Comments on: Reusing models http://morevnaproject.org/2008/08/21/reusing-models-in-blender/ Anime. Open Source. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:04:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Konstantin http://morevnaproject.org/2008/08/21/reusing-models-in-blender/comment-page-1/#comment-9520 Konstantin Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:26:43 +0000 http://morevnaproject.org/?p=68#comment-9520 OK, looks like approach with groups is not suitable for us. For example, the bike have a bone (1) which acts as a driver - when it's moved, wheels are turning and bike body is shaking. Bike shaking is defined by the empty (2) which is driven by the bone (1). Bike linked as group, armature with driver bone (1) is proxied. http://download.tuxfamily.org/morevna/blog/2008/08/bike-groups.png But if I want put someone on the bike while it's riding, then I need parent it to the empty (2) which is shaking the bike. I can't parent anything to that empty, because it's part of the group. I can't make it proxy, because then all IPO-driver information and transformations immediately lost. Conclusion: Approach with groups is great, but not for the cases when drivers are used. It's sad, but we should stick with a bit more tedious approach described in this post. Anyway, thank you a lot for the info, I have learned a lot! ^_^ OK, looks like approach with groups is not suitable for us.
For example, the bike have a bone (1) which acts as a driver – when it’s moved, wheels are turning and bike body is shaking. Bike shaking is defined by the empty (2) which is driven by the bone (1). Bike linked as group, armature with driver bone (1) is proxied.

http://download.tuxfamily.org/morevna/blog/2008/08/bike-groups.png

But if I want put someone on the bike while it’s riding, then I need parent it to the empty (2) which is shaking the bike. I can’t parent anything to that empty, because it’s part of the group. I can’t make it proxy, because then all IPO-driver information and transformations immediately lost.

Conclusion: Approach with groups is great, but not for the cases when drivers are used. It’s sad, but we should stick with a bit more tedious approach described in this post.

Anyway, thank you a lot for the info, I have learned a lot! ^_^

]]> By: Konstantin http://morevnaproject.org/2008/08/21/reusing-models-in-blender/comment-page-1/#comment-55 Konstantin Fri, 26 Sep 2008 04:35:56 +0000 http://morevnaproject.org/?p=68#comment-55 Wow, it works! Thanks alot! I never thought about trying CTRL+ALT+P on dupligroup. ^_^ We need some time to investigate this method a bit more, but if everything will be ok, it will really simplify things! Wow, it works! Thanks alot! I never thought about trying CTRL+ALT+P on dupligroup. ^_^

We need some time to investigate this method a bit more, but if everything will be ok, it will really simplify things!

]]> By: sozap http://morevnaproject.org/2008/08/21/reusing-models-in-blender/comment-page-1/#comment-53 sozap Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:18:33 +0000 http://morevnaproject.org/?p=68#comment-53 Hi , as Pablo says, after you added your linked group , you can do ctrl+alt+p on the dupligroup, then you will have a menu that let you select objet to be proxy-ed . the best is to use it on armature or in emptys that move objects inside your group. it's a nice project you have, use full power ! Hi ,
as Pablo says,
after you added your linked group , you can do ctrl+alt+p on the dupligroup,
then you will have a menu that let you select objet to be proxy-ed .
the best is to use it on armature or in emptys that move objects inside your group.

it’s a nice project you have, use full power !

]]> By: Konstantin http://morevnaproject.org/2008/08/21/reusing-models-in-blender/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Konstantin Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:32:13 +0000 http://morevnaproject.org/?p=68#comment-51 Thank you! Hm... groups? If we link the group from external file, then "Add -> Group -> bike", then we will recieve a empty with the all bike objects "attached" to it via DupliGroup. But how could we change the animation of the bike? I mean, on some scene we need bike staying still (wheels not rotation), in other bike is moving (wheels are rotated and handle-bars too). I really don't know how to achieve this with groups. Described method is not that complex. Notice, there is no need to delete existing objects - we just need re- CTRL+L all objects from linked scene. (In described example we had to remove existing objects just because we wanted to get rid of the proxy). In short: 1. If linked file (bike) was updated, but no new objects were added, we don't need to do anything to have scene 54 up to date. 2. If linked file (bike) was updated and there are new objects were added, we in file containing scene 54 we must go to linked scene 'bike', select all, and CTRL+L to scene 54. Now we are up to date. Maybe there is an easier way to keep objects from file A automatically appear in file B? Thank you!

Hm… groups? If we link the group from external file, then “Add -> Group -> bike”, then we will recieve a empty with the all bike objects “attached” to it via DupliGroup.

But how could we change the animation of the bike? I mean, on some scene we need bike staying still (wheels not rotation), in other bike is moving (wheels are rotated and handle-bars too). I really don’t know how to achieve this with groups.

Described method is not that complex. Notice, there is no need to delete existing objects – we just need re- CTRL+L all objects from linked scene. (In described example we had to remove existing objects just because we wanted to get rid of the proxy).

In short:
1. If linked file (bike) was updated, but no new objects were added, we don’t need to do anything to have scene 54 up to date.
2. If linked file (bike) was updated and there are new objects were added, we in file containing scene 54 we must go to linked scene ‘bike’, select all, and CTRL+L to scene 54. Now we are up to date.

Maybe there is an easier way to keep objects from file A automatically appear in file B?

]]> By: Pablo Vazquez http://morevnaproject.org/2008/08/21/reusing-models-in-blender/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Pablo Vazquez Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:03:58 +0000 http://morevnaproject.org/?p=68#comment-50 Good looking project! by the way, what's the advantage of linking the whole scene instead of just a group containing the bike? I read through this method you use and it looks like a huge amount of work, coming back and forth from scene to scene, linking deleting and linking again, while using a group would be just linking once and do proxy of the armature, but maybe i'm missing something, linking the whole scene could have benefits too. keep it up! will be following, cheers! Good looking project!

by the way, what’s the advantage of linking the whole scene instead of just a group containing the bike?

I read through this method you use and it looks like a huge amount of work, coming back and forth from scene to scene, linking deleting and linking again, while using a group would be just linking once and do proxy of the armature, but maybe i’m missing something, linking the whole scene could have benefits too.

keep it up! will be following, cheers!

]]> By: Konstantin http://morevnaproject.org/2008/08/21/reusing-models-in-blender/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Konstantin Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:47:27 +0000 http://morevnaproject.org/?p=68#comment-24 Benjamin: I'm not sure about .obj, but suppose you could try "Export > Wavefront (.obj)" menu item. ;) About the last paragraph: you got the idea right. And, yes, your question was an incitement for me to write this article. Don't hesitate to ask more. ^_^ Nathan: Thank you! Definitely not all posts are dedicated to blender, but maybe blender community will find something useful here. Benjamin:
I’m not sure about .obj, but suppose you could try “Export > Wavefront (.obj)” menu item. ;) About the last paragraph: you got the idea right. And, yes, your question was an incitement for me to write this article. Don’t hesitate to ask more. ^_^

Nathan:
Thank you! Definitely not all posts are dedicated to blender, but maybe blender community will find something useful here.

]]> By: Nathan Letwory http://morevnaproject.org/2008/08/21/reusing-models-in-blender/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Nathan Letwory Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:12:06 +0000 http://morevnaproject.org/?p=68#comment-23 Hi, Good luck with the project! I've added your feed to www.planetblender.org On another note: I'm working (on and off) on DbBlender - a way to have .blend data in a database, with an integrated workflow for Blender to transparently interface with the database. The idea is to allow for data organisation and management. If you have any ideas on it, please consider writing me some mail with ideas on how you would see such a toolset work for you. /Nathan Hi,

Good luck with the project! I’ve added your feed to http://www.planetblender.org

On another note: I’m working (on and off) on DbBlender – a way to have .blend data in a database, with an integrated workflow for Blender to transparently interface with the database.

The idea is to allow for data organisation and management. If you have any ideas on it, please consider writing me some mail with ideas on how you would see such a toolset work for you.

/Nathan

]]> By: Benjamin Bailey http://morevnaproject.org/2008/08/21/reusing-models-in-blender/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Benjamin Bailey Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:19:11 +0000 http://morevnaproject.org/?p=68#comment-17 Thanks a lot. Will have to give this setup a try. How is it best to export an object to a .obj file, btw? (not needed for this example, I realize) Export> to what? Also, in the last paragraph you mentioned something to watch out for. From what you described, does this mean that if I try to open my linked scene file (the one that is linking to the original scene from a different file,) and the original file is not available, all the linked information in the file linking to the external scene would be lost, and if I saved, I would not be able to regain the animating I had done, even if I restore the original files to their correct locations? Thanks for the update. Something to watch out for. Benjamin Bailey http://minosafilms.wordpress.com/ P.S. Did you write this post to answer my question about the proxies? If so, thanks a lot! Great help. God bless... Thanks a lot. Will have to give this setup a try.

How is it best to export an object to a .obj file, btw? (not needed for this example, I realize) Export> to what?

Also, in the last paragraph you mentioned something to watch out for. From what you described, does this mean that if I try to open my linked scene file (the one that is linking to the original scene from a different file,) and the original file is not available, all the linked information in the file linking to the external scene would be lost, and if I saved, I would not be able to regain the animating I had done, even if I restore the original files to their correct locations? Thanks for the update. Something to watch out for.

Benjamin Bailey
http://minosafilms.wordpress.com/

P.S. Did you write this post to answer my question about the proxies? If so, thanks a lot! Great help. God bless…

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