difference between pymel selection and python selection

[e955...@gmail.com]

Hi there,

can anyone tell me the difference between these two commands, one in pymel and the other in python. I thought they both just returned the Transform name of the object selected. But apparently not.

if you create a poly sphere and run this

###########################################

import maya.cmds as cmds
import pymel.core as pm

mesh=pm.selected()[0]
print "mesh1: ", mesh

mesh=(cmds.ls(selection=True)[0])
print "mesh2: ", mesh

############################################

they return the same name but can't be used interchangeably it seems, can anyone help?

thanks,
Sam

[Justin Israel]

The native Maya cmds module deals in terms of string paths as the identifiers. pymel is an abstraction layer that creates a node object with methods.

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[Justin Israel]

Oh and if you are wondering why when you print them, they both look like they might be the same, it is because the pymel nodes define __str__() and __repr__() methods:

https://github.com/LumaPictures/pymel/blob/master/pymel/core/nodetypes.py#L235

You are just comparing the string conversion of the two different approaches. But one is actually a unicode object and the other is am instance PyNode subclass. 

[e955...@gmail.com]

cool thankyou Justin,
i knew there was something more to this ha ,

thanks,
Sam

[e955...@gmail.com]

oh wait, but is there a way to achieve the same node object through python only?

thanks,
Sam

[Justin Israel]

Not anything that is exactly similar. You have the option of either working with the Python commands module, which mirrors the way MEL works, or you can use the Python API which mirrors how the C++ API works. PyMel is its own separate 3rd party abstraction.

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