nonLinear

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Synopsis

nonLinear [-after] [-afterReference] [-autoParent] [-before] [-commonParent] [-components] [-defaultScale] [-deformerTools] [-exclusive string] [-frontOfChain] [-geometry string] [-geometryIndices] [-ignoreSelected] [-includeHiddenSelections] [-name string] [-parallel] [-prune] [-remove] [-selectedComponents] [-split] [-type string] [-useComponentTags] objects

nonLinear is undoable, queryable, and editable.

The nonLinear command has some flags which are specific to the nonLinear type specified with the -type flag. The flags correspond to the primary keyable attributes related to the specific type of nonLinear node. For example, if the type is "bend", then the flags "-curvature", "-lowBound" and "-highBound" may be used to initialize, edit or query those attribute values on the bend node. Examples of this are covered in the example section below.

Return value

In query mode, return type is based on queried flag.

Related

Flags

Long name (short name)	Argument types	Properties
-after(-af)
If the default behavior for insertion/appending into/onto the existing chain is not the desired behavior then this flag can be used to force the command to place the deformer node after the selected node in the chain even if a new geometry shape has to be created in order to do so. Works in create mode (and edit mode if the deformer has no geometry added yet).
-afterReference(-ar)
The -afterReference flag is used to specify deformer ordering in a hybrid way that choses between -before and -after automatically. If the geometry being deformed is referenced then the -after mode is used when adding the new deformer, otherwise the -before mode is used. The net effect when using -afterReference to build deformer chains is that internal shape nodes in the deformer chain will only appear at reference file boundaries, leading to lightweight deformer networks that may be more amicable to reference swapping.
-autoParent(-ap)
Parents the deformer handle under the selected object's transform. This flag is valid only when a single object is selected.
-before(-bf)
If the default behavior for insertion/appending into/onto the existing chain is not the desired behavior then this flag can be used to force the command to place the deformer node before the selected node in the chain even if a new geometry shape has to be created in order to do so. Works in create mode (and edit mode if the deformer has no geometry added yet).
-commonParent(-cp)
Creates a new transform and parents the selected object and the deformer handle under it. This flag is valid only when a single object is selected.
-components(-cmp)
Returns the components used by the deformer
-defaultScale(-ds)
Sets the scale of the deformation handle to 1. By default the deformation handle is scaled to the match the largest dimension of the selected objects' bounding box. [deformerFlags] The attributes of the deformer handle shape can be set upon creation, edited and queried as normal flags using either the long or the short attribute name. e.g.
-deformerTools(-dt)
Returns the name of the deformer tool objects (if any) as string string ...
-exclusive(-ex)	string
Puts the deformation set in a deform partition.
-frontOfChain(-foc)
This command is used to specify that the new deformer node should be placed ahead (upstream) of existing deformer and skin nodes in the shape's history (but not ahead of existing tweak nodes). The input to the deformer will be the upstream shape rather than the visible downstream shape, so the behavior of this flag is the most intuitive if the downstream deformers are in their reset (hasNoEffect) position when the new deformer is added. Works in create mode (and edit mode if the deformer has no geometry added yet).
-geometry(-g)	string
The specified object will be added to the list of objects being deformed by this deformer object, unless the -rm flag is also specified. When queried, this flag returns string string string ...
-geometryIndices(-gi)
Complements the -geometry flag in query mode. Returns the multi index of each geometry.
-ignoreSelected(-is)
Tells the command to not deform objects on the current selection list
-includeHiddenSelections(-ihs)
Apply the deformer to any visible and hidden objects in the selection list. Default is false.
-name(-n)	string
Used to specify the name of the node being created.
-parallel(-par)
Inserts the new deformer in a parallel chain to any existing deformers in the history of the object. A blendShape is inserted to blend the parallel results together. Works in create mode (and edit mode if the deformer has no geometry added yet).
-prune(-pr)
Removes any points not being deformed by the deformer in its current configuration from the deformer set.
-remove(-rm)
Specifies that objects listed after the -g flag should be removed from this deformer.
-selectedComponents(-cms)
Returns the components used by the deformer that are currently selected. This intersects the current selection with the components affected by the deformer.
-split(-sp)
Branches off a new chain in the dependency graph instead of inserting/appending the deformer into/onto an existing chain. Works in create mode (and edit mode if the deformer has no geometry added yet).
-type(-typ)	string
Specifies the type of deformation. The current valid deformation types are: bend, twist, squash, flare, sine and wave
-useComponentTags(-uct)
When this flag is specified a setup using componentTags will be created. This means no groupId, groupParts, tweak or objectSet nodes will be created and connected to the new deformer.

Flag can appear in Create mode of command	Flag can appear in Edit mode of command
Flag can appear in Query mode of command	Flag can be used more than once in a command.

MEL examples

// To create a bend deformer with curvature 0.5
//
nonLinear -type bend -curvature 0.5;

// To edit the curvature of the bend deformer
//
nonLinear -e -curvature 0.2 bend1;

// To query the curvature of the bend deformer
//
nonLinear -q -curvature bend1;