File Drop

With mGear file drop enabled, dropping an mGear file from the file explorer onto Maya imports it with the right tool, instead of Maya’s default import.

Turn it on from mGear > Utilities > Enable mGear file drop. The setting is saved with your Maya preferences.

Each dropped file is one undo step (except a guide build), and a file that can’t be imported shows a warning instead of an error. Files mGear doesn’t know, and plain .json files, go to Maya’s default import. Extensions are not case sensitive. When several files are dropped at once, Maya imports them one at a time.

Supported Files

Extension	File	What a drop does
`.sgt`	Shifter guide template	Asks to Import the guide or Build the rig from it. With a component root or locator of a guide selected, also offers to add the template, or some of its components, under that element, with or without snapping (see Guide Import Options).
`.gSkinPack`	Skin pack	Imports the skin files of the pack. Opens the remap dialog for missing objects or joints.
`.gSkin` `.jSkin`	Skin weights	Imports the skin. Opens the remap dialog for missing objects or joints.
`.rbf`	RBF Manager setups	Imports the RBF setups.
`.wts`	Wire to Skinning configuration	Imports the wires on the selected mesh, or on the mesh stored in the file.
`.gst`	Gimmick joints (see Gimmick Joints)	Rebuilds the blended and support joints.
`.lat`	Lattice IO (see Lattice IO)	Rebuilds the lattices, replacing the ones with the same names, with the deformer order stored in the file.
`.shw`	Shrink Wrap IO (see Shrink Wrap IO)	Rebuilds the shrink wraps, replacing the ones with the same names.
`.pxw`	Proximity Wrap IO (see Proximity Wrap IO)	Rebuilds the proximity wraps, replacing the ones with the same names. Warns when the skinned meshes are not at their bind pose, because the drivers are bound at the current pose.
`.cwc`	Channel Wrangler configuration	Applies the channel moves and proxies.
`.cmc`	Channel Master configuration	Creates the Channel Master node and opens Channel Master on it. When a node of the same name exists, asks to Replace its configuration, Add Tabs to it, or create a New Node.
`.pkr`	Anim Picker	Creates the picker node and opens the Anim Picker. When the scene has namespaces, asks which one the picker drives.
`.sbk`	Bookmarks	Opens the Bookmarks window (Animbits > Bookmarks) and loads the file. When there are bookmarks already, asks to Replace or Append them.

Adding Your Own Files

Studio tools can handle their own file types with register_drop_handler. The handler is a function called with the file path, or a "module:function" string that is imported only when such a file is dropped. Registering an extension mGear already handles replaces the mGear handler. A handler can return False to let Maya import the file.

from mgear.core import dragdrop

# Imported on the first drop of a .cfx file
dragdrop.register_drop_handler(".cfx", "studio.cfx_tool:import_file", "CFX setup")

# Or a function
def import_notes(path):
    print("Notes:", open(path).read())

dragdrop.register_drop_handler(".notes", import_notes, "Notes", undo=False)

# The registered handlers
dragdrop.get_drop_handlers()

Run the registration from a startup script (i.e. userSetup.py) so it is ready before the first drop.