Offsetting curves question

Hi,

I am a bit of a beginner here running into trouble trying to do something that I think should be relatively simple - maybe one of you guys can help me out.

I have a set of 20 curves that I would like to offset, however, I would like to offset each curve by a different distance. I have input a list of the 20 different distance values into the "d" socket of the Offset parameter. The result is that each curve has been offset multiple times by each of the distance numbers in my list - not what I want. I want to see each curve be offset by a single corresponding distance from the list. I've tried switching to shortest list and cross reference with no luck, as I expected. How do I get each curve to line up with a corresponding offset distance from a list?

Any idea how I could make this happen?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Rutten on April 17, 2010 at 1:49am

Hi SkyC,

this is most likely because you're curves are not stored in the same layout as your offset values. If your curves are each stored in their own little list, then you'd get your current result. You need to either change your curves so they are all in the same list, or you need to change your numbers so they are all in separate lists. Which option makes the most sense is impossible to say without seeing the file.

(do you have Fancy Wires enabled? It helps you to see at a stroke how your data is structured)

--
David Rutten
david@mcneel.com
Poprad, Slovakia

Permalink Reply by SkyC on April 17, 2010 at 10:40am

David,

I have included the files and a jpeg with fancy wires enabled.

I think the problem has to do with what you mentioned. I believe that each curve is currently its own list, and I am trying to have them correspond to a single list of offset distances. How do I convert the lists of single curves into one list of all the curves?

Thanks for your help. - Sky

Attachments:

contoursteps_test.ghx, 349 KB
test.3dm, 32 KB
test.jpg, 394 KB

Permalink Reply by David Rutten on April 17, 2010 at 10:42am

Try putting a Graft between Range and Offset. This will put all numbers into separate lists (of one item each).

If you feel it makes more sense to simplify the curves (as opposed to complexifying the numbers), you can use a Flatten component (but only when in extreme distress) or a PathMapper with the appropriate mapping masks.

--
David Rutten
david@mcneel.com
Poprad, Slovakia

Permalink Reply by SkyC on April 17, 2010 at 11:07am

David,

Graft took care of it. That makes sense - I think I am beginning to understand how the data trees work. Thank you!

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