clone shader node

[caledonian_tartan]

i'm about to create a function to clone a shadernode oder icenode inside the rendertree or Icetree.

is fairly simple to place a plugin in the rightclick menu context of a icenode/shadernode:

Code: Select all

	in_reg.RegisterMenu(constants.siMenuICENodeContextID,"test_Menu",false,false)
or
	in_reg.RegisterMenu(constants.siMenuRTNodeContextID,"test_Menu",false,false)

Duplicate(clone) and linking all parameters is a bit harder...
As duplicate does't seem to work, i use copy/paste.

Code: Select all

Application.Copy("Sources.Materials.DefaultLib.Scene_Material.Phong")
Application.Paste("Sources.Materials.DefaultLib.Scene_Material")

how do i get this context without using the explicit names?
how do i get all the node's parameters i just right clicked on to be linked to the new copy?

(using python)

[caledonian_tartan]

currently i should just know how to define the selected node to get the Node.Name...

[FXDude]

I'm pretty sure there's a way to get selected node(s),

A bit in a crunch right now but I'll look into it soon,

And that will be a neat addition to many toolboxes if you would care to share.
(once it works )

[caledonian_tartan]

that would be cool, FXDUDE!

there is a way to use the view attributes.

i'm about to collect some info. about basic scripting. again.

I try to point out the steps:

right click on a Node (ICE or Render Tree) --> Should give the name of the selected node : i can create that right click command, but not return the selected node
click on clone (custom command) --> Copy/Paste the selected node and link all parameters to the master : not there yet

this should be VERY easy, but i don't even get around the selection.
even with the help of our promising SDK Explorer.

but shure, if it works, i'll share it like all the stuff i got help on from the forum.

[caledonian_tartan]

with this JS it is possible to get the selected node in the active render tree.

how can i list its parameters?

this line: "LogMessage( oNode.Parameters );" gives a type mismatch error. why?

Code: Select all

// Get Selected Node

// Get the Render Tree view
var oLayout = Application.Desktop.ActiveLayout;
var oRTViews = oLayout.Views.Filter( "Render Tree" );
 
// Now get the selected nodes 
// and log the names of the selected nodes
var x = oRTViews(0);
var a = x.GetAttributeValue( "selection" ).split(",");
LogMessage( a.length );
 
for ( var i in a )
{
    var oNode = Dictionary.GetObject( a[i] );
    LogMessage( oNode.Name );
//	LogMessage( oNode.Parameters );
}

[caledonian_tartan]

This Python Script goes one step further:

you can log the selected Node in the render tree and
you can log its parameters

Code: Select all

a = Application
log = a.LogMessage

### Get The Active View

oLayout = a.Desktop.ActiveLayout
oRTViews = oLayout.Views.Filter( "Render Tree" )

x = oRTViews(0)
y = x.GetAttributeValue( "selection" ).split(",")

### Get The Shader Parameters

a.SelectObj(y, "", "")

oNode = a.Selection(0)

for p in oNode.Parameters:
	log(p)

cool.

next is linking parameter arrays. OMG...

The Main Issue is to filter out Parameters like "Name" or "Mode" which i don't want to clone.

Any chance to just get parameters that are able to be linked by an expression?

(also it seems that - on the diffuse or other color parameters, there are RGB/HLS/HSV values to set)

[caledonian_tartan]

i finally had some time to work on this.

here it is. a little helper to clone shader nodes.

it works in most cases. sometimes it does not. (Hair_Gradient_Material)

clonenode.jpg

CloneShaderNodePlugin.zip

[FXDude]

Very nice work (!) and thanks so much for such a nifty handy tool (to say the least)!

Should submit to RRay!

And kudos on overcoming all these obstacles (among probably others)

Cheers