Cinema 4D Parent/Child Object Renamer Python Script

This Cinema 4D Python script automates the renaming process by leveraging an object’s hierarchy. It provides a user-friendly dialog that allows you to choose between two renaming modes: renaming parent objects using the name of their immediate first child, or renaming child objects to match their parent’s name. The script also supports additional customizations, including appending extra text (prefix/postfix) and preserving existing names. Designed for streamlining projects with complex hierarchies, this script is highly useful for artists and technical directors seeking to maintain consistency in object naming conventions.

Usage Guide:

Open Cinema 4D and load your scene with objects organized in a parent/child hierarchy.
Select the objects you want to process (these should represent the parent objects if you plan to rename children or vice versa).
Run the script. A dialog will appear with usage instructions, a choice to select between renaming parents or renaming children, and options to add a custom prefix or postfix.
Choose the desired renaming mode by selecting the appropriate radio button:
- “Rename parent using first child name” for updating the parent object’s name with its first child’s name.
- “Rename children to parent’s name” to update each immediate child’s name to that of its parent.
Optionally, check the “append to existing name” box if you want to keep the original name as part of the new name.
Enter any extra text in the prefix or postfix fields if needed.
Click “OK” to execute the renaming procedure. The script will process the selected objects, performing undo operations where necessary, and then display a message summarizing the number of objects renamed.

Python

# Script for renaming objects using the name of their immediate first child
# or immediate parent.

import c4d
from c4d import gui

# Unique id numbers for each of the GUI elements:
LBL_USAGE = 1000
LBL_INFO1 = 1002
LBL_INFO2 = 1003
LBL_INFO3 = 1004
LBL_DUMMY1 = 1000
GROUP_TEXT = 10000
TXT_PREFIX = 10001
TXT_POSTFIX = 10002
CHK_APPEND_TO_EXISTING = 10003
RADIO_GROUP = 20000
RADIO_RENAME_PARENTS = 20001
RADIO_RENAME_CHILREN = 20002
GROUP_OPTIONS = 30000
BTN_OK = 30001
BTN_CANCEL = 30002

class OptionsDialog(gui.GeDialog):
  """ Dialog for renaming objects based on the name of the child or parent.
  """
  def CreateLayout(self):
    self.SetTitle('Object Parent Child Renamer')
    self.AddMultiLineEditText(LBL_USAGE, c4d.BFH_SCALEFIT, inith=45, initw=500,
                              style=c4d.DR_MULTILINE_READONLY)
    self.SetString(LBL_USAGE,
        'USAGE: For all parent objects selected, renames\n' +
        '    them using the name of their first child or\n' +
        '    renames all their children using the parent name.')
    # Radio Button Group - rename parent or children:
    self.AddRadioGroup(RADIO_GROUP, c4d.BFH_LEFT, 1, 1)
    self.AddChild(RADIO_GROUP, RADIO_RENAME_PARENTS,
                  'Rename parent using first child name')
    self.AddChild(RADIO_GROUP, RADIO_RENAME_CHILREN,
                  'Rename children to parents name')
    self.SetBool(RADIO_RENAME_PARENTS, True)  # Set first radio button on.
    self.GroupEnd()
    self.AddSeparatorH(c4d.BFH_SCALE);
    # Checkbox Option - append to existing string:
    self.AddCheckbox(CHK_APPEND_TO_EXISTING, c4d.BFH_SCALEFIT,
                     initw=1, inith=1, name='append to existing name')
    self.AddSeparatorH(c4d.BFH_SCALE);
    # Strings to add:
    self.GroupBegin(GROUP_TEXT, c4d.BFH_SCALEFIT, 2, 3)
    self.AddStaticText(LBL_INFO1, c4d.BFH_SCALEFIT, name='Add extra text:') 
    self.AddStaticText(LBL_DUMMY1, c4d.BFH_SCALEFIT, name='')  # Fill space.
    self.AddStaticText(LBL_INFO2, c4d.BFH_LEFT, name='  prefix:') 
    self.AddEditText(TXT_PREFIX, c4d.BFH_SCALEFIT)
    self.SetString(TXT_PREFIX, '')  # Default 'prefix' string.
    self.AddStaticText(LBL_INFO3, c4d.BFH_LEFT, name='  postfix:') 
    self.AddEditText(TXT_POSTFIX, c4d.BFH_SCALEFIT)
    self.SetString(TXT_POSTFIX, '')  # Default 'postfix' string.
    self.GroupEnd()
    self.AddSeparatorH(c4d.BFH_SCALE);
    # Buttons - an Ok and Cancel button:
    self.GroupBegin(GROUP_OPTIONS, c4d.BFH_CENTER, 2, 1)
    self.AddButton(BTN_OK, c4d.BFH_SCALE, name='OK')
    self.AddButton(BTN_CANCEL, c4d.BFH_SCALE, name='Cancel')
    self.GroupEnd()
    self.ok = False
    return True
  
  # React to user's input:
  def Command(self, id, msg):
    if id==BTN_CANCEL:
      self.Close()
    elif id==BTN_OK:
      self.ok = True
      self.option_rename_parents = self.GetBool(RADIO_RENAME_PARENTS)
      self.option_rename_children = self.GetBool(RADIO_RENAME_CHILREN)
      self.option_append = self.GetBool(CHK_APPEND_TO_EXISTING)
      self.option_prefix = self.GetString(TXT_PREFIX)
      self.option_postfix = self.GetString(TXT_POSTFIX)
      self.Close()
    return True


def rename_obj_to_match_object(obj_to, obj_from, prefix, postfix, append):
  """Renames 'obj_to' to match 'obj_from'.
  
  Args:
    obj_to: Object to rename.
    obj_from: Object with the name we want to use.
    prefix: String to append to start of new name.
    postfix: String to appent to end of new name.
    append: Boolean set true if we want to append to existing name.
    
  Returns:
    1 if object was renamed, else 0.
  """
  if (obj_to == None or obj_from == None):
    return 0;
  new_name = prefix + obj_from.GetName() + postfix
  if append:
    new_name = obj_to.GetName() + new_name
  if (obj_to.GetName() != new_name):
    print (' - ' + obj_to.GetName() + ' > ' + new_name)
    doc.AddUndo(c4d.UNDOTYPE_CHANGE_SMALL, obj_to)
    obj_to.SetName(new_name)
    return 1
  return 0;


def main():
  # Get the selected objects, without children.
  selection = doc.GetActiveObjects(c4d.GETACTIVEOBJECTFLAGS_SELECTIONORDER)
  
  if len(selection) <= 0:
    gui.MessageDialog('Must select objects!')
    return
  
  # Open the options dialogue to let users choose their options.
  dlg = OptionsDialog()
  dlg.Open(c4d.DLG_TYPE_MODAL, defaultw=300, defaulth=50)
  if not dlg.ok:
    return
    
  doc.StartUndo()  # Start undo block.
  num_renamed = 0
  num_children = 0
  num_parents = len(selection)
  for i in range(0,len(selection)):
    parent = selection[i]
    child = selection[i].GetDown()
      
    if(dlg.option_rename_parents):
      num_renamed += rename_obj_to_match_object(parent, child,
          dlg.option_prefix, dlg.option_postfix, dlg.option_append)
    
    if(dlg.option_rename_children):
      while (child != None):
        num_renamed += rename_obj_to_match_object(parent, child,
            dlg.option_prefix, dlg.option_postfix, dlg.option_append)
        child = child.GetNext()
        num_children += 1
  doc.EndUndo()   # End undo block.
  c4d.EventAdd()  # Update C4D to see changes.
  
  if dlg.option_rename_parents:
    gui.MessageDialog(str(num_renamed) + ' of ' + str(num_parents) +
                      ' parent objects renamed (to match first child)')
  elif dlg.option_rename_children:
    gui.MessageDialog(str(num_renamed) + ' of ' + str(num_children) +
                      ' immediate children renamed over ' +
                      str(num_parents) + ' parents searched')

if __name__=='__main__':
  main()

Cinema 4D Parent/Child Object Renamer Python Script

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