos[0] != 0 || $pos[1] != 0 || $pos[2] != 0)

I don't know MEL. Is xform a commandline tool? In that case you might need 
something along the lines of

output = subprocess.Popen(
    ["xform", "-q", "-rp", obj], 
    stdout=subprocess.PIPE).communicate()[0]
pos = [float(s) for s in output.split()]
if pos[0] or pos[1] or pos[2]:
   ... # whatever


> Brian Schindler
> Professor of Animation

Well, what can I say -- it's never too late to read <http://sscce.org/>.
Or <http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html> if you prefer the 
classics;)