Could we modernize the Extrude Along Path command?

[Kevin McAllister 1,192]

I would like to see some real improvements to the Extrude Along Path command. It should include -

 

1. the ability to choose the origin point for a profile object. It could be a simple as choosing a point as part of the creation process or the ability to include a loci like you do with the Sweep object.
2. during creation VW should show you a preview of what you will get, much like the Loft command. You should be able to adjust the profile origin as well as the directions of the path and profile through the creation dialog or by clicking in the drawing preview.
3. symbols should be useable as the profile object.
4. the creation process should be non-destructive to the path object. Right now its converted to a NURBS curve, which isn't always friendly for editing after the fact.
5. you should be able to select a surface or a series of edges from an existing piece of 3d geometry for the path object. Here's an example where you might want the base molding on two sides of a plinth or a piece of trim around the inside of a panel. If the existing geometry changes in the future, so should the EAP automatically.
6. Objects created by EAP need to be fully snap-able.
7. In general it needs to be more intuitive and smarter to use. It still feels like a 1990's tool, which it is.

 

I know there's a push for a molding related EAP tool to be integrated into walls but there are other instances where an improved EAP is desperately needed.

 

Kevin

1.  

[PVA - Jim 2,396]

Submitting requests now, some went in as new items and some were added to existing cases:

 

Allow EAPs / Sweeps to use symbols as profile objects: VE-93147

 

Keep/don't convert the original EAP path geometry: VE-96005

 

Path From Selected Edges (select desired edges rather than drawing out a Path object: VE-97174

 

Snaps not only along edges of profile geometry but also path edge/vertices: VE-94923

 

Active preview of EAP during creation / 3D Live draw editing: VE-89734

Maintain separate class and visibility control for separate profile objects: VE-97173

[zoomer 1,163]

100% agree ...

[Tom Klaber 741]

Yup.

Maybe "Live Draw" - pick the profile and then get to draw the path with profile extrude "live"

[grant_PD 267]

I feel like the EAP tool was set up for those that do or did not work directly in 3D.  There was a default setting for how the profile was aligned and extruded.  Now it seems that with the advances in 3d modelling in VW, we should be able to draw the profile or import it from a library or use a symbol, align it to the path in the manner that we want it to be extrude it, and be done.  But I would also like to see:

Scaling changes over the length of the path, based upon a linear graph (F curve) input

Editing of either the path or the profile in a normal view ( whatever parallel universe one ends up in when editing these things now is certainly NOT helpful).  Double clicking the EAP should simply show the path and the profile, in place, in the 3d world.

[zoomer 1,163]

Pre VW I was used that I had to snap my Profile to the Path and give proper Orientation.

(wich was easy and comfortable)

And it was destructive. Once it was created it was just a Solid.

(I had no problem with this. You did copies before or had the tools to edit the Solid)

[Kevin McAllister 1,192]

1 hour ago, grant_PD said:

Editing of either the path or the profile in a normal view ( whatever parallel universe one ends up in when editing these things now is certainly NOT helpful).  Double clicking the EAP should simply show the path and the profile, in place, in the 3d world.

Without question. Editing them separately is a bit of a guessing game at times.

 

KM

[Matt Overton 340]

Would it be silly to suggest profile could be class driven?

I.e. have a low detail and high detail profiles on the same path as a single object.

 

Also options for end caps or mitres, and insertions of symbols along path would be handy.

Still will take any improvement.

[Tom Klaber 741]

13 hours ago, Matt Overton said:

Would it be silly to suggest profile could be class driven?

I.e. have a low detail and high detail profiles on the same path as a single object.

 

Also options for end caps or mitres, and insertions of symbols along path would be handy.

Still will take any improvement.

 

Class driven is a little silly because you can have lots of objects in a class.

Symbol name driven may be a better way to go about that - but multiple profiles on a single path may start to get wonky.

[Matt Overton 340]

6 hours ago, Tom Klaber said:

Class driven is a little silly because you can have lots of objects in a class.

Symbol name driven may be a better way to go about that - but multiple profiles on a single path may start to get wonky.

 

Sorry I meant within the profile space of the extrude. If you have multiple classes in the profile they get converted to a single class 3D object.

If the final extrude maintained the the classes of the defining objects we could do interesting things without writing PIO to basically extrude multiple geometries along the same path.

 

Like:-

-LED strip lights - we could have an Aluminium carrier in one class and the diffuser in another with a glow texture assigned.

-Gutters - basic profile for large scale elevations and sections, detailed linework  and polygon intensive geometry for closer views.

-have a simple basic cornice for general work then add a more detailed version that is only turned on for presentation and detail views.

[bcd 298]

+ 1 to this Matt,

there are many fertile opportunities for displaying (calculating) increased/less detail and not only for EAPs eg. for various scales, output intents, design phases, render styles, perspective distance etc. across the entire VW gamut. eg. Spotlight->Vision trusses, 2d plants, EAP Skirtings, Grass Textures...

Edited December 12, 2016 by bcd

[zoomer 1,163]

I would like to have things kept simple

 

Path that stays a Path (Object Type) and is editable, in EAP Edit Path.

Profile that can be edited and its Position can be moved 2D around Path Origin, in EAP Edit Profile.

 

 

All "Advanced" Options like

- multiple Profiles as (like in Loft Surface)

- Scale along Path

- Rotate along Path

- Bulge Path

- Gradient Control

- Animation

- ....

Please hidden behind an "Advanced" Tool Option.

Edited December 12, 2016 by zoomer

[Tom Klaber 741]

I could see how having multiple objects share the same path could be very useful.  Something tells me though that classed object is not the way to get there, but I see what you are getting at.  It is easy enough to create them all in the first place, with the duplicate, and then sub out profile - but that can get onerous the 3 5 or 10th time you have to adjust the path.  
 

This feel like a Marriott hack more than anything.

Where you can set up multiple profiles to read the same path object via name, and then class the results as desired.

 

[Kevin McAllister 1,192]

48 minutes ago, Matt Overton said:

 

Sorry I meant within the profile space of the extrude. If you have multiple classes in the profile they get converted to a single class 3D object.

If the final extrude maintained the the classes of the defining objects we could do interesting things without writing PIO to basically extrude multiple geometries along the same path.

 

Like:-

-LED strip lights - we could have an Aluminium carrier in one class and the diffuser in another with a glow texture assigned.

-Gutters - basic profile for large scale elevations and sections, detailed linework  and polygon intensive geometry for closer views.

-have a simple basic cornice for general work then add a more detailed version that is only turned on for presentation and detail views.

 

I can see this being useful. Like it or not, turning classes on and off is the expected workflow in VW. Really all Matt is asking for is for is that the EAP not to flatten all of the classes of the objects its given as profile input. There's likely a bigger issue though, which is some PIOs don't regenerate when class visibilities are changes (eg. auto-hybrid) so this may never be possible without entering/exiting the profile component  of the EAP.

 

(We're back to the multiple states wish again in a different form.)

 

Kevin

[Kevin McAllister 1,192]

Thanks Jim! I appreciate you submitting all of those.

 

For this one -

1 hour ago, JimW said:

Path From Selected Edges (select desired edges rather than drawing out a Path object: VE-97174

I hope the wish includes the ability to select surfaces too.

 

Kevin

[PVA - Jim 2,396]

I meant to ask about that for clarification, if I selected a surface, would this be intended to indicate that I wanted all of the edges of that surface as the path object? I think that's what you meant from your example but wanted to be sure.

[Kevin McAllister 1,192]

36 minutes ago, JimW said:

I meant to ask about that for clarification, if I selected a surface, would this be intended to indicate that I wanted all of the edges of that surface as the path object? I think that's what you meant from your example but wanted to be sure.

Exactly!

 

(The Extract tool is by far my favourite tool in VW. Anything that pushes other tools towards its interface is a push in the right direction :-) )

 

KM

[Markvl 195]

On 13/12/2016 at 0:38 PM, Kevin McAllister said:

Thanks Jim! I appreciate you submitting all of those.

 

For this one -

I hope the wish includes the ability to select surfaces too.

 

Kevin

Oooooh!  That would be a great addition!

[Bas Vellekoop 179]

bumperdebump

[Benson Shaw 634]

I really miss Jim W!  

to all:

Several wishes near top of wish forum right now we’re submitted prior to the upvote feature. Please, scroll back to the beginning post AND VOTE it up!
 

-B

[Kevin McAllister 1,192]

32 minutes ago, Benson Shaw said:

I really miss Jim W!

 

^ YES! I was thinking that today too. @Jim W

 

KM

[Tanner Shelton 71]

I agree this needs a major update.

[EAlexander 269]

Yes please!  EAP is not just for molding - some of us use it as a major modeling tool for all kinds of things.

[Amorphous - Julian 265]

Please integrate some functions of this Vectorworks Plugin into it:

http://www.vectordepot.com/VM-042/Mouldings Manual.pdf

 

Very important to consider how it looks in TOP/PLAN view. We don't need messy wireframes. We need plan-friendly objects. 

[Paolo 64]

There is a new updated version of the Mouldings plugin here:

Mouldings Plugin version IV for Vectorworks 2019-2020

 

and here's the new mouldings manual links:

 

Mouldings manual (PDF) or  Mouldings manual (EPUB)

Edited May 1, 2020 by Paolo