Use get_reference_node and parent in hierarchy.

openpype/hosts/maya/api/lib.py

@@ -3913,3 +3913,68 @@ def get_capture_preset(task_name, task_type, subset, project_settings, log):
         capture_preset = plugin_settings["capture_preset"]
 
     return capture_preset or {}
+
+
+def get_reference_node(members, log=None):
+    """Get the reference node from the container members
+    Args:
+        members: list of node names
+
+    Returns:
+        str: Reference node name.
+
+    """
+
+    # Collect the references without .placeHolderList[] attributes as
+    # unique entries (objects only) and skipping the sharedReferenceNode.
+    references = set()
+    for ref in cmds.ls(members, exactType="reference", objectsOnly=True):
+
+        # Ignore any `:sharedReferenceNode`
+        if ref.rsplit(":", 1)[-1].startswith("sharedReferenceNode"):
+            continue
+
+        # Ignore _UNKNOWN_REF_NODE_ (PLN-160)
+        if ref.rsplit(":", 1)[-1].startswith("_UNKNOWN_REF_NODE_"):
+            continue
+
+        references.add(ref)
+
+    assert references, "No reference node found in container"
+
+    # Get highest reference node (least parents)
+    highest = min(references,
+                  key=lambda x: len(get_reference_node_parents(x)))
+
+    # Warn the user when we're taking the highest reference node
+    if len(references) > 1:
+        if not log:
+            log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+        log.warning("More than one reference node found in "
+                    "container, using highest reference node: "
+                    "%s (in: %s)", highest, list(references))
+
+    return highest
+
+
+def get_reference_node_parents(ref):
+    """Return all parent reference nodes of reference node
+
+    Args:
+        ref (str): reference node.
+
+    Returns:
+        list: The upstream parent reference nodes.
+
+    """
+    parent = cmds.referenceQuery(ref,
+                                 referenceNode=True,
+                                 parent=True)
+    parents = []
+    while parent:
+        parents.append(parent)
+        parent = cmds.referenceQuery(parent,
+                                     referenceNode=True,
+                                     parent=True)
+    return parents

openpype/hosts/maya/api/workfile_template_builder.py

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ from openpype.tools.workfile_template_build import (
     WorkfileBuildPlaceholderDialog,
 )
 
-from .lib import read, imprint
+from .lib import read, imprint, get_reference_node
 
 PLACEHOLDER_SET = "PLACEHOLDERS_SET"
 
@@ -258,8 +258,16 @@ class MayaPlaceholderLoadPlugin(PlaceholderPlugin, PlaceholderLoadMixin):
             return
 
         roots = cmds.sets(container, q=True)
+        ref_node = get_reference_node(roots)
         nodes_to_parent = []
         for root in roots:
+            if ref_node:
+                ref_root = cmds.referenceQuery(root, n=True)[0]
+                ref_root = (
+                    cmds.listRelatives(ref_root, parent=True) or [ref_root]
+                )
+                nodes_to_parent.extend(ref_root)
+                continue
             if root.endswith("_RN"):
                 refRoot = cmds.referenceQuery(root, n=True)[0]
                 refRoot = cmds.listRelatives(refRoot, parent=True) or [refRoot]
@@ -277,10 +285,17 @@ class MayaPlaceholderLoadPlugin(PlaceholderPlugin, PlaceholderLoadMixin):
             matrix=True,
             worldSpace=True
         )
+        scene_parent = cmds.listRelatives(
+            placeholder.scene_identifier, parent=True
+        )
         for node in set(nodes_to_parent):
             cmds.reorder(node, front=True)
             cmds.reorder(node, relative=placeholder.data["index"])
             cmds.xform(node, matrix=placeholder_form, ws=True)
+            if scene_parent:
+                cmds.parent(node, scene_parent)
+            else:
+                cmds.parent(node, world=True)
 
         holding_sets = cmds.listSets(object=placeholder.scene_identifier)
         if not holding_sets: