Switching Sound

Seems like If-Else structure doesn't work for MP3s, perhaps because of the way they're loaded:

Keycuts and Duplicating with or without Dependencies

Keycuts:

Middle Mouse down to pan
Alt - Middle Mouse Down to rotate view

I've been duplicating with dependancies and am able to set new parameters for the new copied instance. When duplicating, it's difficult to select the child. In order to select the child, move the parent slightly, press play, then the child instance will show up and be selectable.

Shortcuts II

When importing and exporting Behavior Graphs, be sure to re-create all shortcuts as they as specific to the .cmo

Particles and Rendering expense - note on shortcuts

An interesting tip from the VIRTOOLS manual - some cards have difficulty rendering textures on particles that are not perfect squares. Using Particle size values about 100 and having many emitters is expensive.

Regarding shortcuts - this is the method to send data between BBs. You right click, create a square with an arrow, then copy paste and link to the appropriate input.

Sound logic

For now, I'm using .wavs and am trying to think of a good way to prevent the sound from looping continuously.



My first test with the web player didn't work so well - I couldn't get any sound.

MP3s in Virtools

Because of .wav file sizes, I'm hoping to work with MP3s. The Virtools online documentation on this subject is not available for educational users. The help section points towards a class called CKSound, so I'll look into how it's integrated.

Textures on Particles

It seems like the only way to get a texture on an object is by importing it in from MAYA. The texture setting on the particle system's parameters seems to be just for sprites.

"Backface Culling"

I imported a head model into virtools and the lighting made parts of the surface invisible. This is because of the way the normals exported from MAYA. A quick fix in VIRTOOLS is to go to the texture, and check "both sided".

Sequencer II

The Sequencer is found in Logics>Streaming>Sequencer. I am trying to build the following logic - an if-else structure leading to a Parameter Selector.

Transition Camera Resolved

The transition camera needs three cameras and a "Set Active Camera" BB to work correctly and toggle between cameras. The first camera on the parameter needs to be set as active. Initial Conditions are set on the camera being transitioned to.

Using the Sequencer correctly

Below is the pre-built BB I am working with. I am trying to loop the spacebar action under the key waiter. I figure the sequencer is to route this kind of input, so it doesn't seem necessary to loop the BB.

Camera BBs and what they do

I'm looking at the Virtools Camera Resources BBs and how I can use them for my project. I'm studying the transition camera from the "Virtual Spaces Resources" to toggle between two views. NB - for debugging and error messages, click the bomb sign on the lower right side of the interface.

Importing from MAYA - groups II

In MAYA, going to Polygons>Combine seems to do the trick. Once the model is in VIRTOOLS, it seems that the component parts are not gettable (the model is under "Character" with whatever name was used on the export)

Importing from MAYA - groups

Don't do this: even though Jean Marc told us just today to avoid this, I fogot to group my object in MAYA - hence hundreds of cubes floating around in the level manager.




On second thoughts, grouping doesn't work either...

Exporting to VIRTOOLS player

I am able to get a good socket connection from the player, but my one 3D entity isn't showing up. I turned on a light, didn't seem to do anything.

if else structure two

This is a kludge - the loop breaks on the false pin on the lower test. I'm moving an item on the screen based on data input.




OK. This one works - it bypasses the input of the first test and goes straight to the translate.

If else structure

Use the "test" BB under logic. Also, when working with data flow and logic, the logic works from left to right, like a book. Here is a screenshot of the test. Because I don't want dependancy on the data in, I need to come up with some other value for the input of Set Y (also need to change the input from Vector to some other data type).

Basic Math II

Using the calculator for this operation was unneccessary. With the params and Multiplication BB, the value can be amplified. To the right is a vector version of the multiplication BB.