DeleD Community Edition

stumcd

I've just started using Delgine3D 1.44LITE and I'm very impressed. However I'm stuck on what must be a basic missunderstanding on my part, but I've tried everything I can think of with no luck.

If I draw (say) two cubes and then select both in object mode, switch to vertex edit mode, pick a corner from each and hit connect I would expect an edge to be created and to see a line connecting them. I dont. Similarly if I draw two polylines. I've tried using merge and union to combine the objects, but I don't see what I'm missing.

I can however pick two opposite vertices on the side of a cube and connect them.

Cheers,
STU!

Jeroen · Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:59 pm Post subject:

Hi there Stumcd, and welcome! Smile

Well, you're not doing anything wrong - it's just that DeleD can execute that command within objects only (like you already noted). It won't connect vertices from different objects. But... if you use Merge first and then Connect, things should work fine.

stumcd · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:38 am Post subject:

As I mentioned I'd tried merge (and union), but I still can't get it to work. I've put the file and a picture at the location below

http://www.stu-jools.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/2CUBES.dmf
http://www.stu-jools.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/2CUBES.JPG

The jpg shows the two vertices I am trying to connect.

I also notice that the help seems to be out of date since the commands list says connect is only for vertices, but it is available for edges as well. And fill isn't mentioned at all (other than to mentions it is useful).

--STU!

Jeroen · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:50 am Post subject:

stumcd · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:59 am Post subject:

I would have expected to be able to select any three vertices in an object, hit connect and get a new polygon and face. That way I can build up any shape I like. E.g. by drawing polylines and connecting them.

So how do I do things like that then? There must be a way of using the tool that I am completely missing.

Thanks,
STU!

Jeroen · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:38 am Post subject:

stumcd · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:01 am Post subject:

Ok, so is the way to work by creating things like cylinders etc. and then connecting vertices, splitting edges and deleting vertices to morph it into the shape I want?

For example, say I want a Tetrahedron (pyramid with a triangular base). Do I have to start with a cube, connect various corners and delete some vertices?

Thanks for the quick responses,

STU!

Daaark · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:23 am Post subject:

Jeroen · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:27 am Post subject:

Daaark · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:29 am Post subject:

jwatte · DeleD PRO user Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 513

Selecting vertices and creating an entirely new polygon is a very useful feature, though -- it would hugely accelerate some kinds of work (especially patching up after CSG operations). Higher end modelers even extend this to "bridge" -- select two line loops, select "Bridge," and the line loops are connected with polygons. (I imagine this would work with just one line on each side, too)

The main danger, from the DeleD point of view, would be that someone can create non-manifold geometry this way -- an edge with three polys, etc. If you treat the newly created poly as an entirely new poly, with an entirely new (but coincident) edge, that danger can be mitigated. Also, from that point of view, it's no different from creating a square, and then pushing it around until it "fits" and welding it in place. Except the UI is a lot simpler and faster with Bridge :-)

stumcd · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:14 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the help guys. Had a quick play and starting to get the hang of it. Insert and extrude are especially useful. For example I was making the helicopter/insect/thing below

http://www.stu-jools.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/SHIP2.JPG

and you can see from the side view there is a gap between the tail and cabin. This was because I'd tried to make the tail a separate object which I was going to merge/union, but by using insert and extrude I could create the tail directly from the cabin without having to try and get two objects to line up.

Thanks again,

STU!