Folks,
I have about completed a new plugin that I built for my usage.  I am posting
here to see if there is broader interest and, if so, I'll package for
distribution.

The idea is based on the fact that I a apply an object in a Moray scene and
then either need to:

1. Apply the transforms of that object to another object
2. Clear the transforms on my object, do some *work* with it and then
re-apply the original transforms

What I have created are some new menu items for Moray ... these are:

o Copy Transform - Saves the transform of the currently selected object in a
clipboard
o Paste Transform - Pastes a previously copied set of transforms to the
currently selected object
o Save Transform - Saves the transform in a list of transforms and returns a
transform ID via a popup box
o View Transforms - Views the previously saved transforms and allows me to
select one as the current clipboard transform for a subsequent "Paste
Transform" operation.

Again, I don't know if there is broader use for this than just me.  Comments
welcome.

Neil

Post a reply to this message

news:41d49f68$1@news.povray.org...
> Folks,
> The idea is based on the fact that I a apply an object in a Moray scene
and
> then either need to:
>
> 1. Apply the transforms of that object to another object
> 2. Clear the transforms on my object, do some *work* with it and then
> re-apply the original transforms
>
Hi Neil
You are a stakhanovist for plugins, aren't you? ;-)
When I need these functions to be performed, I put my object in a group with
"Leave added objects in their current position and orientation" box
UN-checked so that it is transformed by the whole group tranformation.
When I need it to be reset I select the group then in the CGS parameters I
select the nested object and click the Ungroup button.
But this is not completely satisfying and does not cover all needs.
Does your plugin actually apply the transformations to the object or is it
afterwards performed thru the plugin ?
That is the kind of usefull tool which might be implemented natively in
Moray.

Marc

Post a reply to this message

...
> That is the kind of usefull tool which might be implemented natively in
> Moray.
>
> Marc
I get the impression that this is not an object, but an entry in the 'Edit'
menu and/or icon in the toolbar. If so, it would look like it was 'natively
in Moray'. It would speed up the handling of transformations between
objects, copying all 9 (18? with local) entry's at the same time.

Have I got the general idea right Neil?

Stephen

Post a reply to this message

Guys,
Stephen,
Yes, that's the idea.  It adds 4 new entries in the menu.  Once the plugin
is installed, you can't tell that it isn't part of Moray.  There is no new
object and nothing new is saved in the MDL file.

It is simply a copy/paste/save of the transformations similar to what you
would do with a copy/paste in any tool.

Marc,
Your transformation idea is fantastic.  I hadn't thought about that before.
It does indeed sublimate much of my intended use pattern.
You gave me my word for the day:
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=Stakhanovites

In a previous lifer I used to be a Windows C++/MFC programmer and the Moray
SDK is actually quite intuitive once you get your mind around it.  When I
find myself using it and wanting some function, sometimes its easier for me
to craft out a plugin.... and besides ... I am on vacation :-)  (Its kinda
sad that I do programming for vacation ... oh well)

Neil




"StephenS" <sshonfield(at)ottawa(dot)net> wrote in message
news:41d54176$1@news.povray.org...
> ...
> > That is the kind of usefull tool which might be implemented natively in
> > Moray.
> >
> > Marc
> I get the impression that this is not an object, but an entry in the
'Edit'
> menu and/or icon in the toolbar. If so, it would look like it was
'natively
> in Moray'. It would speed up the handling of transformations between
> objects, copying all 9 (18? with local) entry's at the same time.
>
> Have I got the general idea right Neil?
>
> Stephen
>
>

Post a reply to this message

news:41d57d72$1@news.povray.org...
> Guys,
> Stephen,
> Yes, that's the idea.  It adds 4 new entries in the menu.  Once the plugin
> is installed, you can't tell that it isn't part of Moray.  There is no new
> object and nothing new is saved in the MDL file.
>
> It is simply a copy/paste/save of the transformations similar to what you
> would do with a copy/paste in any tool.
That's great and will become a very helpfull tool :-)
>
> Marc,
> Your transformation idea is fantastic.  I hadn't thought about that
before.
> It does indeed sublimate much of my intended use pattern.
> You gave me my word for the day:
> http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=Stakhanovites
>
> In a previous lifer I used to be a Windows C++/MFC programmer and the
Moray
> SDK is actually quite intuitive once you get your mind around it.  When I
> find myself using it and wanting some function, sometimes its easier for
me
> to craft out a plugin.... and besides ... I am on vacation :-)  (Its kinda
> sad that I do programming for vacation ... oh well)


Well well ...:-p

I posted few weeks ago about a spline editor plugin.(though I can't find my
previous post now)
I know Mike Weber's B-Spline but  it exports a lot of objects (but only
spheres, cylinders or triangles) along a spline and not the spline itself
It 'd be usefull to have a spline creator/editor that displays the spline of
the selected type (linear, quadratic, cubic or natural )and exports just the
spline declaration for a later use in InsertCode or POV-include

Marc

Post a reply to this message

Marc,
I could probably do the coding of the plugin .. .but here the thing... I am
mathematically challenged.  Prior to playing in raytracing, I had no idea
what a "spline" is.  This might be a useful project but I would need help
with the math.

Neil

Post a reply to this message

news:41d6d67a$1@news.povray.org...
> Marc,
> I could probably do the coding of the plugin .. .but here the thing... I
am
> mathematically challenged.  Prior to playing in raytracing, I had no idea
> what a "spline" is.  This might be a useful project but I would need help
> with the math.
>
> Neil
>
Eeeerrr I can help you with the doc, but with maths, I 'm afraid I can't
(copy/paste from POV3.5 doc 6.1.9)
Splines give you a way to define 'pathways' through your scenes. You specify
a series of points, and POV-Ray interpolates to make a curve connecting
them. Every point along the spline has a numerical value. A good example of
a spline is the path of a moving object: the spline itself would be the path
traced out by the object and the 'parameter' would be time; as time changes
the object's position moves along the spline.
Therefore, given a time reference you could use this spline to find the
position of the object. In fact, splines are very well suited to animation.

regards
Marc

Post a reply to this message