Dual Layout woes...

[Hirazi Blue]

Something that has bugged me ever since the SAP introduced the otherwise perfect (for my needs) new Dual Layout: how can I convince Softimage to start not just with the same Layout, but also with the same tab activated. So that, if I close in a Render Tree view, Softimage restarts in a Render Tree view
As this probably will involve some scripting (startup and shutdown events?), my next question would be, how do I get to know what the active tab in any given "Dual Layout" is?
PS And yes, I am aware this is probably F1 stuff, but I just don't see it ATM.

[Maximus]

hm i'm not sure of what i'm going to say so take it with a grain of salt
i think you should create a custom layout, save it and make it default "view -> layouts -> new layout from"
maybe do a local copy of the "Default" layout and overwrite it? (not the best move to do, but if you make a copy you can always swap it if things go fuzzy!) i'm not sure you need to overwrite the default one, if you switch layout softimage should remember it next time you open the software i guess.

or after you built your layout you could create a default scene with this layout applied and point that scene in the Soft preferences as the startup scene!

layouts are stored in the \Application\Layouts folder!

i've built myself some layout for compositing and texture/shading, but never tried dual monitor, so i dont know if its gonna work (no idea why it shouldnt tho!)

hope that helps,

Max

[Pancho]

Could somebody please point out to me in this context, how to add the explorer to the layout and keep all 4 3d views and both toolbars to the left and the right? Not as a floating view, but between the toolbar on the left and the 4 views!?

[Rork]

Have a look at my layout tutorial, maybe there's some info there for you.
There's some other PPG related stuff as well on the main page.

rob

[Pancho]

Cool! I'll have a look. Thanks!

[Hirazi Blue]

While I set out to painstakingly try to recreate the steps necessary,
Rork jumped in with his even more valuable tutorial on the subject, ah well. ;)
For completion's sake (and just so I don't feel I have wasted my time on this completely):

"Layout > New Layout From" to pick the layout you want to base your new layout on,
after which you name the new layout
First you goto the border between the "toolbar panel" & the "vm views"
and drag this border to the right to resize the "vm" view
Next you go into the newly created space and RMB "Split Vertically", so a new pane is created
In this pane you RMB - "Set View - Explorer"
Exit Layout Editing ("Do you want to save..." - Yes")

layout.jpg

[Pancho]

Thanks! That's what I was looking for exactly!

[Pancho]

Just one thing. When I try to change the width of my explorer pane, I can pull the border to my layout views to the right to make the available space for the explorer larger. The layout views get smaller and rescale, but the explorer won't. It simply doesn't use the space available to its right and stays like it is. The gap inbetween is just plain gray. How do I tell the explorer to get wider? In the edit layout mode I couldn't find a way to do this. Anyone an idea?

[Rork]

Have a look at the xml code of the layout, it sounds like the explorer is now 'locked' to a certain amount of pixels in width.
Like html you can add the % in for size, like 512, 20%,80%. So 512 px. are 'hardcoded' for the width, the rest is divided into 20/80%.

Is that what's happening?

rob

[Pancho]

For this frameset the only sizes I can see are sizechild="721,317". And both are for the vertical size of the two explorers on top of each other.

???

[Rork]

there should be a size reference somewhere in the xml code. SI needs to know how to display the windows at a certain width.
Are you sure there's no pixel reference anywhere for that view?

[Pancho]

Sorry, not quite sure what it could be.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<xsi_file type="Layout" xsi_version="10.0.422.0" syntax_version="1.1">
<relationalview clsid="{653B51CE-E4F7-4B04-AC8F-91F062CF0E7A}" name="My_layout" height="1109" width="1920" nbscreen="1">
<bitmaps>
<bitmap name="palettetab" path="palettetab.bmp" highlightpath="palettetab_highlight.bmp"> </bitmap>
<bitmap name="presetmanager" path="presetmanager.bmp" highlightpath="presetmanager_highlight.bmp"> </bitmap>
<bitmap name="toolbar" path="toolbar.bmp" highlightpath="toolbar_highlight.bmp"> </bitmap>
<bitmap name="weightpanel" path="weightpanel.bmp" highlightpath="weightpanel_highlight.bmp"> </bitmap>
</bitmaps>
<relations>
</relations>
<viewdefaultpos>
<view type="Scene Search" position="175,120,900,555"> </view>
<view type="Netview" position="400,150,814,712"> </view>
<view type="Keying Panel" position="120,113,350,500"> </view>
<view type="Animation Mixer" position="120,532,1130,859"> </view>
<view type="ICE Tree" position="120,532,1130,859"> </view>
<view type="Fx Tree" position="120,150,540,859"> </view>
<view type="Explorer" position="740,350,1250,860"> </view>
<view type="Fx Color Selector" position="100,120,310,410"> </view>
<view type="Script Editor" position="200,150,960,800"> </view>
<view type="Keyable Parameters Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Texture Editor" position="120,150,900,700"> </view>
<view type="Plugin Manager" position="120,150,610,680"> </view>
<view type="Image Clip Viewer" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Scripts" position="120,150,350,300"> </view>
<view type="Scripted Operator Editor" position="120,113,607,680"> </view>
<view type="Render Tree" position="120,532,1130,859"> </view>
<view type="Preset Manager" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Text Editor" position="200,150,960,800"> </view>
<view type="Custom Display Host" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Palettes" position="150,150,600,650"> </view>
<view type="Parameter Connection Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Main Shelf" position="120,150,600,300"> </view>
<view type="Fx Viewer" position="545,150,1120,535"> </view>
<view type="Scene Layer Manager" position="800,150,1120,535"> </view>
<view type="Shape Manager" position="120,150,900,700"> </view>
<view type="Fx Operator Selector" position="545,532,1120,859"> </view>
<view type="Browser" position="660,350,1120,859"> </view>
<view type="SDK Explorer" position="120,150,900,859"> </view>
<view type="Expression Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="DopeSheet" position="120,532,1130,859"> </view>
<view type="Animation Editor" position="113,532,1137,859"> </view>
<view type="SpreadSheet" position="120,532,1130,859"> </view>
<view type="Schematic" position="120,532,607,859"> </view>
<view type="Fx Paint Brush List" position="-4,50,103,859"> </view>
<view type="Weight Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="External Files Manager" position="120,150,1120,535"> </view>
<view type="Object View" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Texture Layer Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Synoptic Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Relational View Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Shader Code Editor" position="1000,200,1760,850"> </view>
<view type="Audio Output Monitor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
</viewdefaultpos>
<frameset orientation="vertical" splitter="none" sizechild="*,48">
<frameset orientation="horizontal" name="main" splitter="movable" sizechild="*,135">
<frameset orientation="horizontal" name="VM_Frameset" splitter="movable" sizechild="299,*">
<switcher type="tray" buttonside="bottom" active="0" orientation="horizontal" name="module_menu" displayname="Module Menu" buttonsize="26,26" optional="visible" splitter="none" sizechild="338,216,105,*">
<frameset orientation="horizontal" name="Frameset25" splitter="fixed" sizechild="108,235">
<frameset orientation="vertical" name="Frameset113" splitter="none" sizechild="772,266">
<frame name="toolbar_panel" bitmap="toolbar" type="Toolbar Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="pane114" displayname="Syflex" type="Syflex" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</frameset>
<frameset orientation="vertical" name="Frameset80" splitter="movable" sizechild="721,317">
<frame name="pane26" type="Explorer" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="pane81" type="Explorer" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</frameset>
</frameset>
<frame name="weight_paint_panel" description="Weight Paint Panel" bitmap="weightpanel" type="Weight Paint Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frameset orientation="vertical" name="palette_and_script_toolbar_frameset" description="Palette and Script Toolbar" bitmap="palettetab" splitter="movable" sizechild="269,*">
<frame name="palettes" bitmap="palettetab" type="Palettes" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="scripts" type="Scripts" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</frameset>
<frameset orientation="vertical" name="PresetManagerFS" bitmap="presetmanager" splitter="movable" sizechild="327,*">
<frame name="explorer" displayname="Explorer" type="Explorer" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="preset_manager" displayname="Preset Manager" type="Preset Manager" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</frameset>
</switcher>
<frameset orientation="vertical" splitter="none" sizechild="79,*,26,22">
<frame name="main_shelf" displayname="Main Shelf" type="Main Shelf" primary="false" optional="hidden" toolbar="none"> </frame>
<frame name="vm" type="View Manager" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="timeline" displayname="Timeline" type="Timeline" primary="false" optional="visible" toolbar="own">
<properties>
<type>global</type>
<dopesheet>true</dopesheet>
</properties>
</frame>
<frame name="timerange" displayname="Timerange" type="Timerange" primary="false" optional="visible" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</frameset>
</frameset>
<switcher type="tray" buttonside="bottom_inv" active="0" orientation="vertical" name="mcp" displayname="MCP" buttonsize="44,23" optional="visible" splitter="none" sizechild="135,196,300">
<switcher type="panel" buttonside="user" orientation="vertical" displayname="MCP" splitter="none" sizechild="283,334,52,90,91">
<frame name="selection_panel" type="Selection Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="transformation_panel" type="Transformation Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="snap_panel" type="Snap Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="constraint_panel" type="Constraint Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="edit_panel" type="Edit Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</switcher>
<frameset orientation="vertical" displayname="KP/L" splitter="movable" sizechild="125,386,39%">
<frame name="mini_transform_panel" type="Mini Transform Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="keying_panel" type="Keying Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<switcher type="tray" buttonside="top" active="0" orientation="horizontal" name="layers_panel" displayname="LayersPanel" buttonsize="96,20" splitter="none" sizechild="*,*">
<frame name="animation_layer_manager" displayname="Animation" type="Animation Layer Manager" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="scene_layer_manager" displayname="Scene" type="Layer Control" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</switcher>
</frameset>
<frame name="property_editor" displayname="PPG" type="Property Editor" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</switcher>
</frameset>
<frameset orientation="horizontal" name="playback" displayname="Playback" optional="visible" splitter="none" sizechild="225,*,437,384,234">
<frame name="panel_switcher" displayname="Panel Switcher" type="Panel Switcher" primary="false" optional="visible" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="command_line" type="Command Line" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="playback_panel" type="Playback Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="animation_panel" type="Animation Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="sendtostatus" displayname="Send To" type="Netview" primary="false" optional="hidden" toolbar="none">
<properties>
<url>$XSI_HOME\Addons\NetView_Database\OneClickStatus.html</url>
</properties>
</frame>
</frameset>
</frameset>
</relationalview>
</xsi_file>

[Pancho]

It's frameset80, which holds my explorer.

[Rork]

Hi,

what happens if you go from:

<frameset orientation="vertical" name="Frameset80" splitter="movable" sizechild="721,317"

to

<frameset orientation="vertical" name="Frameset80" splitter="movable" sizechild="*,*"

[Pancho]

Still strange!

[Rork]

works on my end if I create a new layout from the default.

I first made a vertical split for the explorer on the left, added another horzintal split for a toolbar and the vm.
Reset the views concerning what to view and saved.

I think you made some error along the way. It's quickly rebuild, so I would redo it to see if it keep happening.

but here's my layout:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
<xsi_file type="Layout" xsi_version="8.0.249.0" syntax_version="1.1">
<relationalview clsid="{AFE4954A-E966-4555-9D29-687B01654EFA}" name="test" height="1097" width="1920" nbscreen="1">
<bitmaps>
<bitmap name="palettetab" path="palettetab.bmp" highlightpath="palettetab_highlight.bmp"> </bitmap>
<bitmap name="toolbar" path="toolbar.bmp" highlightpath="toolbar_highlight.bmp"> </bitmap>
<bitmap name="weightpanel" path="weightpanel.bmp" highlightpath="weightpanel_highlight.bmp"> </bitmap>
</bitmaps>
<relations>
</relations>
<viewdefaultpos>
<view type="Scene Search" position="175,120,900,555"> </view>
<view type="Netview" position="400,150,814,620"> </view>
<view type="Keying Panel" position="120,113,350,500"> </view>
<view type="Animation Mixer" position="120,532,1130,859"> </view>
<view type="ICE Tree" position="120,532,1130,859"> </view>
<view type="Fx Tree" position="120,150,540,859"> </view>
<view type="Explorer" position="740,350,1250,860"> </view>
<view type="Fx Color Selector" position="100,120,310,410"> </view>
<view type="Script Editor" position="200,150,960,800"> </view>
<view type="Keyable Parameters Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Texture Editor" position="120,150,900,700"> </view>
<view type="Plugin Manager" position="120,150,610,680"> </view>
<view type="Image Clip Viewer" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Scripts" position="120,150,350,300"> </view>
<view type="Scripted Operator Editor" position="120,113,607,680"> </view>
<view type="Render Tree" position="120,532,1130,859"> </view>
<view type="Preset Manager" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Text Editor" position="200,150,960,800"> </view>
<view type="Custom Display Host" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Palettes" position="150,150,600,650"> </view>
<view type="Parameter Connection Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Main Shelf" position="120,150,600,300"> </view>
<view type="Fx Viewer" position="545,150,1120,535"> </view>
<view type="Scene Layer Manager" position="800,150,1120,535"> </view>
<view type="Shape Manager" position="120,150,900,700"> </view>
<view type="Fx Operator Selector" position="545,532,1120,859"> </view>
<view type="Browser" position="660,350,1120,859"> </view>
<view type="SDK Explorer" position="120,150,900,859"> </view>
<view type="Expression Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="DopeSheet" position="120,532,1130,859"> </view>
<view type="Animation Editor" position="113,532,1137,859"> </view>
<view type="SpreadSheet" position="120,532,1130,859"> </view>
<view type="Schematic" position="120,532,607,859"> </view>
<view type="Fx Paint Brush List" position="-4,50,103,859"> </view>
<view type="Weight Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="External Files Manager" position="120,150,1120,535"> </view>
<view type="Object View" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Texture Layer Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="VM Views" position="120,150,350,300"> </view>
<view type="Synoptic Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Relational View Editor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
<view type="Audio Output Monitor" position="120,113,607,450"> </view>
</viewdefaultpos>
<frameset orientation="vertical" splitter="none" sizechild="*,48">
<frameset orientation="horizontal" name="main" splitter="movable" sizechild="*,135">
<frameset orientation="horizontal" name="VM_Frameset" splitter="none" sizechild="243,*">
<switcher type="tray" buttonside="bottom" active="0" orientation="horizontal" name="module_menu" displayname="Module Menu" buttonsize="26,26" optional="visible" splitter="none" sizechild="105,216,105">
<frameset orientation="vertical" name="main_toolbar_frameset" description="Main Toolbar" bitmap="toolbar" splitter="none" sizechild="*,71">
<frame name="toolbar_panel" type="Toolbar Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="vm_views" type="VM Views" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</frameset>
<frame name="weight_paint_panel" description="Weight Paint Panel" bitmap="weightpanel" type="Weight Paint Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frameset orientation="vertical" name="palette_and_script_toolbar_frameset" description="Palette and Script Toolbar" bitmap="palettetab" splitter="none" sizechild="269,*">
<frame name="palettes" bitmap="palettetab" type="Palettes" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="scripts" type="Scripts" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</frameset>
</switcher>
<frameset orientation="vertical" splitter="none" sizechild="66,*,26,24">
<frame name="main_shelf" displayname="Main Shelf" type="Main Shelf" primary="false" optional="hidden" toolbar="none"> </frame>
<frameset orientation="horizontal" name="Frameset23" splitter="movable" sizechild="334,1348">
<frame name="vm" type="Explorer" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frameset orientation="vertical" name="Frameset50" splitter="movable" sizechild="90,913">
<frame name="pane24" type="Main Shelf" primary="false" toolbar="shared"> </frame>
<frame name="pane51" type="View Manager" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</frameset>
</frameset>
<frame name="timeline" displayname="Timeline" type="Timeline" primary="false" optional="visible" toolbar="own">
<properties>
<type>global</type>
<dopesheet>true</dopesheet>
</properties>
</frame>
<frame name="timerange" displayname="Timerange" type="Timerange" primary="false" optional="visible" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</frameset>
</frameset>
<switcher type="tray" buttonside="bottom_inv" active="0" orientation="vertical" name="mcp" displayname="MCP" buttonsize="44,23" optional="visible" splitter="none" sizechild="135,196,240">
<switcher type="panel" buttonside="user" orientation="vertical" displayname="MCP" splitter="none" sizechild="283,334,52,90,91">
<frame name="selection_panel" type="Selection Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="transformation_panel" type="Transformation Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="snap_panel" type="Snap Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="constraint_panel" type="Constraint Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="edit_panel" type="Edit Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</switcher>
<frameset orientation="vertical" displayname="KP/L" splitter="movable" sizechild="125,386,39%">
<frame name="mini_transform_panel" type="Mini Transform Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="keying_panel" type="Keying Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<switcher type="tray" buttonside="top" active="0" orientation="horizontal" name="layers_panel" displayname="LayersPanel" buttonsize="96,20" splitter="none" sizechild="*,*">
<frame name="animation_layer_manager" displayname="Animation" type="Animation Layer Manager" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="scene_layer_manager" displayname="Scene" type="Layer Control" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</switcher>
</frameset>
<frame name="material_panel" displayname="MAT" type="Material Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</switcher>
</frameset>
<frameset orientation="horizontal" name="playback" displayname="Playback" optional="visible" splitter="none" sizechild="163,*,437,384">
<frame name="panel_switcher" displayname="Panel Switcher" type="Panel Switcher" primary="false" optional="hidden" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="command_line" type="Command Line" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="playback_panel" type="Playback Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
<frame name="animation_panel" type="Animation Panel" primary="false" toolbar="own"> </frame>
</frameset>
</frameset>
</relationalview>
</xsi_file>


sorry to all for the code copy/paste stuff.......