Simple Version Control - Free Edition v.1.0.0 for Maya

This is a free streamlined version of the Simple Version Control script without the search and tag features. For the full version, please visit: https://gumroad.com/l/MBgBs

Features:

* Save incremental backup versions of your Maya files with one click
* Quickly log optional notes, time and date info for each version
* Manage version history in the user interface: view and save notes, open and delete versions

Tested and working on Maya 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

This script was written out of my own frustration in using incremental save tools available. Soon enough, I would end up with dozens of numbered files that didn't mean much when I needed to revert back to a previous version. What did I do in this or that version? Client changed his mind and asks for an old version before some change took place, how to find the right file without having to open them one by one?

The answer was that those versions clearly needed some form of companion log in which it would be possible to add notes of what was made and when. I knew that was possible in pipeline tools that offer a robust version control, but, honestly, I didn't need something that complex just to have some sort of control over my files. Neither I wanted to use those messy naming conventions like: myFile_blocking004_rev2_clientOK_02. Very confusing!

So I decided to write this little tool to try to solve that problem. Feel free to use it as your simple version control tool, a way to keep your save points organized. Hope it helps! :)

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INSTALLATION:

1. Put the simpleVersionControl_Free.mel file in your /maya/scripts folder and restart Maya

2. Choose in which mode you prefer to run the increment save tool and save the corresponding script line to your shelf

> You can have the save increment system always displaying a prompt dialog that you can use to enter the version notes,

or

> You can disable the automatic prompt dialog and have it shown only when you increment save while holding SHIFT key.

source "simpleVersionControl_Free.mel";
svcLTSave(true); //insert notes dialog enabled

OR

source "simpleVersionControl_Free.mel";
svcLTSave(false); //insert notes dialog disabled

IMPORTANT! Copy only one of the above pair of lines to your shelf.

3. Save the MEL code below to another shelf button. This will open the user interface, where you can view the version files, delete them (pressing DELETE key) and update or add individual notes

source "simpleVersionControl_Free.mel";
svcLTUI();

4 (optional). If you wish, set directly in the script the date and time format of your preference (instructions in the mel file).

SOME IMPORTANT INFO:

The script saves the incremental file in the same place as your master version, inside a folder called "__versions".

It will save two Maya files: the new increment version and the master version. So, this is different than Maya's internal increment system. This script will save the increments as backup files and you will always be working in the master file. The idea is that you would save your file normally in Maya (Ctrl + S) and when you reach some important point in your work, then you would save the new increment version as a backup of that point. If you enter some notes, it will also save a txt file named after its corresponding version. Deleting versions via the UI window will delete both the Maya file and its note file.

Both .ma and .mb version files go to their own folders.

Please note that if you open a version file (numbered 0001, for example) and save an increment, you will be saving an increment of that version file, not the master one. The tool saves versions of the file currently opened. However, if you open the UI to manage your versions, you can freely open other files and versions and the UI will still be managing the versions of the master file indicated in the top-left corner of the tool window. If you wish to see the versions of other files, you have to reopen the UI.

Release Notes:

v1.0.0 (July/2020):

- First release