Formula Input
Overview
Divisions
Precision
Segment Rules
Initialization
Formula
Overview |
The formula input window is where all the elements are created.
Elements are created from mathematical formulas.
The formula is broken down into 2 main sections.
The Initialization occurs 1 time when the formula is first Plotted.
The Formula occurs several times creating the shape of the element.
Additional settings are Divisions, Precision, and Forced Number of Segments.
|
Divisions |
Divisions determines the number of times the formula is plotted.
Each time the formula is plotted the value of the T variable is increased.
Using this variable as the heart of a formula, the shape of an element is created as the value of T increases.
The value of T always runs from 0.0 to 1.0, but the number of Divisions effects the amount between.
To find out the increment for T you can calculate 1 / Divisions.
|
Precision |
The Precision effects how closely the Beziers will follow the plotted formula.
Lower values result in better precision.
In effect, the precision is how far away from the plotted formula a bezier curve is allowed to go.
You might think that you want a bezier to be perfectly fitted to a plotted formula with a precision of 0.
However, beziers by their nature can not follow the complexity of most plotted formulas without using several extremely small beziers.
This could result in something like a simple loop using over 100 beziers (or segments).
And this is not good at all for NoLimits.
|
Segment Rules |
The segment rules allow you to specify how many segments will be output.
Be aware that if the element can not be created with the number of segments specified, the element will turn out badly.
Also note, that it's not always better to use more segments.
|
Initialization |
The initialization is used to setup variables that will be used within the formula.
Never assume that a variable will hold a value of 0 (zero).
If a variable is not setup (or pre-defined) it will hold a value of NULL.
NULL is not the same as zero.
NULL variables in a formula will completely ruin the output.
Also, formulas with initialization variables can be converted into wizards.
This makes it a good place to assign variables for things such as Radius or Height.
|
Formula |
The formula is what creates the element.
It is called several times with a changing value of the T variable.
An element is created by plotting points in 3D space and then creating bezier curves to fit the plotted formula.
For better details on creating formulas, please read the tutorials.
|
|