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Synopsis

listRelatives( [objects] , [allDescendents=boolean], [allParents=boolean], [children=boolean], [fullPath=boolean], [noIntermediate=boolean], [parent=boolean], [path=boolean], [shapes=boolean], [type=string])

Note: Strings representing object names and arguments must be separated by commas. This is not depicted in the synopsis.

listRelatives is undoable, NOT queryable, and NOT editable.

This command lists parents and children of DAG objects. The flags -c/children, -ad/allDescendents, -s/shapes, -p/parent and -ap/allParents are mutually exclusive. Only one can be used in a command.

Unlike ls, this command does not return a unique path but simply returns the object's name by default. To get a unique path the -path flag must be used.

When listing parents of objects directly under the world, the command will return an empty parent list. Listing parents of objects directly under a shape (underworld objects) will return their containing shape node in the list of parents. Listing parents of components of objects will return the object.

When listing children, shape nodes will return their underworld objects in the list of children. Listing children of components of objects returns nothing.

The -ni/noIntermediate flag works with the -s/shapes flag. It causes any intermediate shapes among the descendents to be ignored.

Return value

string[]Command result

Flags

allDescendents, allParents, children, fullPath, noIntermediate, parent, path, shapes, type
Long name (short name) Argument types Properties
allDescendents(ad) boolean create
Returns all the children, grand-children etc. of this dag node. If a descendent is instanced, it will appear only once on the list returned. Note that it lists grand-children before children.
allParents(ap) boolean create
Returns all the parents of this dag node. Normally, this command only returns the parent corresponding to the first instance of the object
children(c) boolean create
List all the children of this dag node (default).
fullPath(f) boolean create
Return full pathnames instead of object names.
noIntermediate(ni) boolean create
No intermediate objects
parent(p) boolean create
Returns the parent of this dag node
path(pa) boolean create
Return a proper object name that can be passed to other commands.
shapes(s) boolean create
List all the children of this dag node that are shapes (ie, not transforms)
type(typ) string createmultiuse
List all relatives of the specified type.

Flag can appear in Create mode of command Flag can appear in Edit mode of command
Flag can appear in Query mode of command Flag can have multiple arguments, passed either as a tuple or a list.

Python examples

import maya.cmds as cmds

# create an object and an instance for queries
cmds.sphere( n='nexus' )
cmds.instance( n='ball' )

# List the name of the shape below the transform node.
shapes = cmds.listRelatives('nexus')

# list all parents of shape
# (The result of the command is shown)
cmds.listRelatives( shapes[0], allParents=True )
# Result:[u'nexus', u'ball'] #