CGTalk - CPT Stepchild with Iterator question

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rodney71

05-05-2005, 05:01 AM

I like to use StepChild a lot with a loft object to generate splines on the fly.
It usually works fine if I use Jenna's Iterator on a single spline child object. However, if I turn up the count (number of splines generated) in the AM of Iterator, the Step child tag on the loft nurbs generator atomatically places all the generated splines inside a null object...and the loft ceases to work.

Also, using tweener does the same thing. Try tweening between two splines and placing the tween in a stepchild tag. It generates all the resulting splines inside a null object and the loft won't work.

Does anyone know how to avoid having the splines placed inside a null?

pasto

05-05-2005, 10:01 AM

It doesn't generate any null objects here.
I don't understand your question, why using an iterator with only one iteration ?
Works perfectly here like this :

http://pasto.alterheberg.org/Images/CPT01.jpg

Whatever (i must be missing something) if it creates a null try putting this null (with all the splines
generated by the Stepchild) in a 'hierarchy2spline' (found in the CPT palette menu).

Like this :

http://pasto.alterheberg.org/Images/CPT02.jpg

Hope this helps

pasto

05-05-2005, 10:05 AM

By the way your callygraphic work looks very nice.

rodney71

05-05-2005, 07:42 PM

THanks for the effort Pasto, but Hierarchy to Spline won't work for a loft object which requires a series of splines. Here is a sample file I roughed together to show what I'm talking about. If I use Iterator or Tweener in their simplest form then there are no problems. when I add a path spline to add more control to the flow of iterated splines, then all of a sudden the step child tag interprets things differently and automatically puts the generated splines in a Null object.

see if you can make sense of it. http://www.rodsg.com/test/steptest.c4d

rodney71

05-05-2005, 07:43 PM

oh, thanks for the complement as well. I'm glad you appreciate it.

JoelOtron

05-05-2005, 08:29 PM

I've had this exact same thing happen.

You can convert the iterator instances into stepchild objects that can be used in your loftnurbs.

You can add a 2nd spline to the heirrarchy below the spline child, and stepchild continues to keep the splines live in your loftnurbs.

But if you change the settings in iterator to "spline alignment" the splines end up in a null. A bug I guess--maybe post over at CA?

pasto

05-05-2005, 10:17 PM

Only happens when using the path option of the Tweener here.
I managed to get a result with the hierarchy2spline but I guess it is not what you want...
STEPCHILD (http://pasto.alterheberg.org/Images/steptest.c4d)

I guess you are aware that Stepchild doesn't stand to be touched or moved.
Please post that on Core forum. Darf anyone ?...

TimC

05-05-2005, 11:11 PM

I guess you are aware that Stepchild doesn't stand to be touched or moved.
Please post that on Core forum. Darf anyone ?...

Alas, it seems that stepchild has been orphaned.

It is the anarchic child that cannot be tamed! Damn I'll miss CPT.

Tim

JDP

05-08-2005, 01:37 AM

Hi rodney71, if you change the origin offset on the path page of Tweener in the file you posted to anything between 1 and 4% and 55 and 104% stepchild will not produce a null, any number between 5 and 54,105 and 154, 205 and 254 etc will produce a null . Seems to be a strange bug. Stepchild produces nulls in some situations and not in others. In one file I had if I set alignment to a positive a Null was produced i.e +X but not if the alignment was set to -X.:sad:

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