Add ability to create, delete, or reparent translated custom plugin prims live from within maya

[alekamca]

We have created some custom MPxNodes which read/write directly to USD via get/setInternalValue, and have defined Translators (via the translator plugin system) to automatically create them.

We would like to be able to define commands for creating these UsdPrim/nodes and adding them to an existing UsdStage/ProxyShape. Similarly, we would like to define specialized commands for reparenting or deleting existing nodes (within the same stage).

Briefly looking through the code, it seems that for the case of creating, we could do this by calling methods from ProxyShapePostLoadProcess to ensure the proper transform chains are created (and marked as required) and the necessary bookkeeping is performed. Presumably we could utilize methods used for variant switching to modify or remove existing nodes.

I am intending to begin working on this functionality very shortly, so I wanted to submit the sug here. I'm also interested in any feedback on whether or not this is a good idea/ something that could be contributed back.

[alekamca]

As an update, I have played around with this, and it will be awhile before I get a truly undo-able version of add/remove prim. The proxyShapeResync command is probably sufficient for my current usage. Usd does not support reparenting very well, so this will probably not be something I will be looking at soon either. Should I just close this issue?