MEL How-To #82

How do I delete an imported camera that Maya identifies as "non-deletable?"

You may find at some point that Maya has imported an extra default Camera into your scene and refuses to allow you to delete it. Take for example an extra orthographic Camera named "front1" that has found its way into your Outliner. You attempt to delete it:

// Error: Non-deletable node 'front1Shape' cannot be deleted. //
// Error: Non-deletable node 'front1' cannot be deleted. //

Now what?

Maya's cameras can be queried for their non-deletable status using the "camera" command:

camera -q -startupCamera persp;
// Result: 1 //

Try this on the rogue "front1" camera. If it is a startup camera, clear this attribute with:

camera -e -startupCamera false front1;

Now Maya will allow you to delete it.

09 February 2002