parametric shape update

[jerome]

Hi people,

 

All parametric shapes have now (once pending PR will be merged ) their own update method.

Concerned mesh types : lines, ribbons, tubes and extruded shapes.

 

How does it work ?

When you create a parametric shape, you pass to the mesh CreateXXX() method one, or more, parameter(s) which will determines the final shape of your mesh.

Exemple : an axis path and a radius for a tube, a path of points for a line, a set of paths for a ribbon, a shape, an axis path, a scale and a rotation value for extrusion.

 

The CreateXXX() method then creates your mesh.

 

Until now, as it is quite impossible to know how or where the vertices were set in space after computation (because of the "parametric" aspect), it is very difficult to modify the created mesh.

The simplest, but not efficient way - especially in the render loop -, was then to destroy the mesh and to re-create another one with different parameter values.

 

From up now, you can modify an existing instance of a parametric shape. So no more deletion, re-creation, neither memory allocation.

 

Create your mesh as usual with your favorite CreateXXX() method (don't forget to set the updatable parameter to true)... and just re-use it with new values (path, radius, etc) and wtih the instance itself as last parameter :

var path1 = [v1, v2 ... vN];    // Vector3 arrayvar path2 = [u1, u2 ... uN];   // another Vector3 array// mesh creationvar lines = BABYLON.Mesh.CreateLines("lines", path1, scene, true); // mesh updatelines = BABYLON.Mesh.CreateLines(null, path2, null, null, null, lines);

As you can notice, the non-pertinent parameters for update (those which can't change the mesh shape) are just ignored, so I set them to null here for better readibility : name, scene, side orientation, updatable?

 

Of course, it works also with advanced methods such as ExtrudeShapeCustom() or CreateTube() when you pass your own functions as parameters (radiusFunction, scaleFunction, rotateFunction) instead of numeric values : you can update a mesh by updating your own functions !

 

These methods are quite optimized (I hope ! everything was tested and stressed) so you can use them in the render loop.

 

 

 

ahemmm... no PG this time... I let your imagination do the job

[Temechon]

Very good work dude... I really can't wait for the demo :)

[jerome]

documentation updated (pending for validation ),

almost finished (still need the PG merge to code the PG examples)

 

Look for "how to dynamically morph a mesh ?" in the doc site : Tutorials / 04. More Advanced Features

[Temechon]

Validated !

[Wingnut]

Did ya feel the POWER in that validation?  WOW!  When The Grand Wizard Curator validates something, boy, you KNOW it's been validated.  Notice how it took a few seconds for the room lights to return to full brightness?  *nod*.  That's a sure sign that a Level 9 curator has waved his validation wand. 

 

Wildlife and pets might act strangely for a few minutes.  They feel the Earth's core... still vibrating.

[jerome]