Animation Keys (Z-Setup)

Add this script to a "Batch Script" editor (F10) and execute it with Script > Run.

The script is an extension of → "Camera Operations (Y-Setup)" and works as a batch script instead of a simulation script. The camera positions are cached, translated into animation keys, and added to the → "Curve Editor". The script is for Z-based axis setups. If you have a Z-based axis setup go to → "Animation Keys (Y-Setup)".

# Load Python's math module
import math

# Get the camera "SceneCamera01" and a focus object "Cube01"
# Initialize standard values 
camera           = scene.getCamera("SceneCamera01")
focusObject      = scene.getObject("Cube01")
objectPosition   = focusObject.getParameter("Position")
frame            = scene.getCurrentFrame()
radius           = 1.5
cycles           = 3.0
verticalPosition = 0.5
orientation      = 0
positionCache    = []
indexCounter     = 0

# Create/get the camera's animation curves for XYZ positions 
curvePosX = camera.getParameterCurve("Position.X")
curvePosY = camera.getParameterCurve("Position.Y")
curvePosZ = camera.getParameterCurve("Position.Z")

# Make the camera look at the "focusObject" node's position 
camera.setParameter("LookAt", objectPosition)

# Clockwise or counter-clockwise?
if (orientation == 0): sign = 1
else : sign = -1

# Define the simulation range 
simRange    = scene.getMaxFrames() - scene.getMinFrame()
 
# Calculate how many degrees the camera covers within a single frame
degPerFrame = (360.0 / simRange) * cycles
 
# Go through the simulation range 
for i in range(0, simRange + 1):
 
    # Convert the result from degrees to radians
	radians = (sign * degPerFrame * math.pi / 180.0) * float(i)
 
	# Calculate the XZ coordinates based on the available values
	xCoord = math.cos(radians) * radius + objectPosition.getX()
	yCoord = math.sin(radians) * radius + objectPosition.getY()

    # Assemble a position vector and store the values
	positionCache.append(Vector.new(xCoord, yCoord, verticalPosition))

# Go through the stored position values  
for entry in positionCache:
 
    # Calculate the current time based on frame and FPS
	currentTime = float(indexCounter) / scene.getFps()
 
    # Add new keys for XYZ and define their values and key types at the current time
	keyX = Key.new()
	keyY = Key.new()
	keyZ = Key.new()
 
	keyX.time = currentTime
	keyX.value = entry.x
	keyX.type = KEY_TYPE_TCB
 
	curvePosX.addKey(keyX)

	keyY.time = currentTime
	keyY.value = entry.y
	keyY.type = KEY_TYPE_TCB
 
	curvePosY.addKey(keyY)
	keyZ.time = currentTime
	keyZ.value = entry.z
	keyZ.type = KEY_TYPE_TCB
 
	curvePosZ.addKey(keyZ)
 
    # Increment the counter
	indexCounter += 1