// EJL_ripPolySeam
// 8-23-07
// v.01

// Description: This script is for modeleres who want to cut a poly object
// in to two or more parts by selecting edges to cut along. This is a much
// faster alternative to selecting faces and extracting.

// Installation: Copy the MEL file to your scripts directory
// (for example, UserDirectory/maya/7.0/scripts/
// In the script editor or command line type the following:
// 
// source EJL_ripPolySeam.mel; EJL_ripPolySeam;

// To use:
// First select an edge you want to cut along. Edge must be contiguous and
// wrap completely around your object so that the last edge meets the first.
// (a complete loop or ring) Then execute the script. Done.


global proc EJL_ripPolySeam()
{

// make edge loop (must have edge selected first)
polySelectEdges edgeLoop;

// split vertexs
polySplitVertex;

// go to object mode
toggleSelMode;
toggleSelMode;

// separate newly divided poly objects
polyPerformAction polySeparate o 0;

// cleanup

string $current;
string $sel[] = `ls -sl`;
	for ($current in $sel)
		{

		// merge stray vertex points within .001 of each other
		polyMergeVertex  -d 0.001 -ch 1 $current;

		// kill that pesky history
		DeleteHistory;
		
		}

// back to object mode again
toggleSelMode;
toggleSelMode;

// user feedback
print "EJL Says: Your polygon has been split along the edge you selected.\n";

// end

}