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Author Topic: Sequence operator not working as expected on "controlled" random facade  (Read 1349 times)

Pixelab

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Here a recent project we did :

- Facade had 8 types of panels, 4 versions + 4 mirrors on X.

- It's based on a sequence of 1 random normal panel / 1 random mirrored panel / 1 random normal / 1 random mirror, etc

- Some parts of the facade were more "opened" and some more closed. So the probablility was resolved by making probality groups and assigning them to Mat ID via a selector modifier.


I realised that the sequence didn't worked when randomizing sequences : randomizing 1-0 sequences leads to messed up results like 1-0-0-0-1-1-0-1-0

On the other hand, sequencing random 0 + random 1 works.... to an certain extent. Problem is when the spline changes ID, the sequence somehow resets 1 0 1 0 1 0 1  0 x 0 1  (x being the vertex between 2 segements)

To solve this I had to align the vertexes manually to match the "help" the sequences

In the end, the architect wanted to have unsynced sequence on each floor, leading to big rhombuses in the facade. I solved this by strating with a "micro" segment at the start of uneven floors. micro segement hidden in a wall or at the back of the project. Maybe a more elegent solution exists ?


Paul Roberts

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Re: Sequence operator not working as expected on "controlled" random facade
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2016, 10:07:10 AM »
Hi,

Please take a look at the attached to solve this issue. I've made the following changes

- Instead of using an L1S array with multiple spline I have used an A2S array with a single spline level. The building's height it set by the Y Size parameter
- Changed the Sequence operators to Compose operators. Sequence operators would be fine too, but I'd need to create two for each material ID to get the offset rows. By using a Compose operator you can just use a single Reverse node to get more or less the same effect.
- Used the Reversed Compose operator and the normal Compose operator in conjunction with a Sequence set to Increment on Y to create the rhomboid pattern.

Using this technique you don't need the vertex trick to align the rows.

I've attached a sample file. I hope that helps, please let me know if you have any questions.

Kind regards,

Paul
Paul Roberts
iToo Software

Pixelab

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Re: Sequence operator not working as expected on "controlled" random facade
« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2016, 10:05:51 AM »
Hello Paul, thanks a lot for taking the time to look into this and the detailled answer.

Unfortunaly, I tried with compose operator and it seems the compose make "unbreakable" super segments and then you can only have an even number of elements on the facade. There is an underlying strucutre of the facade and the number of elements required on some parts was odd number, so compose didn't worked.

Also, I have the general impression with RC that, while it seems at first that you have multiple ways of solving a problem, only one solution really exists and comes with his own limitations. And sorry to say that but the question was about the sequence operator not working as expected, and not about doing the RC object more elegantly (what you did ;)

Back to my first quesition, isn't "Sequence" supposed to work in this case ? And what about the "reset" of the sequence when the ID is changing ? Is it a bug, a limitation, a misunderstanding of the use of this operator ?

I really don't want to come as offensive or arrogant, just to point a limitation or something that could be improved in the behaviour of the plugin.

Phil

Paul Roberts

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Re: Sequence operator not working as expected on "controlled" random facade
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2016, 10:39:46 AM »
Hi,

You're right. Unfortunately  the compose operator treats both halves as a single segment. Thanks for the feedback, I've been taking a look at the behaviour of the sequence operator and you're right, it's not behaving on ID changes quite as expected. Our development team are looking into it and hopefully we can improve this behaviour soon.

We're certainly not offended :) Feedback like this is invaluable for making RailClone even better.

Many thanks!

Paul
Paul Roberts
iToo Software

Pixelab

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Re: Sequence operator not working as expected on "controlled" random facade
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2016, 11:17:39 AM »
Hi,

You're right. Unfortunately  the compose operator treats both halves as a single segment. Thanks for the feedback, I've been taking a look at the behaviour of the sequence operator and you're right, it's not behaving on ID changes quite as expected. Our development team are looking into it and hopefully we can improve this behaviour soon.

We're certainly not offended :) Feedback like this is invaluable for making RailClone even better.

Many thanks!

Paul

Cool, that's heartwarming to read :)