Objects
The puzzles from this category perform various operations with objects.
"show"
Makes a specified object, that was initially or previously hidden, visible. Also works for a list of objects, a group (or a list of groups) or with the all objects puzzle. If there is no such object(s) present in the scene, or an object is already visible, does nothing.
"hide"
Makes a specified object invisible. Also works for a list of objects, a group (or a list of groups) or with the all objects puzzle. If there is no such object(s) present in the scene, or an object is already invisible, does nothing.
"is visible"
Checks if an object (or any of objects in a list) is currently visible. If it so, returns the logical value true, otherwise returns false. If there is no such object(s) present in the scene, returns false.
"get objects from"
This universal puzzle allows you to:
- get the list of objects contained in a group thus making it iterable
- convert the output of the all objects puzzle to a list thus making it iterable
- get children of some parent object
By using the dropdown you can also filter off objects of a kind (e.g. cameras, lamps, annotations, etc).
"clone"
Makes an object copy, generates a unique name for the new object and immediately adds it to the scene. Outputs the new object. Does not work with lists, groups or the all objects puzzle.
"remove"
Removes a specified object from the scene. Also works for a list of objects, a group (or a list of groups) or with the all objects puzzle. If there is no such object(s) present in the scene, does nothing.
"snap to object"
Moves an object to the position of another object by copying its transform data. Also copies rotation and scale. Does not work with lists, groups or the all objects puzzle.
"set transform"
Moves, rotates or scales an object according to specified transform data. The "offset" checkbox enables moving/rotating/scaling an object relatively to the original position/rotation/scale. Any of the axis inputs can be left blank. Also works for a list of objects, a group (or a list of groups) or with the all objects puzzle.
"get transform"
Retrieves the position, rotation or scale data of an object. Does not work with lists, groups or the all objects puzzle.
"change local transform"
Moves, rotates or scales an object according to specified transform data in its local space. Any of the axis inputs can be left blank. Also works for a list of objects, a group (or a list of groups) or with the all objects puzzle.
"set object direction"
Set an object's direction to the point with X,Y,Z coordinates. The lock up checkbox locks the up-down axis of the object so it remains perpendicular to the horizontal surface.
"get object direction"
Returns an object's direction vector or numeric X,Y,Z vector components.
"get morph factor"
Returns an object's morph target factor.
"set morph factor"
Sets an object's morph target factor.
Example:
See the source files of the Parametric Models demo and also this video tutorial explaining the basics of using morph target puzzles.
"add annotation"
Adds a point of interest icon to an object that a user can expand by clicking on it to see some description. Also works for a list of objects, a group (or a list of groups) or with the all objects puzzle.
Notes:
This puzzle creates 2 HTML elements which can be styled with CSS using their classes.
You can also style each individual annotation by assigning and accessing its elements' ids.
By default, an annotation oscured by some geometry is automatically closed and become semi-transparent. This behavior can be disabled by turning off the fade annotations option of the configure application puzzle.
You can use a more low-level alternative, the bind element puzzle, instead but it won't expand upon clicking and won't be obscured by geometry.
"remove annotation"
Removes a previously added annotation from an object. Also works for a list of objects, a group (or a list of groups) or with the all objects puzzle.
"open annotation"
Expands an annotation specified by its label.
"close annotation"
Closes an annotation specified by its label.
"update text object"
Generates a new mesh for a text object according to specified textual content. Also works for a list of objects, a group (or a list of groups) or with the all objects puzzle.
"parent"
Creates a parent relation between objects, so that the first object follows position/rotation/scale of the second one. Does not work with lists, groups or the all objects puzzle.
"distance"
Outputs the distance between two specified objects. Does not work with lists, groups or the all objects puzzle.
"get custom props"
Returns a dictionary with custom properties assigned to an object.
Custom properties can be assigned in 3ds Max via the User Defined Properties panel, or in Blender by using the Custom Properties panel.
"outline"
Applies or removes the outline effect to/from a specified object. Requires enabling the outline effect in 3ds Max or Blender. Also works for a list of objects, a group (or a list of groups) or with the all objects puzzle.
