Bandu FumeFX Controls

#1

Hallo Fume Artists,

this script I wrote like six months ago was very useful for me to handle multiple fumeFX grids in a scene. We had a lot grids in the shots, like 10 to 50 and it was very hard to handle them. That's why I started to develop a tool to manage them. 
Now I will share it with you guys and I hope you like it.

Sorry if I'm not explaining how to use it, I'm just not the guy like some other dudes outside who make tutorials... :)

what you have to be careful about is, if you create something or delete fume stuff, just hit the update buttons.
There are still some bugs in the script, so tell me what the problem is and I will try to find some time to fix it

OK, some explanation is needed...
on script start it looks for fume objects in the scene
there are four rollouts

"Global Tools"
is where you can add Sources to selected  grids (in the list, NOT scene)("1!" means share source with all selected grids), lock/unlock selected objects (scene selection), hide/unhide not fume related objects, create fume ground or delete this. (update on simulation multiple grids)
you can also simulate ffx local or on network ("sim and render" only local for now)

there are still some limitations (you see greyed out options) course there is still no access to this properties via script

"Fume Caches Control"
does what the name says

"Display, Render and Simulation Control"
is the mean tool where you select fumes, double click opens properties and so on
Solo Viewport Mode hides all grids except selected,
Double click opens the ffx UI
It shows the cache path, the frame num cached...
and you can open the related directory to check the caches

"Source Manager"
handles the sources and source objects

"Settings Copy Control"
well, guess what... :)
It does copy  an snapshot of the first selected grid at current time (selection in the "Display, Render.... rollout), NO animation keys!

try it out and tell me what’s wrong :thumbsup:

[Bandu_FFX_control](http://www.b3d-animations.com/tools/bandu_ffx_controls.mse)

Max2010 users can use right mouse click for some options (WIP)

cheers,
Bandu
#2

Dude pretty cool script!

I have only played with it for a couple minutes but a few things I see could be real handy:

When selecting a fume source in the listbox and hitting the “Sel. XX” button it would be cool if it opened the modify panel with the selection, or at least have a global switch that enabled you to do so.

I like the output path control too and one of the things that ruined me was Krakatoa, I LOVE how the “Save Particles” rollout works in it, absolute genius!, it allows you to create a new increment folder with the push of a button. This would be a awesome addition.

If you were feeling “bucky it” you could save the grid/source settings and the sim data, so if you like a previous sim better you could easily revert to it.
IE set your fume settings, set your folder, sim it, hit the increment folder button, it copies you grid/sources settings to file and stores it within the current sim folder. Just an idea, I bring it up because I increment a lot and I have simmed over some sims that I really liked and was unable to remember the exact settings I had to duplicate it.

Is there an option to add lights and collision objects? I didn’t see one or understand how it worked.

Nice job :slight_smile:

#3

to open a modify panel for any of the fume or source object you need to double click it in the lists. It does work!
[EDIT] OH, I see, it does not work with the buttons… will correct it! [EditEND]

the way Bobo scripted the krakatoa cache controls are very very cool indeed but I can not just copy his ideas and use them just like so…
I could build some history for the caches if I start to rewrite this script, sure.
I have a lot ideas what else I could build in this script. Lets say… in the next release

Any ideas are welcome so write it down and I see what can be done.

#4

Kickass! Gonna try soon!

#5

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