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Autodesk AliasStudio 2009
Release Notes
March 2008
© 2008 Autodesk, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by Autodesk, Inc., this publication, or parts thereof, may not bereproduced in any form, by any method, for any purpose. Certain materials included in this publication are reprinted with the permission of the copyright holder. TrademarksThe following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk, Inc., in the USA and other countries: 3DEC (design/logo), 3December,3December.com, 3ds Max, ActiveShapes, Actrix, ADI, Alias, Alias (swirl design/logo), AliasStudio, Alias|Wavefront (design/logo), ATC, AUGI,AutoCAD, AutoCAD Learning Assistance, AutoCAD LT, AutoCAD Simulator, AutoCAD SQL Extension, AutoCAD SQL Interface, Autodesk, AutodeskEnvision, Autodesk Insight, Autodesk Intent, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Map, Autodesk MapGuide, Autodesk Streamline, AutoLISP, AutoSnap,AutoSketch, AutoTrack, Backdraft, Built with ObjectARX (logo), Burn, Buzzsaw, CAiCE, Can You Imagine, Character Studio, Cinestream, Civil3D, Cleaner, Cleaner Central, ClearScale, Colour Warper, Combustion, Communication Specification, Constructware, Content Explorer,Create>what's>Next> (design/logo), Dancing Baby (image), DesignCenter, Design Doctor, Designer's Toolkit, DesignKids, DesignProf, DesignServer,DesignStudio, Design|Studio (design/logo), Design Your World, Design Your World (design/logo), DWF, DWG, DWG (logo), DWG TrueConvert,DWG TrueView, DXF, EditDV, Education by Design, Exposure, Extending the Design Team, FBX, Filmbox, FMDesktop, Freewheel, GDX Driver,Gmax, Heads-up Design, Heidi, HOOPS, HumanIK, i-drop, iMOUT, Incinerator, IntroDV, Inventor, Inventor LT, Kaydara, Kaydara (design/logo),LocationLogic, Lustre, Maya, Mechanical Desktop, MotionBuilder, Mudbox, NavisWorks, ObjectARX, ObjectDBX, Open Reality, Opticore,Opticore Opus, PolarSnap, PortfolioWall, Powered with Autodesk Technology, Productstream, ProjectPoint, ProMaterials, Reactor, RealDWG,Real-time Roto, Recognize, Render Queue, Reveal, Revit, Showcase, ShowMotion, SketchBook, SteeringWheels, StudioTools, Topobase, Toxik,ViewCube, Visual, Visual Bridge, Visual Construction, Visual Drainage, Visual Hydro, Visual Landscape, Visual Roads, Visual Survey, Visual Syllabus,Visual Toolbox, Visual Tugboat, Visual LISP, Voice Reality, Volo, Wiretap, and WiretapCentral The following are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk Canada Co. in the USA and/or Canada and other countries: Backburner,Discreet, Fire, Flame, Flint, Frost, Inferno, Multi-Master Editing, River, Smoke, Sparks, Stone, and Wire All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders. DisclaimerTHIS PUBLICATION AND THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS MADE AVAILABLE BY AUTODESK, INC. "AS IS." AUTODESK, INC. DISCLAIMSALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY ORFITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE REGARDING THESE MATERIALS. Published by:Autodesk, Inc.111 Mclnnis ParkwaySan Rafael, CA 94903, USA
Contents
Chapter 1 Release Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chapter 2 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Troubleshooting common problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Customer Error Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Chapter 3 Version compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Chapter 4 Limitations fixed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Visualization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Sketching . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Chapter 5 General limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Chapter 6 Operating system and hardware limitations . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Chapter 7 Modeling limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
iii
Chapter 8 Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Chapter 9 Data transfer limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Chapter 10 Rendering limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Chapter 11 Animating limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Chapter 12 OpenModel and OpenAlias limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Chapter 13 Sketching limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
iv | Contents
Release Notes
Limitations and fixed limitations in this release of AliasStudio.
1
1
2
Introduction
The Release Notes document contains information on:
■ troubleshooting common problems
■ limitations that have been fixed in this release of AliasStudio
■ known limitations in this release of AliasStudio.Limitations that are new in this release of AliasStudio are indicated by new.
Troubleshooting common problemsFollow this procedure when you encounter a problem using AliasStudio.
If you encounter a problem while using AliasStudio, do the following:
1 First check the Tools & menus online documentation (Help > Tool locator)for the feature you are having a problem with.
Some features have specific workflows that you must follow, and somefeatures have certain inherent limitations.
For rendering problems, you can also check the Troubleshoot section ofthe Rendering online documentation.
To make sure AliasStudio is correctly installed on your system, check theInstalling online documentation for your operating system.
To make sure your system is qualified to run AliasStudio, check theappropriate Qualification Chart in the Community > Support > QualifiedHardware section of the Autodesk web site:
http://www.autodesk.com/qual-charts
2
3
2 If you still cannot resolve the problem, check the Release Notes documentfor:
■ the feature you are having a problem with
■ the hardware/operating system you are using.Operating system and hardware limitations on page 25
Some features and/or hardware configurations may have a knownlimitation and workaround.
3 If you still cannot resolve the problem, check the Alias Product SupportCenter web sites for solutions to common problems:
http://www.autodesk.com/support
4 If you still cannot resolve the problem, contact Autodesk TechnicalSupport.
Important: To receive support from Autodesk Technical Support you musthave a valid Platinum Membership Contract and Customer LocationCode.
For the latest support contact information, go to:
http://www.autodesk.com/support
NORTH AMERICAN SUPPORT CENTER
The North American Support Centerprovides support for different geographicareas.Americas
Hours of AvailabilityAreas covered
Weekdays: 3 AM - 10 PM EST Weekends:6 AM - 6 PM EST
United States, Canada, Central and SouthAmerica.
Contact NumberArea
1-877-927-7478Platinum members loginon the technical support website for addi-tional options.
U.S.A. and Canada, Toll-free
1-416-362-8670Elsewhere in the Americas
4 | Chapter 2 Introduction
Europe, The Middle East, Africa, Australiaand New Zealand.The North AmericanSupport Center also supports Europe, TheMiddle East, Africa, Australia and NewZealand.
Hours of AvailabilityAreas covered
Weekdays: 9 AM - 4 AM CET, Weekends:12 PM - 12 AM CET
Europe, The Middle East, Africa, Australiaand New Zealand.
Contact NumberArea
00 800 8708 7087France, Toll-free
00 800 8708 7087Italy, Toll-free
00 800 8708 7087United Kingdom, Toll-free
00 800 8708 7087Germany, Toll-free
++/ 800 8708 7087All other countries, toll-free
00 11 800 8708 7087Australia, Toll-free
00 800 8708 7087New Zealand, Toll-free
platinum members login for additionaloptions.
Platinum Options
ASIA PACIFIC SUPPORT CENTER
Please contact your local reseller for sup-port.
Troubleshooting common problems | 5
TelephoneProducts Suppor-ted
Country/Company
Bangladesh
Hong Kong and China
852-2310-8989All ProductsJadason Technology Ltd.
India
91 80 8411464All ProductsTata Elxsi
91 20 4016246MayaRahul Commerce
Indonesia
62-21-351-6588All ProductsPT Mitra BisInfo Utama
61 21 5606054StudioToolsPT Parametrik Nusantara
Japan
81-3-5217-5230All ProductsSumisho Electronics Co., Ltd.
81-3-5423-5535All ProductsNGC Corporation
81-3-5676-2197MayaSoftware Too Corporation
81-3-3257-0866MayaBorn Digital, Inc.
81-3-5488-7423MayaSilicon Studio Corporation.
81-3-5413-6337All ProductsI-Design
Malaysia
6 | Chapter 2 Introduction
603-780-8809MayaCaveman IT Services Sdn Bhd
603-56214316StudioToolsCaddcam Technology Sdn Bhd
Philippines
632-888-5757All ProductsSandz Distribution Philippines., Inc.
63 2 892 3779MayaChallenge Systems Inc.
Singapore
65-6741-1535MayaSandz Distribution Private Ltd
65-6846-8826StudioToolsSun Tze Communications Engineering PteLtd.
South Korea
82-2-2193-1234All products forcommercial use
Shinsegae I & C, Inc.
82-2-508-5188All products foreducational use
M-One Tech, Inc.
82-2-3413-1610All products fordesign custom-ers
Thirdeye, Inc.
82-2-55-6495MayaCG Wave Inc.
82-2-707-8301MayaRexsoft
Taiwan
886-2-87681688 ext6931
All ProductsOrigo Company Limited
Troubleshooting common problems | 7
Thailand
662-267-8132All ProductsComgraph Co., Ltd.
Customer Error Reports If AliasStudio terminates abnormally while you’re working, or if you need tochoose Save and Exit from the Start menu, we now provide an easy way foryou to notify Autodesk of the problem you had. The following window opens.
Type in your email address, fill in a description of the workflow that causedthe problem, and click Send Report.
8 | Chapter 2 Introduction
The information will be used by Autodesk to analyze software problems.
Customer Error Reports | 9
10
Version compatibility
AliasStudio 2009 and AliasStudio 2008: wirefile compatibility
Some changes have been made to the wire file structure in AliasStudio 2009 that may resultin some data not being able to be opened correctly in AliasStudio 2008.
Reference Data
Reference data will not be loaded in 2008.
Multi-surfaces
Multi-surface creation tools support a Bezier Surfaces flag in 2009. This flag will be ignoredwhen loaded into 2008.
Span Placement flag is no longer supported in 2009, so multi-surfaces created in 2008 withthis Span placement equal to FREE will be converted to a surface with effective Span Placementvalue of ONE-PER-BOUNDARY.
Multi-surfaces created with Single Surface flag on in 2008 will show Surface Type equal toSINGLE SURFACE when loaded in 2009. Similarly, Multi-surfaces created with Single Surfaceflag off in 2008 will show Surface Type equal to MULTIPLE SURFACES in 2009. The converseis true as well.
Tubular Offset Tool
Tubular Offset Tool in 2009 supports a secondary surface. When a wire file saved in 2009 isloaded into 2008, the tubular offset history for the secondary surface is lost or won't update.QA should verify this.
Draft/Flange Surface Tool
Draft/Flange Surface Tool supports Double Sided flag in 2009. History for the second side willbe lost or won't update when a surface with this option set will be loaded in 2008.
3
11
Construction Planes
Construction planes have creation modes associated with them in 2009. These creationmodes will be lost when a wire file saved in 2009 will be loaded in 2008.
Align
Studio2009 introduces a new Align tool, called Align. It still contains the old Align tool(found in previous releases), which is now called Align2008. History created with Align toolin prior versions of Studio will be imported as Align2008 in 2009. Conversely, history createdin Align2008 in Studio2009 will be imported as Align in previous versions of Studio. Historycreated using the new Align tool in 2009 will be lost when loaded into previous versions ofStudio.
12 | Chapter 3 Version compatibility
Limitations fixed
Generalwindows Problems with opening DWG files that were also open in AutoCADhave been resolved.
windows If you import mesh data from Polyworks in JT format, and executeMesh Repair on the data, it breaks up into many small segments. This problemexists in DirectConnect bundled with AliasStudio2008. To fix the problem,install the May2007 or later cut of DirectConnect module and define anenvironment variable ALIAS_JTOPEN_IMPORT_MESH_MERGE_TOL = 0.001.The imported mesh may still contain some degenerate triangles that can berepaired with the Mesh Repair tool.
windows All the Window Display > Toggles tools and the Show tool are nowundo-safe and do not clear the undo queue.
windows Numerous crashes causing instability in the print functionality havebeen addressed.
windows Pick performance on large datasets has been improved. Picking,snapping to geometry, and setting the point of interest should be significantlyfaster than in previous versions.
windows Memory problems related to the retrieval of customized shelves havebeen fixed, So crashes related to the software running out of memory are fixed.
windows Crashes caused by reading corrupted and incomplete shelf files havebeen fixed.
windows An Out-of-memory situation relating to the information windowwith symmetric nodes has been addressed, thus fixing the crash.
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13
windows A crash was fixed in the printing of files with the output style setto Bitmap and the hidden line option turned on.
windows Numerous crashes related to Picking tools in Studio that were causinginstabilities have been fixed.
windows Toggling the model off does not automatically turn off the controlson geometry now if the option is set properly in the tool.
windows The display of controls (CVs, edit points, etc.) does not turn backnow if they have been toggled off using the Toggle Model tool, when tryingto create new curves.
windows Using the Print tool with the hidden line option and selecting the.bmp option no longer crashes.
windows Toggle View 1:1 now applies to the orthographic views in theperspective window.
Modelingwindows Animated textures which are referenced as a series of images arenot stored in the wirefile if the Embedded flag is enabled in the File->Save Asoptions.
windows Problems with multi-detach have been fixed. Now a user can splita curve (or a curve-on-surface) into multiple curves (or curves-on-surface) byspecifying multiple detach points in a single pass.
windows In v2008SP1, after a target has been conformed to the destination,interactively translating the target along the destination was very slow. Thishas been fixed in 2009.
windows In v2008, v2008SP1 Duplicate Place sometimes will place copies ofthe targets along the destination with unequal spacing. This has been correctedin v2009.
windows The Curve Planarize tool now correctly maintains end point positionswhen Lock Ends is selected.
windows Previously, picking a curve CV and then selecting Cross SectionControl from the control panel could cause AliasStudio to crash. This has beenfixed.
windows When you create geometry using the Dynamic Section tool onmeshes, Studio now creates “section date“ instead of degree 1 curves.
14 | Chapter 4 Limitations fixed
windows Using a Construction plane to segment or trim a curve in theperspective window using the Curve Section tool no longer crashes.
windows Selecting one or more CVs on a surface and then applying crosssections from the control panel no longer crashes.
windows The accuracy of curve offsetting has been improved considerably.
windows The Project Curve tool now functions correctly when a constructionplane is set. The correct view vector is now used to perform the projection.
windows The pick chooser now comes up when picking overlapping editpoints on curve on surfaces. Also, curves on surface are now properlyhighlighted, so that there is an indication of which one is being selected bythe pick chooser. In the past, it used to highlight the entire surface.
windows Fillet Flange limitation for certain geometries that cause the pulldirection to become parallel to the rail at some point has been fixed.
windows The problem of certain imputs to Profile Blend causing poor resultswhen those inputs are selected in a certain order has been fixed.
windows The crash when Profile Blend uses a surface edge as a profile curvehas been fixed.
windows The problem of Round not properly recognising a periodic edge hasbeen fixed.
windows The deviation reported by the Trim Convert tool and the deviationtools in the Evaluate section of the palette are now consistent with each other.
windows Many problems with the Fillet Flange tool not extending the filletto the edge of the input surface has been fixed.
windows Crashes occurring on retrieval of Round data from wire files hasbeen fixed.
Visualizationwindows For some graphics cards, when Optimize during Tumble is enabledfor self shadows, any mouse or keyboard input will interrupt the currentshadow calculation or shadow rendering. When self shadow rendering isinterrupted, parts of the half rendered scene will be momentarily displayedand will appear with most objects unlit and in shadow.
Visualization | 15
windows Shading maps are interpreted differently when used with selfshadows enabled. Shade maps will have to be ajdusted separately to get thedesired appearance when self shadows are enabled.
windows Duplicate objects that that occupy the same location in space willappear brighter when self shadows are on.
windows Planar shadows with user specified color and a non zero blur willfade to black instead of fading out in the specified color. This can give theappearance of a narrow black ring around the shadow when seen in front ofnon greyscale backgrounds.
windows When turning On the Reflections in the Multi Color mode ofDiagnostic Shade, a reflection map can be selected by clicking Scene for adrop-down menu. However the maps IBLCountryRoad and IBLAbstract haveno effect in Diagnostic Shade. In some cases, attempting to use these 2 mapsalso causes subsequent problems when using the maps Sky1, Sky2, Evaluation,Deck, and Abstract.
windows QTVRs do not always tumble correctly in QuickTime 7.1 or later.Thefile will open correctly in an older version of QuickTime or in an internetbrowser that has the QuickTime plug-in installed.
windows When choosing the first frame to use in the movie, the framenumber extension cannot be zero or have any padding. For example, image.0and image.05 are not acceptable filenames to use. The rest of the frames mustnot have any padding as well.
windows A problem that would occasionally cause Studio to crash duringtessellation has been fixed.
windows Diagnostic Shading now respects the surface orientation and willupdate properly when the user switches the orientation of the surface.
windows Ground plane shadows now function correctly with stage and layersettings.
Sketchingwindows It is not possible to change the mode, for example to Multiply, ofany paint layer when using of a Hide or Show brush. Only the Normal modeappears in the pull down menu. Changing the active brush to a different modeor selecting a different tool will correct the problem.
16 | Chapter 4 Limitations fixed
windows Updating a previously projected sketch by executing the sketchprojection command subsequent times will now properly update the filetextures in the shader.
windows Export layer now exports transparency. Tiff images exported toother software packages now appear correctly.
windows Custom canvas sizes are now saved properly when users save theiruser options.
windows Problems with paint text shifting slightly when duplicated andpasted have been fixed.
windows Canvas values used are now consistent in the Canvas General Infowindow. The canvas name now properly updates when automatically changedin the Canvas General Info window. The canvas width*height is consistentwhen created regardless of the units the user is working in.
Sketching | 17
18
General limitations
Limitations related to user interface, plotting, graphics, plug-in, and documentation.
General
windows If your graphics card doesn't have overlays (or overlays are disabled), and you arescrolling through the Deviation Table (Windows > Information > Deviation table), theninstead of seeing a red arrow move along the edge on the model to indicate the deviation, awhite arrow is drawn, and remains. This may cause an entire row of white arrows to appear.
Workaround: Tumble or pan the model to cause the window to redraw. The arrows willdisappear.
windows Shader files in the Shader Library will not be displayed in the Visualization Panel,if the corresponding ".ICON" file is not present.
Resident Shaders dragged to the library will write a ".ICON" file for that shader.
windows When you create general preference directories, if they are not readable and writable,you are not notified.
When creating general preference directories, ensure that the new directories are usable byAliasStudio (readable and writable).
windows Pre-V10 wirefiles must be saved in a newer version of AliasStudio and then translatedwith the Reference Manager. Otherwise, you will not be able to import them into the ReferenceManager.
windows Reference data (imported through File > Reference Manager) cannot be softwarerendered.
windows Reference data (imported through File > Reference Manager) cannot be used withAnimation > Turntable.
windows Ambient occlusion data will be preserved when a wire file is translated to referencedata (through File > Reference Manager), but it cannot be deleted from reference data, and itcannot be created on reference data.
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19
windows Toggle Camera now only toggles on or off only full frustrum.
windows Specifying a Horizontal or Vertical Aspect Ratio Fit in the Camera Editor corruptscamera controls in the Perspective Window title bar.
Workaround: use Ctrl+Alt key modifiers for camera navigation when Horizontal or VerticalAspect Ratio Fit options are used.
windows If you try moving an image plane or image layer in a camera that has had itsposition reversed (for example, from 0, 0, 100 to 0, 0, -100) the image plane will move inthe opposite direction that you drag the mouse.
Type in the values that you want to move the image plane or image layer by, or restartAliasStudio after reversing the camera position.
windows Diagnostic shading attributes not saved with bookmarks
Iso-angle attributes used in diagnostic shading (such as the position of lights, etc.) cannotbe saved with bookmarks.
windows UV values entered via the Promptline when building Gridded surfaces (Palette >Point Clouds > Surfaces > Gridded) is not working correctly.
To resolve this problem, when entering UV values from promptline, enter additional valuesfor each U and V parameter e.g. for a 2x2 patch, enter 22x22.
windows If you have created a new project by extracting a zip file of the AliasStudio projectfolders into your user_data folder, the files become Write Locked. Viewing the contentsusing the AliasStudio browser is not permitted and you are unable to store anything in thatproject.
Use the Windows browser to store data into the same project tree.
windows There are SBD window redraw problems when overlapping with Canvas window.
windows We have fixed some problems with AliasStudio and language/keyboard layoutsettings.
20 | Chapter 5 General limitations
We cache the active keyboard at when AliasStudio is launched and lock it in. We preventswitching inside/during a studio session.
The currently active layout, as specified on the language toolbar (normally the defaultlanguage and layout specified by the user), is used. If it is Japanese or another language, andthe keyboard matches the language toolbar setting, that keyboard layout is the active onefor the entire AliasStudio session.
To change the layout, quit AliasStudio, change the default layout/language in the languagetoolbar, make that new default layout active and restart AliasStudio. AliasStudio will nowuse only that new language/layout for the duration of the studio session. Hotkeys, such asalt-shift will not allow the keyboard-layout/language settings to be changed for theAliasStudio session (and just the AliasStudio session; other applications and the OS areunaffected).
windows If you move a construction or canvas plane (Transform > Move) then undo thetransformation (Edit > Undo), subsequent move operations will cause the plane to snapback to the position it had after the original transformation.
windows Creating new projects for AliasStudio from outside the application may result inpermission errors, where the contents of the folder may be non-writeable when using theStudio browser. To ensure correct, read-and-writeable directories and files, always use theAliasStudio browser to create new projects.
windows When you click the middle mouse button, a small circular icon with arrows onit (like a play button) may appear, and the middle mouse button will freeze.
Select Start > Settings > Control Panel > Mouse and turn off the Auto Scroll option.
windows AliasStudio will not save files named prn. This is a common problem in someWindows applications.
User interface
windows The Create Icon button in the Windows browser for File > Save only toggles theoption off. If you want to toggle it back on, you have to leave the browser and re-invokethe tool.
windows AliasStudio treats Drag & Drop and double-clicking on a file as one (or more) fileopens. However, settings for the File > Import > File tool are used to control the open. Forexample, unchecking Keep Windows in the File Import tool will prevent windows frombeing imported when a file is dragged into that AliasStudio session.
windows Loading more than one language (through Regional Options on the ControlPanel) may interfere with the mapping of some keys on your keyboard which are used byAliasStudio for certain functions (e.g. Alt-Shift + left mouse button to tumble).
| 21
windows If you customize one of the Preferences > Menus so that Preferences > Interface> Hotkeys/Menus is not displayed, then you will not be able to edit the menus while in thatmode.
Choose Preferences > Menus > Long menus, then choose Preferences > Interface >Hotkeys/Menus to open the Interface window. Then choose another mode from Preferences> Menus and edit the menus in the Interface window.
windows Some special characters do not work as hot keys.
■ For example, the following characters when used with the Ctrl key do not work correctly:/, “, |, }, {, +, .
■ Function key F10 can’t be used as a hot key on Windows since this is a Windows reservedkey.
Printing and plotting
windows In File > Print, Canvas and Window modes do not let you print to file from thePrint window (itself accessible from pressing the Print Setup button in the Print Setupwindow).
Workaround:
■ For Print Canvas mode, use File > Export > Canvas image/mask layer.
■ For Print Window mode, use File > Export > Current window.
This creates an image file that you can then print in the usual way in Windows.
windows Transparent regions (for example, transparent backgrounds) of sketch imagescreated in AliasStudio will print black, although the print preview does not indicate this.For the sketch to print correctly, the canvas must be normal to the camera, and the file mustbe printed on a PostScript 3 printer.
Try using the “printCamera” plug-in to print a canvas.
windows Do not sketch while the File > Print preview window is open. Sketches will notupdate correctly or may become altered.
windows When you have more than one perspective view in the Print Preview window,the overall display may be incorrect.
Plug-ins
In the directory $ALIAS_LOCATION/ODS/, there are a number of pre-compiled plug-insand source code examples. These plug-ins and source code examples are provided to youon an “AS-IS” basis.
22 | Chapter 5 General limitations
You are free to make use of these plug-ins and source code example; however Autodesk doesnot provide any support in connection with them.
Autodesk makes no warranties, express, implied, or arising by custom or trade usage, andto the extent permitted by applicable law, specifically disclaims any implied warranties oftitle, noninfringement or of fitness for a particular purpose to the extent permitted byapplicable law, (i) Autodesk’s liability in contract, tort or otherwise arising out of or inconnection with the plug-ins or source code shall not exceed the purchase price paid bythe customer for the plug-ins or source code examples, and (ii) in no event shall Autodeskbe liable for any punitive damages or lost profits or other special, indirect, incidental, orconsequential damages, including any damages resulting from loss of business arising outof or in connection with the performance of the plug-ins or source code examples, even ifAutodesk has been advised of the possibility of such damages. The customer shall indemnifyAutodesk and hold it harmless from and against any loss, claim or damage to any personarising out of the customer’s use of the plug-ins or source code examples.
For more limitations on plug-ins, see OpenModel and OpenAlias limitations on page 45
| 23
24
Operating system andhardware limitations
Limitations specific to certain operating systems or hardware configurations.
Operating system and hardware limitations are those specific to certain operating systems orhardware configurations.
For the latest list of operating system and hardware limitations, check the appropriateQualification Chart at the Autodesk web site: http://www.alias.com/qual_charts/.
Windows
General
windows When forcing Anti-Aliasing in the Driver Control panel, marking menu performanceis slow.
Disable the graphics card-based Anti-Aliasing and use the software-based Anti-Aliasing fromwithin AliasStudio.
windows In certain cases some systems running Windows XP Service Pack 2 are unable toinstall the HASP device drivers that support the new USB hardware locks (USB dongles). Ifyou encounter this problem we suggest that you download and install the latest HASP4 driversdirectly from the Aladdin support pages found
here: http://www.aladdin.com/support/hasp/hasp4/enduser.asp. It is recommended that you usethe Command Line Installation method to ensure proper installation of the HASP4 driver.
windows AliasStudio may suffer from extreme poor performance when connected to a 3Dinput device such as a SpaceMouse.
Solution: Install latest available driver from vendor.
6
25
Specific to configurations
windows The Spaceball device is not supported when running AliasStudio in the WindowsXP 64 operation system.
windows When using a spaceball to move objects around in AliasStudio, image planesdisappear in the front, right, and perspective views (but the image plane in the top viewremains). After movement with the spaceball the images disapear and dont return.
26 | Chapter 6 Operating system and hardware limitations
Modeling limitations
Limitations related to curve and surface creation and evaluation.
General
windows When doing curvature continuity checking, the word "Flat" appears rampantthroughout the model. "Flat" means one surface is flat along the edge (curvature is zero, radiusof curvature infinity), while the other surface edge is not flat. It is treated as a maximumdeviation and often appears many times along the edge (depending on the curvature deviationmeasured at each sample point).
Workaround: When curvature checking using the Evaluate > Check model tool (i.e. Curvature- G2 is on), consider reducing the Report Parameters >Curvature Maximum value. The valueof 1.0 corresponds to seeing "Flat" as failures. If "Flat" is not a curvature problem to be identified,set the Curvature Maximum to a value such as 0.9 or 0.7. Only curvature deviations greaterthan Continuity Curvature (from Preferences > Construction Options) and smaller or equalto Curvature Maximum are reported as failures and show up in red.
windows Geometry containing instances will not mirror correctly about a layer's symmetricplane. Only objects with the same transformations as the first instance will be placed correctly.
Workaround: Duplicate all geometry when using symmetric layers.
windows Duplicating a canvas doesn't duplicate all canvas information.
When you select a canvas and duplicate it, a new infinite plane is created which does notcontain all of the canvas plane information (layer stack, name, etc.)
Workaround: Use copy and paste (rather than duplicate) to get the complete canvasinformation.
windows Section lines and curvature combs remain after exiting Dynamic Section tool.
If you enable Persistent sections in the Dynamic Section tool (Evaluate > Dynamic Section),the sections remain visible even after you exit the tool.
Workaround: Select all the surfaces that have the persistent sections, go into the Dynamicsections tool again, and then pick nothing.
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windows Chordal fillet fails to keep rail distance with edge align. The chordal distancecannot be maintained when edge-align is turned on.
To resolve this problem turn off the edge-align option.
windows A symmetry or symmetric object is an object that exists only when symmetry isturned on for its layer.
Construction history that involves symmetry objects means a curve/surface built or modifiedusing a tool that creates construction history and a symmetry object is being used as aconstructor (for example, as a gen or path curve in the Rail tool).
Any delete operation (and this includes Edit > Cut plus everything in Delete) will also deleteall construction history that involves symmetry objects. Undo will bring back the deletedobject, but will not restore the construction history.
windows If you Edit > Ungroup(with Preserve Position off) constructor and target objectsthat have been grouped together (for example, a cube and a round on the cube, an objectand an instance of the object), construction history will update.
windows Using the Align tool with Explicit Control on will not produce good results onsurfaces that have a large gap between them.
windows Locators created on a symmetric half are deleted when you save or retrieve a fileor use tools that modify the group nodes.
For example, a surface continuity locator created between a surface and its symmetric halfis deleted if you save a file.
windows If an object has been scaled, the curvature on its cross section, created by theEvaluate > Cross section tool, is scaled twice.
Zero transform the geometry before evaluating the curvature on its cross sections.
Curves
windows The successful use of Curve Edit > Create > Combine curves sometimes dependson the order of picking the input curves.
Some input curves to Combine curves may result in unsatisfactory results, accompanied bythe following warning message:
Curves are too complex. Approximation may be inaccurate.
Picking the curves in a different order often corrects the problem. Try picking the secondcurve first.
windows Using Curve Edit > Create > Duplicate curve with the Rebuild Type set toUNIFORM KNOTS on a curve-on-surface creates an inexact copy. The results may not bewithin the specified tolerance of the original curve.
28 | Chapter 7 Modeling limitations
To avoid this problem, use the CHORD parameterization Rebuild Type when duplicatingcurves on surface.
windows Manipulators in Blend curves and Project Tangent will line up to either the U orV value, depending on which direction of a surface you point to initially.
Unless the U and V directions are at 90 degrees in world space, then you cannot use themanipulator to get the other alignment.
Make sure that the curves are correctly aligned. Dolly in if necessary to see more clearly.
windows Snapping the alignment of a curve tangent to the manipulator axes does notkeep the alignment fixed in the same way as setting the alignment in the Project TangentEditor window.
To fix a specific U, V, or Normal alignment, you must select that alignment from the editorwindow menu.
windows Blend curves with chord length parameterization don't work properly on modelsof large scale
Workaround: Use the uniform option when the scale of the models to which the blendcurve is being attached is very large.
Surfaces
windows Turning on the Bezier Surfaces option in some tools causes CV display to beturned off.Workaround: Choose ObjectDisplay > Control. Set Scope to NEW SURF, and turnon CVs and Hulls.
windows The Surfaces > Ball Corner tool always trims the surfaces to try to keep the centerof the surface.
Workaround: If the automatic trimming in Ball Corner is incorrect for a particular model,untrim the surface and use the Surface Edit > Trim > Trim surface tool to explicitely specifythe part you want to keep. Ball corner history is kept and your trim choice will be maintained,keeping the surface properly trimmed if the ball corner surface is recalculated.
windows If the Ball Corner is the currently selected tool when a file is retrieved, and thefile has different tolerance settings, the ball corner tool will still use the old tolerance setttingsfor the next surface it constructs.
Solution: Reselect the ball corner tool by clicking on its icon. Reselecting the tool will helpguarantee it's picking up the current tolerance settings. This is not only applicable for BallCorner, but for other tools as well when tolerances have changed — not just via file retrieval,but also when editing the Construction Options. Restarting a tool after the tolerances havebeen changed will help ensure the tool is picking up the new tolerances.
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windows Adding edges to a built network with the Round tool is still not implemented.Users must revert the build and add or delete edges at that time. The existing profiles areretained so it can be rebuilt with relative ease.
windows If you have an extrude history command built from a face (created prior toStudioTools 13) the caps will be lost if you update the history.
windows The new interior flow control parameter is left empty when AliasStudio version12 files are loaded into AliasStudio version 13 or later. Any free-form blend and surface fillet(Palette > Surfaces > Multi-Surface blend > Freeform or Profile blend) will have nothingspecified for this parameter.
windows Surfaces > Fillet surfaces > Surface fillet may not be able to create a fillet with asurface that has two intersecting points.
If there are two surfaces intersecting one another at more than one point, detach one ofthe surfaces so they only have one common intersection.
windows If a blend curve is attached to a surface that is the result of a curve network,updating that curve network may delete the history on the blend curve.
windows ObjectDisplay > Diagnostic shadingSurface evaluation > Draft angle may notdisplay the correct angle.
Choose Transform > Zero transforms for the surface you are evaluating to update the draftangle display.
windows You may not be able to create a variable radius fillet between surfaces that havea variable gap between them.
If the surfaces are trimmed, untrim them, create the fillet, then trim them.
windows Pivot points and local axes of surfaces created within Construction Plane modedo not reflect the proper environment - they are created relative to the Worldspace coordinatesystem.
Change the position of the pivot points manually and reset the local axes to reflect theproper working environment.
30 | Chapter 7 Modeling limitations
windows When you turn on Explicit Control for the Draft tool, Degree and Spans are notautomatically set to the values used when Explicit Control is off, which may produce poorresults.
Manually set the Degree and Spans values to produce the desired result.
windows If you untrim a trim-divided surface back to before the trim-divide operation,only one of the divided pieces will have its prior construction history. All other pieces won’thave any construction history.
windows If you try to duplicate a curve-on-surface with an extremely large number ofspans (for example, greater than a thousand spans) using the Curve Edit > Create > Duplicatecurve tool, AliasStudio may run out of memory trying to achieve a good fit.
When dealing with huge numbers of spans on curves-on-surfaces being duplicated, separatethe curve-on-surface into manageable chunks before performing the duplicate operation.
windows Surfaces > Swept surfaces > Extrude (TUBE option) has problems with multipleCVs on the path curve.
When you are using TUBE mode in Extrude, avoid path curves with multiple CVs on them,as the resulting extruded surface may have undesired twists near the multiple CVs in thepath.
Control Panel
Meshes
windows If you have any difficulty subsetting some areas of a mesh (Mesh > MeshPartitioning > Mesh subset), try setting Triangle selection to Include hidden.
windows Meshes which are made transparent or partly transparent will not be drawncorrectly if they appear in front of an image or painted canvas.
windows You may not be able to cut a mesh (using Mesh > Mesh Partitioning > Mesh cut)if it was produced from a tessellation (particularly if Fast tessellation was used).
Try using the Accurate tessellation method instead if you plan to cut the mesh.
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Documentation
windows The symbol normally depicting an option box (a small square) after a tool nameappears as the letter “p”, “q” or “r” on several pages.
windows Some changes to the software have resulted in inaccuracies in two tutorials: Modelingan MP3 Player and Shaders and Lights. Please follow the instructions in the online help orPDF file instead of the printed copy.
windows The URL to access AliasStudio 2009 online documentation on the web ishttp://www.autodesk.com/aliasstudio2009-docs
windows The search tool in the online documentation does not recognize double quotes(“). For example, searching for “surface” will not return any results.
Do not use double quotes around your search words or phrases.
windows Slashes are sometimes used instead of backslashes in the documentation ofAliasStudio.
Slashes (/) are used in UNIX for file paths, and were pervasive in the original documentation.While every attempt has been made to change slashes to the backslashes (\) used by Windows,there may be pictures or file examples that still use them.
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Data transfer limitations
Limitations related to the import/export of CAD data.
General
windows Some files originating in AliasStudio Versions 9.5 to 9.7 will crash when opened.
Some files originating in AliasStudio Versions 9.5 to 9.7 may be corrupted and crash whenopened into this version of AliasStudio.
Workaround: In a previous version of AliasStudio, delete the null nodes (empty textures nodes,empty shaders, and so on), save the file, and try to import it again.
windows If AutoCAD is editing a DWG file, AliasStudio cannot open that file. Close the filein AutoCAD before opening it in AliasStudio.
windows Files from AliasStudio 8.5 and AliasStudio 9.5 for Windows containing TubularOffset, Project Tangent, or N-sided commands may not be able to be re-evaluated.
To allow re-evaluation, delete these commands using the History View window.
windows Shell-stitching and unstitching a surface results in the loss of information such asconstruction history, original layer assignment, shaders, and name information.
Make sure that you select the Keep Original Model before stitching.
windows Display of high-degree surfaces can be distorted after Data Transfer input.
With default display settings, surfaces of degrees higher than 14 appear distorted when inputinto AliasStudio.
To ensure proper display of these surfaces, use Object edit > Patch precision to increase thepatch precision to at least 4.
Unigraphics
windows To read large assemblies, you will require memory commensurate with the filesize.
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For assemblies over 100 Mb, it is recommended that you have at least 512 Mb of memory;for assemblies over 200 Mb, 1 Gb is recommended.
JT
windows If you import mesh data from Polyworks in JT format, and execute Mesh Repairon the data, it breaks up into many small segments. This problem exists in DirectConnectbundled with AliasStudio2008.
To fix the problem, install the May2007 or later cut of DirectConnect module and definean environment variable ALIAS_JTOPEN_IMPORT_MESH_MERGE_TOL = 0.001. The importedmesh may still contain some degenerate triangles that can be repaired with the Mesh Repairtool.
36 | Chapter 9 Data transfer limitations
Rendering limitations
Limitations related to hardware shade, diagnostic shading, lighting, shading, texturing, andrendering.
For additional rendering troubleshooting information, see the Troubleshoot section of theRendering online documentation.
General
windows QTVR is currently not supported on the 64-bit versions of AliasStudio. The followingmessage appears when you try to use QTVR on a 64-bit version of AliasStudio:Warning: QTVR
is currently not supported for Windows 64-bit applications.
windows Animated textures that are referenced as a series of images are not stored in thewirefile if the Embedded flag is enabled in the File->Save As options.
windows As of version 12, our adaptive antialiasing algorithm has been modified. As a result,the user selectable maximum sampling rate must be a square number.
Hardware Shade and Diagnostic Shading
windows Triplanar projection does not support the Wrap feature. If Wrap is applied, theprojection doesn’t display as expected.
windows Depending on the video card you have installed, the Line Smooth slider may haveno effect on the actual thickness of the line. Some cards do not support this feature.
windows When forcing Anti-Aliasing in the Driver Control panel, marking menu performanceis slow.
Disable the graphics card-based Anti-Aliasing and use the software-based Anti-Aliasing fromwithin AliasStudio.
windows Diagnostic shading is lost for deformed objects with lattice rig, transformer rig.
When using the lattice rig and transformer rig tools (Object Edit > Dynamic Shape Modeling> Transformer Rig , Object Edit > Dynamic Shape Modeling > Lattice Rig), any objects yourequest to be deformed will lose their diagnostic shading.
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The software creates new surfaces for these objects. Whenever a tool creates new surfaces,these surfaces do not display diagnostic shading
Workaround: Click on diagnostic shading in the Control Panel to reapply it to the objects.
windows The ObjectDisplay > Diagnostic shading window appears empty when the ControlPanel is displayed (or displayed and then turned off).
Display (or display and then hide) the modeling control panel. For example, choose Windows> Control Panel, then click the Paint button at the top of the Paint Control Panel and chooseModeling. Then choose Windows > Control Panel to hide the modeling control panel.
windows Transparent objects do not cast or receive self shadows.
windows Hardware rendering can display the Environment Shader background textureonly if a 2D texture is used. Solid texture environment textures will appear in the backgroundonly in software renderings.
windows Self Shadows and Ground Plane Shadows do not currently support displacementmaps. Objects with displacement maps will cast shadows based on the original geometryas if no displacement maps were enabled.
windows Layered shaders that contain a layer that has a transparency map will not displaycorrectly with self shadows on.
windows When Optimize during Tumble is enabled for Self Shadows (in Hardware Shadesettings), any mouse or keyboard input will interrupt the current shadow calculation orshadow rendering. When self shadow rendering is interrupted, parts of the half renderedscene will be momentarily displayed and will appear with most objects unlit and in shadow.
windows Shading maps are interpreted differently when used with self shadows enabled.
Shading maps will have to be adjusted separately to get the desired appearance when selfshadows are enabled.
windows Duplicate objects that occupy the same location in space will appear brighterwhen self shadows are on.
windows With Shading method set to Per vertex, when Self Shadows and Show Backgroundare enabled, blending may be incorrect for some scenes and reflections can appear strongerwith self shadows enabled.
Switching the Shading method to Per pixel removes this limitation.
windows For self shadows, when the camera goes into shadow, the shadow that you arein will no longer be rendered and will disappear.
windows Planar shadows with user specified color and a non zero blur will fade to blackinstead of fading out in the specified color. This can give the appearance of a narrow blackring around the shadow when seen in front of non greyscale backgrounds.
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windows Setting Minimum Edge Length values in Diagnostic Shade or Hardware Shadecan consume large amounts of memory. Software crashes can be associated with setting toosmall a value.
windows When turning on Reflections in the Multi Color mode of Diagnostic Shade, areflection map can be selected from the Scene drop-down menu. However, the mapsIBLCountryRoad and IBLAbstract have no effect in Diagnostic Shade. In some cases,attempting to use these two maps causes subsequent problems when using the maps Sky1,Sky2, Evaluation, Deck, and Abstract.
Meshes
windows UV maps that are applied to mesh data will become corrupt if any of the meshmodification tools are used on the mesh. There is no workaround.
Multi-lister
windows Acube map is retrieved as an image map, when only the cube map (not the shaderitself) is selected and saved out.
Save out the entire shader. The cube map is preserved.
windows The ? icon in the Multi-lister that indicates a missing file texture may still appeareven after you have updated the file texture path and name.
Image planes
For Sketching related image plane limitations, see Canvas planes.
windows Canvas planes will not cast reflections onto objects if there is another (even blank)canvas plane in between the object and the camera.
windows Image planes (but not canvas planes) do not correctly fit to view when dollyingout in an Orthographic Perspective view.
Solution: Click on the “Previous View” button (black back arrow) in the View Panel to restorethe correct image plane position.
Render and Direct Render
windows The command line batch renderers fail to render embedded file textures
If you want to export an SDL file for rendering at a later time or on another machine, youmust extract the textures beforehand using File > References > Extract so that any imagefile textures embedded in the wire file will be available to the renderer.
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windows A problem has been found when AliasStudio opens a SDL file with Embed FileReferences turned ON (where the texture used for the shader color is an embedded imagefile).
The results of rendering the SDL (using the command line interface) shows the file referenceimage with a red question mark.
If you want to export a SDL file for rendering at a later time or on another machine, youmust choose File > References > Extract before exporting. As a result, any image file texturesembedded in the wire file will be available to the renderer.
windows A problem as been found in the hardware render when using the AmbientOcclusion (Render > Ambient Occlusion > Compute). It is not displayed on transparentsurfaces while in toggle shade. The Ambient Occlusion effect is not visible on transparentobjects although this will display in the software renderer.
windows SDL files created from Animation > Tools > Autofly or Animation > Turntabledo not contain geometry and will not render.
Movies
windows QTVR movies do not always tumble correctly in QuickTime 7.1 or later. The filewill open correctly in an older version of QuickTime or in an internet browser that has theQuickTime plug-in installed.
windows In Render > Convert Frames to Movie, the filename of the first frame to use inthe movie should not have a frame number extension of “0” or have any zero padding. Forexample, image.0 and image.05 are not acceptable filenames to use. The rest of the framesmust not have any zero padding either.
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Animating limitations
Limitations related to animation, inverse kinematics, constraints, and clusters.
General
windows When you use Ungroup with Copy Node option, the new nodes get instances ofany animation curves that were on the original nodes. If you then edit the original curves,the new branch is affected as well.
If the above is not what you want, you can create new copies by cutting and pasting thecurves in the Action Window.
windows The grid does not update during a Time Slider scrub when there is a constrainedcamera.
Turn Optimization off in the Playback Options.
windows Linear tangents may not work correctly for a Parameter curve with large values.
When the slope of the curve segment between two successive keyframes is greater than 573— that is, tan(89.9 degrees), linear tangents are not calculated correctly. (AliasStudio truncatesthe values to avoid numerical errors elsewhere.)
Create the curve on a dummy node with a smaller range of values, and use an expression toscale the value of the curve.
windows Playing back of visibility animation may put invisible objects on the pick list.
If you pick an object with visibility animation at a frame where it is visible, play back, andthen stop playback at a frame where the object is not visible, then the object remains on thepick list, and may be inadvertently transformed or deleted.
Use Pick > Nothing to ensure there are no invisible objects picked.
windows Viewframe and playback don’t update a static expression. For example, if you setan object’s X-translate channel to the constant expression “1” and Transform > Move it, it isnot reset to 1 by viewframe.
Set a keyframe for these values instead, or use an expression like “1 + frame * 0” instead of aconstant expression “1”.
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windows The rand() and gauss() functions do not work correctly in expressions if particleemission is occurring.
Turn off particle emission, bake the rand() and gauss() expressions (using the Bake plug-in),and then turn particle emission back on.
windows Image planes and associated animations are not retrieved correctly if referencedPIX files cannot be found.
Ensure that all referenced pix files associated with an image plane are in place when yousave the wire file. If necessary, use a placeholder pix file when saving out the wirefile. If thisis not done, the animation associated with the image plane may not be retrievable.
IK and Constraints
windows UV constraints ignore displacement maps on surfaces.
You can warp the surface for a similar effect, and UV constraints do work with warpedsurfaces.
windows Local axes behavior is not consistent if the local axes have not been explicitlyset.
If an object has never had its local axes explicitly set, AliasStudio assumes that they arealways at a (0,0,0) rotation in object space. So if you watched the local axes while youZero-transformed the object, for example, the local axes would appear to be transformed aswell. However, if you had set Local Axes, AliasStudio does not modify them during Zerotransforms.
Certain operations explicitly create Local Axes. For example, skeletons always have LocalAxes and Edit > Duplicate Object creates explicit local Axes. Visually, there is no way to tellif explicit Local Axes exist or if the defaults are being used. Therefore, certain tools appearto behave inconsistently with local axes.
Set your local axes explicitly to the desired orientation.
windows Edit > Duplicate > Object does not remap constraints within the copied hierarchy.
If both the constraint target and destination are in the copied hierarchy, delete the constraintand re-apply it to the new objects in the new hierarchy.
windows In the Animation > IK > Add IK handle option box, Reset does not reset all theoptions to their default values.
Move to Animation book.
Reset these options by hand: the default for Orientation is Local, and the default forSetRestPose is Off.
windows An object with multiple aim constraints may not evaluate correctly.
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Aim constraint rotations are restricted to -180/+ 180 degrees; however these restrictions arenot enforced consistently throughout the weighting process, so if individual constraintscaused rotation values of opposite sign, errors may result.
Use a single object as the aim constraint target where possible. If you really depend on theanimation of two separate targets, then point constraining an object partway between theoriginal targets and using this new object may provide an adequate approximation.
windows Query Edit will not display more than 10 constraints per object.
If you see 10 constraints, check the info window to see if there are any additional constraintsthat you may have missed.
windows IK skeletons in layers with symmetry will not be mirrored to the other side ofthe axis of symmetry. IK skeletons use non-leaf DAG nodes and clusters and these are notsupported in layers with symmetry.
Clusters
windows Splitting a cluster where the members are present at the DAG node level in thecluster editor may cause the geometry to be drawn incorrectly.
If the cluster members are all at the CV level, splitting works correctly. However, if you seean entry in the cluster editor for several surfaces, then some of the geometry will jump tothe wrong location when the cluster is split.
The geometry is still there; it’s just not redrawn correctly. It will reappear when the clustertransformations are applied again (for example, when the cluster is moved, rotated, etc.).
Transform > Move the clusters by (r 0 0 0) to make the geometry redraw, or expand thecluster members down to their CVs before splitting.
windows If polyset vertices are placed in a cluster, the vertices themselves will not be drawnwhen the cluster is picked.
Unpack the cluster to see the vertices again.
windows Transform > Local > Set pivot of deformation clusters changes the object if thereare percentage effect parameters set.
When moving the pivot point on a cluster that has some members’ percentage effectparameter set to a value other than 100%, if the cluster has already been transformed withrotations or scaling, transforming the pivot point of the cluster will cause these clustermembers to move. (The percentage effects are recalculated for each control vertex accordingto the new pivot point location.)
This behavior is apparent when clusters are created using the Deformation Control window(Animation > Editors > Deformation control).
Define and verify pivot point locations for deformation clusters before assigningtransformations such as rotate or scale.
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OpenModel andOpenAlias limitations
Limitations related to OpenModel and OpenAlias.
NOTE UNIX-style pathnames are typically used in this section. For Windows paths, usebackslashes (\) instead of slashes (/), starting at the drive and directory where theAliasStudio product is installed.
General information
■ The AliasStudio APIs are documented in the online documentation. Select Help >AliasStudio Help to open a Web browser to the main documentation page, or go directlyto Alias Programmers’ Interfaces (API).
■ Due to changes in the Studio API, you should recompile any plug-ins that were compiledfor a previous release of AliasStudio.
General limitations
windows Some general limitations include:
■ AliasStudio and OpenModel have different U forms for a torus. As a result, a torus tessellatedin AliasStudio and in OpenModel will not have the same vertex count.
■ AliasStudio Pick Component type functionality is not available in the API.
■ The AliasStudio Plug-in preferences for setting the Verbose Messages flag and plug-in pathmay not work correctly on the Windows platform.
■ The AlCurve::createPoint() method can produce geometry that does not draw correctly.
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windows Some general limitations from previous releases include:
■ AlCluster::addMember() and AlClusterMember::removeMember() may return sSuccesseven though the operation failed.
■ The API does not have a way of directly untrimming a trimmed surface.
■ It is possible to remove an AlMessage callback handler while in the body of the handler.This will result in a core dump when the handler returns.
■ AlImagePlane::setFrameType() can core dump under certain situations.
■ The cluster effect is backwards in the API. The most recent cluster added has the firsteffect.
■ AlChannel::expressionString() can core dump if the expression string is greater than1024 characters.
■ The AlPlayFrame class calls into the animation sub-system of AliasStudio within itsconstructor and destructor methods. If a plug-in declares an AlPlayFrame class as a globalvariable, then the constructor is run when the plug-in is loaded as a part of staticconstructor initialization. This can cause a core dump if the plug-in is auto-loaded, sincethe constructor tries to call into code that is not yet initialized at startup time.
■ A DAG node could be invisible in another layer even though its visibility has not beenset with the method AlDagNode::isDisplayModeSet(kDisplayModeInvisible)
■ You cannot change the coordinate system of AliasStudio through the API.
■ You can not copy curves-on-surface through the API.
■ You can not determine what lights are linked to a surface.
■ OpenModel/OpenAlias cannot access light textures.
■ The AlPickList class does not support edit points.
■ You cannot read or write the source texture of a solid projection texture.
■ The OpenModel libraries do not work properly within a multi-processing application.Core dumps will occur.
■ The polygon history example plug-in polyHistExample.plugin will core dump if instancesare used.
windows For the old blind data interface, special programming is required for API codethat will run on both Windows and UNIX platforms and share blind data.
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Byte ordering is reversed on the Windows platform when compared to IRIX. As a result,swapping macros are needed to orient blind data correctly. Individual types such as float,double, long etc. need to be swapped.
For more information, refer to the online OpenModel documentation.
NOTE This problem cannot be currently fixed within the API, because the API has no knowledgeof the structures that API applications are using to store blind data.
windows The AlPixFile class does not support GIF files.
windows For the old blind data interface, using the C++ new and delete functions to createand destroy memory for blind data can lead to program errors. AliasStudio and OpenModeluse malloc() and free() for its blind data memory creation and destruction routines.Problems can occur if the blind data has been created with the new command.
There are several cases where AliasStudio or OpenModel need to remove or re-create blinddata memory storage during normal operations. For example, if a delete all operation isdone, all blind data is removed. Also, if blind data is saved in the wire file, when the file isread in, the blind data storage is re-created.
windows When you are retrieving files, the universe’s blind data may get obscured becausetwo blind data packets with the same user type have been attached to the universe.
To see two data packets with the same user type, you must remove the first one, and thesecond one will then be visible. Try to avoid using multiple packets with the same IDs. Theorder in which these packets are returned by the blindData() methods is undefined.
windows AliasStudio and the API do not handle surface form the same way.
After AliasStudio builds a closed surface, the Information window will report that the surfaceis open. For efficiency, AliasStudio does not keep track of the closed state of a surface.
Use the API methods AlSurface::vForm() or uForm() to test the points of a surface todetermine if it is closed or not.
windows NURBS curves and surfaces are not parameterized from 0 to 1.
You must retrieve the knot vector for any geometry and use the minimum and maximumknot values as the limits of parameterization for the geometry.
windows The firstShader() methods currently return the last shader that was evaluated.
Copying shaders from one object to another will reverse the shader list. (Write out the SDLto illustrate this behavior.) This behavior will lead to problems when layered shaders areused, because the order of the shaders will be incorrect.
Cache the shader list and add the shaders to the new object starting at the tail of the list.(Please keep in mind that if we fix this bug in future releases, this solution will cause thelist to be in the wrong order again.)
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windows The AlSettable::addToSet() method incorrectly returns status values forsObjectInAnotherSet and sObjectInExclusiveSet situations.
Detect these two conditions by traversing the set lists in the universe before calling::addToSet().
windows If per polygon textures are being used in a polyset, then the AlPolygon::st()method returns a different value than the AlPolysetVertex::st() method, which does nottake into account whether per polygon textures are on.
windows Plug-ins are provided on an AS-IS basis.
In the directory $ALIAS_LOCATION/ODS/, there are a number of pre-compiled plug-ins andsource code examples. These plug-ins and source code examples are provided to you on an“AS-IS” basis.
You are free to make use of these plug-ins and source code examples; however Autodeskdoes not provide any support in connection with them.
Autodesk makes no warranties, express, implied, or arising by custom or trade usage, andto the extent permitted by applicable law, specifically disclaims any implied warranties oftitle, noninfringement or of fitness for a particular purpose to the extent permitted byapplicable law, (i) Autodesk’s liability in contract, tort or otherwise arising out of or inconnection with the plug-ins or source code shall not exceed the purchase price paid bythe customer for the plug-ins or source code examples, and (ii) in no event shall Autodeskbe liable for any punitive damages or lost profits or other special, indirect, incidental, orconsequential damages, including any damages resulting from loss of business arising outof or in connection with the performance of the plug-ins or source code examples, even ifAutodesk has been advised of the possibility of such damages. The customer shall indemnifyAutodesk and hold it harmless from and against any loss, claim or damage to any personarising out of the customer’s use of the plug-ins or source code examples.
windows The plug-in scheme editor options are not restored correctly when AliasStudiorestarts.
Restore the options after the plug-in is loaded.
windows Plug-in DSOs are not unloaded when AliasStudio exits. As a result, static destructorsare not called when AliasStudio exits.
The plugin_exit() function will still be called when AliasStudio exits. Any saving of staterequired by a plug-in can be done in the plugin_exit() routine.
Unload the plug-in manually through the Plug-in Manager window to call the staticdestructors.
windows Unloading an active continuous plug-in through the Plug-in Manager can causea core dump under certain situations.
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Do not allow the plug-in to be unloaded if it is active. You can set a global variable in theplug-in to track its active state. Set this variable to TRUE in the init() function and FALSEin the cleanup() function.
Within plugin_exit(), if the plug-in is active, return a 1 so that the unloading of the plug-inwill fail. This test should be done before the deleteObject() methods are called inplugin_exit().
windows When setting a plug-in’s integer slider definition, you can set the range argumentto any value in the integer range; however, the slider will only give values between -100and 100.
Values less than -100 or greater than 100 can still be entered in the associated text field, butthe slider will only give values between -100 and 100.
Use the undocumented argument slider_range to change the min/max slider range valuesfrom their defaults. For example, to define an integer slider with a range of -200 to 1000,use the following Scheme statement:
(list ‘slider_range -200 1000) (list ‘range -200 1000)
windows The AlAreEqual(const AlObject* o1, const AlObject* o2) method for detectingif two objects in AliasStudio are equal has a significant FALSE condition.
If both pointers, o1 and o2, are equal and NULL, FALSE is returned.
Test o1 and o2 before calling this function.
windows AlContinuousFunction::setPrompt() does not display the prompt right away.
Use AlPrintf(kPrompt,...) to output the prompt string (without formatting) in the “init”callback of the continuous function. To exclude formatting, end the prompt string beforethe first % symbol.
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Sketching limitations
Limitations related to brushes, shapes, masks, image planes, and canvas layers.
General
windows It is not possible to change the mode of any paint layer (for example to Multiply,Lighten, Darken, etc) when using of a Hide or Show brush. Only the Normal mode appearsin the pull down menu. Changing the active brush to a different mode, or selecting a differenttool will correct the problem.
Paint
windows Paint updates slowly on a layer with an associated shape warp layer.
Turning off the visibility of the associated shape warp layer will resolve this issue.
windows Painting on a newly created layer, which sits on top of another layer uses multiplyblending mode, is sometimes slow.
Switch to another layer below the newly created layer, then switch back to the newly createdlayer.
windows Transformations on a text layer cannot be undone.
windows Marker Broad brush in the Paint palette sometimes shows a pixel edging artifact:a one pixel thin line running next to the brush stroke.
This issue can be resolved by recreating default preferences.
windows The text tool (Paint > Text Image) does not support multi-byte languages such asJapanese, Korean, or Chinese.
Shapes
windows Shapes may not work on symmetry geometry.
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Index
A
addMember function 46addToSet function 48AlAreEqual function 49AlCluster 46
addMember 46addMember() 46
AlClusterMember 46removeMember() 46
Align tool 28explicit control 28
allocating 47memory for blind data 47
AlPickList class 46AlPixFile class 47AlPlayFrame class 46animating 41
limitations 41animation curves 41
instances 41API code 46application 46
limitation with multi-processing 46assemblies, large 35autofly 40
SDL files 40
B
backslashes (\\) 33in file path names 33
blend curves 29manipulators in 29
blind data 46–47creating memory for 47destroying memory for 47
C
C++ functions 47delete 47new 47
callback handlers 46closed or open surfaces 47clusters 43, 46
limitation, OpenModel 46limitations, animation 43pivot points 43polyset vertices not drawn 43splitting 43
comparing 49objects 49
constraints 42–43multiple aim 42per object 43
coordinate system 46copy node option 41
with ungroup 41copying 46–47
curves-on-surface 46shaders 47
core dumps 46setFrameType 46
Create > Combine curves 28Create > Duplicate curve 28creating 47
memory for blind data 47cross sections 28
curvature 28Curve Edit > Create > Combine
curves 28Curve Edit > Create > Duplicate
curve 28Curve Edit > Duplicate curve 31curves 28–29, 41, 47
limitations 28NURBS 47
53 | Index
segments 41tangent alignment 29
curves-on-surface 28, 31, 46copying 46duplicating 31duplicating (limitation) 28
CVs 31multiple 31
D
DAG nodes 46invisible 46
data packets 47data transfer 35
input 35limitations 35
delete function (C++) 47destroying 47
memory for blind data 47disclaimer 22, 48
plug-ins 22, 48source code examples 22, 48
displacement maps 42Distributed Shared Objects 48documentation 33
limitations 33notes 33
Draft tool 31explicit control, limitation 31
DSOs 48Duplicate curve 31duplicating 31
curves-on-surface 31
E
edit points 46expressions 46expressionString function 46extruding 31
swept surfaces (Tube) 31
F
file types 42, 47GIF 47PIX 42
firstShader function 47freeing 47
memory for blind data 47functions 42, 46–49
addMember 46addToSet 48AlAreEqual 49expresssionString 46firstShader 47gauss 42plugin_exit 48rand 42removeMember 46setFrameType 46setPrompt 49st 48
G
gauss function 42GIF files 47grid 41
not updated (limitation) 41group nodes 28
locators deleted (limitation) 28
H
hardware limitations 25help 33, 45
documentation limitations 33online documentation 45
high-degree surfaces 35hot keys 22
special characters 22
I
icon 39multi-lister 39
54 | Index
IK and constraints 42limitations 42
IK handles 42resetting options 42
IK skeletons 43symmetric layers 43
image layers 20moving 20
image planes 20, 42moving 20retrieving 42
instances 46integer sliders 49invisible 41
objects 41
L
large assemblies 35lights 46
linked 46textures 46
limitations 41animating 41
linear tangents 41local axes 30, 42locators 28
limitation 28
M
manipulator 29axes (limitation) 29limitation 29
middle mouse button 21scroll button 21
moving 20image layers 20image planes 20
multi-lister 39icon 39
multi-processing applications 46limitation with 46
multiple aim constraints 42
N
new function (C++) 47non-alphabetical characters 22
in hot keys 22NURBS 47
curves and surfaces 47
O
objects 43, 49comparing 49constraints 43
OpenModel and OpenAliaslimitations 45
operating system limitations 25
P
parameter curves 41percentage effect parameters 43
limitation 43pick list 41picking 28pivot points 30, 43
transforming (limitation) 43pix files 42
referenced 42playback 41
limitation 41plot preview 22plug-ins 22, 46, 48
auto-loading 46disclaimer 22, 48DSOs 48polyhist 46scheme editor 48unloading 48
plugin_exit function 48polyhist plug-in 46polysets 43, 48
per polygon textures 48vertices in cluster 43
Print to file 22Project Tangent 29
manipulators in 29
Index | 55
Project Tangent Editor 29prompts not displayed 49
Q
qualification charts 3Query Edit 43
R
rand function 42Rebuild Type 28
of curve 28referenced PIX files 42removeMember function 46Rendering Notes 37Rendering, General Notes 37, 39resetting 42
IK handles options 42retrieving 28, 42
deletes locators 28image planes 42
S
saving 28deletes locators 28
scaling 28objects 28
scheme editor plug-in 48scroll button 21SDL files 40
autofly 40turntable 40
setFrameType function 46setPrompt function 49shader list 47shaders 47
copying 47first 47
sharing 46blind data 46
slashes (⁄) 33in file path names 33
sliders, integer 49
snapping 29alignment 29
solid projection texture 46source code examples 22, 48
disclaimer 22, 48source texture 46spans 31
large number of 31special characters 22
in hot keys 22st function 48static destructors 48stitching 35Surface Edit 31
> Trim > Trim Divide 31surface form 47
API vs. StudioTools 47surfaces 31, 35, 46–47
closed or open 47linked to lights 46NURBS 47of high degree 35trim divide 31untrimming 46
Surfaces 29, 31> Swept surfaces > Extrude 31
Swept surfaces > Extrude 31symmetric half 28symmetry 43
IK skeletons 43Symmetry on instances 27
T
textures 46, 48lights 46per polygon 48solid projection 46source 46
Time Slider 41transforming 43
pivot points (limitation) 43Trim > Trim Divide 31trim construction history 31trim divide 31trimmed surfaces 46
56 | Index
troubleshooting 3Tube option 31turntable 40
SDL files 40
U
ungroup with copy node option 41Uniform Knots curve option 28unloading plug-ins 48untrimming 46
surfaces 46
User Interface Notes 21UV constraints 42
V
Viewframe 41visibility 41
animating 41
W
Windows limitations 25
Index | 57
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