scripts (2)

[jhgiii06]

I am a soft user and am looking into learning a language but don't know where to begin. I've used expressions and am pretty able in doing so but would like to expand my education. So far I'm looking at Java script as base in which to start as I percieve it to be somewhat universal in approach.
Frist, can anyone make any suggestions as to my JS choice or perhaps recommend another?
Second, can anyone suggest an approach for a newbie who would like to get into scripting.
Ultimatley I would like to see myself able to write my own shaders and whatnot, as well as expanding my use of expressions. I plan to impliment this new skill on XSI as a new platform with what I understand are enhanced scripting capabilities. Any and all comments are appreciated and welcome.

Cheers,
Whiskey

[henryd]

JScript is Microsoft's implementation of JavaScript. It's not a bad choice for scripting in XSI although most examples are in VBScript.

Probably the best way to get started with scripting is to look at the commands that appear in the History Log as you interact with XSI. You can drag & drop or copy & paste the lines you want into the Script Editor and build simple scripts that way.

To get more sophisticated, you can look at other scripts. Many XSI commands are actually scripts that you can look at if you're curious. You can also download scripts from Softimage's web site.

[cowsmanaut]

Hi all,

I tried to post this before but found no reffrence to it.. so either I wasn't allowed to post new subjects since I'm a new user or there was a java error or for some odd reason it was decided to be a stupid question.

I am trying to script a TRUE symmery function that does NOT move the center of the object which is what happens in every script I found for this so far.

I have looked through the manuals at the college where I'm helping at as well as the help button for scripts showing syntax and commands (this stuf is vague at best) as well as pouring over other examples.

I have started by setting up a name for the selection called 'selected' (dim slected ; set selected = getvalue ("selectionlist"))

then I get stumped here. Posx is used for grabbing the position in x right? I want to move this item by it's global position.

The action is simple really.. scale it by -1 in it's local axis and translate it by multipling by -1 in its global axis. The defining axis is user defined.

so most of this I can get it's just defining the global location of the object and then using the defined number in the equasion.

I tried this:

dim objx
set objx = getvalue("selected.posx")

now this should set the 'objx' to the x value of the selected object as previously defined in my first line right??

I've tried it also as ("selected.kine.posx") which is suggested int he help this also gives me an error.. in desperation I tried to use 'selectionlist' instead of 'selected' which also didn't work.

if there is an answer to this then I'm blind and some one please tell me where to read up on it..

[devdoka]

I wrote a tutorial that covers exactly what you're inquiring about. If you go to the self-paced learning section of the Softimage education website, you'll find them at the bottom of the page:

http://www.softimage.com/Education/XSI/Sel...als/default.htm

This tutorial covers how to retrieve and manipulate information using XSI commands. I'm in the process of updating the tutorial for using the XSI object model for v2.0.

If you have any more questions, give me a shout.

Matt

---

Matt Lind
Animator / Technical Director
Softimage certified instructor:
Softimage|3D
Softimage|XSI
speye_21@hotmail.com

[cowsmanaut]

ACK!!

Ok when I run this script it doesn't return the values I place into GA, GB and GC.. it just runs the command with out the values which mean effectively it does nothing but ask for information and do nothing with it. I have no idea what I've done wrong but perhaps someone can enlighten me?

'starting a new function and calling it "GeoAprox"
GeoAprox
Function GeoAprox

'if XSI decides to screw up
On Error Resume Next

'get the selected object for later use
dim selected
set selected = getvalue("selectionlist")

'checking if the Selection is valid or not
if Selected = "" then
MsgBox "Nothing selected"
exit Function
end if

'In case the user Changed the name of the Scene Root
'Find the Scene_Root object
set mySceneRoot = EnumElements("Project", TRUE)
set mySceneRoot = SIFilter(mySceneRoot, "Scene", TRUE )(0)
set mySceneRoot = EnumElements( mySceneRoot , TRUE)
set mySceneRoot = SIFilter(mySceneRoot, "SceneObject", TRUE)(0)

'in case someone as already created a custom parameter named "Geoap"
set geoap_name = AddProp ("Custom_parameter_list",mySceneRoot, , "Geoap").Value("Value")

'adding custom parameters to choose from
SIAddCustomParameter geoap_name, "Surface U", siUByte, 0.000, 1, 10,siClassifVisualization , 0, 0.000, 0.000
SIAddCustomParameter geoap_name, "Surface V", siUByte, 0.000, 1, 10,siClassifVisualization , 0, 0.000, 0.000
SIAddCustomParameter geoap_name, "Subdivision", siUByte, 0.000, 0.000, 4,siClassifVisualization , 0, 0.000, 0.000

'Creating variables for later use
dim GA
dim GB
dim GC

'Opening the CustomParameter for the user to Interact with
InspectObj mySceneRoot & "." & geoap_name,,"Geometry Aproximation",4

'setting variables "GA,GB&GC" to hold the value you set for the U&V
set GA = GetValue(geoap_name &".Surface_U")
set GB = GetValue(geoap_name &".Surface_V")
set GC = GetValue(geoap_name &".Subdivision")

'setting the u and v to those values
AddProp "GeomApprox"
SetValue (selected &".geomapprox.gapproxvwustep"), GA
SetValue (selected &".geomapprox.gapproxvwvstep"), GB
SetValue (selected &".geomapprox.gapproxmosl"), GC

'deleting the Custom Parameter
DeleteObj mySceneRoot & "." & geoap_name

end Function

[devdoka]

You've run into a few different problems which contribute to the errors. I'm not entirely familiar with VBscript as I usually use JScript, but I think you only have to use the 'set' command when the variable in question is to receive an aggregate data type or from a function.

Therefore, try this:

' setting variables "GA,GB&GC" to hold the value you set for the U&V
GA = GetValue(geoap_name &".Surface_U")
GB = GetValue(geoap_name &".Surface_V")
GC = GetValue(geoap_name &".Subdivision")

2) If you want to apply a value to a collection, you need to address the collection members individually with a 'For' loop, or use the braces syntax to apply to the whole group:

For i = 0 to selected.count - 1
' do something
next

  -- OR --

set selected = "{" & selected & "}"

3) When you use the SetValue() command to apply a value, there are occasions you can use abbreviated parameter names, but you should try to use the full names when starting out as it makes code easier to read and troubleshoot:

'setting the u and v to those values
AddProp "GeomApprox"
SetValue (selected &".geomapprox.gapproxhwd.gapproxvwustep"), GA
SetValue (selected &".geomapprox.gapproxhwd.gapproxvwvstep"), GB
SetValue (selected &".geomapprox.gapproxmo.gapproxmosl"), GC

4) Finally, you should probably test the type of geometry you're dealing with before using the setvalue command so you don't try to apply an illegal property or value:

dim objtype
objtype = selected(0).type

if ( objtype = "surfmsh" ) Then
SetValue (selected &".geomapprox.gapproxhwd.gapproxvwustep"), GA
SetValue (selected &".geomapprox.gapproxhwd.gapproxvwvstep"), GB
else if ( objtype = "polymsh" ) Then
SetValue (selected &".geomapprox.gapproxmo.gapproxmosl"), GC
end if

Hope this helps,

Matt

---

Matt Lind
Animator / Technical Director
Softimage certified instructor:
Softimage|3D
Softimage|XSI
speye_21@hotmail.com

[cowsmanaut]

Hi Matt, (since I imagine you'll be answering this one too)

Ok What I need to do is to grab the value of the currently selected points and then scale just those points.

the point:
I'm trying to make an alignment tool so that by tagging a ragged line of points you can straighten it out.

So, when I go to do it (I'm doing this with the ScaleUV command) I get the information from it and use that info as a basis for refrence then I go to the glossery for the command and look at it's info.. What I get pretty much is no information on how to get it to scale the points that are selected in the texture editor window. If I cut and paste from the log and run it in the script editor it often will scale the points on the object rather than in the texture window which is what scaleuv is right?? just the UV's not the actual points.. and even when I eventually get that working I need to still figure out how to feed it the currently selected points since that value will change depending on the object and the selection..

I hope version 2 is far less vague.. How did you find out all this information?

[devdoka]

There are scripts available on XSI Net that manipulate UV's in similar fashion to what you're attempting. See the texture section for scripts.

In essence, you'll want to become familiar with the XSI object model instead of relying on XSI commands. With the object model, you can get deeper into the system and work more efficiently.

Matt

---

Matt Lind
Animator / Technical DIrector
Softimage certifed instructor:
Softimage|3D
Softimage|XSI
speye_21@hotmail.com

[cowsmanaut]

www.xsi.net

I'm guessing it's not that one.. since that is an adult site.. oddly enough.

What XSI net are you reffering to? what's the URL

[devdoka]

I'll give you a hint: Netview.

Matt

---

Matt Lind
Animator / Technical Director
Softimage certified instructor:
Softimage|3D
Softimage|XSI
speye_21@hotmail.com