Adobe Director Basics

ADOBE DIRECTOR BASICS
3D: Controlling action
Torque and angularImpulse
A torque is a turning force applied to an object, like using a wrench. An angular impulse provides an object with
angular momentum. You can think of the difference as between starting to push a merry-go-round in a children's park
(force) and jumping off the merry-go-round while it is already in motion (momentum).
member(3).getRigidBody("box").applyTorque(vector(0,0,-10))
member(3).getRigidBody("box").applyAngularImpulse(vector(0,0,-10))
Note that torque and an angularImpulse applied along the zAxis create a rotation around the zAxis. Use the right hand
rule to determine the direction of the rotation. Point your thumb along the axis of rotation and curl your fingers. A
positive rotation will be in the direction in which your fingers point.
attemptMoveTo()
This method checks if the target position is free of obstacles. If so, the rigidBody is moved to the required position. If
not, it does not move at all.
When you set the position property of a rigidBody directly, you can move one rigidBody into a collision position with
another. If either body is free to move, it will move to a collision-free position on the next simulation step.
Reset the RigidBody.dir movie, and then try the example below in the Message window. Notice how the ball does not
collide with the block until the fourth call, when its position is set so that it intersects with the block. Compare the
results you achieve by setting the position with the results of using attemptMoveTo(), where no movement will occur
if it will end in a collision.
member(3).getRigidBody("ball").position = vector(0, 0, 3)
member(3).getRigidBody("ball").attemptMoveTo(vector(0, 0, 2))
member(3).getRigidBody("ball").attemptMoveTo(vector(0, 0, 0.3))
member(3).getRigidBody("ball").position = vector(0, 0, 0.3)
member(3).getRigidBody("ball").position = vector(4, 0, -0.5)
member(3).getRigidBody("ball").attemptMoveTo(vector(4, 0, 0.5))
Reset the movie again, then check the isPinned button, and try the last command again. Notice how the behavior is
different when the block is prevented from moving.
Rigid body proxies
The Dynamiks xtra allows you to define both convex and concave proxy templates. Use the following methods to
create proxy templates and to create rigidBody objects from them:
physicsMember.addProxyTemplate()
physicsMember.createRigidBodyFromProxy()
physicsMember.createProxyTemplate()
physicsMember.loadProxyTemplate()
For a complete demonstration on how to use these methods, download and launch the movie Rigid Body Proxy
Shapes.dir.
Last updated 8/26/2011
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