Merging objects in Alice

arty-fishL · **Merging objects in Alice -** 05-09-2011, 07:25 PM

So here's the scenario - you are either bad at importing 3D models, can't be bothered or think its easier to mix models in Alice. Instead of trawling the web for models, or creating your own ones you decide to just make something up out of the objects and shapes in the Alice gallery.

Then you hit an issue - you cannot merge these objects, you cannot create subparts - they are not part of one object. This has especially bad implications if you want to export the model as one piece to be used again.

So here is my solution: as part of my project I am developing I have designed a simple UI that allows objects to be glued together.

I call it Gloo.

Really simple to use, just go to the Tools > Gloo menu at the top of Alice and click to Gloo. A nice dialog box pops up, just type in the parent and as many objects as you would like to glue to it as you want. Confirm it and viola.

Easy as that.

Now you can right click on the parent object and go to save object... to export it and it will save with all the glued on objects attached.

While I am not yet ready to release this yet, I can provide two screenshots and a compound object. This is Chris101b's motorbike from his video "War Zone", it originally consisted of several models, but I glued them altogether and it should import nicely as one.

Give it a try.

debussybunny563 · 05-09-2011, 07:29 PM

Looks promising. =)

arty-fishL · 05-09-2011, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by debussybunny563

Looks promising. =)

That's probably the fastest response I've ever got on one of my threads.

Well I'm hoping it does look promising, because I certainly find it useful even in its unfinished state.

DensetsuNoKaboom · 05-09-2011, 07:43 PM

Looks AWESOME RELEASE IT I WANT IT LETS GO NNNNNNNG

Seriously, I want that.

arty-fishL · 05-09-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DensetsuNoKaboom

Looks AWESOME RELEASE IT I WANT IT LETS GO NNNNNNNG

Seriously, I want that.

Patience is a virtue. If I was to release it now I would probably kill your Alice. Bugs, bugs, bugs.

I forgot to mention, my Alice is all funny coloured in the picture because I also made another themes for Alice thing.

sfunk · 05-09-2011, 10:04 PM

the only problem I can see with this is that it will deter people from actually trying to create their own models using other means such as 3dmax or sketch up, but this is a brilliant idea and will be helpful to those who don't have the ability to use one of those previously mentioned applications, so Good Job!!!

05-09-2011, 10:29 PM

What version of alice is that? I like the green.

And I want... oh so very badly.

arty-fishL · 05-10-2011, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfunk

the only problem I can see with this is that it will deter people from actually trying to create their own models using other means such as 3dmax or sketch up, but this is a brilliant idea and will be helpful to those who don't have the ability to use one of those previously mentioned applications, so Good Job!!!

Another use for this could be for people who cannot export models properly etc and need to join them up in Alice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ieges

What version of alice is that? I like the green.

And I want... oh so very badly.

Its just the latest version, except I modified all of the icons, modified the style and then applied a theme as I posted above.

reuben2011 · 05-10-2011, 03:39 AM

Looks very promising. You probably already thought this through but make sure you don't allow:

-Objects to be their own parents/children. (Ex: You can't be your own mother or daughter.)
-Children to have multiple parents (this seems so sad

)
-The child of the parent to be the parent's parent. (Ex: Your son can't also be your father.)
-Other "recursive" parenting

You could always allow some of these things above, (like multiple parents) but just make it clear for the user.

arty-fishL · 05-10-2011, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reuben2011

Looks very promising. You probably already thought this through but make sure you don't allow:

-Objects to be their own parents/children. (Ex: You can't be your own mother or daughter.)
-Children to have multiple parents (this seems so sad

)
-The child of the parent to be the parent's parent. (Ex: Your son can't also be your father.)
-Other "recursive" parenting

You could always allow some of these things above, (like multiple parents) but just make it clear for the user.

I like the way you explained everything.

Ive dealt with:
- same parent
- multiple parents (there's only one variable for this anyway)
- parenting of the camera (this shouldn't be allowed, it causes all sorts of issues)
- non-existent parents or children
- adding world as a child (this would really mess things up)
- parenting at a higher level than the world

I have not dealt with the "child of the parent to be the parent's parent" thing, so thanks.

The bugs I'm hitting right now are:
- When an object becomes a child it doesnt move to be a subpart of the parent. It just changes its icon to the child icon and becomes the parent's child, but it stays where it is in the object tree.
- When importing, the glued on children cannot be seen in the object tree, but you can click on them and get their properties etc.
- When automatically vehicling the objects glitch position and shape.

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	#2 (permalink)
debussybunny563 Senior Member Status: Offline Posts: 852 Join Date: May 2010	05-09-2011, 07:29 PM Looks promising. =) Last edited by debussybunny563; 12-21-2012 at 12:00 AM. \|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\| \|Link to weapons collection: http://www.alice.org/community/showthread.php?t=7368 \| \|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------\| I have been dead for quite some time now; not much hope for resurrection.

	#4 (permalink)
DensetsuNoKaboom Senior Member Status: Offline Posts: 1,188 Join Date: May 2010 Location: e4eaf2	05-09-2011, 07:43 PM Looks AWESOME RELEASE IT I WANT IT LETS GO NNNNNNNG Seriously, I want that. Thank you for taking the time to read this signature. This signature loves you.

	#6 (permalink)
sfunk Senior Member Status: Offline Posts: 1,112 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: I don't know	05-09-2011, 10:04 PM the only problem I can see with this is that it will deter people from actually trying to create their own models using other means such as 3dmax or sketch up, but this is a brilliant idea and will be helpful to those who don't have the ability to use one of those previously mentioned applications, so Good Job!!! If you are stuck on a project, check out the tutorials I made here at this link: http://alice.org/community/showthread.php?p=36778#post36778 There are lots of tutorials on it so far, including some youtube videos, check it out Or.. Go to my youtube channel to check out my alice 2.2 tutorials I have there.. http://www.youtube.com/user/sfunk1992?feature=mhsn

	#7 (permalink)
ieges Guest Status: Posts: n/a	05-09-2011, 10:29 PM What version of alice is that? I like the green. And I want... oh so very badly.

	#9 (permalink)
reuben2011 Senior Member Status: Offline Posts: 489 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hawaii	05-10-2011, 03:39 AM Looks very promising. You probably already thought this through but make sure you don't allow: -Objects to be their own parents/children. (Ex: You can't be your own mother or daughter.) -Children to have multiple parents (this seems so sad ) -The child of the parent to be the parent's parent. (Ex: Your son can't also be your father.) -Other "recursive" parenting You could always allow some of these things above, (like multiple parents) but just make it clear for the user. Projects -Escape the Kitchen -That ninja animation -Hill Collision Upcoming Projects -Some penguin adventure game?