LightWave Plug-in: Taut

LightWave Plug-in: Taut

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Version 1.1 -- Released: 1 October, 1997

Overview

Taut is a LightWave 3D« plug-in for Modeler which allows you to "snap" a series of points along an arbitrarily defined line in 3D space. You can choose to snap the affected points to the 3D-line, or to form a 2D plane.

Taut Select Taut Result

Taut is FREE!

Taut v1.1 Dialog^*

Installation

Installation Overview
Plug-in to Install	Taut.p
Install Folder	..\NEWTEK\PLUGINS\MODELER\
Installed Plug-in Name	Taut
Location in Modeler	Tools->Custom

Taut is a Modeler plug-in. Copy the "Taut.p" file into your "..\NEWTEK\PLUGINS\MODELER\" folder.

To Install the plug-in for use in Modeler, use the "Add Plugin" function from the Custom menu in the Objects panel. Select the "Taut.p" file in the file requester. For information on installing plug-ins, refer to your LightWave documentation.

After the plug-in is installed, activate it from the Custom menu in the Tools panel. It will appear as "Taut".

Usage

Select two points in Modeler which will define the "3D line."
Select all additional points that you want to "snap" to the line defined by the first two points.
Execute the "Taut" plug-in.

The Taut dialog offers four modes of operation:^*

	The points will be translated on the X and Y axes to form a plane, viewed edge-on in the 'Face' view of Modeler, which displays the 'X-Y' coordinate system.
	The points will be translated on the Y and Z axes to form a plane, viewed edge-on in the 'Left' view of Modeler, which displays the 'Y-Z' coordinate system.
	The points will be translated on the X and Z axes to form a plane, viewed edge-on in the 'Top' view of Modeler, which displays the 'X-Z' coordinate system.
	The points will be translated on all three axes so that all points are co-linear to the first two selected points. This was the default (and only) function of Taut v1.0, and is the default mode for Taut v1.1.

Note: I had originally planned to offer the option to select each individual axis. However, this resulted in unpredictable, and often undefined, behavior. Take, for example, two points defining the '3D line' at the coordinates {0, 0, -1} and {0, 0, 1} -- this would define a line running along the Z axis in Modeler. If a third point were at coordinates {1, 0, 0} there would be no way to 'Taut' this with respect to the Z axis alone -- the point could be moved an infinite distance in either Z direction and never be colinear to the original two points. So, instead, I opted to provide these four modes, which should prove much more usable.

^* Taut 1.0 does not provide a dialog with options. The original Taut simply performed the 'XYZ_Line' function.

Copyright

The Taut software and its manual are Copyright ⌐1997 by Bryan Ewert. This document may not be modified from its original form without prior consent, in writing, from Bryan Ewert.

This software and its documentation are distributed free of charge. No charges shall be demanded from the author, or from distributors of this software and its documentation, for their use.

License

YOU HAVE THE NON-EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE THE ENCLOSED PROGRAM ON AS MANY COMPUTERS AS YOU OWN. YOU MAY PHYSICALLY TRANSFER THE PROGRAM FROM ONE COMPUTER TO ANOTHER. YOU MAY ELECTRONICALLY TRANSFER THE PROGRAM FROM ONE COMPUTER TO ANOTHER OVER A NETWORK. YOU MAY DISTRIBUTE COPIES OF THE PROGRAM AND THE ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTATION, UNALTERED, TO OTHERS PROVIDED YOU DO NOT CHARGE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION. YOU MAY NOT MODIFY OR TRANSLATE THE PROGRAM OR DOCUMENTATION.

Disclaimer

BRYAN EWERT (HEREAFTER "THE AUTHOR") MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE PROGRAM DESCRIBED HEREIN, ITS QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED "AS IS." THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO ITS QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE IS WITH THE USER. IN NO EVENT WILL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE, OR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE OR LOSS OF ANTICIPATED PROFITS RESULTING FROM ANY DEFECT IN THE PROGRAM EVEN IF THE AUTHOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE. INSTALLING THIS SOFTWARE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS.

Trademarks

LightWave 3D is a Registered Trademark of NewTek, Inc.