Assign imported .obj file to variable Python API

Question

I want to use scripting to import a .obj into an existing scene, then rotate and scale that .obj. Here's what I've been using to do that:

import bpy

#open the scene
scene_loc = '#the location of the scene'
bpy.ops.wm.open_mainfile(filepath=scene_loc)

#deselect everything
bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active = None

#open the object and assign it a variable
object_loc = '#the location of the object'
obj = bpy.ops.import_scene.obj(filepath=object_loc)

#make the selected object the active object
bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active = obj

I've tried various iterations using answers from here to make the .obj active right when it imports, but none of them have worked. It would be nice if I could assign that imported .obj to a variable and then rotate/scale it from there. Is there a way to assign a variable to an imported .obj in the Blender Python API?

Answer 1

You can't assign a variable to an imported object

• First deselect the active object before importing
• Import the object and set it to the active object
• Rotate/Scale the active object

import bpy
from math import radians


bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active = None


def import_obj(filepath):
    ''' Import OBJ file.

    filepath (str) - Filepath of OBJ file.
    '''
    bpy.ops.import_scene.obj(
        filepath = filepath,
        filter_glob = '*.obj',
        use_edges = True,
        use_smooth_groups = True,
        use_split_objects = True,
        use_split_groups = False,
        use_groups_as_vgroups = False,
        use_image_search = True,
        split_mode = 'ON',
        global_clamp_size = 0.0,
        axis_forward = '-Z',
        axis_up = 'Y'
    )


import_obj('') # filepath

bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active = bpy.context.selected_objects[0]

obj = bpy.context.object
obj.scale = (2, 2, 2)
obj.rotation_euler = (radians(90), 0, 0)