Passing TP particles from group to group

[AdamT]

AFAIK there's no way to address TP particles by index number. I think you can only use the parameters listed in the GetData node (Position, Velocity, Age, Life, Size, Scale, Mass, Alignment, Spin, Shape, DT Factor, and Random Seed).

[JeremyW]

OK then, time to think out of the box. Forget the indexing idea.
What I am really after is that group1 particles are randomly (or seemingly so) passed onto group2 over time.
How about this: The passage event would be when a stationary particle (from my Matrix object) is hit by an invivible moving particle from some emitter (group3). When a group1 particle is hit by a group3 one, then it is passed into group2.

Are we there yet?

[Per-Anders]

Sure you can use the particle index. THe particle port is also convertable to an integer (the index) just plug it in to whatever. You change a particles group using the PGroup node, you control whether it changes a particular particles group by connecting the condition to it's "On" port. BTW I sent you an example of how to do your bubbles thing using mograph or TP.

[paulselhi]

passing particles from one group to another is a classic case of TP being..well.. a pain in the ar*e

Your best bet for what you mentioned in the post above is to use a particle particle collision setup, kindly made by srek in the presets. You then, somehow, need this to trigger a ppass of the collision groups to another group on impact ( within a set distance)

I once got thios to work but sorry it is so annoyingly fiddly that i have forgotton how to do the ppass from Group A to Group C when A hits B, it oes not help when we have these 2 confusing pgroup nodes

One day Maxon will wake up to the fact that TP is just to much of a pain to get even the simplest things like this done and UPGRADE to a more usable particle system

I know someone out there will have more patience than me and show you the setup

[paulselhi]

Ok here is as far as i got today, i think the problem with it may be the particle sizes in the pstrom settings and maybe the bounding boxes setting..it may be the way to go..but probably not.

http://www.black-and-white-to-color.com/stuff/partcolchange.rar

[JeremyW]

Thanks for all the help and file. I cut the effect and went with something more within my control. I fear TP may remain an enigma for me...

[ChrisCousins]

Thanks for all the help and file. I cut the effect and went with something more within my control. I fear TP may remain an enigma for me...

Hi Simon - you shouldn't give up! This is a piece of cake, setup is below. Basically, the 'PPass' node ripples through every particle in the group, if the result that gets spat out of the 'PGetData' node meets the condition in the 'Compare' node, then the output is "TRUE" and the group gets switched. In this instance it's testing age, once the particle's age in group 1 is greater than 50% it gets switched to group2.

http://homepage.mac.com/chrissyboy/.Pictures/dump/pswapgroup.jpg

Hope this helps - C

BTW - I had to add the red text myself, there seems to be all sorts of cases where this text is missing, it makes it quite awkward working on big Xpresso setups when you can't see what's getting plugged into each node - anyone else seeing this?

[Rantin Al]

Hi Chris.

Control + click on the node's white titlebar for a dropdown > Ports > Show Names.

HTH, Alan.

[ChrisCousins]

Hi Chris.

Control + click on the node's white titlebar for a dropdown > Ports > Show Names.

HTH, Alan.

Certainly does help! Thanks for the tip - Chris

[AdamT]

Sure you can use the particle index. THe particle port is also convertable to an integer (the index) just plug it in to whatever.
Wups! Serves me right for trying to answer a TP question. :blush:

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