mysdn wrote:

> on second thought, I don't think I can use
> // cabinet
> #declare CABINET = union {
>    // case
>    object{
>       box_ //
> because as I said each cabinet may have different characteristics

As Chris already said you can use a macro for this. In addition
to his suggestion, note that macros can have parameters and do not
need to use global variables. From a software engineering view that
would be preferred because it avoids conflicts with other macros
or variable names you wish to use for something else (the name
of a parameter is *local* to a macro, as is a variable which is
declared using #local instead of #declare within the macro):

   #macro Cabinet(Width,Height,Depth,Thickness,
                  Door_Thickness,Door_OpenAngle, HasDoor
                  Cabinet_Texture, Door_Texture)
   union
   {
     // Cabinet
     difference
     {
       box {<0,0,0><Width,Height,Depth>}
       ...
     }
   }

   #end

You would then need to call it like

   Cabinet(0.6,0.9,0.6,0.012,0.02,0,true)


To not always have to specify all parameters, you
can then specialize this with mechanisms like

   #macro CabinetModelA(Width,Height,Depth,Door_OpenAngle)
     #local T_DOOR    = texture {...}
     #local T_CABINET = texture {...}
     Cabinet(Width,Height,Depth,0.012,0.02,Door_OpenAngle,true,
             T_DOOR,T_CABINET)
   #end

   #macro CabinetModelB(Width,Height,Depth)
     #local T_DOOR    = texture {...}
     #local T_CABINET = texture {...}
     Cabinet(Width,Height,Depth,0.012,0.02,0,false,
             T_DOOR,T_CABINET)
   #end

   CabinetModelA(1,1.5,0.4,30)

   CabinetModelB(0.5,0.7,0.5)


Finally, you might wish to have a look at some existing
scene source code before losing yourself in the details of
your own. E.g., have a look at IRTC images such as those under
http://www.irtc.org/irtc/irtc?_n&pg=ViewSummary&id=StillImages_September-October2006
Many images provide a "source" link (and most of those are
done with POV-Ray). This helps prevent reinventing the wheel.
Reusing an object is useful, but not exactly "brilliant" ;)

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