Slide 3 - Working With Paths

This exercise teaches you how to create hyperlinks between databases the easy way.

Preparation Work

This instruction set teaches you how to make an empty mesh.

  1. Right click over the group node named Scene and select Create » Group from the listed options.
  2. Set the name of the group to Palette.
    You don't have to name a palette group "palette" but it helps keep your scene data clear and organized.
  3. Again right click over the group node named Scene but this time select Create » Mesh from the listed options.
  4. This adds a mesh node to the scene graph.
  5. Right click over the mesh node named NewParametricMeshNode and select RectangleGeometryModifier from the listed options.
  6. This creates geometry in the scene.
  7. Double click the mesh node.
  8. This displays mesh properties in the property editor.
  9. Scroll down and find the Palette property group.
  10. Examine the hierarchy. Left click and drag the group node named Palette over the <Drop Node Here> parameter field. Release the mouse button when the cursor changes.
  11. This links the mesh node with the group. Now the mesh expects to find its materials, or links to its materials, in this group.
    You can link any mesh to any group that contains materials or links to materials. The mesh uses the order of materials or links to materials as its material index. This means if you change the order of the materials herein, or links to materials herein, the mesh appearance will change.
  12. Examine the hierarchy: This is a picture of the hierarchy.
  13. Set the name of the link node named NodeLink 1 to Link: InfiniteLight.
  14. Examine the worksheet. The mesh is completely "white". This indicates the mesh has no material. This is a picture of the worksheet.
  15. Return to the Explorer window and open the Palettes folder.
  16. Double click MATERIAL_PALETTE.BOX.
  17. This opens the file in another copy of Scenome.
  18. Examine the hierarchy: This is a picture of the hierarchy.
  19. Left click the material node named Green Grass and select Edit » Copy To Link from the main menu.
  20. Leave this file open and return to the other copy of Scenome.
  21. Examine the hierarchy and left click the group node named Palette.
  22. Select Edit » Paste From Link from the main menu.
  23. Scenome creates a link node that points at the material in MATERIAL_PALETTE.BOX. This is a picture of the hierarchy.
  24. Set the name of the new link node to Link: GreenGrass.
  25. Examine the worksheet.
  26. The mesh on the worksheet should look gray... but isn't grass green?
    Of course grass is green. This shouldn't be hard to fix.
  27. Switch to the other copy of Scenome.
  28. Double click the material node named GreenGrass.
  29. This displays material properties in the property editor.
  30. Scroll down and find the Colors property group.
  31. Set Ambient Color to RGB 0,85,0.
  32. Select File » Save from the main menu.
  33. Return to the other copy of Scenome.
  34. Right click on the link node and select Refresh Link from the listed options.
  35. The mesh turns green.
  36. Double click the link node named Link: GreenGrass.
  37. This displays link properties in the property editor:
    The Copy/Paste Link commands created this link node. Therefore the path is already relative.
  38. Select File » Save from the main menu.
  39. Please proceed to the next exercise or use this as save point.