Subpatch toggling to speed up refresh

[MoodyB]

You don't need to activate an expression via armatures to do this....

When you've added your armature, make the type 'click', action 'command' then click the '+' beside the 'add action' popup. You'll see the available commands list popup below ( it defaults to ' Activate Command Port ' ). It's listed under here as ' metaNURBS on/off ' :)

[DMack]

Right...I think I get what you mean but surely won't it try and metanurn the control object...ie likely a NULL, rather than the main mesh?....I mean how does it know what to metanurn on and off? In the meantime, I used the expression thingy (multiple expressions all in one box seperated by spaces....amazed that worked) but let me know if I'm wrong....I really don't want to learn this sw badly...nothing worse than getting entrenched in bad/inefficient ways of working....

[ThomasHelzle]

"I mean how does it know what to metanurn on and off?"

hehehe - exactly :-)
There is a plugin for that: http://www.zoogono.com/plugindetail.cfm?pid=17
It allows you to fire expressions directly from drag and click armatures.

Having multiple commands in one line is good practice, but you may want to follow some rules:
Messiah has two kinds of expressions. One kind is something like the metanurbs toggle, it does what you tell it to and just delivers you a 0 when it fails and a 1 when it works.
The other kind is stuff that actually delivers values, that you can then assign to channels.

Now think that messiah gets back values from either of them, even if you are not interested in them. Therefore it is best to just "Add" the results: "Command1 + Command2..." - to messiah this will look like "1 + 1" which makes perfect sense while "1 1" isn't that clear... :)

For the other kind of expression where you need the result you will take care of it anyway.

I hope this helps,

Cheers!

[MoodyB]

Sorry, my mistake :( What I suggested turns them on/off for the selected object.

[DMack]

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for your reply....I'm slightly confused by the need for the plugin....armatures allow you, on a click, to execute an expression (I write mine in the comands area and then simply copy and paste into the expression field in the armatures expression box (when you have execute expression slected as the action!)...why the need for the plugin? I am sure you have a good answer....I've seen you other postst and you clearly have a very very very good knowlegde of the sw!

Thanks for the expression tip...yeah I can see that adding a '+' would make more sense to the software - I'll do that in future...really good to get this kind of insight. It's always good to know why things work rather than that they just work.

Hey Thomas.....(or Joe Cosman)....it would be really good to have one of you create some tutorial DVD's going over the programme generally - there was a really good set for LW - about 8 DVDs!...for example explaining how to use the graph editor as efficiently as poss with lots of hints and tips....how to write good expressions (like that tip you just gave Thomas)...how to get the most out of the edit sphere and cood system(still throws me sometimes), how springs work and general hints and tip on how to work efficiently....etc....Don't get me wrong, I think the manuals are good....just sometimes it's really useful to see someone who really knows the software applying their knowledge/experience and who can explain why things are the way they are....so you get a thorough grounding from which you can start to experiment for yourself. I got the LW DVD's for someone else to learn LW...but had a look over them myself and I was amazed how much I learnt (OK maybe I'm not modest enough! he he he)...it certainly made me appraoch certain areas differently. I can't help but think that with MA getting more and more popular the DVD's would be a hit!

PS No probs MoodyB...I did this to start with only to have other characters nurbing...as if they had a mind of their own.....spooky!

[ThomasHelzle]

hahaha, no, I have no good answer - seems that the expression action is now included which in earlier days was a separate plugin. Sorry for that. Oldtimerbrainbug.

The problem with making DVDs is simply manpower. I think Joe does his CDs as fast as he can (you can't get that kind of superb quality in a week) and I concentrate currently on writing plugins. Most users also have fulltimejobs so there isn't enough time left.
Your idea is very good and I am sure that it will happen at some point in time but just not tomorrow :)

For now we must all support each other as good as possible so the knowledge builds up. If you have something useful, send it to www.zoogono.com or post it there yourself so things can grow naturally.

Cool that I was able to help :)

[DMack]

I so know that feeling of using software as it was a few versions ago...I guess that's why it's so important that when new versions get released ALL the new bits and pieces, additions and bugfixes are mentioned in a 'New to version 5.0C'...so that you can grow with the software and use the latest methods!

Gotta say - I am really impressed with the PMG community!

[ThomasHelzle]

hehehe - the what's new sections for messiah are actually very good - it is more my old brain that didn't save that info to disk :)

[chikega]

Hey Thomas.....(or Joe Cosman)....it would be really good to have one of you create some tutorial DVD's going over the programme generally - there was a really good set for LW - about 8 DVDs!...for example explaining how to use the graph editor as efficiently as poss with lots of hints and tips....how to write good expressions (like that tip you just gave Thomas)...how to get the most out of the edit sphere and cood system(still throws me sometimes), how springs work and general hints and tip on how to work efficiently....etc....I can't help but think that with MA getting more and more popular the DVD's would be a hit!

Dan Ablan, are you getting all this down? :)

[DMack]

Thanks Chikega.

Dan....Joe Cosman does some really excellent CD tutorials using a project based approach, covering specific topics such as rigging or animating (OK that's not a terribly specific area!) or mini tuts...What I think would compliment these CD's really well is a more general approach, probably not too project based (I want to be able to dip in and out without having to 'get to that stage') that covers all areas of the programme (start with animate - that's the one I have - he he he ). I found the approach of the Lightwave DVD's (Desktop Images I think - they had red covers) really useful...just covering each aspect/feature of the programme in turn...explaining how it works, why it works that way and how to get the most out of it including hints and tips...that would probably fill a few DVD's already.....then another DVD might look at efficient ways of working....for example parenting expressions to void expressions so you can collapse the tree and have a screen that doesn't make you panic!...or using groups....or armatures that not only control the visibility of your characters control armatures but also affect the item list...I would go on but...well I'm kinda new to the software so I have little experience!! - Hence the desire for some super cool DVD tutorials!! I learnt a lot from the Cosman CD's but they need complimenting with a programme feature orientated set of DVD's - Thanks in advance (he he he) - Can't wait to get them! (he he he)...
Oh and Dan....tommorrow would be good!

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