Get a list of soft selection weights in Autodesk Maya

soft_selection_weights.py

import maya.cmds as cmds
import maya.OpenMaya as omo
# (Open Maya Old)

def soft_selection_weights():
    ''' create and return a list of the soft selection weights '''
    #TODO: Would be nice to rewrite this using the new API. Low priority.
    #TODO: Debug on multiple selections

    # temporary hack. Turn off symmetry when reading MRichSelection until I learn to use symmetry.
    # as far as my tests go, this maintains the symmetrical selection but reads it like a whole selection.
    # otherwise, only one half will be reading by MRichSelection. How does getSymmetry() work?
    symmetryOn = cmds.symmetricModelling(q=True, symmetry=True)
    if symmetryOn:
        cmds.symmetricModelling(e=True, symmetry=False)

    selection = omo.MSelectionList()
    softSelection = omo.MRichSelection()
    omo.MGlobal.getRichSelection(softSelection)
    #softSelection.getSymmetry(selection)
    softSelection.getSelection(selection)

    dagPath = omo.MDagPath()
    selection.getDagPath(0, dagPath)
    component = omo.MObject()
    geoIter = omo.MItGeometry(dagPath)
    pointCount = geoIter.exactCount()
    #TODO: MFloatArray and MDoubleArray had strange inconsistencies. But a list might be slow.
    weightArray = [0.0] * pointCount

    iter = omo.MItSelectionList(selection, omo.MFn.kMeshVertComponent)
    #NOTE: since I commented out the while loop, this should just work on the first selected transform.
    #while not iter.isDone():
    iter.getDagPath(dagPath, component)
    fnComp = omo.MFnSingleIndexedComponent(component)
    if fnComp.hasWeights():
        for i in range(fnComp.elementCount()):
            element = fnComp.element(i)
            weight = fnComp.weight(i).influence()
            weightArray[element] = weight
    #iter.next()

    # Put the symmetry back to the way it was.
    cmds.symmetricModelling(e=True, symmetry=symmetryOn)
    return weightArray