Solved Change an attribute from a dialogue plug-in

Hi,

I have a plug-in that lists objects along with their attributes. It updates correctly, but I want the update to be mutual.
Currently, the scene/object manager updates the plug-in but it does not work the other way around.

You can see the illustration of the problem here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4zm0utiixuqwxez/c4d137_change_name_plug_in.mp4?dl=0

In the same block, I have this lines:

# retrieve the data from the scene/object manager
self.SetString(text_ID, value=object.GetName())

# retrieve data from the plug-in and apply the changes to the scene/object (This block is not working as seen in the video above)
newString = self.GetString(text_ID)
object.SetName(newString)

Is there a way around this?

Thank you for looking at my problem.

Hi,

have you tried invoking c4d.EventAdd() orobject.Message(c4d.MSG_UPDATE) after you changed the name?

Cheers,
zipit

@zipit

Thanks for the response.
Yes, I tried both commands but it does not work as expected (i.e. typing something in the plug-in does not change the object)

Also I think c4d.EventAdd() is only necessary on script. And the Message I think only works if you are going to modify a parameter specific to an object (say a point). Correct me if I'm wrong.

Hello,

c4d.EventAdd() is always needed when one changes the active document in the context of some user interaction. This includes user interaction in a GeDialog (Core Messages Manual).

Also, don't forget to call c4d.StopAllThreads() when you edit the document asynchronously (BaseDocument Manual).

You should react to user interaction in your GeDialog's Command() function. Can you share the complete code of your Command() function?

best wishes,
Sebastian

@s_bach

Sure sure. There is not much in the Command function except the return True.
Here is the working code so far (it 's the same code as I previously asked in my previous threads.

Thank you for looking at it.

import c4d
import os
from c4d import gui, plugins, bitmaps, utils, documents

PLUGIN_ID   = 1811321

class MyDialog(gui.GeDialog):

    def __init__(self):
        # Be sure that we have the object list before building the UI
        # as InitValues is called after CreateLayout()
        self.objectsList = []
        self.GetAllObjects()
        self.object_count = len(self.objectsList)


    def InitValues(self):
        # Use to Init and in Case of an Update needed.
        self.objectsList = []
        self.GetAllObjects()
        self.object_count = len(self.objectsList)
        self.Update()
        return True

    def GetNextObject(self, op ):
        # use a non-recursive method to iterate the hierarchy
        # https://developers.maxon.net/?p=596
        # allow to not hit the recursive stack limit.

        if not op:
            return None

        if op.GetDown():
            return op.GetDown()

        while not op.GetNext() and op.GetUp():
            op = op.GetUp()

        return op.GetNext()

    def GetAllObjects(self):

        doc = c4d.documents.GetActiveDocument()
        op = doc.GetFirstObject()

        self.objectsList = []

        while op:
            self.objectsList.append(op)
            op = self.GetNextObject(op)

    def Update(self): # NEW CODE

        if self.object_count == 0:
            self.LayoutFlushGroup(1001)
            self.AddStaticText(0, c4d.BFH_CENTER, name="There are no objects in the scene")
            self.LayoutChanged(1001)

        if self.object_count > 0 :
            self.LayoutFlushGroup(1001)

            self.AddStaticText(0, 1, name="Name")
            self.AddStaticText(0, 0, name="Enable")
            self.AddStaticText(0, 0, name="Xray")

            self.AddSeparatorV(0)
            self.AddSeparatorV(0)
            self.AddSeparatorV(0)

            for idx, object in enumerate(self.objectsList): # where the glitch happens

                text_ID = 100000 + idx
                enable_ID = 200000 + idx
                xray_ID = 300000 + idx

                self.AddEditText(text_ID, flags=c4d.BFH_LEFT, initw=200, editflags=c4d.EDITTEXT_HELPTEXT)
                self.AddCheckbox(enable_ID, flags=c4d.BFH_LEFT, initw=20, inith=10, name="Enable")
                self.AddCheckbox(xray_ID, flags=c4d.BFH_LEFT, initw=20, inith=10, name="Xray")



                self.SetString(text_ID, value=object.GetName())
                self.SetInt32(enable_ID, value=object[c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_GENERATOR_FLAG])
                self.SetInt32(xray_ID, value=object[c4d.ID_BASEOBJECT_XRAY])

                newString = self.GetString(text_ID)
                object.SetName(newString)

                object.Message(c4d.MSG_UPDATE)

            self.LayoutChanged(1001)

    def CreateLayout(self):


        print "nombre d'objet ", self.object_count
        self.GroupBegin(id=1001, flags=c4d.BFH_FIT, cols=3, rows=20, title="Rigging")

        self.GroupEnd()

        self.Update()

        return True

    def Command(self, id, msg):

        return True


    def CoreMessage(self, id, msg):

        if id == c4d.EVMSG_CHANGE:

            self.InitValues()

        return True

class MyMenuPlugin(plugins.CommandData):


    dialog = None
    def Execute(self, doc):

        if self.dialog is None:
            self.dialog = MyDialog()

        return self.dialog.Open(dlgtype=c4d.DLG_TYPE_ASYNC, pluginid=PLUGIN_ID, defaultw=200, defaulth=150, xpos=-1, ypos=-1)

if __name__ == "__main__":

    plugins.RegisterCommandPlugin(PLUGIN_ID, "test_dynamic_update",0, None, "test_dynamic_update", MyMenuPlugin())

Hello,

as I said above, you have to handle user interaction in the dialog's Command() function. The function if called when the user interacts with the dialog's gadgets. Something like this:

def Command(self, id, msg):

    if id >= 100000 and id < 200000:
        idx = id - 100000

        newString = self.GetString(id)

        obj = self.objectsList[idx]
        if obj is not None:
            c4d.StopAllThreads()
            obj.SetName(newString)
            c4d.EventAdd()

        

    return c4d.gui.GeDialog.Command(self, id, msg)
    

best wishes,
Sebastian

@s_bach

Thanks for the response. I used the code. It works but I'm unable to type anything other than a single stroke. I think the c4d.EventAdd updates so fast.
You can check the illustration of the problem here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/klbljd5w3uvak2t/c4d137_change_name_plug_in_02.mp4?dl=0

I tried removing the c4d.EventAdd(). It lets me type something but it only updates when I click outside the plug-in.

Is there a possibility of both worlds? Update only when I move to a next field (i.e. tab) perhaps?

Hello,

you have to call EventAdd() to inform Cinema that you have changed something.

But in your code, you call your Update() function after a EVMSG_CHANGE message. In your Update() function, you delete and rebuild your UI, thus you loose the focus on the current UI gadget.

You must find a way to either not call Update() after you edit the name of the object or to restore the focus on the newly created UI.

best wishes,
Sebastian

Alternatively, you can check if the ENTER key way pressed and only update when this is the case (the user finished entering the string, see Interaction with Gadgets).

# get state of the "Enter" key.
state = c4d.BaseContainer()
res = c4d.gui.GetInputState(c4d.BFM_INPUT_KEYBOARD, c4d.KEY_ENTER, state)

if res:
  if state[c4d.BFM_INPUT_VALUE] != 1:
    return False

  idx = id - 100000

  newString = self.GetString(id)

  obj = self.objectsList[idx]
  if obj is not None:
      c4d.StopAllThreads()
      obj.SetName(newString)
      c4d.EventAdd()

This way, the dialog would behave similiar to the Attribute Manager.

best wishes,
Sebastian

Hi @s_bach

Thanks for the response. I change the askChannel to c4d.KEY_TAB.
It works as expected, but it doesn't continue to the next line when I hit tab. It goes back to the first line.

You can see an illustration of the problem here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/wwf72tkc0pmar96/c4d137_change_name_plug_in_03_move_fifth.mp4?dl=0

I was expecting when I hit Tab from the fourth line it would continue to all the parameters until it reaches to the fifth line.

Is this possible? Or is this a limitation on the GetInputState?

Hello,

as I said above: you rebuild your UI after each EVMSG_CHANGE. Thus, you loose the focus of your UI elements (since they are destroyed and rebuilt).

You have to find a way to avoid that unnecessary rebuild of your layout after user interaction in your dialog.

best wishes,
Sebastian

@s_bach

RE: You have to find a way to avoid that unnecessary rebuild of your layout after user interaction in your dialog.
I'm not really sure how to do that. Since I just butchered the code from a sample plug-in.
That will probably a problem for another thread.

Anyway, it's functional at the moment. I'll settle for this.

Thanks again and sorry for the trouble.

Will close the thread now.

Have a great day ahead!