Scaling Multiple Edge Loops when Edge Loops are not straight

[bntheman]

Hi,
I wanted to scale other edge loops the same amount as to the initaial Edge loop. I know the trick for if all of the loops are straight, then you can hold down the ctrl key while draging on the scale axis you do not want to scale. For example, if you wanted to scale in the xy axis only, you you would then hold down the ctrl key while draging on the z scale axis. However, what happens when all of the edge loops are not straight? I thought of maybe creating an array list that will loop through each edge loop and scale it the same exact amount I also think that it should be possible to attach all of the loops to an attribute slider, so that the user will be able to use one attribute to control the amount of scaling in one shot. I was able to create the array list of edge loops, but now I am stuck with creating the attribute slider.

here is my idea so far....

global proc buildEdgeLoopArray(string $initEdges)
{
	int $i = 0;
	string $edgeLoopList[];
 
	for($thisEdge in $initEdges) {
		$edgeLoopList[$i++] = findEdgeLoop($thisEdge);
	}
 
	code for... need to connect $edgeLoopList to the attribute slider
}
 
global proc string findEdgeLoop(string $E)
{
	$Edge = $E;
	string $EdgeList;
	string $loopVertex;
	string $loopEdge;
	int $i = 0;
	int $a = 0;
 
	string $Verts[] = edge2Vertex($Edge);
 
	$loopEdge = $Edge;
	$loopVertex  = $Verts[1];
 
	//create one long string and then tokenize the string with the "," 
	$EdgeList = $loopEdge + ",";
 
	int $stop = 0;
	while ( $stop != 1 ) {
		string $AllFaces[] = vertex2Face($loopVertex);   
		if ( size($AllFaces) != 4 ) { 
			$stop = 1; 
			break;  
		}
 
		$loopEdge = getOppositeEdgeFromVertex( $loopEdge, $loopVertex );
		$loopVertex = inverseVertexFromEdge( $loopVertex, $loopEdge );
 
		if ($loopEdge == $Edge ) { 
			$stop = 1; 
			$a = 1; 
			break; 
		}
 
		$EdgeList = $EdgeList + $loopEdge + ",";
 
	}
 
	string $EdgeList[] = inverseArray($EdgeList);
	$loopEdge = $Edge;
	$loopVertex = $Verts[0];
 
	$stop = 0;
	while ( $stop != 1 ) {	
		if ( $a == 1 ) { 
			$stop = 1; 
			break; 
		}
 
		string $AllFaces[] = vertex2Face($loopVertex);   
		if ( size($AllFaces) != 4 ) { 
			$stop = 1; 
			break; 
		}
 
		$loopEdge = getOppositeEdgeFromVertex( $loopEdge, $loopVertex );
		$loopVertex = inverseVertexFromEdge( $loopVertex, $loopEdge );
 
		if(loopEdge = $edge) {
			$stop = 1;
			break;
		}
 
		$EdgeList = $EdgeList + $loopEdge + ",";
 
	}
	return $EdgeList;
}

PS. The findEdgeLoop is based off of the MJPolyTools Loop Select. The only 2 things different are I got rid of the main for loop which is not needed since we are only finding an edgeloop from one edge. The other thing is that I removed the select edgelists because I do not want to select the edges, I just want to find the edges.

[joojaa]

Yes nice idea except it dont work. The real problem is not in what you ask thats trivial. Problem is that scaling doenst actually work the way you think, unless your box modeling, with very bad topography in which case its easy enough. See the problem is where to put the scale center? What happens if the loop is corked? They often are you know, not straight but curved in some way.

There is a secondary problem, if the loops cross they will move the crossing vertex 2 times easy to fix but totally unnecessary work.

You may find moving in normal direction does much the same thing, it just has a much better local sense than scale. So the real problem is how to place the pivot of the scale so it makes sense.

Anyway:

Dont use the mel procedure findEdgeloop to find the edge loop, if your using maya 2008 or higher then theres actually a command that accomplishes the edge loop selection, its also MUCH MUCH more speedier then iterating in mel. So you can just take any one edge in selection expand it to edge loop.

$oneLoop = `polySelectSp -q -loop $edge`;

Something to nude you one the way for now. yes you need to COMPUTE the placement of the pivot!

{
  $selection = `ls -sl`;
  $size=size($selection);
  while($size>0){
    $sel=`ls -sl`;
    // the problem is that unlike the tool mel 
    // doesnt actually auto compute the center
    // you need to do it here. 
    $sel=`polySelectSp -q -loop $sel[0]`;
    scale -cp -r 2 2 2 $sel;
    select -d $sel;
    $size=size(`ls -sl`);
    print $sel;
  }
  select $selection;
}

Second dont think, GUI item. Its essentially the wrong way to think about maya development. Think, nodes. Now 3 nodes come in mind:  polyMoveVertex, blendShape and trasformGeometry.

See the act of making a node to do it, means it works with exisisting construction history and you get the GUI for free! Not just that you get a gui you can return to later.

Anyway i would do this for you to show that it doesn't actually work very well in most situations but haven't got the time.

PS: dont mine the net for a script that kind of does almost what you want. You will go wrong so many ways because your dining a history of ways that ,may not be current OR never were good to begin with.

PPS: if you make a tool and it dont create a node. Your doing something wrong!

[bntheman]

Joojaa,
I am totally amazed by your reply. I did not think there would be any problems.  True, a cork screw edge loop would not work, but I am not looking for an all problem solution. All I want is something that will quickly scale 32 edge loops, which are closed edge loops, without having to do all of them by hand one at a time.

Here is my problem. I am trying model a low polygonal bridge. I have already created the roads and the long tubes that gets tied into the braces. For the long tubes, I created a polygonal cylinder and extruded one end to follow along a curved path. I then deleted the construction history and continued on with modeling the braces. By braces, I mean that long tower looking thing that goes from the bottom of the ocean all the way to the top of the bridge where the long tubes it gets tied into. The problem is that I modeled the braces with a different reference and by not following the scale factor of the rest of my bridge, the braces now do not fit. I tried scaling the braces, but I could not get the correct height between the road and the top brace above the road, which means I will need to make the tubes thinner. However, scaling 32 edge loops one at a time is going to be a teadous process.

What I have in mind is, doing something where one object, node, or attribute would behave like how the construction histroy works on an etruded nurbs circle along a curved path. Meaning, once the nurbs circle has been extruded, and you have not deleted the construction history, you can play with the scale attributes of the orginal nurbs circle, and all of the nurb rings of the extruded surface will scale the same amount as with the original nurbs circle. So are you saying that this would not be possible because of the pivots? Why can't I just have the script scale each edge loop in a for loop, as like I would be doing it by hand, but this would be automatic?

Also, for right now, I am still using Maya 6.0, because I do not have my other computer connected which has Maya 2008. So thats why I was using the findEdgeLoop function. It kind of sucks that I cannot use Maya 2008, but I have to deal with it.

[joojaa]

Yes yes i get what it is your doing, i can see beyond what you ask youknow been here done that. Its not hard its just wastefull. Im offering you a easier alternative way of thinking.

quote myself:

You may find moving in normal direction does much the same thing,

Why can't I just have the script scale each edge loop in a for loop,
as like I would be doing it by hand, but this would be automatic?

You can, its just counter productive. See turns out you want to move in normal direction. Just use move in normal direction instead, it does the same thing, select the vertices you want to scale, and use the movetool in normal mode or use the node. Heres how:

polyMoveVertex;

Now you MAY want some finesse:

{
  $bulk = `polyMoveVertex`;
  // theres a bug in this nodes creator 
  // that dont rename it with name
  $bulkNew = `rename $bulk "bulkMeUp#"`;
  for($attrib in `listAttr $bulkNew`)
     setAttr -k off ($bulkNew+"."+$attrib);
  aliasAttr addBulk ($bulkNew+".localTranslateZ");
  setAttr -k on ($bulkNew+".addBulk");
}

Now i grant you this assumes the tube is open in the end and has somewhat uniform radius (tough that would be a problem) it might NOT be in wich case uncap it a and recap but seriously THEN you may want to have a shell extrude instead, if you need one gimme a holler i have a version fo a old tool that you might want to use instead.

You still want to do it the way you started out to do? You wouldnt get one node you would get in this case 32. IF you still need this then i can do this but its just a bit meh...

True, a cork screw edge loop would not work, but I am not looking for an all problem solution.
All I want is something that will quickly scale 32 edge loops

And if that was your target then your probably not in the easiest pathway.

See Im not interested in how you want things done, im interested in getting them done. You should also not be inetersted in how either. Part of the problem is that how you want them done is more wroks that you should need to have. Its not so much impossible just wrong step to take. Just like 50% of pople out out there, you view what you have done as a investement that must be protected. Even if thet investment is actually stopping you form getting what you want more easily. You know what its not a investement until it works. Im just trying to avoid all the pitfalls you made.

What I have in mind is, doing something where one object, node, or attribute would behave

Well you see mel doent make nodes of thsi kind. you have to choose form the ones you have. Mel is not the one thet makes node internals, it makes nodes. Thats it. So your options are find a node that does what you want. OR use maya API. But as i told you maya has a better way.

*now if you have another reason then tell thst reason isntead and ill develop a tool that actually does what you want in a predictable fashion.