Scripted plugin - creating a shape plugin with a spline linked to two nodes

By Harmalarm · 2011-11-01

Description

Hi there,

I am in the process of writing a scripted plugin which can do the following;

create a splineshape between two different nodes. When creating the plugin object, I need to initialize a node picking tool, which I cannot seem to get done. Second, when the spline is generated, it needs to be updated when the linked nodes are moved. I suppose this is done using shape instances? I just cannot find any reference to start from.

There is so little information about this in the help files, I figured I would post it in here.

I currently have this as a base for my plugin;


plugin shape Path_segment
name:"Path Segment"
classID:#(0x48238272, 0x48206285)
extends:line replaceUI:true version:1
category:"Carmatools"
(
	local last_n1pos,last_n2pos,thesegment
	
	parameters main rollout:params 
	(
		node1_param type:#node ui:node1 
		node2_param type:#node ui:node2
	)
	
	rollout params "Params"
	(
		label node1_label "Node1:" across:2 offset:[0,3] align:#right 
		pickbutton node1 autodisplay:true
		label node2_label "Node2:" across:2 offset:[0,3] align:#right 
		pickbutton node2 autodisplay:true
		on node1 picked obj do
		(
			node1_param = obj
			node1.text = obj.name
			last_n1pos = obj.pos
		)
		on node2 picked obj do
		(
			node2_param = obj
			node2.text = obj.name
			last_n2pos = obj.pos
		)
	)
	
	tool create
	(
		thesegment = splineshape pos:node1_param.pos
		addKnot thesegment 1 #corner #line node1_param.pos 
		addKnot thesegment 1 #corner #line node2_param.pos
		updateShape thesegment
		thesegment

	)
)

obviously the tool section is a dummy and needs the proper code for my goals.

Has anybody done anything similar or can anybody help me out? Perhaps some of you have seen a similar script before and can point me in that direction?

Comments (2)

Anubis · 2011-11-07

why you need to make this as plugin? that's mission impossible. you can made it as mouse tool or macro script.

Harmalarm · 2011-11-06

I have been able to invoke the node picking tool, and can generate a spline between two nodes. The spline vertices however are not properly linked with the nodes, so the splineshape doesn't update when I move the nodes. Somehow I feel I should work with link contraints rather then updating the splineshape... This is what I currently have. Help still appreciated! :)


plugin shape Path_segment
name:"Path Segment"
classID:#(0x48238272, 0x48206285)
extends:line replaceUI:true version:1
category:"Carmatools"
(
	local last_n1pos, last_n2pos,thesegment
	
	fn createsegment pointA pointB =
	(
		ss = SplineShape pos:pointA
		addNewSpline ss
		addKnot ss 1 #corner #line PointA
		addKnot ss 1 #corner #line PointB
		updateShape ss
		ss
	)

	parameters main rollout:params 
	(
		node1_param type:#node ui:node1 
		node2_param type:#node ui:node2
	)
	
	rollout params "Params"
	(
		label node1_label "Node1:" across:2 offset:[0,3] align:#right 
		pickbutton node1 autodisplay:true
		label node2_label "Node2:" across:2 offset:[0,3] align:#right 
		pickbutton node2 autodisplay:true
		on params load do
		(
			if node1_param != undefined do
			(
				node1.text = node1_param.name
			)
		)
		on node1 picked obj do
		(
			node1_param = obj
			node1.text = obj.name
			last_n1pos = obj.pos
		)
		on node2 picked obj do
		(
			node2_param = obj
			node2.text = obj.name
			last_n2pos = obj.pos
		)
	)
	
	tool create
	(
		on start do
		(
			fn shapeFilt o = classof o == Path_node
			
			local thesegment, obj1pos, obj2pos
			
			obj1 = pickobject filter:shapeFilt
			
			if isValidNode obj1 do
			(
				obj2 = pickObject rubberBand:obj1.pos rubberBandColor:yellow
				if obj2 != undefined and obj2 != obj1 do
				(
					ss = SplineShape pos:obj1.pos
					addNewSpline ss
					addKnot ss 1 #corner #line obj1.pos
					addKnot ss 1 #corner #line obj2.pos
					updateShape ss
					thesegment = instance ss
					delete ss
					thesegment
				)
				gw.updateScreen()
			)
		)
	)
)