C++ API Reference
helixTool/helixTool.cpp
//-
// ==========================================================================
// Copyright 2015 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
//
// Use of this software is subject to the terms of the Autodesk
// license agreement provided at the time of installation or download,
// or which otherwise accompanies this software in either electronic
// or hard copy form.
// ==========================================================================
//+
//
// DESCRIPTION:
//
// Interactive tool to draw a helix. Uses OpenGL to draw a guideline for the helix.
//
// Produces the MEL commands: helixToolCmd and helixToolContext.
//
// This example takes the helix example one large step forward by wrapping the command in a context.
// This allows you to drag out the region in which you want the helix drawn.
// To use it, you must first execute the command "source helixTool".
// This will create a new entry in the "Shelf1" tab of the tool shelf called "Helix Tool".
// Click on the new icon, then move the cursor into the perspective window and drag out a cylinder
// which defines the volume in which the helix will be generated.
// This plug-in is an example of building a context around a command.
//
// To create a tool command:
//
// (1) Create a tool command class.
// Same process as an MPxCommand except define 2 methods
// for interactive use: cancel and finalize.
// There is also an addition constructor MPxToolCommand(), which
// is called from your context when the command needs to be invoked.
//
// (2) Define your context.
// This is accomplished by deriving off of MPxContext and overriding
// whatever methods you need.
//
// (3) Create a command class to create your context.
// You will call this command in Maya to create and name a context.
//
#include <stdio.h>
#include <maya/MIOStream.h>
#include <math.h>
#include <maya/MString.h>
#include <maya/MArgList.h>
#include <maya/MEvent.h>
#include <maya/MGlobal.h>
#include <maya/M3dView.h>
#include <maya/MPoint.h>
#include <maya/MPointArray.h>
#include <maya/MDoubleArray.h>
#include <maya/MDagPath.h>
#include <maya/MPxContext.h>
#include <maya/MPxContextCommand.h>
#include <maya/MPxToolCommand.h>
#include <maya/MToolsInfo.h>
#include <maya/MFnPlugin.h>
#include <maya/MFnNurbsCurve.h>
#include <maya/MSyntax.h>
#include <maya/MArgParser.h>
#include <maya/MArgDatabase.h>
#include <maya/MCursor.h>
#include <maya/MGL.h>
#define kPitchFlag "-p"
#define kPitchFlagLong "-pitch"
#define kRadiusFlag "-r"
#define kRadiusFlagLong "-radius"
#define kNumberCVsFlag "-ncv"
#define kNumberCVsFlagLong "-numCVs"
#define kUpsideDownFlag "-ud"
#define kUpsideDownFlagLong "-upsideDown"
// The users tool command
#define NUMBER_OF_CVS 20
class helixTool : public MPxToolCommand
{
public:
helixTool();
~helixTool() override;
static void* creator();
MStatus doIt(const MArgList& args) override;
MStatus parseArgs(const MArgList& args);
MStatus redoIt() override;
MStatus undoIt() override;
bool isUndoable() const override;
MStatus finalize() override;
static MSyntax newSyntax();
void setRadius(double newRadius);
void setPitch(double newPitch);
void setNumCVs(unsigned newNumCVs);
void setUpsideDown(bool newUpsideDown);
private:
double radius; // Helix radius
double pitch; // Helix pitch
unsigned numCV; // Helix number of CVs
bool upDown; // Helix upsideDown
MDagPath path; // The dag path to the curve.
// Don't save the pointer!
};
void* helixTool::creator()
{
return new helixTool;
}
helixTool::~helixTool() {}
helixTool::helixTool()
{
numCV = 20;
upDown = false;
setCommandString("helixToolCmd");
}
MSyntax helixTool::newSyntax()
{
MSyntax syntax;
syntax.addFlag(kPitchFlag, kPitchFlagLong, MSyntax::kDouble);
syntax.addFlag(kRadiusFlag, kRadiusFlagLong, MSyntax::kDouble);
syntax.addFlag(kNumberCVsFlag, kNumberCVsFlagLong, MSyntax::kUnsigned);
syntax.addFlag(kUpsideDownFlag, kUpsideDownFlagLong, MSyntax::kBoolean);
return syntax;
}
MStatus helixTool::doIt(const MArgList &args)
//
// Description
// Sets up the helix parameters from arguments passed to the
// MEL command.
//
{
MStatus status;
status = parseArgs(args);
if (MS::kSuccess != status)
return status;
return redoIt();
}
MStatus helixTool::parseArgs(const MArgList &args)
{
MStatus status;
MArgDatabase argData(syntax(), args);
if (argData.isFlagSet(kPitchFlag)) {
double tmp;
status = argData.getFlagArgument(kPitchFlag, 0, tmp);
if (!status) {
status.perror("pitch flag parsing failed");
return status;
}
pitch = tmp;
}
if (argData.isFlagSet(kRadiusFlag)) {
double tmp;
status = argData.getFlagArgument(kRadiusFlag, 0, tmp);
if (!status) {
status.perror("radius flag parsing failed");
return status;
}
radius = tmp;
}
if (argData.isFlagSet(kNumberCVsFlag)) {
unsigned tmp;
status = argData.getFlagArgument(kNumberCVsFlag, 0, tmp);
if (!status) {
status.perror("numCVs flag parsing failed");
return status;
}
numCV = tmp;
}
if (argData.isFlagSet(kUpsideDownFlag)) {
bool tmp;
status = argData.getFlagArgument(kUpsideDownFlag, 0, tmp);
if (!status) {
status.perror("upside down flag parsing failed");
return status;
}
upDown = tmp;
}
return MS::kSuccess;
}
MStatus helixTool::redoIt()
//
// Description
// This method creates the helix curve from the
// pitch and radius values
//
{
MStatus stat;
const unsigned deg = 3; // Curve Degree
const unsigned ncvs = numCV; // Number of CVs
const unsigned spans = ncvs - deg; // Number of spans
const unsigned nknots = spans+2*deg-1;// Number of knots
unsigned i;
MPointArray controlVertices;
MDoubleArray knotSequences;
int upFactor;
if (upDown) upFactor = -1;
else upFactor = 1;
// Set up cvs and knots for the helix
//
for (i = 0; i < ncvs; i++)
controlVertices.append(MPoint(radius * cos((double) i),
upFactor * pitch * (double) i,
radius * sin((double) i)));
for (i = 0; i < nknots; i++)
knotSequences.append((double) i);
// Now create the curve
//
MFnNurbsCurve curveFn;
curveFn.create(controlVertices, knotSequences, deg,
MFnNurbsCurve::kOpen, false, false,
if (!stat) {
stat.perror("Error creating curve");
return stat;
}
stat = curveFn.getPath( path );
return stat;
}
MStatus helixTool::undoIt()
//
// Description
// Removes the helix curve from the model.
//
{
MStatus stat;
MObject transform = path.transform();
stat = MGlobal::deleteNode( transform );
return stat;
}
bool helixTool::isUndoable() const
//
// Description
// Set this command to be undoable.
//
{
return true;
}
MStatus helixTool::finalize()
//
// Description
// Command is finished, construct a string for the command
// for journaling.
//
{
MArgList command;
command.addArg(commandString());
command.addArg(MString(kRadiusFlag));
command.addArg(radius);
command.addArg(MString(kPitchFlag));
command.addArg(pitch);
command.addArg(MString(kNumberCVsFlag));
command.addArg((int) numCV);
command.addArg(MString(kUpsideDownFlag));
command.addArg(upDown);
return MPxToolCommand::doFinalize( command );
}
void helixTool::setRadius(double newRadius)
{
radius = newRadius;
}
void helixTool::setPitch(double newPitch)
{
pitch = newPitch;
}
void helixTool::setNumCVs(unsigned newNumCVs)
{
numCV = newNumCVs;
}
void helixTool::setUpsideDown(bool newUpsideDown)
{
upDown = newUpsideDown;
}
//
// The user Context
//
// Contexts give the user the ability to write functions
// for handling events.
//
// Contexts aren't registered in the plugin, instead a
// command class (MPxContextCommand) is registered and is used
// to create instances of the context.
//
const char helpString[] = "Click and drag to draw helix";
class helixContext : public MPxContext
{
public:
helixContext();
void toolOnSetup(MEvent &event) override;
MStatus doPress(MEvent &event) override;
MStatus doDrag(MEvent &event) override;
MStatus doRelease(MEvent &event) override;
MStatus doEnterRegion(MEvent &event) override;
void getClassName(MString & name) const override;
void setNumCVs(unsigned newNumCVs);
void setUpsideDown(bool newUpsideDown);
unsigned numCVs();
bool upsideDown();
private:
void drawGuide();
bool firstDraw;
short startPos_x, startPos_y;
short endPos_x, endPos_y;
unsigned numCV;
bool upDown;
M3dView view;
GLdouble height,radius;
};
helixContext::helixContext()
{
numCV = 20;
upDown = false;
setTitleString("Helix Tool");
setCursor( MCursor::defaultCursor );
// Tell the context which XPM to use so the tool can properly
// be a candidate for the 6th position on the mini-bar.
setImage("helixTool.xpm", MPxContext::kImage1 );
}
void helixContext::toolOnSetup(MEvent &)
{
setHelpString(helpString);
}
MStatus helixContext::doPress(MEvent &event)
{
event.getPosition(startPos_x, startPos_y);
firstDraw = true;
return MS::kSuccess;
}
void helixContext::drawGuide()
{
int upFactor;
if (upDown) upFactor = 1;
else upFactor = -1;
// Draw the guide cylinder
//
glMatrixMode(GL_MODELVIEW);
glPushMatrix();
glRotatef(upFactor*90.0f, 1.0f, 0.0f, 0.0f);
GLUquadricObj *qobj = gluNewQuadric();
gluQuadricDrawStyle(qobj, GLU_LINE);
GLdouble factor = (GLdouble)numCV;
radius = double(abs(endPos_x - startPos_x))/factor + 0.1;
height = double(abs(endPos_y - startPos_y))/factor + 0.1;
gluCylinder( qobj, radius, radius, height, 8, 1 );
glPopMatrix();
}
MStatus helixContext::doDrag(MEvent & event)
{
view.beginXorDrawing(false);
if (!firstDraw) {
// Clear the guide from the old position.
drawGuide();
} else {
firstDraw = false;
}
event.getPosition(endPos_x, endPos_y);
// Draw the guide at the new position.
drawGuide();
view.endXorDrawing();
return MS::kSuccess;
}
MStatus helixContext::doRelease( MEvent & )
{
// Clear the guide from its last position.
if (!firstDraw) {
view.beginXorDrawing(false);
drawGuide();
view.endXorDrawing();
}
helixTool * cmd = (helixTool*)newToolCommand();
cmd->setPitch( height/numCV );
cmd->setRadius( radius );
cmd->setNumCVs( numCV );
cmd->setUpsideDown( upDown );
cmd->redoIt();
cmd->finalize();
return MS::kSuccess;
}
MStatus helixContext::doEnterRegion( MEvent & )
{
return setHelpString( helpString );
}
void helixContext::getClassName( MString & name ) const
{
name.set("helix");
}
void helixContext::setNumCVs( unsigned newNumCVs )
{
numCV = newNumCVs;
}
void helixContext::setUpsideDown( bool newUpsideDown )
{
upDown = newUpsideDown;
}
unsigned helixContext::numCVs()
{
return numCV;
}
bool helixContext::upsideDown()
{
return upDown;
}
//
// Context creation command
//
// This is the command that will be used to create instances
// of our context.
//
class helixContextCmd : public MPxContextCommand
{
public:
helixContextCmd();
MStatus doEditFlags() override;
MStatus doQueryFlags() override;
MPxContext* makeObj() override;
MStatus appendSyntax() override;
static void* creator();
protected:
helixContext* fHelixContext;
};
helixContextCmd::helixContextCmd() {}
MPxContext* helixContextCmd::makeObj()
//
// Description
// When the context command is executed in maya, this method
// be used to create a context.
//
{
fHelixContext = new helixContext();
return fHelixContext;
}
void* helixContextCmd::creator()
//
// Description
// This method creates the context command.
//
{
return new helixContextCmd;
}
MStatus helixContextCmd::doEditFlags()
{
MStatus status = MS::kSuccess;
MArgParser argData = parser();
if (argData.isFlagSet(kNumberCVsFlag)) {
unsigned numCVs;
status = argData.getFlagArgument(kNumberCVsFlag, 0, numCVs);
if (!status) {
status.perror("numCVs flag parsing failed.");
return status;
}
fHelixContext->setNumCVs(numCVs);
}
if (argData.isFlagSet(kUpsideDownFlag)) {
bool upsideDown;
status = argData.getFlagArgument(kUpsideDownFlag, 0, upsideDown);
if (!status) {
status.perror("upsideDown flag parsing failed.");
return status;
}
fHelixContext->setUpsideDown(upsideDown);
}
return MS::kSuccess;
}
MStatus helixContextCmd::doQueryFlags()
{
MArgParser argData = parser();
if (argData.isFlagSet(kNumberCVsFlag)) {
setResult((int) fHelixContext->numCVs());
}
if (argData.isFlagSet(kUpsideDownFlag)) {
setResult(fHelixContext->upsideDown());
}
return MS::kSuccess;
}
MStatus helixContextCmd::appendSyntax()
{
MSyntax mySyntax = syntax();
if (MS::kSuccess != mySyntax.addFlag(kNumberCVsFlag, kNumberCVsFlagLong,
return MS::kFailure;
}
if (MS::kSuccess !=
mySyntax.addFlag(kUpsideDownFlag, kUpsideDownFlagLong,
return MS::kFailure;
}
return MS::kSuccess;
}
//
// The following routines are used to register/unregister
// the commands we are creating within Maya
//
MStatus initializePlugin( MObject obj )
{
MStatus status;
MFnPlugin plugin(obj, PLUGIN_COMPANY, "3.0", "Any");
// Register the context creation command and the tool command
// that the helixContext will use.
//
status = plugin.registerContextCommand("helixToolContext",
helixContextCmd::creator,
"helixToolCmd",
helixTool::creator,
helixTool::newSyntax);
if (!status) {
status.perror("registerContextCommand");
return status;
}
return status;
}
MStatus uninitializePlugin( MObject obj)
{
MStatus status;
MFnPlugin plugin( obj );
// Deregister the tool command and the context creation command
//
status = plugin.deregisterContextCommand( "helixToolContext",
"helixToolCmd" );
if (!status) {
status.perror("deregisterContextCommand");
return status;
}
return status;
}