Any plans for a updated standalone?

[pmoores]

Possibly with some control or ability to import a custom shape to apply as a primitive.

One thing that has always concerned me was the lack of the ability to snap to lets say 1/2 PI 1/4 or 1/8th etc

[Blaine91555]

Two thumbs up on the ability to import import custom objects. I've only had this since December and am just now finding time for it, but day one I wished for that.

[Stewart]

Xfrog is procedural. open a .xfr (its a text file) and you will not see any polygons. You will see parametric values for Xfrog.exe to draw. and the file will be about 2 kb. e.g. 2 sheets of paper.
the conceptual problem with being able to add, for example a polygonal teapot, would mean that the .xfr would no longer be parametric, it would be a blend of parametric data and a list of triangles.
basically we tried to create Xfrog "pure" parametric text files.

if you want to, for example, hang a complex structure as a leaf on every branch, you first model the desired form in 3.5 and then save that using "save item = subhierarchy" . and then import that into your existing 3.5 model where you want to use it, e.g. as a "leaf" in this case, using File: "insert item" and you can really make anything with Xfrog, if you try long enough . the author, bernd lintermann, has made sunglasses, a housefly, many buildings, etc. i guess we should consider to release his "non-plant" xfrog models

i hope this helped a little ?

[Walli]

another hint when it comes to polygonal shapes and Xfrog 3.5 (with Xfrog 4 thats already possible) - create your tree/branching structure as always. Then use a Simple component and set it´s Primitive Type to square.
Later on in your rendering software, use the mesh of the Simple as placeholder, as base to distribute a detailed, polygonal shape. Depending on your appliaction, this could be done with particles, or with Mograph, or with plugins/scripts that are able to distribute objects. The Simple mesh gives you the needed position info (polygon center) and orientation info (polygon normal).

[SandroS]

hey guys,

it would indeed be great to have some added functionality with the standalone. i'm not talking about adding custom geometry and such, but UI enhancements to make modelling quicker and more intuitive and direct. off the top of my head:

select item in (open GL) viewport
select multiple components in Tree View
reset curve/setting
copy curve/setting
instance component
see and adjust branch spline in openGL viewport
move/scale/rotate gizmo
a quick way to isolate a single branch and children, or just a single component

i think some enhancements like these would make the software so much more user friendly and so would appeal to many more users. xfrog is so powerful but could be easier to use

[Walli]

for all point: "yes we want". I also would like to see all those points.

Concerning instancing - in Xfrog 3.5 you already can instance objects. Lets say you have two branches and on both you want to use the same Leaf object. Add a leaf to one the branches, then hold "Shift" and drag the leaf to the other branch. If you now select one of the leaves you will notice, that both are highlighted.

[SandroS]

thanks Walli, had a go at instancing but it seems that it is not possible with a Tree component? this would be handy is some circumstances.

regarding the other changes, do you know if the Standalone will receive attention at some point?

[Walli]

yes, it is possible with a tree too - it really just has to be in a different part in the hierarchy. So in some case put a Simple component in between (type set to none)

[SandroS]

ah yes, i think i've got it now... thanks!