Center To Object - Workspace - Would this be possible?

[MikomDude]

I was wondering, would it be possible to create a script/plugin for the workspace that with the click (or two clicks) of the mouse centers one object to the coordinates of another object?

I have no experience programming/scripting in trueSpace (or any program) myself so it's really just a suggestion but if it can be done I think it would be a very useful tool.

[froo]

Yes I believe that is possible.

[Draise]

Actually... using the bridge, I made a button that first freezes the transforms on WS, then with the other button, it centers the axis onto the from the MS to the WS side.

1. You just need to copy the script into Custom Commands under the LE/Default/Scripts/ part of TS.
2. Then copy the button into a toolbar. LE/Default/Projects/Windows Space Manager/[Frame or Toolbar]/[Toolbar]/
3. Refresh the toolbar (change it's orientation or something) then turn the bridge on.
4. RMB = flatten axis, do this first. LMB = center axis.


You may need Clinton's extra LE navigator plugin to navigate to the default.

!	Warning: Doing so will erase your object's shader, but you can easily back it up and put it back on before doing so.

[MikomDude]

Thank you Draise but I was looking for something just a little less complicated than that. I simply wanted a tool that with one click of the tool icon enables the function for the current object. Then, with the tool enabled, one would simply need to click whatever object I want to center the current object to and it will do so.

The reason I got this idea is because I tend to do this operation a lot only by using the object coordinates in the down-right corner of the Workspace. When I'm modeling, I tend to model very fast like I was drawing, so having to enter (and remember) these X-Y-Z values for each object takes time and momentarily halts my modeling.
I believe such a tool most likely would have been included in trueSpace, had anyone thought of this idea at the time it was being developed, since it is these types of quick-to-use tools that makes tS so great.

[Finis]

If I was developing a 3D app, and there was time and money to reach this level of functionality, I'd make that one of the snap tools. Snap to center or snap to object axis. So, is there a TS snap tool that could do this?

[pugman 1]

Modo and zbrush have this .but these are not ts i wish work space hadthis
to its the quickest modler i know. Modo is good but not as easy as ts

[Draise]

Thank you Draise but I was looking for something just a little less complicated than that. I simply wanted a tool that with one click of the tool icon enables the function for the current object. Then, with the tool enabled, one would simply need to click whatever object I want to center the current object to and it will do so.

Well...once you install the script and button, you only need to rightclick then leftclick the button to center the axis of the selected object. It isn't.. too complicated?

[MikomDude]

To center the axis of the selected object? Hmm, that's not what I meant. Besides, trueSpace already has a tool for that. I meant the function of the button to be that it would change the orientation of an object to the exact orientation of another object in the scene.

For example, if I wanted object A (at X-1.000 Y-1.000 Z-1.000) to position itself at the same coordinates as object B (which is at X-3.000 Y-5.000 Z-4.300) then all I would have to do is select object A --> click the button for the tool --> then click object B and it would automatically put object A at the coordinates of object B (X-3.000 Y-5.000 Z-4.300).

[Draise]

OOOOOOOH..!!!!! Capich. Terrible english I've got sometimes...

hmmmmm...

Just expand the World Matrix output of the parent object, then expand the Matrix input of the child object, then link what you want to match to each other, and viola! If you want to snap another object to it's center, then unlink the parent object and put in another parent object.

Then when you are happy with the new position and you don't want it stuck to the center of the other object, then unlink them from the expanded nodes and you are good to go!






Or to the other object:






It's not a button solution..... but once you have the two extra exanded nodes, you just link and relink whatever you need in the LE to do what you want. Not quite a button, but it works.

Maybe a script can be made to do the like at the click of the button (like a constraint script around here somewhere) but I'm not sure how to write that.

[froo]

Actually, I think Draise's solution in the last post would work as a macro. You can enable the 'Macro Record' button, run through the steps, then click the Stop Macro Recording button. Save the macro, so you can run it whenever you want.