Apply Action on a custom product type's representation

[damnedbrain]

I’ve just started digging to AYON for a month now and trying to get this done :

• In my studio, for a special purpose, we have to create a custom Product type called RawLayout and have multiple ma files as its representation
• I’ve used the Python API to create those in the database, and ingest those files ( shutil copy and rename) to follow ayon’s storage structure
• All files successfully show up in loader, browser but the action ( right click menu ) for them is limited, how can I add the Import/Reference Loader action to those.

Second question , with those actions implemented, is there a way to say, when I use the browser, to select a task say “Lighting” and open Maya, since it’s a fresh task, I need to automate the process of Import/Ref those above files in and use that as my v001 workfile. ( I know there is “Workfile Build” but I can’t get it to work )

Any suggestion or a point to a documentation/guide would be extremly appreciated as I’m new to AYON and try to implement it to my studio - which has a lot of custom workflows and demands that traditional/default AYON’s way is not suitable.

Thanks !

[mustafa_jafar]

@damnedbrain

how can I add the Import/Reference Loader action to those.

You need to implement your loader plugin. generally speaking you can copy the most similar loader plugin and tweak it, so here is a list of maya load plugins.
and there are two options to add it:

1. Add it to ayon maya addon plugins directory and create a custom maya addon version.
2. Add it to a plugins directory within a studio addon. (this might take some time at the begining to setup it however, it’ll save you alot of time maintaining a custom maya addon in the future.)

@damnedbrain

is there a way to say, when I use the browser, to select a task say “Lighting” and open Maya, since it’s a fresh task, I need to automate the process of Import/Ref those above files in and use that as my v001 workfile. ( I know there is “Workfile Build” but I can’t get it to work )

you can use template file builder and add placeholders that can load from your current context folder or linked folders. you can find additional info here.

[damnedbrain]

First very big thank for pointing me to the right direction.

So the best practice here is to create my own custom addon, this addon would contains plugins that tells maya to load those specific product type ?

Is it too much too ask but how would you approach said addon ( have not touch that part of AYON yet , I’ve only written some small script to help our artists and producers using the Python API so creating a whole new addon seems like a big task to me - I’m from artist background btw )

But anyway, thank you so much again for the guidance !

[mustafa_jafar]

@damnedbrain

So the best practice here is to create my own custom addon, this addon would contains plugins that tells maya to load those specific product type ?

yes!

@damnedbrain

creating a whole new addon seems like a big task to me - I’m from artist background btw )

I know it can be a big task. personally I’d prefer to give it a try for a definite amount of time. and, if it felt hard for you, you can always go the other direction where you add your loader plugin to maya addon and create a custom version. which works pretty well as well.

[damnedbrain]

Thank you mustafa !
Will try my best with a seperate addon.
One last newbie-question,
Is it possible to create a custom Product Type say : StudioXXX_LightingPub, StudioXXX_CompositingPub
When I add those, AYON publisher “auto” create instances of file representations, something like :
StudioXXX_LightingPub - “workfileLighting”, “EXR_RenderSeq”, “nukeSlapcompScript”, “previewMOV”
And this should be defined in my custom addon is that correct ?

Big thanks !

[mustafa_jafar]

@damnedbrain

And this should be defined in my custom addon is that correct ?

Absoultly, this is done via get_create_plugin_paths method in comliance to get_publish_plugin_paths in Deadline addon.

client/ayon_deadline/addon.py