Python script using Alembic api to detect whether an .abc file contains any shapes.

alembic_has_any_shapes.py

import alembic

def any_shapes_in_alembic(filename):
    """Return whether Alembic file contains any shape/geometry.

    Arguments:
        filename (str): Full path to Alembic archive to read.

    Returns:
        bool: Whether Alembic file contains geometry.

    """

    # Also see:
    # https://github.com/rsgalloway/alembic/blob/cask-dev/python/examples/cask/cask.py
    SHAPES = [alembic.AbcGeom.IPolyMesh,
              alembic.AbcGeom.ICurves,
              alembic.AbcGeom.ISubD,
              alembic.AbcGeom.IPoints]

    filename = str(filename)    # ensure str
    archive = alembic.Abc.IArchive(filename)
    root = archive.getTop()

    iterator = list(root.children)

    for obj in iterator:

        md = obj.getMetaData()
        if any(shape.matches(md) for shape in SHAPES):
            return True

        # include children for coming iterations
        iterator.extend(obj.children)

    return False