ICE node or compound to python

[TheDutchOracle]

Hi, i was wondering. Is there an easy or smart way to convert the functionality of an ice node into python in Softimage?

[EricTRocks]

No. You'd have to write your own ICE Tree parser. It's a huge mountain of work. Not to mention, most of what you're going to do in ice is going to be much, much faster than Python.

[TheDutchOracle]

An i see, thanks for your reply.

The reason i asked was because i was playing around with python in Xpresso in Cinema 4D. (The python node to be specific)
Wondering how many coumpounds i could reproduce with it. Already started recreating many of them.

I found out it is possible to encapsulate a node tree similar to a compound in XSI (and export and share them as well)
Was wondering it it was possible to see the functionality of a node in code or text etc.

https://vimeo.com/32132824 (general demo video of x-presso)

[Mathaeus]

Yeah great, but I'm afraid, this C4d Xpresso Python thing also fits to what Eric already said (and every Blender power user knows) - if there is no hard coded support somewhere deeper in Cinema, you won't get miracle with Python too, especially when it comes to any larger set of data. Last I've tried, r15 I think, simple replica of ICE 'push deformer, modulated by distance to null' could take forever to compute on 20-50 k mesh in Xpresso - and this was, using the factory node. Raycast is very basically exposed, 'get closest location' not at all.

Anyway if you'll be able to get the ID of Mograph clone in Xpresso, even this is a plenty, regarding the current state.

[TheDutchOracle]

Do you still have that push deformer scene file by any chance?
(both in C4d and XSI?)
A comparison video would be great for Maxon.
(I'm a beta tester cor Cinema 4D as well)

[Mathaeus]

Nope, unfortunately. Tried while ago, choose Modo, + Houdini Indie few months ago. Of course Houdini is primary toy these days - hope I'll create something in Houdini engine for c4d, one day. There are other things that made the choice, of course, not Xpresso.

Anyway, could you get Mograph clone ID in xPresso, using that 'Python node' thing?

[TheDutchOracle]

Getting the clone ID can be done standard using the data node.
(The data node, can often be used with things like Matrix, Cloner or Fracture objects)

[Mathaeus]

Getting the clone ID can be done standard using the data node.
(The data node, can often be used with things like Matrix, Cloner of Fracture objects)

great, now how I can *set* data back to particular clone in Mograph, using Xpresso ?

[TheDutchOracle]

let me quickly create a setup for you and make a screenschot with some comments in it. Back in a bit.

[Mathaeus]

come on, no need to create setup for me ... after all I believe this should be possible with these nice Python nodes - well, of course, without 'mograph selection' thing...

[TheDutchOracle]

In this quick example i created a copy of the cloner object and pressed "C"
The positions of the copied clones are dictated by each clone item (possible by using it's index ID)

without 'mograph selection' thing ;)

By the way, the visibility of the actual clones (in the cloner object) is turned to OFF. So what you see here are the copies. The positions are based ob the cloner index.