File Monster Lite (Import & Icon Tool) 1.5.6 for Maya (maya script)

After trying to sort through lots of 3d files and figure out which ones I could import & what they looked like I got really frustrated, so I made a tool to make things easier. Whether you're perusing downloaded 3d files, organizing your 3d print files in non-native formats, going through old files or looking at models/animations files which you outsourced, this is a great little viewer that filters only shows files that you can import or open in Maya. Click on the icon image to create an icon, which are the same name as the file. So even in a browser window you'll see an icon preview.

FYI: This is a work-in-progress script that I've been creating as I go so it may change unexpectedly. Check back as I'll update it as I go. Also, thanks for all the comments, they've helped.

*v1.5.6
   - The name has been changed to File Monster
   - This is now the 'Lite' and free version.
   - I am working on a separate pro version with lots of added features!
     It will be a huge upgrade, the pro version already has 4x as much code.
   - Cosmetic changes: a few new icons.
   - The UI now shows number of files at the top



To Use:
Open script, then click "load folder" and select a folder with model files in it.
The window should built a slot for each model which shows file size and file name.
To create an icon, just click the image. The hardware renderer should buiild a png file and autoload it.

Features:
Organize, quickly view & preview files in misc formats:
   - Downloaded models
   - 3d print files
   - Client files
   - CAD files
   - Outsourcing files
   - Importing lots of files into one file
   - Files it looks for: .ma .mb .obj .dxf .fbx .dae(Collada) .abc(Alembic) .stl .igs. .stp .step .dwg
Automatically pulls up all files in a directory that Maya will open or import.
Creates icons just by clicking on the icon image.
Saves universal PNG files that have the same name as the file, so when you browse by name in an OS finder you'll see an icon next to the file.
Auto refreshes the window when you load a directory or create a new icon.

Tips:
   - After importing, some files won't display textures correctly. Save as a Maya file & reload should fix it.
   - Try either rendering with hardware render 2.0 or try software render set to 'Production quality'.
   - Normals are sometimes messed up. Use viewport 2.0 & turn on screenspace ambient occlusion. The backside of a poly will shade darker.
   - Fix Normals:
      - Select & merge all verts with a setting of 0.001.
      - 'Unlock' vert normals.
      - 'Conform' all normals.
      - Any normals not fixed after this need to be fixed by hand but those steps should fix most of the issues.

Notes:
   - Was built in Maya 2014 on a Mac and was also tested on Maya 2011 in Windows Vista.
   - Use 'reload window' if you change file names or delete anything. It will auto populate.
   - 'film gate' will show proper size AFTER you've made one icon.
   - 'open window' will bring up a new finder window of the working directory you chose in the script.



How to Install:
Install script into your python scripts directory & the 2 icons in your icons directory.

Windows: <drive>:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\maya\<Version>\scripts
Mac OS X: ~/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya/<version>/scripts

Windows: <drive>:\Documents and Settings\<username>\My Documents\maya\<Version>\prefs\icons
Mac OS X: ~/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya/<version>/prefs/icons

Shelf button:
Create a new Shelf button with the following or you can type into the command line.
import pwFileTool; reload(pwFileTool); pwFileTool.pwFileToolUI()

Use 3dFileImport.png for Shelf Icon.



Python Tips - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
If you have issues with getting python scripts to work you can try the following. PYTHONPATH in Maya.env only accepts the first path and if a system path is already defined, it won't accept any you put in that file. Frustrating so...

Run this in a command line editor, in a python tab, just swap for wherever you want your python scripts to reside. You can make a new folder, ie. 'C:/MyDocs/Dropbox/Maya/Scripts/Python':

Command:
import sys
sys.path.append( ‘C:/(YourMayaPythonDir)’ )

For more info on Python paths, check this page:
https://www.rtrowbridge.com/blog/2008/11/maya-python-import-scripts/