RhinoParametrics Beta

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Permalink Reply by technical team on January 16, 2010 at 11:51pm

Dominic

RhinoParametrics doesn't use Rhino's history mode tehnology but it's true, it's a same goal : re-use existing designs.

I have seen a case when Grasshopper works withs RhinoParametrics. As we are full embeded in Rhino, it couldbepossible to mixe the both technology together. It will be nice and extend GrassHopper (or opposite, it depend of point of view...)

best regards

François-Xavier

Permalink Reply by dominic on January 17, 2010 at 3:36am

Hi François-Xavier,

Thanks for clarifying that.

When you say GH is 'fully embedded' in Rhino, I think you mean that the baked results of the GH script are Rhino elements and can therefore be used by RP ? Looking at the RP site, there is a Link function that allows RP to reference or link unparametric elements to RP's history tree. I guess this tags the dumb element for use by RP. Or do you mean that RP and GH have access to each other's data / methods ?

I assume changes in the linked element will trigger changes downstream in the relevant RP construction tree.

I wonder what RMA is planning for history mode?

Looking at the website, RP apparently has two modes: One where RP parametric objects are placed and another where, if I understand it right, RP sort of functions as a 'macro recorder'. I guess this is pretty much to be expected as RP would always have to deal with Rhino element types that can't be figured out yet.

In many ways, the construction tree is similar to GH's scripts, but seems to embed the info in containers in the 3dm, while GH has an external script file. RP's 'micro-script' containers provides a very useful balance to GH, which is much more flexible and probably quicker, but is more global and insular because it will tend to interfaced with through the baked elements ?

Would we be able to open a 3dm file with RP and GH active together, where elements generated by both plugins can exchange information and propagate changes between them ? I think there will always be a need for a 'root' level management system to manage which bits of script or construction tree or implicit history would have to run first.

Permalink Reply by technical team on January 17, 2010 at 4:01am

Dominic,

sorry for my poor english..see below my answer to your questions.

Thanks for clarifying that.

When you say GH is 'fully embedded' in Rhino, I think you mean that the baked results of the GH script are Rhino elements and can therefore be used by RP ? YES

Looking at the RP site, they have a Link function that allows RP to reference or link unparametric elements to RP's history tree. I guess this tags the dumb element for use by RP. Or do you mean that RP and GH have access to each other's data / methods ? YES

I assume changes in the linked element will trigger changes downstream in the relevant RP construction tree. YES

I wonder what RMA is planning for history mode? What's "RMA" ?

Looking at the website, RP apparently has two modes: One where RP parametric objects are placed and another where, if I understand it right, RP sort of functions as a 'macro recorder'. I guess this is pretty much to be expected as they would always have to deal with Rhino element types that they can't figure out yet.

No it's not a macro recorder. We create parametric objects using geometry result from a classical RHINO command if we try to guess parameters (often it's possible, sometime not) It's like an help (very nice for a beginner) and next to work faster.

In many ways, the construction tree is similar to GH's scripts, but seems to embed the info in containers in the 3dm, while GH has an external script file. RP's 'micro-script' containers provides a very useful balance to GH, which is much more flexible and probably quicker, but is more global and insular because it will tend to interfaced with through the baked elements ?

YES GH is obviously wider and flexible than RP but I think that for specific commands we have in RHino (same than a lot of RHINO commands) we propose a fast way to build an parametric and associative project. the process is as a lot of Known parametric CAD software in fact, but embeded...with RHINO interface and possibility to mixe part of your model (sometime just classical RHINO objects, sometime RHINOPARAMETRICS objets, and off course GRASSHOPPER objects too. We think (I have a lot of experience in full parametric process) it could be a good middle way to choose how you want to use parametric objects )

Would we be able to open a 3dm file with RP and GH active together, where elements generated by both plugins can exchange information and propagate changes? I think there will always be a need for a 'root' level management system to manage which bits of script or construction tree or implicit history would have to run first.

It becomes a little bit too complicate for us. I'm not a specialist of GH and generative design with it. It will be necessary to test and to share informations about this topic in the futur. But, for the beginning we will have to focuse on our first release.

Thanks for you interest and questions,

Best regards

Permalink Reply by dominic on January 17, 2010 at 4:14am

Thanks for the speedy response!

Interesting to note that RP and GH have access to each others parametric data and methods ! This will give users a huge amount of flexibility, I think.

As you say, RP looks like it will be quicker to use and more appropriate in many situations.

So it will be possible, for example, to use GH to generate user defined 'relative points' and hand this this back to RP and vice versa?

RMA= Robert McNeel Associates

Permalink Reply by technical team on January 17, 2010 at 4:31am

Dominic,

I don't know if it will be possible to manage generative system in RHINOPARAMETRICS world, because it's a specific problem when you have more than one object to take with. It will be necessary to test before.
But I know you can use RP objects in GH (because They are RHINO objects too) and opposite way off course. I don't know if we could use parameters from GH or if GH could use parameters form RP objects. We use a specific model and parametric engine to manage associative and parametric process. But try it and tell us what's possible or not ! ans ask us what could be nice to have to extend possibilities to work together.

FX

Permalink Reply by dominic on January 17, 2010 at 4:42am

François-Xavier,

Thanks for the info.

Last question: Can RP output the construction history / tree as a script ?

If so, what language? Is it based on functional programming?

Permalink Reply by technical team on January 17, 2010 at 4:53am

No we use a real parametric engine and we didn't use script assets. thus it will be difficult to translate an associative/parametric tree in a RHINO script for us...

best regards,