Anim8or Community

Well, I never intended for that.  Accessing other objects really shouldn't be allowed   That makes parameteric scripts unpredictable as you've discovered.

The original spline following script that I posted is a"run-once to build the original object" command scripts, not a parameteric one.  It could be installed as a command script or run explicitly.  It doesn't work as a parameteric scripts.

The output of parameteric scripts are supposed to be entirely defined by their numeric parameters.  That's why they can't access any other input (like look to see what other shapes are in the object, see what frame they are in, the time of day, etc.).  If they could be influenced that way then they could look different when put into a scene, etc.

I suppose it's possible to keep the original spline as something like a lot of parameters but that's not anything Anim8or can do.  You'd have to type in a whole lot of numeric values to change the shape of the spline.  That's not something that any human I know could do in any controlled manner .

Another more likely possibility is to make a new kind of script - a "derivative object" script or some such name.  You'd build a shape of some sort (e.g. a spline) and then attach a script to it.  Whenever the shape was modified the script would be run.   The base shape wouldn't be visible (except in the Object editor where you could edit it) but the result of the script would.  I think that would do something more like what you want.  Anyway it's an interesting idea.

Yes it's planned to be able to read the angle of a joint in scripts.  This will allow morph targets to depend on them in any relation that you want.

Hmm.  I think the .chm file wasn't really working for me after all.  There was a.hlp file lurking in the dairctory I was running the anim8or.exe from and it was loading that.  Sorry for the confusion.

Send me your .an8 file and I'll loonk into the problem.  If you can reproduce it wouthout the tank then it would be better to send that file.  I'll need the textures that you're using for the dust as well..

Are your transparent shapes fully enclosed 3D objects or are they just single poly thick?  The ray traced transparent materials only work properly on fully enclosed 3D objects.  The ray tracer keeps track of whether it is inside or outside of the object - so it get's confused when there is no inside.

I'm assuming that you are using the new ray-traced materials dialectric or transparent.  If you use normal Anim8or materials for transparent objects that aren't full solids you should get the correct result.

wild_qwerty, I can only do so much.  I did look into adding this but it wasn't as simple as I thought it would be.  I don't want to add a bunch of buggy features.  Its better to have fewer things that work well than more that are somewhat flaky.  It's still on my list so I won't forget about it.