MEL BSc2 library

Introduction

This is the documentation for lib_bsc2.mel, a library with MEL functions provided for the MEL workshop in Bachelor 2. The library can be downloaded at [downloads BSc2].

rebuildCurveZeroToOne

rebuildCurveZeroToOne ( $object );

Synopsis

This function rebuilds a given curve to a zero to one (0-1) parameter range.

Examples

rebuildCurveZeroToOne ("curve1");

parameterDivision

parameterDivision ( $numspans );

Synopsis

This function returns an array of number between 0 and 1, dividing that range in numspans. It can be used to specify points on a curve by their parameter range value, provided that the curve has a 0-1 parameter range.

Examples

parameterDivision(5);
// Result: 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 //

parameterDivision(7);
// Result: 0 0.142857 0.285714 0.428571 0.571429 0.714286 0.857143 1 //

// given a curve "curve1"
// rebuild it to a 0-1 parameter range
rebuildCurveZeroToOne ("curve1");

// get world positions of 8 points distributed along that curve

// get 8 parameter values between 0-1
float $parameters[] = parameterDivision(7);

float $current_parameter;
float $world_pos[]; //position is returned as an float array, holding X Y and Z
for ( $current_parameter in $parameters ) {
  $world_pos = pointOnCurve -position -pr $current_parameter "curve1";
  print ( "point on curve1 at X " + $world_pos[0] + "\n");
  print ( "point on curve1 at Y " + $world_pos[1] + "\n");
  print ( "point on curve1 at Z " + $world_pos[2] + "\n");
}

halfwayParameterDivision

halfwayParameterDivision ( $numspans );

Synopsis

This function returns an array of number between 0 and 1. It's aim is to be used to provide the parameter values for points on a curve. It's similar to parameterDivision(), but this function returns the values of points that are exactly in between.

It can be used to construct trusses for example.

Examples

halfwayParameterDivision(5);
// Result: 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9 //

// compared to:
parameterDivision(5);
// Result: 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 //

tubeExtrude

tubeExtrude( $profile, $path );

Synopsis

This function performs a tube extrude of the curve $profile along curve $path. It saves you to bother with all the necessary flags.

Examples

tubeExtrude ( "curve1", "curve2");

extrudeTube

extrudeTube( string $path, float $mainTubeSize);

Synopsis

This function performs a tube extrude, automatically creating a circular tube with the specified size.

Examples

extrudeTube( "curve1", 2.4 );

parameterYRotation

parameterYRotation( string $curve, float $parameter );

Synopsis

Calculates the rotation around the Y-axis that is needed to rotate an object to align it with the given curve on a point specified by it's parameter value.

Examples

float $parameter = 0.25; // set the parameter
// create a polygon cube. The name is returned in a string array
string $object[] = `polyCube -w 1 -h 4 -d 1`;
// create a curve. The name is returned in a string
string $curve = `curve -d 3 -p -5.92437 0 4.831933
 -p -4.754902 0 2.107843 
 -p -2.415966 0 -3.340336 
 -p 5.04902 0 -3.998599 
 -p 8.781513 0 -4.327731`;

// get the rotation
float $rotation = parameterYRotation($curve, $parameter );
// get the position
float $pos[] = `pointOnCurve -position -pr $parameter $curve`;

rotate 0 $rotation 0 $object[0];
move -a $pos[0] $pos[1] $pos[2] $object[0];

getObjectsByName

getObjectsByName ( $name );

Synopsis

Returns a string array with all objects which name starts with the specified string.

Examples

string $columns = getObjectsByName ( "column" );

getSelectedObjects

getSelectedObjects ();

Synopsis

Returns a string array with all selected objects.

getSelectedCurves

getSelectedCurves ();

Synopsis

Returns an array with the names of all selected nurbsCurves.

isNurbsCurve

isNurbsCurve ( $object );

Synopsis

Returns 1 (int) if the specified object is a nurbsCurve. Otherwise 0 is returned.