"closest Point On Curve" Node?

[uiron]

ok so we've got closestPointOnSurface, closestPointOnMesh, but where's the closestPointOnCurve? :]

i've got a curve and a transform, and based on those i'd like to get a curve parameter that represents a closest point on that curve for given transform pivot (or whatever other input, e.g. worldspace coordinates).
i'd like to avoid building surfaces from that curve, then try to get away with closestPointOnSurface/Mesh.

i can see there's MFnNurbsCurve:: closestPoint in API, is there a standard node that wraps this behaviour?

[joojaa]

You can find the code for the node in the devkit samples, just compile it (no need to make it). It used to be part of the core install but they have removed it for some reason, but they have moved closest point of mesh to the core install instead. Maybe theres some political reason for this? Or maybe theres some X amount fo things they can keep in the core?

[jbihl]

Try the pointOnCurveInfo node. Using an input curve, it gives out a world space position & tangent at a given parameter along the curve. I usually use a tangentConstraint to get rotation information though. That way you can define an up vector using another transform.