Author Topic: Poly lines  (Read 3520 times)

Offline K-State Fan

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Poly lines
« on: December 26, 2016, 11:48:56 AM »
When I draw a poly line can I draw one line even though I am going to use three controller outputs for that line?

In the below picture how would I model the upper peak? I have it modeled as two poly lines now one starting at the right  and the second line starting where the red pixels are on the upper peak.


Offline Gilrock

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Re: Poly lines
« Reply #1 on: December 26, 2016, 12:39:34 PM »
xLights doesn't need to know anything about your controllers.  As long as your controllers can put any channel to any output like  Falcon can you're fine.

It's up to you how you draw it.  You can do the entire roof with one PolyLine if you want.  The trick is to use individual segment lengths and with a "0" length segment you can do what I call "lifting the pen".

Offline K-State Fan

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Re: Poly lines
« Reply #2 on: December 26, 2016, 12:47:05 PM »
That is what i thought about the poly line.  I just have 30,000 null channels defined in my setup.

What do you mean zero length line?

Offline jnealand

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Re: Poly lines
« Reply #3 on: December 26, 2016, 01:42:13 PM »
i understand that Zero length line is one that you cannot show on the layout because it is going from the front to the back or vice versa.  Can't show it in a 2D world, but physically it is part of the string.
Jim Nealand
Kennesaw, GA

Offline RandyS

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Re: Poly lines
« Reply #4 on: December 26, 2016, 01:46:57 PM »
It allows you to jump across a blank space but keep the poly line numbering intact.

Offline Gilrock

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Re: Poly lines
« Reply #5 on: December 26, 2016, 01:49:38 PM »
Jim:  No that is not what I mean zero length segments should be used for.  It's like if you are drawing on the page and you need to lift up the pen.  Its an invisible line.  Just look at this screenshot of my upper roof model.  This is only one PolyLine doing all that.

« Last Edit: December 26, 2016, 01:51:29 PM by Gilrock »

Offline K-State Fan

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Re: Poly lines
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2016, 02:00:31 PM »
I think i figured out how to make a zero length segment.  Just change the individual segment length to zero? Still not getting the marque effect to show up like I want.  going to have to play with it more.

Thanks for the help

Offline K-State Fan

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Re: Poly lines
« Reply #7 on: December 27, 2016, 05:49:29 AM »
Figured out how to get it to look like I was wanting.  Adjusted the start point of the second string to get the color to match.

Offline jnealand

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Re: Poly lines
« Reply #8 on: December 27, 2016, 09:17:38 AM »
Jim:  No that is not what I mean zero length segments should be used for.  It's like if you are drawing on the page and you need to lift up the pen.  Its an invisible line.  Just look at this screenshot of my upper roof model.  This is only one PolyLine doing all that.

Thanks for the explantion.  So much to learn.
Jim Nealand
Kennesaw, GA

Offline K-State Fan

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Re: Poly lines
« Reply #9 on: January 11, 2017, 08:59:24 AM »
Another quick question when drawing a vertical line do you start at the top or bottom?

Offline Gilrock

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Re: Poly lines
« Reply #10 on: January 11, 2017, 09:39:37 AM »
Another quick question when drawing a vertical line do you start at the top or bottom?

Draw it in the same direction as the little arrows on the pixels.

Offline Phrog30

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Re: Poly lines
« Reply #11 on: January 11, 2017, 09:41:30 AM »
It depends. I setup my house before the polyline was released and I outlined my house with lines. So, I have a line on the left side with left starting corner and green dot on the bottom. The right side is the same starting corner but the green dot is on the top. I did this because it is wired in a string.

Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk


Offline K-State Fan

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Re: Poly lines
« Reply #12 on: January 11, 2017, 10:31:56 AM »
Another quick question when drawing a vertical line do you start at the top or bottom?

Draw it in the same direction as the little arrows on the pixels.

So it does not mater with a vertical line only left and right

Offline Gilrock

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Re: Poly lines
« Reply #13 on: January 11, 2017, 10:53:23 AM »
Another quick question when drawing a vertical line do you start at the top or bottom?

Draw it in the same direction as the little arrows on the pixels.

So it does not mater with a vertical line only left and right

I'm sure it matters...  Depends on what type of render style you are using and where you wired it...  Its easy to test....just test effects that move certain directions with the model by itself and the model as part of a group.  You will learn so much more experimenting that me trying to explain it.