fastpath.py

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-

# ##### BEGIN GPL LICENSE BLOCK #####
#
#  This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
#  modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
#  as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
#  of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
#
#  This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
#  but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
#  MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
#  GNU General Public License for more details.
#
#  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
#  along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
#  Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.
#
# ##### END GPL LICENSE BLOCK #####

bl_info = {
    "name": "fast_path",
    "author": "Laurent Laget",
    "version": (0, 5),
    "blender": (2, 78, 5),
    "location": "Add",
    "description": "Create fast_path",
    "warning": "",
    "wiki_url": "",
    "category": "Add",
    }

import bpy

def main(context):
    for ob in context.scene.objects:
        print(ob)

#Declaration of variables
forwardaxe = 'TRACK_NEGATIVE_Y'
upaxe = 'UP_Z'

def pathcreation(forwardaxe,upaxe):
    
        #Get duration
        duration = bpy.context.scene.frame_end
        
        #Get the name of the selected object and add a follow path constrain to it
        objectname = bpy.context.active_object
        bpy.ops.object.constraint_add(type='FOLLOW_PATH')
            
        # Add a curve object , name it, delete vertices and make it ready for shift + right click draw
        bpy.ops.curve.primitive_nurbs_path_add()
        bpy.context.object.name = "Path"
        pathname= bpy.context.active_object
        bpy.ops.object.editmode_toggle()
        bpy.ops.curve.delete(type='VERT')
        
        #Go back to object mode , set origin and reselect the selected object , push the name of the path in the follow path constraint and animate it 
        bpy.ops.object.editmode_toggle()
        bpy.ops.object.origin_set(type='ORIGIN_GEOMETRY')
        
        bpy.context.scene.objects.active = objectname
        bpy.context.object.constraints["Follow Path"].target = pathname
        bpy.context.object.constraints["Follow Path"].use_curve_follow = True
        
        #Test if the selected object is different from a camera, and set variables accordingly 
        if objectname.type != 'CAMERA':
            forwardaxe = 'TRACK_NEGATIVE_Y'
            upaxe = 'UP_Z'
        else:
            forwardaxe = 'TRACK_NEGATIVE_Z'
            upaxe = 'UP_Y'
            
        #Get specific orientations
        bpy.context.object.constraints["Follow Path"].forward_axis = forwardaxe
        bpy.context.object.constraints["Follow Path"].up_axis = upaxe
        
        override={'constraint':objectname.constraints["Follow Path"]}
        bpy.ops.constraint.followpath_path_animate(override,constraint='Follow Path')
        
        #reselect the path
        bpy.context.scene.objects.active = pathname
        bpy.context.object.data.path_duration = duration
        bpy.ops.object.editmode_toggle()   
        
        objectname.location[0] = 0
        objectname.location[1] = 0
        objectname.location[2] = 0
        
        objectname.rotation_euler[0] = 0
        objectname.rotation_euler[1] = 0
        objectname.rotation_euler[2] = 0

#Class fastpath
class fastpath(bpy.types.Operator):
    """Create a path for the selected object"""
    bl_idname = "object.fastpath"
    bl_label = "fastpath"
    bl_options = {'REGISTER', 'UNDO'}
   
    def invoke(self, context, event):
        
        pathcreation(forwardaxe,upaxe)
        
        return {'FINISHED'}

addon_keymaps = []

def menu_item(self, context):
       self.layout.operator(fastpath.bl_idname, text="fastpath", icon="PLUGIN")
       
def register():
    bpy.utils.register_module(__name__)
    bpy.types.INFO_MT_curve_add.append(menu_item)
    
    global addon_keymaps
    wm = bpy.context.window_manager
    km = wm.keyconfigs.addon.keymaps.new(name = "3D View", space_type = "VIEW_3D")
    kmi = km.keymap_items.new(fastpath.bl_idname, 'LEFTMOUSE', 'DOUBLE_CLICK', ctrl=True)
     
    addon_keymaps.append(km)

    
def unregister():
    bpy.utils.unregister_module(__name__)
    bpy.types.INFO_MT_curve_add.remove(menu_item)
    
    global addon_keymaps
    wm = bpy.context.window_manager
    for km in addon_keymaps:
        for kmi in km.keymap_items:
            km.keymap_items.remove(kmi)
        wm.keyconfigs.addon.keymaps.remove(km)
    addon_keymaps.clear()

if __name__ == "__main__":
    register()

Installation:

1. Start Blender and open User Preferences. Click on the addons tab
2. Click "install from file" , then choose downloaded zip.
3. Check the addon to activate, then save user preferences.

How to use:
Select any objet and press Ctrl+double left mouse button
or press shift + A -> curve ->fastpath
Draw your path with shift + click

The script will change the forward and up axis if the object is a camera !

Is there an update for version blender 3.2