topic Re: Command or script for aligning pivot x-axis along a 2-point-spline with different z-coordinates in 3ds Max Forum

Command or script for aligning pivot x-axis along a 2-point-spline with different z-coordinates

3d-labor — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 12:06:21 GMT

I searched for a long time because I was sure that it must be an easy problem. I have hundreds of lines generated by the "Glue" script of Itoosoft (wrap elements onto a surface). Sadly the pivot points remains in the position of the original lines. So I want an easy tool to align the x-axis of the pivot point along the new generated line between the two vertices which I can use on multiple lines at once. I need it to later distribute some xref-objects with the "Clone and Align" tool of 3dsmax. I found some scripts but none which does it correct. The script "scriptedglue" which is similar to "glue" move the pivot point correctly but it moves the x- and y-coordinates a little bit. So I can´t use this for my project. Any suggestions?

Re: Command or script for aligning pivot x-axis along a 2-point-spline with different z-coordinates

leeminardi — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 13:49:42 GMT

Here's a modified version of a script I wrote some time ago. It will reposition the pivot of selected splines to the first vertex of the spline with the Z axis pointing in the direction of the second vertex.

Is this what you want except that the X axis should point to the second vertex?

-- changes the pivot of selected lines and splines so that the local -- z axis is collinear with the line's first two vertices and is located -- at the first vertex of the line. -- L. Minardi 6/2/2021 v3 -- for spl in selection where classof spl == line do ( s=1 e1 = getKnotPoint spl s 1 e2 = getKnotPoint spl s 2 vu = normalize(e2-e1) -- unit vector from vertex 1 to 2 m = spl.transform -- spline matrix ftm = translate (matrixfromnormal vu) e1 itm = ftm*(inverse m) spl.transform = ftm spl.objectOffsetPos *= inverse itm spl.objectOffsetRot *= inverse itm.rotation spl.transform )

Re: Command or script for aligning pivot x-axis along a 2-point-spline with different z-coordinates

3d-labor — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 15:26:02 GMT

Yes, indeed. Only with the x-axis pointing to the second point. It would be perfect if then the pivot would move to the half of the line. I´m sadly not able to program it myself, I have to learn it. I have only programmed some simple autoLISP routines in the past..

Re: Command or script for aligning pivot x-axis along a 2-point-spline with different z-coordinates

leeminardi — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 16:43:12 GMT

I wanted to use rotateY to reorient the matrix so that the x axis would point in the direction of z but it didn't do what I wanted. Luckily I could fudge an appropriate matrix by replacing the x vector with z and using a cross product to calculate a new z. Unorthodox but it works!

-- changes the pivot of selected lines and splines so that the local -- X axis is collinear with the line's first two vertices and is located -- at the midpoint of the line. -- L. Minardi 6/2/2021 v4 -- for spl in selection where classof spl == line do ( s=1 e1 = getKnotPoint spl s 1 e2 = getKnotPoint spl s 2 emid = ((e1 + e2)/ 2.) vu = normalize(e2-e1) -- unit vector from vertex 1 to 2 m = spl.transform -- spline matrix mm = MatrixFromNormal(vu) -- rotate matrix by 90° about Y mm.row1 = mm.row3 mm.row3 = cross mm.row1 mm.row2 ftm = translate mm emid itm = ftm*(inverse m) spl.transform = ftm spl.objectOffsetPos *= inverse itm spl.objectOffsetRot *= inverse itm.rotation spl.transform )

Re: Command or script for aligning pivot x-axis along a 2-point-spline with different z-coordinates

3d-labor — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 18:37:46 GMT

Awesome, my friend! Thank you very much.