Naming Objects


Each time you create an object, Maya gives it a default name. This name is a description of the actual object, followed by the number of times that object type has been used. For example, nurbsSphere7 would be the default name for the seventh NURBS sphere created in the scene (Figure 3.82). To make an object easy to find later, you will want to change its default name to something more descriptive. For example, if you created a sphere that you intended to use as a head, you could change its name to head. This keeps things organized and clear as you to add objects to your scene.

Figure 3.82. The default name for the seventh NURBS sphere created in the scene would be nurbsSphere7.


To change an object's name:

1.

Create an object, or select an existing one by clicking it.

2.

Select the object's default name at the top of the Channel Box (Figure 3.83).

Figure 3.83. Select the object's default name at the top of the Channel Box.


3.

Replace the default name by typing in a new namefor example, dannysSphere (Figure 3.84).

Figure 3.84. Replace the default name with the new name.


4.

Press to complete the name change.

Tip

  • You can also change an object's name via the Attribute Editor's Transform panel (the first tab) (Figure 3.85). Once the object is selected, you can access the Attribute Editor with / .

    Figure 3.85. You can also change the object's name in the Attribute Editor's Transform panel (the first tab).



Every time you create a primitive or other object in Maya, a node is created to represent the object. You can view this node and any of its connections in the Hypergraph. You can also change the name of the object in the Hypergraph. For more information on the Hypergraph, see Chapter 1.

To change an object's name in the Hypergraph:

1.

Create an object, or select an existing one.

2.

From any view, select Panels > Panel > Hypergraph to change the current view into a Hypergraph (Figure 3.86).

Figure 3.86. From any view, select Panels > Panel > Hypergraph to change the current view into a Hypergraph.


This menu is at the top of each view's panel.

3.

Press to zoom in on the selected object's node.

4.

Hold down / and double-click the node's object name (Figure 3.87).

Figure 3.87. Hold down /, and double-click the node's object name to change it.


5.

Replace the default name with the new namefor example, dannysSphere.

6.

Press to complete the name change.



    Maya for Windows and Macintosh
    MAYA for Windows and MacIntosh
    ISBN: B002W9GND0
    EAN: N/A
    Year: 2004
    Pages: 147
    Authors: Danny Riddell

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