Interaction tag as plugin

On 22/10/2015 at 01:46, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Hi Bonsak,

I have a solution to this but it's not perfect. I've been using a python tag for the majority of my code, then throwing all of the data I need to draw into a global BaseContainer (or a stored object variable), then in the interaction tag, I use c4d.CallFunction to access it through a predefined function in the python tag. So essentially I'm only using the Interaction tag to draw stuff.

It does have limited uses but it's a workflow that can be useful.

Hope that helps,

Adam

On 22/10/2015 at 01:51, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Thanks Adam. I'll definitely try that.

-b

On 27/10/2015 at 09:01, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Originally posted by xxxxxxxx

Hi Bonsak,

I have a solution to this but it's not perfect. I've been using a python tag for the majority of my code, then throwing all of the data I need to draw into a global BaseContainer (or a stored object variable), then in the interaction tag, I use c4d.CallFunction to access it through a predefined function in the python tag. So essentially I'm only using the Interaction tag to draw stuff.

Could you please post an example how you use the CallFunction.

-Pim

On 27/10/2015 at 10:12, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Hi Pim,

This is an example of how I would move the data from a python tag to an interaction tag:

First the python tag:

  
# Set up the function that is going to be called from the other python object
def GetMatrix() :
    
    if not matrix: return None
    
    bc = c4d.BaseContainer()
    
    bc.SetMatrix(0, matrix)
    
    return bc
  
matrix = None
  
def main() :
    obj = op.GetObject()
    
    global matrix
    #Assign the global variable with some data
    matrix = obj.GetMg()
  

And then the Interaction tag:

  
def draw(bd) :
  
    # The python object you want to call the function from
    py_op = op[c4d.ID_USERDATA,1] 
    
    # Call the function from the python tag to get the BaseContainer
    bc = c4d.CallFunction(py_op, "GetMatrix")
    
    #Get the matrix
    matrix =  bc.GetMatrix(0)   
    
    #Do stuff!
    print matrix
  

Hope that's useful.

Thanks,

Adam

On 28/10/2015 at 05:56, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Thanks, very useful.
It seems like a very easy way to communicate between plugins!

I am only confused about py_op.
How / why does it point to the python object?

The manual is not very clear to me:
Parameters:|

• op  ([BaseList2D](file:///D:/sdk%20manuals/Python%20R16sdk%20manual/help/modules/c4d/C4DAtom/GeListNode/BaseList2D/index.html#c4d.BaseList2D)) – The object to search the function within its script.

---|---
_<_t_>_
-Pim

On 28/10/2015 at 06:15, xxxxxxxx wrote:

The 'op' variable by default in the interaction tag refers to the object the tag is on and not the tag itself.

The interaction tag I was using was on a Null object. I set a UserData link box onto the Null and put the PythonTag into it as an easy way of referencing it.

Hence :

py_op = op[c4d.ID_USERDATA,1]
#op is the Null object
#ID_USERDATA,1 being the LinkBox with the PythonTag referenced to it.

I guess I could have just used op.GetFirstTag() too, as the PythonTag was first on the Null object.

On 28/10/2015 at 09:04, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Ok, clear now.
If I want to communicate with another plugin, the op will be that plugin.

-Pim

On 28/10/2015 at 09:08, xxxxxxxx wrote:

I think that he CallFunction command might unfortunately be limited to certain objects, it looks like plugins are not included.

From the documentation:

"This works for both Python and C.O.F.F.E.E. scripting tags, effectors, XPresso nodes, Interaction tags and also for Python generators."

On 28/10/2015 at 09:21, xxxxxxxx wrote:

I agree,it is not very clear.
As I read it, it should also be possible for plugins.
A plugin is also an (scripting) object.

Perhaps Maxon can clarify?

-Pim

On 29/10/2015 at 10:35, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Hello everyone,

I'm sorry, but a Python plugin is not a scripting object. CallFunction() can not be used to communicate with a Python plugin.
CallFunction() only works for NodeData derived things, which already provide a scripting option (like Python tag, Interaction tag, Python Generator,...).

On 29/10/2015 at 12:33, xxxxxxxx wrote:

Thanks,that clarifies it for me.

-Pim