line segment

[pipjor]

I have approx 8000 very small line segments from AutoCad that i'm bringing into 3DS 8..I would like each editable spline to be renderable, i.e.with 4 sides etc.. I know how to do this for 1 spline but how can i do this for all 8000 without indivaully selecting each spline and changing each atribute 8000 times.

 

FYI-I am trying to simulate a point cloud, i can see the point cloud in AutoCad, but when i import into 3DS nothing comes in so i'm doing this crazy line segment, work around..

 

thanks

[Nils Norgren]

The easiest way to do this (if I understand the situation) is to select the first spline, use the "Attach list" feature and attach all the splines into one spline, this way you can make that spline renderable.

 

If this won't work you could use maxscript, which would go something like this:

 

first you must select all splines (be sure that you only have splines selected)

_________________

 

for i in selection do

( i.render_renderable = true

i.render_displayRenderMesh = true

i.thickness = 1.0

i.sides = 4

)

 

_____________

 

 

This will turn on Renderable on render and in viewport, set the thickness to 1 (which is the default) and make each tube have 4 sides.

 

I still prefer the first solution, the other possibility would be to script insertion of an object at each spline's first point to give you a true point cloud

 

Hope this helps

 

-Nils

[Chad Warner]

If for some reason you wanted all of the splines to remain as individual objects, you could also select all of the splines and use the "renderable spline" modifier on all of them at once. (though I don't think Max would like doing that to 8000 objects at one time)

[pipjor]

thanks for your help Nils

I tried "attach" but all my 8000 segments are called "line" so it didn't let attach them????

 

I tried your script but got "--Unkown property: "render_rendrable " in $Editable _Spline:Spline:Line@[692478.................]

 

i've never run a maxscript so i may have done something wrong??.

do i paste all this into a new maxscipt

 

for i in selection do

( i.render_renderable = true

i.render_displayRenderMesh = true

i.thickness = 1.0

i.sides = 4

)

[pipjor]

I ended up selecting all the splines and adding a "renderable spline" modifer..this worked but almost choked my computer..gives me a good excuse to ask for a new PC..

 

thanks Nils and Chad for your time this morining..

dave

[chiquito]

It might be a little bit late now... but you could try 2 alternatives:

1) hidding everything else tha the lines, select one line, sub selection spline and the attach multiple, select fron pop up all the other lines, thats it, renderable, sides, etc, they are all 1 spline

2)get all you lines to one layer in autocad, and import that layer alone, gruoping objects by layer, same result.

Good luck

Martin