thanks @ferdinand this makes perfect sense now. I appreciate the time you took to explaint he best practice.

@ferdinand I probably know the answer to this before i ask but ill ask anyway. is there a version agnostic way to call the node space so the script runs ok in 2024 or will i need to use a method not depricated.

I was getting super explicit with node space calls because i was running into api issues where the consoole would have problems finding the right node space so i was trying to fix that originally. Most of the Python as a backend dev so i was usingertign it more generic as opposed to using API functions.

thanks for the help. I will adjust it and fix it.

@ferdinand

thank you for the reply. its looking at texture sets from SUbstance painter. here are some examples.

tex.zip

Hi in advanced im sorry if im asking for help with something the forumn is not used for, im just tryign to help out a buddies pipeline and im by no means the best with the maxon api documentation. So far my script lets me auto make materials based on texture sets in the texture folder. any help to understand the error so i cna implement a fix would be super helpfula and by no means expected. thanks in advanced.

import c4d
import maxon
import os
import re

# Redshift Constants
ID_REDSHIFT_ENGINE = 1036219
ID_REDSHIFT_NODESPACE = maxon.Id("com.redshift3d.redshift4c4d.class.nodespace")
ID_NODE_EDITOR_MODE_MATERIAL = 465002360

# Texture Naming Pattern (Assumes: mesh_textureSet_mapType.png)
TEXTURE_NAME_PATTERN = re.compile(r"(.+?)_(.+?)_.+\.(png|jpg|tif|exr)")

def get_texture_sets(tex_folder):
    """Extracts unique texture set names from files in the 'tex' folder."""
    texture_sets = set()

    if not os.path.exists(tex_folder):
        return texture_sets

    for file in os.listdir(tex_folder):
        match = TEXTURE_NAME_PATTERN.match(file)
        if match:
            mesh, texture_set = match.groups()[:2]
            texture_sets.add(f"{mesh}_{texture_set}")

    return texture_sets

def create_redshift_material(name):
    """Creates a Redshift Node Material with the given name."""
    doc = c4d.documents.GetActiveDocument()

    # Set the Node Editor to Material Mode
    if not c4d.IsCommandChecked(ID_NODE_EDITOR_MODE_MATERIAL):
        c4d.CallCommand(ID_NODE_EDITOR_MODE_MATERIAL)

    # Ensure Redshift is the active render engine
    render_settings = doc.GetActiveRenderData()
    if render_settings:
        render_settings[c4d.RDATA_RENDERENGINE] = ID_REDSHIFT_ENGINE

    # Create a new Redshift Material
    c4d.CallCommand(1036759)  # Redshift Material
    c4d.EventAdd()

    # Get the newly created material
    material = doc.GetActiveMaterial()
    if not material:
        raise RuntimeError("Failed to create Redshift Material.")

    material.SetName(name)

    # Get Node Material Reference
    node_material = material.GetNodeMaterialReference()
    if not node_material:
        raise RuntimeError("Failed to retrieve the Node Material reference.")

    # Ensure the material is in the Redshift Node Space
    if not node_material.HasSpace(ID_REDSHIFT_NODESPACE):
        graph = node_material.AddGraph(ID_REDSHIFT_NODESPACE)
    else:
        graph = node_material.GetGraph(ID_REDSHIFT_NODESPACE)

    if graph is None:
        raise RuntimeError("Failed to retrieve or create the Redshift Node Graph.")

    # Update and refresh Cinema 4D
    material.Message(c4d.MSG_UPDATE)
    c4d.EventAdd()
    
    print(f" Created Redshift Node Material: {name}")

    return material

def main():
    """Main function to create Redshift materials based on texture sets in 'tex' folder."""
    doc = c4d.documents.GetActiveDocument()
    tex_folder = os.path.join(doc.GetDocumentPath(), "tex")

    texture_sets = get_texture_sets(tex_folder)
    if not texture_sets:
        c4d.gui.MessageDialog("No texture sets found in 'tex' folder!")
        return

    for texture_set in texture_sets:
        create_redshift_material(texture_set)

# Execute the script
if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

This works great so far. the issues im running into is when i try and auto assign texture nodes in the node graph and assign them to the material inputs

import c4d
import maxon
import os
import re

# Constants
ID_REDSHIFT_ENGINE = 1036219
ID_NODE_EDITOR_MODE_MATERIAL = 465002360
TEXTURE_NAME_PATTERN = re.compile(r"(.+?)_(.+?)_.+\.(png|jpg|tif|exr)")

# Mapping texture types to their corresponding Redshift shader node IDs
TEXTURE_TYPES = {
    "BaseColor": "com.redshift3d.redshift4c4d.nodes.core.texturesampler",
    "Normal": "com.redshift3d.redshift4c4d.nodes.core.bumpmap",
    "Roughness": "com.redshift3d.redshift4c4d.nodes.core.texturesampler",
    "Metalness": "com.redshift3d.redshift4c4d.nodes.core.texturesampler",
    "Opacity": "com.redshift3d.redshift4c4d.nodes.core.texturesampler",
    "Displacement": "com.redshift3d.redshift4c4d.nodes.core.displacement",
    "EmissionColor": "com.redshift3d.redshift4c4d.nodes.core.texturesampler"
}

def get_texture_sets(tex_folder):
    """Extracts unique texture set names and maps available textures."""
    texture_sets = {}

    if not os.path.exists(tex_folder):
        return texture_sets

    for file in os.listdir(tex_folder):
        match = TEXTURE_NAME_PATTERN.match(file)
        if match:
            mesh, texture_set, _ = match.groups()
            key = f"{mesh}_{texture_set}"
            if key not in texture_sets:
                texture_sets[key] = {}
            for channel in TEXTURE_TYPES.keys():
                if channel.lower() in file.lower():
                    texture_sets[key][channel] = os.path.join(tex_folder, file)

    return texture_sets

def create_redshift_material(name, texture_files):
    """Creates a Redshift Node Material and assigns textures."""
    doc = c4d.documents.GetActiveDocument()

    # Set the Node Editor to Material Mode
    if not c4d.IsCommandChecked(ID_NODE_EDITOR_MODE_MATERIAL):
        c4d.CallCommand(ID_NODE_EDITOR_MODE_MATERIAL)

    # Ensure Redshift is the active render engine
    render_settings = doc.GetActiveRenderData()
    if render_settings:
        render_settings[c4d.RDATA_RENDERENGINE] = ID_REDSHIFT_ENGINE

    # Create a new Redshift Material
    c4d.CallCommand(1036759)  # Redshift Material
    c4d.EventAdd()

    # Get the newly created material
    material = doc.GetActiveMaterial()
    if not material:
        raise RuntimeError("Failed to create Redshift Material.")

    material.SetName(name)

    # Get Node Material Reference
    node_material = material.GetNodeMaterialReference()
    if not node_material:
        raise RuntimeError("Failed to retrieve the Node Material reference.")

    # Ensure the material is in the Redshift Node Space
    redshift_nodespace_id = maxon.NodeSpaceIdentifiers.RedshiftMaterial
    if not node_material.HasSpace(redshift_nodespace_id):
        graph = node_material.AddGraph(redshift_nodespace_id)
    else:
        graph = node_material.GetGraph(redshift_nodespace_id)

    if graph is None:
        raise RuntimeError("Failed to retrieve or create the Redshift Node Graph.")

    print(f" Created Redshift Node Material: {name}")

    # Create Texture Nodes and Connect Them
    with maxon.GraphTransaction(graph) as transaction:
        texture_nodes = {}
        for channel, file_path in texture_files.items():
            print(f"🔹 Creating node for {channel}: {file_path}")

            # Create the texture node
            node_id = maxon.Id(TEXTURE_TYPES[channel])
            node = graph.AddChild("", node_id, maxon.DataDictionary())
            if node is None:
                print(f" Failed to create node for {channel}")
                continue

            # Set the filename parameter
            filename_port = node.GetInputs().FindChild("filename")
            if filename_port:
                filename_port.SetDefaultValue(maxon.Url(file_path))
            else:
                print(f" 'filename' port not found for {channel} node.")

            texture_nodes[channel] = node
            print(f" Successfully created {channel} texture node.")

        # Connect Texture Nodes to Material Inputs
        material_node = graph.GetRoot()
        if material_node:
            for channel, tex_node in texture_nodes.items():
                input_port_id = f"{channel.lower()}_input"  # Example: 'basecolor_input'
                material_input_port = material_node.GetInputs().FindChild(input_port_id)
                if material_input_port:
                    tex_output_port = tex_node.GetOutputs().FindChild("output")
                    if tex_output_port:
                        material_input_port.Connect(tex_output_port)
                        print(f"🔗 Connected {channel} texture to material.")
                    else:
                        print(f" 'output' port not found on {channel} texture node.")
                else:
                    print(f" '{input_port_id}' port not found on material node.")
        else:
            print(" Material node (root) not found in the graph.")

        transaction.Commit()

    # Update and refresh Cinema 4D
    material.Message(c4d.MSG_UPDATE)
    c4d.EventAdd()

    return material

def main():
    """Main function to create Redshift materials based on texture sets in 'tex' folder."""
    doc = c4d.documents.GetActiveDocument()
    tex_folder = os.path.join(doc.GetDocumentPath(), "tex")

    texture_sets = get_texture_sets(tex_folder)
    if not texture_sets:
        c4d.gui.MessageDialog("No texture sets found in 'tex' folder!")
        return

    for texture_set, texture_files in texture_sets.items():
        create_redshift_material(texture_set, texture_files)

# Execute the script
if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

The error im geting if it does nto just crash outright

Traceback (most recent call last):
 line 147, in <module>
 line 143, in main
 line 84, in create_redshift_material
 line 295, in __init__
 line 164, in __init__
    raise TypeError("passed object is not of same type to create copy")
TypeError: passed object is not of same type to create copy```

For anyone that wants it this si the completed script i used for my needs. so that i could pass the look dev information changes per frame onto the rest of my team.::

import c4d
import sys
import os

# Your predefined constants and variables
doc: c4d.documents.BaseDocument  # The active document.
op: c4d.BaseObject  # The active object, can be `None`.
IGNORE_DIRECT_ACCESS_TYPES: tuple[int] = (c4d.DTYPE_BUTTON,
                                          c4d.DTYPE_CHILDREN,
                                          c4d.DTYPE_DYNAMIC,
                                          c4d.DTYPE_GROUP,
                                          c4d.DTYPE_SEPARATOR,
                                          c4d.DTYPE_STATICTEXT,
                                          c4d.DTYPE_SUBCONTAINER)

def main() -> None:
    """
    Main function to iterate over each frame and print object data.
    """
    if not op:
        raise RuntimeError("Please select an object.")

    # Get the start and end frames of the document's active timeline
    start_frame = doc.GetLoopMinTime().GetFrame(doc.GetFps())
    end_frame = doc.GetLoopMaxTime().GetFrame(doc.GetFps())

    # Iterate through each frame in the range
    for frame in range(start_frame, end_frame + 1):
        # Set the document's time to the current frame
        doc.SetTime(c4d.BaseTime(frame, doc.GetFps()))

        # Update the scene to reflect changes at the current frame
        c4d.DrawViews(c4d.DRAWFLAGS_FORCEFULLREDRAW)
        c4d.EventAdd()

        # Print frame information
        print(f"Frame: {frame}")
        
        # Iterate over the user data container
        for pid, bc in op.GetUserDataContainer():
            if pid.GetDepth() < 2 or pid[0].id != c4d.ID_USERDATA:
                raise RuntimeError("This should never happen.")

            eid: int = pid[1].id
            dtype: int = pid[1].dtype

            if dtype in IGNORE_DIRECT_ACCESS_TYPES:
                continue

            try:
                value: any = op[pid]
            except:
                print ("Stepping over type which is inaccessible in Python.")
                continue

            # Print the value for each user data parameter
            print(f"Name: {bc[c4d.DESC_NAME]}, Value: {value}")

        print("-" * 80)
    
if __name__ == '__main__':
    # Change the standard output to a file on the desktop
    desktop_path = os.path.join(os.path.expanduser('~'), 'Desktop')
    output_file_path = os.path.join(desktop_path, 'c4d_output.txt')

    with open(output_file_path, 'w') as file:
        sys.stdout = file
        main()
        sys.stdout = sys.__stdout__

you sir are my hero, with your explanation I was able to get the relevant data i needed per frame and was able to spit out a file that tracked those changes. thank you again @ferdinand

thank you so much this is super helpful, and I will for sure dig into the docs on the website further. I appreciated you taking the time to explain the logic tome it makes it much more clear.

I am trying to write a python script that dumps all the custom user data of a given object per frame in the timeline and outputs that data to text file. right now if any data is in a "Group" it refuses to work, the script cant see the custom user data. Python not being my main coding library I'm not sure what I'm missing. its not actually failing so there are no breakpoints to check from my understanding. any help would be really cool.

import c4d
from c4d import documents
import os

def fetch_user_data_recursive(obj, id_base=c4d.DescID(), frame_number=None):
    """Recursive function to fetch all types of user data from an object, including those in groups."""
    userdata_container = obj.GetUserDataContainer()
    collected_data = []

    for id, bc in userdata_container:
        # Construct the current ID based on the parent ID and the current ID
        current_id = c4d.DescID(id_base[0], id[0]) if id_base else id


    return collected_data

def main():
    # Get the active document and object
    doc = documents.GetActiveDocument()
    obj = doc.GetActiveObject()

    # Ensure that an object is selected
    if not obj:
        print("Nothing selected!")
        return

    # Get the active render data and fetch the frame range
    render_data = doc.GetActiveRenderData()
    start_frame = render_data[c4d.RDATA_FRAMEFROM].GetFrame(doc.GetFps())
    end_frame = render_data[c4d.RDATA_FRAMETO].GetFrame(doc.GetFps())

    # Prepare a list to collect the user data strings
    output_data = []

    # Iterate over every frame and fetch user data
    for frame in range(start_frame, end_frame + 1):
        doc.SetTime(c4d.BaseTime(frame, doc.GetFps()))
        doc.ExecutePasses(None, True, True, True, c4d.BUILDFLAGS_NONE)
        output_data.extend(fetch_user_data_recursive(obj, frame_number=frame))

    # Check if there's any user data collected
    if not output_data:
        print("Object has no user data.")
        return

    # Print data to the console
    for data in output_data:
        print(data)

    # Save the user data to a .txt file on the desktop
    desktop_path = os.path.expanduser("~/Desktop")
    file_path = os.path.join(desktop_path, "c4d_userdata_output.txt")

    with open(file_path, 'w') as f:
        f.write("\n".join(output_data))

    print(f"User data saved to: {file_path}")

    c4d.EventAdd()

# Execute main function
if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()