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Author Topic: Containers support?  (Read 2529 times)

Alejandro

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Containers support?
« on: November 09, 2011, 03:51:39 PM »
Are containers supported as custom objects?

Would be preferable over xref because can be edited inside the scene, but not sure if are supported by forest.

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iToo

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Re: Containers support?
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2011, 04:59:16 PM »

No, containers are not supported because they are not renderable objects, but helpers.

For example, a container would contain a light, which cannot converted in a mesh or instanced by the VRay and Mental Ray engines.

Carlos Quintero
iToo Software

QL2487

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Re: Containers support?
« Reply #2 on: January 31, 2016, 12:53:19 PM »
Sorry for invading this thread after few years, but I have question regarding containers.
Is there any option to use a shared source of objects for scatter? Like inside xref or container.
Workflow problem is this: I have in team different people working on different parts of landscape, but they share the same source of plants for scatter. If I organize master scene in xrefs, I have doubling of same sources of plants from different xrefs.
Is there possibility that I have in master scene container with plants sources and then all separate xref files use that container for source of plants? Of course not the container itself as a object for distribution, but the plants inside opened container.

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Boris

Michal Karmazín

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Re: Containers support?
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2016, 11:02:14 AM »
Hi Boris,

First let me mention, that if you're thinking to use of 3ds Max's Containers / XRefs together, take in mind, that XRef objects aren't supported by that feature (Containers doesn't allow you to Add XRefs to its content).
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"Is there possibility that I have in master scene container with plants sources and then all separate xref files use that container for source of plants?"
Yes, that's possible and upon our internal tests all works as supposed.
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"If I organize master scene in xrefs, I have doubling of same sources of plants from different xrefs."
Would you mind to share more details regarding this issue? Thanks in advance.

Most common work-flow is "direct" using XRefs as the Library Browser lets you to create your own libraries / presets (which you can share among all) and when placing you can take advantage of the XRef to library option. I would suggest you to check our "Creating Libraries" tutorial covering that topic in detail.

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QL2487

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Re: Containers support?
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2016, 03:40:06 PM »
Hello Michal,

thank you very much for a quick reply.
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Yes, that's possible and upon our internal tests all works as supposed.
I've tested also, but as soon you close the container the forest loose the custom object for geometry distribution.
Is there a workaround for this kind of situation? Xref object or Xref scene is too robust to use for this purpose.

Thanks,
Boris

Michal Karmazín

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Re: Containers support?
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2016, 11:04:17 AM »
Hi Boris,

Once the container is closed (even having Rules set to Anything Unlocked) its content isn't accessible by 3ds Max (for example to the XRef function like in your case) and I'm afraid there is no workaround to bypass that behaviour from Forest Pack.

As commented previously, most recommendable pipeline would be to use XRefs from shared libraries.

I'm not sure about the issue, you've mentioned: "If I organize master scene in xrefs, I have doubling of same sources of plants from different xrefs." as this work-flow is quite common and it shouldn't give you any problems. Could you please describe more in detail your project set-up? Thanks in advance.

Best regards,

QL2487

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Re: Containers support?
« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2016, 09:38:21 AM »
Hello Michal,

thank you again for a quick reply. I  will for sure test the workflow with shared library with xrefs inside. The problem is that we have for every project different planting plan, so probably it will be in a practice ongoing process of working on landscape and updating that library.
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Could you please describe more in detail your project set-up?
For an example we have project with one planting plan that covers landscape parts A, part B... etc. So the team member working on part A will share the same plants as for the part B.
If I understand you, probably it would be a good solution to create network placed library for that project, with xrefs for plants?

Thanks,
Boris

Michal Karmazín

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Re: Containers support?
« Reply #7 on: February 03, 2016, 12:00:10 PM »
Hi Boris,

You're welcome. Yes, that would be a recommendable solution. Your own predefined libraries can be mapped easily using Library Browser's interface. Under File - Preferences... you'll find the Library Paths section. Here by the Add... button you can map path to any library. You can build / update a custom library on shared network drive and map it on all computers that'll use it.

Best regards,