Yes, I think it's a bug too.
I just messed with it a little bit. I tried changing the branched rule to “B”, just to seperate things.
It seems when any branch is made a seperate piece of geometry is generated. ok. Makes sense. . Pink nums are the poly-nums.
The trouble is, after the 45-degree turn in rule B, if it's done in a branch, the “f” (move forward with pen-up) has a bug. The line that follows is drawn from the branch's starting position. Whoops.
In my version of your demonstration, I get an extra line between point-nums 3 and 7 for premise: A.
Essentially, right now, an “f” in a branch draws the subsequent line from the beginning of the branch to the next step forward. If you turn on poly-nums in the kgoosens example, you'll see overlapping lines. Doing the “f” in a sub-rule (eg. Rule C) doesn't help.
Legend:
F = Move forward, pen down
f = Move forward, pen up
&(45) = turn 45-degrees
= execute in a subroutine (“branch”)
I'm running linux Houdini V7.0.460
ben.
Found 130 posts.
Search results Show results as topic list.
Technical Discussion » BUG: L-systems move forward without creating geometry.
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
Technical Discussion » DOPs:: collision
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
Here's another gotcha!
If you're reading in moving geometry with a FILE SOP, then you need to add some sort of geometry blending for the sub-frames! Keep in mind that DOP's work at sub-frames! Otherwise you've got the same geom at frame 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and then a sudden jump (actually around frame 1.5).
For example, you might want 2 FILE SOP's - one which reads $F, the other reads $F+1. Then you want to run those two into a blend (like BLENDSHAPES SOP or SEQUENCE BLEND SOP). You'll need a blend expression in the sop that uses $FF. eg. “$FF%1”. Sorry - i'm on holidays! you can work this bit out. :-) $FF%1 is a sawtooth. You might want to ease(). It's arguable. Anyways..
Unselect “Integer Frame Values” in the Global Animation Options . Now step through fractional frame numbers (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, …) and check that your geometry is blending smoothly. Nb. this will smooth your point velocities.
If the creature geometry is only translating in X (and not changing shape itself) then you can leave “Use Animated Geometry” at “0” in the RBD Object DOP. That can speed things up.
Finally, make sure you enable “Use Point Velocity for Collisions” option in the RBD Solver. By default is option is off. That's always an “oh no!”.
cheers,
ben.
PS. I just thought: if the creature is simply translating in X (in a straight line), then there's not much need for FILE SOP blending… Duh. Sorry. :-) Once the creature does a non-linear move, though, you'll want it.
If you're reading in moving geometry with a FILE SOP, then you need to add some sort of geometry blending for the sub-frames! Keep in mind that DOP's work at sub-frames! Otherwise you've got the same geom at frame 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and then a sudden jump (actually around frame 1.5).
For example, you might want 2 FILE SOP's - one which reads $F, the other reads $F+1. Then you want to run those two into a blend (like BLENDSHAPES SOP or SEQUENCE BLEND SOP). You'll need a blend expression in the sop that uses $FF. eg. “$FF%1”. Sorry - i'm on holidays! you can work this bit out. :-) $FF%1 is a sawtooth. You might want to ease(). It's arguable. Anyways..
Unselect “Integer Frame Values” in the Global Animation Options . Now step through fractional frame numbers (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, …) and check that your geometry is blending smoothly. Nb. this will smooth your point velocities.
If the creature geometry is only translating in X (and not changing shape itself) then you can leave “Use Animated Geometry” at “0” in the RBD Object DOP. That can speed things up.
Finally, make sure you enable “Use Point Velocity for Collisions” option in the RBD Solver. By default is option is off. That's always an “oh no!”.
cheers,
ben.
PS. I just thought: if the creature is simply translating in X (in a straight line), then there's not much need for FILE SOP blending… Duh. Sorry. :-) Once the creature does a non-linear move, though, you'll want it.
Technical Discussion » install error
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
allthatjazz
c:\houndini\custom\include\sys failed to create dir..
It's always a good idea to cut & paste the exact error, so that there's no doubt about whether the directory name contains a typo. ie: houNdini?
Usually the Windows version of Houdini installs into C:\Program Files\Side Effects Software\Houdini 7.0.383\
I took a quick look at my Windows install and couldn't find any directory called “custom”. I'm looking at version 7.0.392. Oh! There's some extra custom stuff installable isn't there? I guess I don't have that installed. I'm running the linux version anyways (and am just looking at a read-only mount of the Windows filesystem via linux).
Suggestions: Perhaps you should rename C:\houdini to C:\houdini.old and try again. It could be that there's stuff already in C:\houdini which is colliding with the installation process. Then if it installs ok you could delete the houdini.old directory (assuming there's nothing in there you want).
I hope it's not simply that you have a typo. houdini vs houndini
Alternately, perhaps you're also trying to install some (unnecessary) extras. Afterall, the dir is called “custom”. Did you select extras to be installed? Unselect extras and try again.
cheers,
ben.
Technical Discussion » Sesinetd won't start on boot
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
Hey,
i just posted a similar sugg on the ubuntu topic. The one place each linux distro varies greatly is in the start-up scripts (/etc/init.d). Usually, though, these days there's a “local” setup. Look for that. I posted examples of my /etc/conf.d/local.start http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_forum&Itemid=172&page=viewtopic&t=5361 [sidefx.com]
Basically, you want to start the houdini licenses as one of the last things to happen after booting. My guess is that they're being started too soon in the sequence - but sometimes, due to subtle startup delays (which vary upon every boot), they do manage to run!
Booting isn't a linear sequence. Think of it more as a parallel thing. Processes get “kicked off”, and then complete their startup in the background while more stuff gets started up. So, you can get into trouble if you're relying on (say) networking to be completely up and running before you start a license server. The solution is to start the Houdini license server towards the end of the startup process. That's why starting it manually works. Everything is up and running by then.
Look for your “local” start/stop stuff in /etc/init.d. Try this for starters:
% cd /etc/init.d
% ls *local*
This might not return anything at all (boo!). You're looking for a file called something like “local”. This is the conventional place to start stuff like license servers. If there isn't one, then you might consider making one.
If it does exist, then you know where to add your start/stop lines for the sesi license daemon. There's usually comments in the file that help you work out what to do.
In fact, gentoo now uses another file (in /etc/conf.d) where you list the stuff you want started/stopped. That's kinda good, because it means the files in /etc/init.d don't have to get updated all the time. It makes sense that files in “conf” are the ones YOU change… In my case I have /etc/conf.d/local.start and /etc/conf.d/local.stop
The other type of linux (eg. redhat?) uses symbolic links in a series of rc* directories to start up stuff. Usually they're named S07blah and S08blah. They're run in alphabetical order (so 7 is started before 8 ). Yes alphabetical order (in the order “/bin/ls” lists them!). This sounds crazy, but is cool if you're stuck without a running operating system. You can always make/change symbolic links - so it's good if you've painted yourself into a corner. yeah? – So! In that case you probably want to name your link to the sesi daemon as something like S95StartSesiLicenseDaemon and K05StopSesiLicenseDaemon. The “K” means kill. Note the “95” means that it's going to be run pretty much towards the end of the booting sequence. “05” means it's one of the first things killed when shutting-down.
To be clear, if you have a dir like /etc/rc3.d with lots of links in them, then you'd want to do something like:
# cd /etc/rc3.d
# ln -s ../init.d/sesinetd S95StartHoudiniLicense
# cd /etc/rc0.d
# ln -s ../init.d/sesinetd K05StopHoudiniLicense
(but that's only for those linux'es with rc directories - ie: NOT gentoo, etc).
If you do a “ls -l” in the various /etc/rc* directories you will see the links. The sgi's IRIX worked this way. It had links from the rc dirs into /etc/init.d
In fact, if your linux doesn't generally have or use /etc/init.d, the crazy thing is the Houdini Installation process will create the file: /etc/init.d/sesinetd - In that case, you can leave it there and just make the links in the various rc directories. Just make sure the license server is started late in the boot process. As I said earlier, it's best to use the “local” scripts if they exist. Look for them first. There could be one in the rc dirs already.
You should be seeing some sesinetd start and stop messages in the /var/log/messages file. (try: “grep -i sesi /var/log/messages”). Also, I do see a sesi license server startup message as the last line in the scrolling start-up text, just before the login: line (which disappears as soon as X-Windows starts).
I hope that helps.
cheers,
ben.
i just posted a similar sugg on the ubuntu topic. The one place each linux distro varies greatly is in the start-up scripts (/etc/init.d). Usually, though, these days there's a “local” setup. Look for that. I posted examples of my /etc/conf.d/local.start http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_forum&Itemid=172&page=viewtopic&t=5361 [sidefx.com]
Basically, you want to start the houdini licenses as one of the last things to happen after booting. My guess is that they're being started too soon in the sequence - but sometimes, due to subtle startup delays (which vary upon every boot), they do manage to run!
Booting isn't a linear sequence. Think of it more as a parallel thing. Processes get “kicked off”, and then complete their startup in the background while more stuff gets started up. So, you can get into trouble if you're relying on (say) networking to be completely up and running before you start a license server. The solution is to start the Houdini license server towards the end of the startup process. That's why starting it manually works. Everything is up and running by then.
Look for your “local” start/stop stuff in /etc/init.d. Try this for starters:
% cd /etc/init.d
% ls *local*
This might not return anything at all (boo!). You're looking for a file called something like “local”. This is the conventional place to start stuff like license servers. If there isn't one, then you might consider making one.
If it does exist, then you know where to add your start/stop lines for the sesi license daemon. There's usually comments in the file that help you work out what to do.
In fact, gentoo now uses another file (in /etc/conf.d) where you list the stuff you want started/stopped. That's kinda good, because it means the files in /etc/init.d don't have to get updated all the time. It makes sense that files in “conf” are the ones YOU change… In my case I have /etc/conf.d/local.start and /etc/conf.d/local.stop
The other type of linux (eg. redhat?) uses symbolic links in a series of rc* directories to start up stuff. Usually they're named S07blah and S08blah. They're run in alphabetical order (so 7 is started before 8 ). Yes alphabetical order (in the order “/bin/ls” lists them!). This sounds crazy, but is cool if you're stuck without a running operating system. You can always make/change symbolic links - so it's good if you've painted yourself into a corner. yeah? – So! In that case you probably want to name your link to the sesi daemon as something like S95StartSesiLicenseDaemon and K05StopSesiLicenseDaemon. The “K” means kill. Note the “95” means that it's going to be run pretty much towards the end of the booting sequence. “05” means it's one of the first things killed when shutting-down.
To be clear, if you have a dir like /etc/rc3.d with lots of links in them, then you'd want to do something like:
# cd /etc/rc3.d
# ln -s ../init.d/sesinetd S95StartHoudiniLicense
# cd /etc/rc0.d
# ln -s ../init.d/sesinetd K05StopHoudiniLicense
(but that's only for those linux'es with rc directories - ie: NOT gentoo, etc).
If you do a “ls -l” in the various /etc/rc* directories you will see the links. The sgi's IRIX worked this way. It had links from the rc dirs into /etc/init.d
In fact, if your linux doesn't generally have or use /etc/init.d, the crazy thing is the Houdini Installation process will create the file: /etc/init.d/sesinetd - In that case, you can leave it there and just make the links in the various rc directories. Just make sure the license server is started late in the boot process. As I said earlier, it's best to use the “local” scripts if they exist. Look for them first. There could be one in the rc dirs already.
You should be seeing some sesinetd start and stop messages in the /var/log/messages file. (try: “grep -i sesi /var/log/messages”). Also, I do see a sesi license server startup message as the last line in the scrolling start-up text, just before the login: line (which disappears as soon as X-Windows starts).
I hope that helps.
cheers,
ben.
Technical Discussion » Installation/Licensing
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
A couple of ideas:
1. SESI: When generating the server code based on the hostname does upper/lower case matter for the hostname? Is it “jb” or “JB”? Perhaps the server code was generated off the wrong case. (?) crazy idea..
2. When I run (linux) “sesictrl -f” I see my license server name like this:
License server name: fred (localhost)
whereas I notice rediculs1 has the line:
License server name: JB (JB)
my (houdini apprentice) server ip address is 127.0.0.1 (which is localhost). I wonder what the name JB resolves to?
Rediculs = in a dos window, try:
> ping jb
Does jb resolve to 127.0.0.1 ?
ben.
1. SESI: When generating the server code based on the hostname does upper/lower case matter for the hostname? Is it “jb” or “JB”? Perhaps the server code was generated off the wrong case. (?) crazy idea..
2. When I run (linux) “sesictrl -f” I see my license server name like this:
License server name: fred (localhost)
whereas I notice rediculs1 has the line:
License server name: JB (JB)
my (houdini apprentice) server ip address is 127.0.0.1 (which is localhost). I wonder what the name JB resolves to?
Rediculs = in a dos window, try:
> ping jb
Does jb resolve to 127.0.0.1 ?
ben.
Technical Discussion » Install help in ubuntu 5.04
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
Hi,
I'm assuming you do have X installed because you said your GUI was Gnome.
Is this exactly what is output? I find the above ref: “myDisplay” curious. Try setting your DISPLAY variable and then run houdini again. eg (in your bash shell):
% source houdini_setup_bash
% export DISPLAY=:0
% xhost +
% houdini
The “xhost +” is dodgy in terms of security, I wouldn't recommend doing this normally, but it will allow you to see if it is indeed a display permission problem. It says allow anyone to open a display (it'll unlock the connection permission problem, if indeed that is the fault). If that works, then try without the xhost. Then it's just that your DISPLAY variable is not set (to either :0 or more specifically, :0.0).
What happens if you try to run “xclock”? Do you see a clock pop up?
Have you tried running “mplay” instead of “houdini”? Does that pop up a window?
Try running “hkey”. What happens?
Have you checked that the license server is running (start it as superuser by running: “/etc/init.d/sesinetd start” ).
To check if the license server is running, run this:
% ps -ef|grep sesi
If the license server is running you should see as output something like:
root 9963 1 0 09:08 ? 00:00:00 /bin/sh /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd_safe –sesi=/usr/lib/sesi –sesinetd=/usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd –log-file=/var/log/sesinetd.log –pid-file=/var/run/sesinetd_localhost.pid -V 2 -z 250000
root 10051 9963 0 09:08 ? 00:00:01 /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd -l /var/log/sesinetd.log -D -V 2 -z 250000 -R /var/run/sesinetd_localhost.pid
root 10190 10051 0 09:09 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd -l /var/log/sesinetd.log -D -V 2 -z 250000 -R /var/run/sesinetd_localhost.pid
root 10191 10190 0 09:09 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd -l /var/log/sesinetd.log -D -V 2 -z 250000 -R /var/run/sesinetd_localhost.pid
root 10656 10190 0 09:23 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd -l /var/log/sesinetd.log -D -V 2 -z 250000 -R /var/run/sesinetd_localhost.pid
root 10657 10190 0 09:23 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd -l /var/log/sesinetd.log -D -V 2 -z 250000 -R /var/run/sesinetd_localhost.pid
root 11273 11221 0 14:46 pts/15 00:00:00 grep sesi
I run gentoo, which is similar to ubuntu. To ensure the license server starts and stops each time I had to add the following entries to the following files. You should probably do this (anyway):
/etc/conf.d/local.start
# /etc/conf.d/local.start
# This is a good place to load any misc programs
# on startup ( use 1>&2 to hide output)
#
# Start Houdini License Server
#
/etc/init.d/sesinetd start
/etc/conf.d/local.stop
# /etc/conf.d/local.stop
# This is a good place to unload any misc.
# programs you started above.
# For example, if you are using OSS and have
# “/usr/local/bin/soundon” above, put
# “/usr/local/bin/soundoff” here.
#
# Stop Houdini License Server
#
/etc/init.d/sesinetd stop
pretty simple edits (just the last line in each file is the important bit). This info is read by /etc/init.d/local which starts and stops local services (like the houdini license server).
cheers,
ben.
I'm assuming you do have X installed because you said your GUI was Gnome.
raistrick
Xlib: connection to “:0.0” refused by server
Xlib: No protocol specified
Cannot open the myDisplay. Is your DISPLAY environment variable set?
Server initialization failed. Sorry.
Is this exactly what is output? I find the above ref: “myDisplay” curious. Try setting your DISPLAY variable and then run houdini again. eg (in your bash shell):
% source houdini_setup_bash
% export DISPLAY=:0
% xhost +
% houdini
The “xhost +” is dodgy in terms of security, I wouldn't recommend doing this normally, but it will allow you to see if it is indeed a display permission problem. It says allow anyone to open a display (it'll unlock the connection permission problem, if indeed that is the fault). If that works, then try without the xhost. Then it's just that your DISPLAY variable is not set (to either :0 or more specifically, :0.0).
What happens if you try to run “xclock”? Do you see a clock pop up?
Have you tried running “mplay” instead of “houdini”? Does that pop up a window?
Try running “hkey”. What happens?
Have you checked that the license server is running (start it as superuser by running: “/etc/init.d/sesinetd start” ).
To check if the license server is running, run this:
% ps -ef|grep sesi
If the license server is running you should see as output something like:
root 9963 1 0 09:08 ? 00:00:00 /bin/sh /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd_safe –sesi=/usr/lib/sesi –sesinetd=/usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd –log-file=/var/log/sesinetd.log –pid-file=/var/run/sesinetd_localhost.pid -V 2 -z 250000
root 10051 9963 0 09:08 ? 00:00:01 /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd -l /var/log/sesinetd.log -D -V 2 -z 250000 -R /var/run/sesinetd_localhost.pid
root 10190 10051 0 09:09 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd -l /var/log/sesinetd.log -D -V 2 -z 250000 -R /var/run/sesinetd_localhost.pid
root 10191 10190 0 09:09 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd -l /var/log/sesinetd.log -D -V 2 -z 250000 -R /var/run/sesinetd_localhost.pid
root 10656 10190 0 09:23 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd -l /var/log/sesinetd.log -D -V 2 -z 250000 -R /var/run/sesinetd_localhost.pid
root 10657 10190 0 09:23 ? 00:00:00 /usr/lib/sesi/sesinetd -l /var/log/sesinetd.log -D -V 2 -z 250000 -R /var/run/sesinetd_localhost.pid
root 11273 11221 0 14:46 pts/15 00:00:00 grep sesi
I run gentoo, which is similar to ubuntu. To ensure the license server starts and stops each time I had to add the following entries to the following files. You should probably do this (anyway):
/etc/conf.d/local.start
# /etc/conf.d/local.start
# This is a good place to load any misc programs
# on startup ( use 1>&2 to hide output)
#
# Start Houdini License Server
#
/etc/init.d/sesinetd start
/etc/conf.d/local.stop
# /etc/conf.d/local.stop
# This is a good place to unload any misc.
# programs you started above.
# For example, if you are using OSS and have
# “/usr/local/bin/soundon” above, put
# “/usr/local/bin/soundoff” here.
#
# Stop Houdini License Server
#
/etc/init.d/sesinetd stop
pretty simple edits (just the last line in each file is the important bit). This info is read by /etc/init.d/local which starts and stops local services (like the houdini license server).
cheers,
ben.
Technical Discussion » Help Browser Warning
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
I just checked. I thought maybe I could have been running another Houdini accidentally. So. There is nothing running (except this Firefox?). I remove the $HOME/.hbrowser dir and start Houdini. I get a new .hbrowser dir and the quizical warning appears as soon as I click on help for the geo object. boo! :-)
Technical Discussion » Help Browser Warning
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
Hi,
Gentoo Linux, Houdini 8.0.433
This has been discussed in the Early Feedback Group (now closed):
http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_forum&Itemid=172&page=viewtopic&t=4543 [sidefx.com]
It's that perpetual pop-up window asking if you trust this page, and it doesn't seem to remember the decision, or if it does I wouldn't know because i'm running down the street yelling and flailing my arms wildly.
I quit houdini renamed my $HOME/.hbrowser dir, and restarted. Houdini made me a brand new .hbrowser dir! Hmm. Thanks. So, I read the post (above) aagain and figured I'd remove the sub-dir $HOME/.hbrowser/hbrowser. Same deal, Houdini made me a new one. I head for the street… gaghhhh! Yes ALLOW! Remember this decision!
Maybe there's a way to say: I trust everything on disk under /hfs?
b.
Gentoo Linux, Houdini 8.0.433
This has been discussed in the Early Feedback Group (now closed):
http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_forum&Itemid=172&page=viewtopic&t=4543 [sidefx.com]
It's that perpetual pop-up window asking if you trust this page, and it doesn't seem to remember the decision, or if it does I wouldn't know because i'm running down the street yelling and flailing my arms wildly.
I quit houdini renamed my $HOME/.hbrowser dir, and restarted. Houdini made me a brand new .hbrowser dir! Hmm. Thanks. So, I read the post (above) aagain and figured I'd remove the sub-dir $HOME/.hbrowser/hbrowser. Same deal, Houdini made me a new one. I head for the street… gaghhhh! Yes ALLOW! Remember this decision!
Maybe there's a way to say: I trust everything on disk under /hfs?
b.
Technical Discussion » Debian ATI9200 libGL.so.1
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
redg
I get “Permission Denied” even though I'm trying to run it as root.
I'm unsure whether I should even suggest this, mainly because you're probably trying to run the wrong thing (as root). However! Here goes. Even root can get a “Permission Denied” if the file does not have its' execute flags set. Normally, you would expect a file which is meant to be executed and is distributed by a company to already have these flags set - if it is indeed meant to be run. Say the file is called fred. Then do a “/bin/ls -l fred” and have a look at the flags. Chances are they look like this -rw-r–r– To make it executable, run this: (don't type the “#”!)
# /bin/ls -l fred
# chmod +x fred
# /bin/ls -l fred
You should see “x” flags there now. This will let root execute it. Permission denied is a fairly misleading error when the problem is missing execute flags.
Keep in mind, if this file is NOT meant to be executed afterall, bad things™ could happen..
With Linux now everyone's a sys-admin… And this is good because..?
regards,
ben
Technical Discussion » textport not showing prompt
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
If you made it a button in your KDE Panel, then there's an option there for it to run in a terminal (Select Preferences, via RMB on the panel button).
b.
b.
Technical Discussion » TRIVIAL BUG: RBD Object Creation Frame
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
ben simons
The RBD Object is an HDA, so dropping down inside it, the Activation expression in the Empty Object could be changed from: $FF == ch(“../createframe”) to: $FF >= ch(“../createframe”)
At least the use of $FF suggests a floating point frame number was expected.
Hey,
I hear $SF is a “good thing” to use in preference to $FF
eg: $SF == ch(“../createframe”)
??
cheers,
ben.
Technical Discussion » TRIVIAL BUG: RBD Object Creation Frame
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
ben simonsaha. That's what I was looking for. Thanks wolfwood. I agree, it's not a bug.
Perhaps there's some way to make the frame-number-test check more often (increase the sampling somehow?)Wolfwood
If you want it to catch your start frames of 1.5 then you could change your time step to be (1/$FPS*2) or you could set the Offset time to something like ((1/$FPS)/2)
I tried an example where I adjusted the Offset Time parm with an expression:
if($FF<3, ((1/$FPS)/2), 0).
You might want this for two objects: one created at frame 2.5, and the other at frame-5. Well, it didn't work. It appears the offset is only evaluated once, at the beginning. Flipping the “<” to “>” proved this: the offset remained at 0 instead.
However! The Time Step parameter is regularly evaluated, and so for the above example (2 RBD Object creations, at frames 2.5 and 5) the following expression worked:
if($FF<3, ((1/$FPS)/2), 1/$FPS).
Coool. Now! there's a solution look'n for a problem!! eh? … I hadn't noticed the parameters in the Simulation Tab of the DopNet itself. :-) thanks.
experimentally,
ben.
Technical Discussion » TRIVIAL BUG: RBD Object Creation Frame
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
Hi,
Linux houdini 8.0.383
If the Creation Frame parameter on an RBD Object is not an Integer, then the Object will not be created. Eg. Set it to 3.5 (halfway between frame 3 and 4).
There seems to be lots of ways to fix this. The RBD Object is an HDA, so dropping down inside it, the Activation expression in the Empty Object could be changed from: $FF == ch(“../createframe”) to: $FF >= ch(“../createframe”)
At least the use of $FF suggests a floating point frame number was expected. .
Alternately, the parameter could be changed from Float to Integer in the HDA's Type Properties panel (woo! I just noticed that sliders of Integer type parameters now create Integer values, not floating point values! yay!).
Though I think this was meant to be a float. Changing the type on an existing parameter in a “published” HDA is a nightmare when they're already being used. Lots of incompatibilty errors. Don't mention the war. :-) I gather the best approach is to make a new parameter which replaces the functionality of the old parm, and then set the old parm to be “invisible” in the Type Properties window. That way the parm still exists, so you don't get errors when loading, etc. And you then get everyone to use the new parm. (?). ooops. I mentioned it once.
Perhaps there's some way to make the frame-number-test check more often (increase the sampling somehow?)
cheers,
ben.
Linux houdini 8.0.383
If the Creation Frame parameter on an RBD Object is not an Integer, then the Object will not be created. Eg. Set it to 3.5 (halfway between frame 3 and 4).
There seems to be lots of ways to fix this. The RBD Object is an HDA, so dropping down inside it, the Activation expression in the Empty Object could be changed from: $FF == ch(“../createframe”) to: $FF >= ch(“../createframe”)
At least the use of $FF suggests a floating point frame number was expected. .
Alternately, the parameter could be changed from Float to Integer in the HDA's Type Properties panel (woo! I just noticed that sliders of Integer type parameters now create Integer values, not floating point values! yay!).
Though I think this was meant to be a float. Changing the type on an existing parameter in a “published” HDA is a nightmare when they're already being used. Lots of incompatibilty errors. Don't mention the war. :-) I gather the best approach is to make a new parameter which replaces the functionality of the old parm, and then set the old parm to be “invisible” in the Type Properties window. That way the parm still exists, so you don't get errors when loading, etc. And you then get everyone to use the new parm. (?). ooops. I mentioned it once.
Perhaps there's some way to make the frame-number-test check more often (increase the sampling somehow?)
cheers,
ben.
Technical Discussion » Procedural squid legs in a particle system
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
Hey,
This cute demo over at odforce might help. Hmmm. And it's less than 42 Nodes I expect. :-)
It's an interactive flocking demo - there's a hip file you can download. You'll see the arrows chase the green thing which you can steer with your mouse; interactively. See the instructions for more into at:
http://odforce.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=2131&hl= [odforce.net]
cheers,
ben.
PS. You can probably achieve the delayed leg motion you're looking for with a Timing Chop (eg. delay, shift, lag…)
This cute demo over at odforce might help. Hmmm. And it's less than 42 Nodes I expect. :-)
It's an interactive flocking demo - there's a hip file you can download. You'll see the arrows chase the green thing which you can steer with your mouse; interactively. See the instructions for more into at:
http://odforce.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=2131&hl= [odforce.net]
cheers,
ben.
PS. You can probably achieve the delayed leg motion you're looking for with a Timing Chop (eg. delay, shift, lag…)
Technical Discussion » Linux KDE: "Focus Strictly Under Mouse" considered
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
No, No problem. Note i'm running KDE 3.3 though.
It runs full screen, just fine (at 1920x1200), and resizes as you'd expect.
I note that mplay doesn't understand the maximise-button, but ^F (in mplay, does full-screen) is a preferred work-around anyway, so who cares!
Actually, neither mplay or houdini have the Maximise Button on their Window Titlebar. I just checked again. I have “F4” configured as a KDE Shortcut to Maximise/Restore a window, and neither respond when I hit it. But they both resize just fine.
One last comment: when Houdini first starts it obscures the KDE Panel at the bottom of the Window. I have KDE configured to allow windows to do this. I just resize the bottom frame. It hasn't annoyed me enough to configure it otherwise. :-)
ben.
It runs full screen, just fine (at 1920x1200), and resizes as you'd expect.
I note that mplay doesn't understand the maximise-button, but ^F (in mplay, does full-screen) is a preferred work-around anyway, so who cares!
Actually, neither mplay or houdini have the Maximise Button on their Window Titlebar. I just checked again. I have “F4” configured as a KDE Shortcut to Maximise/Restore a window, and neither respond when I hit it. But they both resize just fine.
One last comment: when Houdini first starts it obscures the KDE Panel at the bottom of the Window. I have KDE configured to allow windows to do this. I just resize the bottom frame. It hasn't annoyed me enough to configure it otherwise. :-)
ben.
Technical Discussion » New Take button on application menubar?
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
Oh. It looked like this didn't it?
…. just kidding! :-)
PS. I checked through these versions of Houdini and couldn't see the button:
72_144, 70_235, 61_060, 72_199, 80_305, 80_212, 72_157, 80_394
– Doh!?!
…. just kidding! :-)
PS. I checked through these versions of Houdini and couldn't see the button:
72_144, 70_235, 61_060, 72_199, 80_305, 80_212, 72_157, 80_394
– Doh!?!
Technical Discussion » Linux KDE: "Focus Strictly Under Mouse" considered
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
Linux KDE: “Focus Strictly Under Mouse” considered harmful
Hey,
I'm posting this because it's been driving me claaazy, and i finally figured it out… Maybe you've had this too.
Houdini 8.0.383, Linux (Gentoo) running KDE 3.3
Problem Summary: you hit tab, get a menu, then one of it's submenu's, but when you move the mouse into the sub-menu it disappears.
Problem Specifics:
Let's say I want to place a sphere sop.
I use different Houdini setups at home & work. At work, when I press “tab + s” I see two remaining sop's in a sub-menu, held to the right of the tab-menu. I move the mouse over to the sub-menu and choose “sphere”. great.
At home, however, when I move the mouse over to the sub-menu it would disappear! The moment the mouse moved off the tab-menu, towards the sub-menu, the sub-menu would go away. Gah!? The only way to keep it there would be to click on the top line of the main tab-menu (which indicates a partially matched sop name), and drag across into the sub-menu. That would keep the sub-menu there, and I could make a choice. Hmm. Annoying. Been there? I started doing this ridiculous mouse-manoeuver at work today..
Solution:
I finally worked out it was the KDE Mouse Focus Setting I had at home. I had selected “Focus Strictly Under Mouse”. Changing this to “Focus Under Mouse” fixes it.
An easy way to reconfigure this is to RMB on the Houdini Window Titlebar (actually, any KDE Window Titlebar) and select “Configure Window Behaviour”. In the pop-up Dialog, Select the Focus Tab, and change the “Policy” pull-down menu to “Focus Under Mouse”, or whatever.
Oh, and by the way, not everything is an “nvidia driver problem” … :-)
cheers,
ben.
Technical Discussion » New Take button on application menubar?
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
Technical Discussion » Assigning Expressions with hScript
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
arctor
so Houdini should just make the channel…
And put a key at Frame-1?
Ahhh…. Frame-1 … the first refuge for the keyless! :-) tee hee.
—–8<——————————————————————————
Actually, I just noticed a bug with a bad opparm and the channel viewer. It can show channels which don't exist anymore. Houdini 8.0.394. Try this in the textport:
opcf /obj
opadd geo thing
chadd thing tx
set one of your panes to be the channel editor . Scope the tx channel . Change the value at frame 1 to be 0.3 say. Now!
opparm thing tx nuthin
you'll see:
Warning: Invalid channel “nuthin” specified in parameter
and the tx channel in the parameter's pane is clear. It's a plain old 0.3 constant. But! In the channel editor it's still there. Hmmm. Now, let's have some fun. Change the 0.3 in the parameters to, say, 0.5. The Channel Editor says 0.3 still. Cool. Now change the value in the channel editor to -2, and move the key to another frame. Frame 42 for example. Noice.
Which is true?
/obj -> opparm -d thing tx
opparm thing tx ( 0.5 )
Oooh! What if we now make a channel in the parameters pane by ALT+LMB clicking on the 0.5. What will happen!?! Yay! A New Key at Frame-1 and a value of -0.1 (and i'm at frame-13; the unlucky frame number).
An “opparm usage error” probably shouldn't blow away a channel.
Actually, that's probably the real bug..
beers!
b.
Technical Discussion » RFE: Network Boxes appear in Network Overview
- ben simons
- 387 posts
- Offline
Hey,
we've got a bunch of coloured network boxes which colour collections of SOP's – great for navigation. It'd be noice if the Network Overview also showed these (coloured) Network Boxes. Instead, it just shows the sops.
regards,
ben.
PS. Is there a way to check if this is already RFE'd?
we've got a bunch of coloured network boxes which colour collections of SOP's – great for navigation. It'd be noice if the Network Overview also showed these (coloured) Network Boxes. Instead, it just shows the sops.
regards,
ben.
PS. Is there a way to check if this is already RFE'd?
-
- Quick Links