Subdivision of multiple objects

[mharr]

Subdivision of multiple objects

Hi -
Brand new here. I am coming from Lightwave and am used to subdividing the entire scene or several items at once with a press of the Tab key. In Cheetah, if I have a scene with several objects, do I need to go into the modifier of each object and toggle subdivision on each one individually? I have tried to set up a hierarchy in order to do several items at once but can't figure it out. Any way to accomplish this? Thanks.

 

[novolume]

This sounds like it might be a job for a script, assuming that one doesn't already exist.

 

[pomopaul]

you could simply copy paste...seems simple enough.
command c to copy and command v to paste

 

[podperson]

I agree that being able to control subdivision modifiers globally would be very helpful (e.g. both toggle and adjust degree of subdivision). As it is, you'd need to write a (fairly simple) macro script and attach a hotkey to it.

If you look at this thread, I describe a simple framework for writing scripts that do stuff globally across a scene or down a sub-hierarchy:

http://www.cheetah3d.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4442&highlight=global+iterator

 

[podperson]

I've posted a new script to make this stuff a little bit less annoying:

http://loewald.com/c3dbook/Scripts/Smoothinator-(script)/

It lets you globally turn subdivision on/off, or do it on a hierarchy, or globally adjust subdivision levels up or down, and similarly set smooth angles.

 

[mharr]

Thank you!

Thank you so much, Podperson! I will definitely be using the script. BTW - loved your book...I learned a lot from it - intelligently written and lots of great tips.

 

[Pat88]

Downloaded the script, thanks PodPerson, will give a go as it addresses a similar issue that came up for me recently.

I also got your book last year, 90 percent of which when straight over my head, luckily the other 10% got me started... so thanks again.

 

[bwrtz]

How to go about adding a hot key to "all off" / "all on" in this script? or a way to do the same thing without the script, using a keystroke? (just to be able to handily reference the subdivided look and unsubdivided look, of what you're working on) Thanks!

 

[Helmut]

* I have no idea about the script.
* Nor do I know if the subsequent method is of any use to you.
1 You can search the object browser (OB) for all entities starting with the string "subdiv"
2 Select all in the OB
3 Toggle off the modifier icon in the OB
* To revert: same procedure + toggle on

 

[ZooHead]

Thank you for this tip. It's so obvious once you learn it, but I never thought of it before.
I had to put the search function back on my already cluttered toolbar.

 

[Helmut]

You are welcome, ZooHead.
* Additional notes for newbies:
* BTW, the same OB search function can be used to
1 rename stacks of objects if the numeric suffixes of copy & paste multiplicates are not needed.
2 edit dimensions of a stack of objects
3 toggle visibilities in the E / R.
* Bonus: After deleting the search string, the subselection remains selected in the full OB, even if they may be nodes of a collapsed hierarchy.
Once the object browser gets to the size of a humble toilet roll, the search function can be quite useful.

 

[bwrtz]

Searching is a breakthrough, wow,

however, ....

I'm on version 6 (because i'm from the past). if my object browser looks like this, is there any hope of getting those awesome columns like yours shows? the icons i have are not clickable in such a powerful way as you demonstrated.

Thanks

 

[Helmut]

Sorry, but you need to update C3D to the current version. I believe this to be C3D V7.3.3. IMHO, it is an investment well worth the slaughtering of a piggy bank or three.