How to set path for exporting files from Maya using PySide2 ad Python

I'm learning Python while trying to develop helper tools for Maya using Python and PySide. (Quite ambitious but there is no progress without challenges, right)

Basically, I'm writing a tool that would help me export animation as fbx files to a folder I set in any given location on my PC.

I've finished to write the export process. There should be no issue here, I'm stuck with the UI part of it.

Currently this is how my UI is looking. I want to be able to set the path to the place where I want the script to export the files.

When I select the path and press "Select Folder", I want the path of the selected folder to display in the text line of the UI. And "Remember" it so that when I press Export FBX animation or Export rig it would use that path and would save files there.

But I have no clue how to do that. Can anyone help the clueless me how to make this happen?

I would appreciate any help. Thank you )

Here is my current code:

`

import CreatureAnimBakeProcess
reload(CreatureAnimBakeProcess)
from maya import cmds
import os
from PySide2 import QtWidgets, QtCore, QtGui
class CreatureAnimBakeUI(QtWidgets.QDialog):
def __init__(self):
super(CreatureAnimBakeUI, self).__init__()
self.setWindowTitle('Creature Exporter')
self.library = CreatureAnimBakeProcess.CreatureExport()
self.buildUI()
def buildUI(self):
print 'building ui'
layout = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout(self)
setPathWidget = QtWidgets.QWidget()
setPathLayout = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout(setPathWidget)
layout.addWidget(setPathWidget)
self.setPathField = QtWidgets.QLineEdit()
setPathLayout.addWidget(self.setPathField)
setBtn = QtWidgets.QPushButton('Set Export Folder')
setBtn.clicked.connect(self.setPath)
setPathLayout.addWidget(setBtn)
#============================================
btnWidget = QtWidgets.QWidget()
btnLayout = QtWidgets.QVBoxLayout(btnWidget)
layout.addWidget(btnWidget)
ExportFBXBtn = QtWidgets.QPushButton('Export FBX Animation')
ExportFBXBtn.clicked.connect(self.exportFbxAnim)
btnLayout.addWidget(ExportFBXBtn)
ExportRIGBtn = QtWidgets.QPushButton('Export RIG')
ExportRIGBtn.clicked.connect(self.exportRIG)
btnLayout.addWidget(ExportRIGBtn)
return
def getDirectory(self):
directory = os.path.join(cmds.internalVar(userAppDir=True), 'Animation')
if not os.path.exists(directory):
os.mkdir(directory)
return
def setPath(self):
directory = self.getDirectory()
pathName = QtWidgets.QFileDialog.getExistingDirectory(self, directory, "Creature Exporter")
return
def exportFbxAnim(self):
pass
def exportRIG(self):
pass
def showUI():
ui = CreatureAnimBakeUI()
ui.show()
return ui

`

You can use self.setPathField.setText(pathName) to show the value, you can also assign it to self.exportPath = pathName so you can re use it.

I am only showing code snippets where I changed, the remainder of your code needs no changes.

    def __init__(self):
super(CreatureAnimBakeUI, self).__init__()
# have it assigned to None
self.exportPath = None  # changed here
self.setWindowTitle("Creature Exporter")
self.buildUI()

    def setPath(self):
directory = self.getDirectory()
pathName = QtWidgets.QFileDialog.getExistingDirectory(
self, directory, "Creature Exporter"
)
if pathName:  # changed here
# "remember the value"
self.exportPath = pathName
# show it in the text line of the UI
self.setPathField.setText(pathName)
return

self.exportPath will be None initially, once you select a folder it will have that value saved. So this if checks if the value is not set and forces the user to set a value, if it is already set that value will be used.

    def exportFbxAnim(self):  # changed here
if self.exportPath is None:
# call self.setPath if self.exportPath is None
self.setPath()
# self.exportPath should have the value you expect
def exportRIG(self):  # changed here
if self.exportPath is None:
# call self.setPath if self.exportPath is None
self.setPath()
# self.exportPath should have the value you expect