Object linked to animation - GameCreators Forum

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Cescano

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Posted: 7th Oct 2014 07:03

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There is a way to link an object to an animated object? for example linking a sword to an animated character? I mean a bone animated character NOT limb one!

I ask this because if you try the commands to attach an object to a limb of an object all what you get is just following the normal movement of the character (when walking for example), but doesn t follow the animation of the character.

For example, i link a cap on the head of the character, when i animate the character to crouch for example, the hair will stay floating where they was, as the position x,y,z of the characters are the same, but actually the character moved the head so the cap should follow the head with the rotation as well, there is a way to link perfectly an object to an animated bone character?

The only way to do this so far is make each animation WITH the object included in it, which works, BUT its more Tricky, take way more memory and more time to program it, instead of making just a secondary object which just links to the animated object.

I make you an example, if i have like 20 different swords, i should make 20 different animation for the characters just to do the same thing (like walking or running), BUT if i could be able to link it i could just make 1 animation for the character and attach the swords i need to use for him, is that clear what i ask?

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Ortu

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Posted: 7th Oct 2014 08:42 Edited at: 7th Oct 2014 08:50

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each bone actually is considered a limb, and so you can do such:

+ Code Snippet


rightHand = get limb by name(myCharObj, "Armature_hand_r")
glue object to limb someWeapon, myCharObj, rightHand

where "Armature_hand_r" is the literal entry in the .x file, and is composed of the export of a bone named "hand_r" within the skeleton/armature named "Armature"

glue to limb does tend to cause the scale to go off, so you will need to correct this after it is glued, as well as the base rotation.

the 'get limb by name' function is from the Matrix1 Utilities which I cannot recommend strongly enough if you are not already using them.

If you want native language set, you can get the limb number using a checklist, or you can get it by reading through the .x file in a text editor.

Quote: "
I ask this because if you try the commands to attach an object to a limb of an object all what you get is just following the normal movement of the character (when walking for example), but doesn t follow the animation of the character."

This should only happen if you are attaching to limb 0, which is the root limb of the object itself.

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WickedX

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Posted: 7th Oct 2014 12:08 Edited at: 7th Oct 2014 12:10

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Ya know, I have no issues with the use of 3D Party Plug-ins. GetLimbByName is a simple function without using Matrix1 Utilities.

+ Code Snippet

function GetLimbByName(objID as integer, limbName as string)
   local i as integer
   local limb as integer
   local quantity as integer

   limb = -1

   perform checklist for object limbs objID
   quantity = checklist quantity()

   for i=1 to quantity
      if (checklist string$(i) = limbName)
         limb = checklist value a(i)
         exit
      endif
   next i

      empty checklist
endfunction limb

Instead of glueing the object to the limb. Would it not be better to make a mesh from the sword object, add it to the limb and then link it as a child.

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Cescano

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Posted: 7th Oct 2014 19:26

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Are you sure this will work?
I know my character has over 100 bones but when i textured him it used up just a few limbs, maybe the first limbs are the actual mesh parts of the object and the further ones will be assigned to each bone?

(i used MakeHuman to do the character so it has basicly 1 limb for the body part head included, 1 limb for the shirt, 1 for the jeans and 1 for the shoes)

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Ortu

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Posted: 7th Oct 2014 20:18

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I would suggest performing a checklist for limbs, dumping them all to screen or file, and see what exactly you have available within the object. Or look at the .x file itself, each bone will have an entry as

Frame full_bone_name {
FrameTransformMatrix {

And then some numbers.

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Cescano

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Posted: 7th Oct 2014 20:27

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How can i open the .x file to see that? if i use notepad i see strange symbols

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WickedX

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Posted: 8th Oct 2014 02:17

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This code will print out all the objects checklist data for object 1 to a text file.

+ Code Snippet

perform checklist for object limbs 1
quantity = checklist quantity()

if file exist("Limb.txt")
   delete file "Limb.txt"
endif

open to write 1, "Limb.txt"

   for i=1 to quantity
      write string 1, "Limb Name: "+checklist string$(i)
      write string 1, "Limb ID: "+str$(checklist value a(i))
      write string 1, "Parent Limb ID: "+str$(checklist value b(i))
      write string 1, "Sibling Limb ID: "+str$(checklist value c(i))
      write string 1, "Child Limb ID: "+str$(checklist value d(i))
      write string 1, ""
   next i

close file 1
empty checklist

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Cescano

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Posted: 10th Oct 2014 23:27

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very helpfull thank you so much!!!

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