findKeyframe command

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Synopsis

findKeyframe [-animation string] [-attribute string] [-controlPoints boolean] [-curve] [-float floatrange] [-hierarchy string] [-includeUpperBound boolean] [-index uint] [-shape boolean] [-time timerange] [-timeSlider] [-which string] [animatedObject]

findKeyframe is undoable, NOT queryable, and NOT editable.

This command operates on a keyset. A keyset is defined as a group of keys within a specified time range on one or more animation curves.

The animation curves comprising a keyset depend on the value of the "-animation" flag:

keysOrObjects:
1. Any active keys, when no target objects or -attribute flags appear on the command line, or
2. All animation curves connected to all keyframable attributes of objects specified as the command line's targetList, when there are no active keys.

keys: Only act on active keys or tangents. If there are no active keys or tangents, don't do anything.

objects: Only act on specified objects. If there are no objects specified, don't do anything.

Note that the "-animation" flag can be used to override the curves uniquely identified by the multi-use "-attribute" flag, which takes an argument of the form attributeName, such as "translateX".

Keys on animation curves are identified by either their time values or their indices. Times and indices can be given individually or as part of a list or range (see Examples).

This command will return the time (in current units) of the requested key. For the relative direction methods (next, previous) if -time is NOT specified they will use current time. If the specified object is not animated the command will return the current time.

Return value

time

Command result

Related

copyKey, cutKey, keyTangent, keyframe, keyframeOutliner, keyframeStats, pasteKey, scaleKey, setInfinity, snapKey

Flags

animation, attribute, controlPoints, curve, float, hierarchy, includeUpperBound, index, shape, time, timeSlider, which

Long name (short name) Argument types Properties

-animation(-an) string

Where this command should get the animation to act on. Valid values are "objects," "keys," and "keysOrObjects" Default: "keysOrObjects." (See Description for details.)

-attribute(-at) string

List of attributes to select

In query mode, this flag needs a value.

-controlPoints(-cp) boolean

This flag explicitly specifies whether or not to include the control points of a shape (see "-s" flag) in the list of attributes. Default: false. (Not valid for "pasteKey" cmd.)

In query mode, this flag needs a value.

-curve(-c)

Return a list of the existing curves driving the selected object or attributes. The which, index, floatRange, timeRange, and includeUpperBound flags are ignored when this flag is used.

-float(-f) floatrange

value uniquely representing a non-time-based key (or key range) on a time-based animCurve. Valid floatRange include single values (-f 10) or a string with a lower and upper bound, separated by a colon (-f "10:20")

In query mode, this flag needs a value.

-hierarchy(-hi) string

Hierarchy expansion options. Valid values are "above," "below," "both," and "none." (Not valid for "pasteKey" cmd.)

In query mode, this flag needs a value.

-includeUpperBound(-iub) boolean

When the -t/time or -f/float flags represent a range of keys, this flag determines whether the keys at the upper bound of the range are included in the keyset. Default value: true. This flag is only valid when the argument to the -t/time flag is a time range with a lower and upper bound. (When used with the "pasteKey" command, this flag refers only to the time range of the target curve that is replaced, when using options such as "replace," "fitReplace," or "scaleReplace." This flag has no effect on the curve pasted from the clipboard.)

-index(-in) uint

index of a key on an animCurve

In query mode, this flag needs a value.

-shape(-s) boolean

Consider attributes of shapes below transforms as well, except "controlPoints". Default: true. (Not valid for "pasteKey" cmd.)

In query mode, this flag needs a value.

-time(-t) timerange

time uniquely representing a key (or key range) on a time-based animCurve. See the code examples below on how to format for a single frame or frame ranges.

In query mode, this flag needs a value.

-timeSlider(-ts)

Get the next key time from the ticks displayed in the time slider. If this flag is set, then the -an/animation flag is ignored.

-which(-w) string

next | previous | first | last How to find the key

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 be used more than once in a command.

MEL examples

// Keys on animation curves are identified by either
// their time values or their indices.  Times and indices can
// be given individually or as part of a list or range.

// -time "10pal:10pal" means the key at frame 10 (PAL format).
// -time "1.0sec:1.0sec" -time "15ntsc:15ntsc" -time "20:20" means the keys at time 1.0 second, frame 15 (in NTSC format), and time 20 (in the currently defined global time unit).
// -time "10:20" means all keys in the range from 10 to 20, inclusive, in the current time unit.
// Omitting one end of a range means "go to infinity", as in the following examples:
// -time "10:" means all keys from time 10 (in the current time unit) onwards.
// -time ":10" means all keys up to (and including) time 10 (in the current time unit).
// -time ":" is a short form to specify all keys.
// -index 0 means the first key of each animation curve. (Indices are 0-based.)
// -index 2 -index 5 -index 7 means the 3rd, 6th, and 8th keys.
// -index "1:5" means the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th keys of each animation curve.

// Find the next key from the current time, based upon the ticks
// displayed within the time slider
//
findKeyframe -timeSlider -which next;

// Find the next key for an object after time 25
//
findKeyframe -time 25 -which next nurbsCone1;

// Find the curves driving the nurbsCone1's rotateX attribute
//
findKeyframe -curve -at "rotateX" nurbsCone1;