Installation 'kit' for Fazek's tools

arfa · Post by **arfa** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 8:29 pm

I tentatively poked and pushed these tools to see what they were capable of. Did they warrant all the positive recommendations I found on the forum. Indeed they do.

Part of my general learning process is 'taking notes' - the memory not being as reliable as I would wish. So, I ended up with bits and pieces written about the tools and how to install/swap them. A bit of extra time and I put together this collection of files and instructions. I hope they save you the time that I, and probably many before me, put in.

Don't hesitate - get the updgrade.!
--- http://www.BuddhaMind.info/as/bits/fa_ST-kit.zip

> arfa

synthsin75 · Post by **synthsin75** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 10:33 pm

Nice kit, and I'm flattered my create shape tool has replaced Fazek's (at least for some people). I have posted a version of it that I removed the flood select feature from, so the description of it may not be accurate. The code for it's still in there, just commented out.

I just killed the feature because I usually have a complex enough mesh to freeze up AS. If you need, I can post a version with it re-enabled.

If I were you, I'd put all of the scripts, pngs, and cursors in the same folder so people can just drop its contents into the tool folder.

Should be helpful.

DK · Post by DK » Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:05 pm

Thanks for sharing arfa! I've been wanting to try out the replacement tools for a while too but like you could not find all the info on them.

Cheers
D.K

ulrik · Post by **ulrik** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:49 am

Thanks a lot for this, finally I'll try fazeks tools, you made it a bit easier

arfa · Post by **arfa** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 1:08 pm

Good to have your positive feedback.

synthsin
>>flattered my create shape tool has replaced Fazek's
It seemed to have the same - and a bit more. At least to my untrained eye.

>> flood select feature
I looked that the code and presume all the bits with '--' in front are comments? Every language has a different tag system. There are quite a few code blocks scattered throughout so I am not game to unpick your structure.

>> post a version with it re-enabled.
This would be good. Could you give some description as to the difference and any comments on limitations.

>> all of the scripts, pngs, and cursors in the same folder
Makes sense in this case. Just an old habit of separating everything out.

arfa

synthsin75 · Post by **synthsin75** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:16 pm

Arfa,

Here it is with flood selection enabled. http://www.mediafire.com/?jmztdrkoi2z One of these days I'll do this with a check box.

viewtopic.php?t=12073 Here's the thread with the tool's details.

--comments a single line
--[[comments multiple lines]]

arfa · Post by **arfa** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:55 pm

Thanks for that synthsin. I will have a good look a bit later in the day.

UPDATE on the tool install - such is my naivety.
There are in fact 14 scripts that need the LM_ line changing for select points. Also, on reading synthsin's instructions I realise that the fa_sharedutils goes in the utilities folder (obvious really :oops).

The download has been updated.

lotsa learning... arfa

arfa · Post by **arfa** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:49 pm

flood selection..?

I can see what it is but wonder what it means. The default is 200 - units? pixels, points, animators arm hairs...?

You mentioned:
>> have a complex enough mesh to freeze up AS
How complex is complex? ie. what are the limitations?

sorry if this is a bit picky but it is useful to know.

thanks - arfa

synthsin75 · Post by **synthsin75** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 4:37 pm

Mostly, I think, it only freezes up if you try to do a flood selection (that is where you click on an empty space and it tries to select the nearest construction curves) and it somehow doesn't hit that limit that can be set, but just continues trying to make the selection.

I've never been able to figure out why though. It seems to have something to do with overlapping and adjacent shapes already existing. I've never been able to duplicate it on purpose, but I seem to do it enough to lose work due to it.

I've never heard anyone else having this trouble though.

arfa · Post by **arfa** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:02 pm

I am not sure if this dialogue could shift to PM or what. Perhaps it is of interest to the world at large.?

So, 'flooding' is the flow out (from click point) -- until it hits a/the boundary. Makes sense.

Any idea on units?

I notice in the code that you have code for 'shape number display' blocked out. I wonder if this is in any way similar to Seven Feet's 'select shape' script? It certainly is useful to know where each shape is in relation to the others.

I am a bit confused as to behaviour. As you say...
>> being able to duplicate it on purpose

This took me a while and is a very simple abstract:
Create an oval - U fill it blue. Another oval, not overlapping - U fill green. I now want them both red. Group select both using U [and this may be the point of my naughtiness?] set and fill red. We now have 3 layers in 2 shapes; this is even registered in 7feet's 'shape number.' Delete the first shape and it reverts to blue. If I Q select the second oval and change it to pink then we have 2 layers in this second shape. Paint bucket introduces more weirdness.
I hope this makes some sense.

Perhaps the rule needs to be: once a shape is created you must not use U.

thanks - arfa

synthsin75 · Post by **synthsin75** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:17 pm

I am not sure if this dialogue could shift to PM or what. Perhaps it is of interest to the world at large.?

It's your thread anyway, so do as you like.

As far as units go, I'd have to guess that these are just the generic AS document units. These can be converted into pixels in the scripting, by I don't know the equivalence.

Yeah, eventually I'll finish fixing that shape order display (just like 7feet's). Right now I have it in the wrong place, so it doesn't update the number when you create the shape. Right now it only shows the shape order if you use this create shape tool to click on an existing shape, which is basically the same as doing that with the select shape tool.

Something about you post got me thinking in the right direction about the flood select problem. I just tested it, and it seems that this issue only comes up if the view is zoomed in too much. I'm guessing this is the same problem as creating shapes that are part of some unselected, off screen curves.

When zoomed in AS allows you to make illegal (read likely to be glitchy) fill shapes. Say you have a shape, but some of it's points are off screen. You can make a filled shape of the showing points (and sometimes do this with half a circle that's fully on the screen), but these are not 'proper' filled shapes. Just a minor bug.

I think this is what causes the flood selection to freeze on me. Since trying it zoomed out at the same place that consistently freezes up, doesn't give me any trouble.
1. I often have complex enough mesh to have to zoom in to select the shapes I want to create.
2. Doing so means that it tries to figure out a legal filled shape for something that isn't legal and doesn't hit that set limit. In other words, the search limit for edges is greater than the zoomed in view.

I'm glad you brought this up. It means I just have to make sure I'm zoomed out before I try creating shapes.

As far as the overlapping fills go, you can only create a new shape with different points. That is why selecting two circles will create another shape over two individual circle shapes. If you try to create a shape over the exact same points as another shape, it just changes that original shape (just like the select shape tool).

Hope most of that makes sense.

arfa · Post by **arfa** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 6:04 pm

making sense?
One of life's ongoing challenges.

As to your explanations - clear enough.

The standard bucket tool has the same issue around visible points.

>> shape order
Good if it comes, fine if it lingers.

>> only create a new shape with different points
As a programmer this is dubious. As a program user this is not un-normal. AS tools are kinda quirky. Learn the quirks and all is well.

Good to be aware of the zoom issue. I will watch for that.

>> do as you like
ooooh no.