Hi all,
I'm trying to understand how to add and remove edge loops from a polygon object, by using a slider in User Data and a Python Tag.
Like replicating the segments change with a Procedural Cube, for example.
Not completely sure how I would start this, to be honest.
Would be very grateful for any direction, please.
Thank you all in advance!
Andre
Procedural objects and arbitrary polygon objects are two very different things.
The settings in the cube do not add edge loops, they set the parameters under which the whole object is created. "Segments Y = 2" for example would mean (simplified): On the whole height of the cube, generate three points for every vertical, at Y positions -height/2.0, 0.0, and +height/2.0.
This is not difficult if you know the rules by which the parametric object is constructed.
Adding arbitrary loops to a poly object of which you don't know the theoretical structure requires a ton more work. First, you can't guarantee that the object only has quads and no poles, so your algorithm needs to consider these cases. Then, there may be ambivalences in what polygons your additional edge loop shall branch to (see loop cut issues). Then, what should the slider even do? Do you want to slice the object in one direction in regular intervals? That would require a complete retopology of the object.
Unless you are a excellent programmer and have a very good understanding of 3D and know exactly what you want to achieve, you are probably wasting your time.
Hi @Cairyn ,
Thank you very much for that!
Good to know from someone with more experience than myself. 
We have a rig that already works with procedural objects, which is great. But at the moment if we want to have flexibility with it, I need to be able to control specific points/polygons of the objects to give animation the flexibility they need. I'm just trying to get a solution that takes aspects of both procedural and polygon objects, thus my question.
Have to think in a different way for now!
Thanks again!
Andre
Maybe the question is just too broad... do you really need edge loops in arbitrary polygon objects, or can you perhaps construct your needed objects parametrically yourself? In which case you would have full control over the way they're constructed...
Okay, "animation" sounds more like character objects, in which case this solution may be difficult. You may want to post some examples with images what loops you actually want to insert where. And "rig"... hmm, do you want to make geometrical changes on the fly in some XPresso or Python tag? This is always fairly critical; you may need to create a generator object to change virtual objects. (Just throwing around a few ideas.)
Hi,
I mostly agree with @Cairyn and I also think that your question lacks definition regarding what you want and what you have. You should post code, pictures and/or scenes for that "rig" you have (not quite sure what that means in that context).
I would however like to point out (@Cairyn already did this, but I want to put extra emphasis on it 
that subdividing a polygon is rather trivial, the harder part is finding the edge loop from whatever input data you have (the easiest case would be you having a a polygon loop as a selection).
But the main problem is all the dependent data you have to deal with and potentially update - texture coordinates, weight information, face orientation and so on. This all makes writing such a functionality not a particularly hard, but rather laborious task.
And last but not least, a Python Tag doesn't seem to be the right choice for this kind of tool in the first place, due to its constant execution. A script manager script, a Python Generator Object or a fitting plugin type would be much appropriate choices.
Cheers,
zipit
MAXON SDK Specialist
developers.maxon.net
Hi @AndreAnjos thanks for reaching out us.
We indeed appreciate the support offered by @Cairyn and @zipit to define the perimeter of your request but I can't add anything unless you come with a specific request on API rather than on the overall workflow design.
Cheers, R
Hi all,
Thank you very much for your help and apologies for the slow reply (been off a few days)!
You are absolutely right, my question is too broad.
Had a few days to think about other options and perhaps I'm overthinking this.
Nevertheless, I will share with you the specifics.
So this is the current rig:
You have a dynamic change of shapes that supports all the parameters that you see in the image.
It does lack the secondary controls needed to shape it as we want and this is a big point as I currently can't create the nuances with Xpresso.
A possible solution would be to use three poly objects with different levels of subdivisions that are controlled with the same rig. Keep some elements procedural, as the bevel and bend deformers and connected all by Xpresso.
This would give us the benefit of accessing the point information and deformed it manually for animation as we need.
Also as @zipit said, this can also be a potential design, if rest fails
And last but not least, a Python Tag doesn't seem to be the right choice for this kind of tool in the first place, due to its constant execution. A script manager script, a Python Generator Object or a fitting plugin type would be much appropriate choices.
I understand that this is a design question and not API, so please delete if it's inappropriate. 
Will come back with some results!
Thank you all again for your time!
Andre
Does your setup react to the global Level of Detail controls?
If not, could you use a local LOD object with differently subdivided children?
Hi,
I am somehow even more confused than before, lol. You want the geometry in the screenshot to be subdivided, right? And the geometry is somehow procedurally generated by a Xpresso rig?
I do not quite understand why you cannot just implement that choice of subdivision in that rig? Doing it after the fact seems incredible cumbersome, because this is probably not a static polygon mesh, but some kind of generator object that your rig produces there.
I am also just seeing now that you are asking also for a unsubdiving feature in your first post, which is quite a can of worms for an arbitrary mesh. I would go for your LOD-thingy if you see there a solution, because it is probably the fastest solution for you.
Cheers,
zipit
MAXON SDK Specialist
developers.maxon.net
Hi @Cairyn,
Does your setup react to the global Level of Detail controls?
I'm afraid not! It's all done by changing the number of segments for the objects.
If not, could you use a local LOD object with differently subdivided children?
I'm currently exploring this. I think I will be able to do that. Need to make sure it it does not break with the rest of setup 
Will keep you posted!
Cheers!
Andre
Hi @zipit,
I am somehow even more confused than before, lol. You want the geometry in the screenshot to be subdivided, right? And the geometry is somehow procedurally generated by a Xpresso rig?
I'm sorry if it made it more confusing! 
The Xpresso just connects the userdata to the generator object. So the subdivisions are controlled by changing the object's number of segments.
I do not quite understand why you cannot just implement that choice of subdivision in that rig? Doing it after the fact seems incredible cumbersome because this is probably not a static polygon mesh, but some kind of generator object that your rig produces there.
That's correct! Which leads me to think that having a poly object in the first place is probably the best way.
I am also just seeing now that you are asking also for a unsubdiving feature in your first post, which is quite a can of worms for an arbitrary mesh. I would go for your LOD-thingy if you see there a solution, because it is probably the fastest solution for you.
Yes, that's what I currently testing. I agree as that being the best way to switch from different resolutions.
Hopefully, this will work.
Will keep you posted!
Thanks again!
Andre
