CC3001

SOFTWAREreview
The Input Node indicates the source of
data and the data flow. It is an
organisational node which provides basic
functions like adding or subtracting data,
or setting up ranges or lists of data.
The Math Node provides a number of
mathematical functions such as square
roots, division etc., which can be
supplemented by complex mathematical
equations created using a dedicated
piece of Marionette scripting, and
'wrapped' to become a single Node, with a
newly defined name.
The Object Info Nodes extract the
parameters of an object (defining the
centre point of a circle, for instance) and its
diameter, whilst the Object Nodes create
standard graphics objects.
The Operation Nodes define the action
that can be performed on an object, such
as rotate, move or delete, or how the math
Node operates on data, whilst Point Nodes
define the locations of objects, placing
them within a 2D drawing - x,y inputs, or
3D model - x, y, z inputs.
CREATING A SIMPLE POLYGON
Clicking on the Marionette icon opens a
drop-down menu showing the types of
Nodes available. Selecting the Input folder
provides further options. For the polygon
we will need to use real number (real) and
integer (int) Input Nodes to input the radius
of the polygon and the number of sides.
Under Object Nodes we find the polygon
Node and select that. We will then need
the Point2 Node to define the centre point
of the polygon.
Selecting a Node places it onscreen,
where it can then be dragged roughly into
position. It will be seen that the Real, Int
and Point2 Nodes have only one output
point, but the regular polygon has three
input points - for centre point, Radius and
Number of sides, and one output for the
Polygon. A connection is made between
the Point2 output and the centre point on
the polygon Node by dragging a wire
between both, defining the centre point of
the polygon as it will be drawn.
In the Object Info palette the Point2
parameter will be shown as zero, the
default position, unless a specific location
is inserted. The Real Input Node is then
dragged to an appropriate position and a
connection made between it and the
radius input point in the polygon Node -
the parameter appearing in the Object Info
palette. The same for the Int Input Node to
define the number of sides of the polygon,
connecting it to the number of numSides
input point in the polygon node.
All that remains is to run the script, which
will produce a regular polygon in the
position indicated. The script created can
be grouped to be copied and used in other
places throughout a wider network - or, as
we have seen earlier, wrapped and
renamed and then placed in the Node
library for other projects (it is then classified
as a Marionette object).
If we use the data flow Nodes, we can
input ranges or lists of data, each of which
will need to be defined with single input
Nodes. To avoid confusion, the specific
source of each bit of input data can be
entered above the type name of the Node.
Furthermore, wrapping groups of Nodes
and naming them cuts down the number
used in a network, which can often
become quite complex.
THE MATH NODE
Mathematics drives many functions and
objects in Marionette. If you understand
the math equation, however, you can
create the graphical script that represents
it. You will need an input Node for each
value and a math Node for each operation
in an equation. When you go to Node
selection you will initially be presented with
a number of basic math functions -
addition, division and square root - but if
you scroll down you will find more
complex functions such as power and
logarithmic functions.
The script for a mathematical function is
set up by processing each function in the
correct order, one by one, feeding the
result of one math function into the input
point of the next. The correct order of
function must be retained here or the
values returned will be incorrect. Renaming
Nodes is also important here, so that other
users can follow the logic of the script.
Further functions available with different
categories of Nodes allow users to
manipulate the geometry of an Object,
aligning it with geometry created with other
parts of a network, or rotating geometry, or
specifying the orientation of an object.
Users can also change the colour of
Node fills using the Attributes palette, but
as these are different to distinguish one
class of code from another, one should be
wary of doing this.
www.vectorworks.com
January/February 2017 13