Rotation Center in Maya

[Valen Wagner]

I have found posts about this in the past, but they did not have a solution and it seemed like the 3DConnexion people didn't really understand the problem. I have made a video that shows the exact problem. You can clearly see the difference in behavior with 3ds Max and Maya. They are both set with the "View" to "Scene" and the "Rotation Pivot" to "Scene/Object". 3ds Max is correct, in that the Spacemouse will rotate about the current selection. If a "Box" model is selected, then it will rotate about the Box's pivot point. If the Box's vertex is selected, it will rotate about that vertex. In Maya, it will only rotate about the Box's pivot, even if vertices or other sub-objects are selected. This is a big problem for a smooth working environment.

http://www.vraphix.com/rotatevideo/

On the above page, click the link to the file "3DConnexion_SpacePilotPro_Rotation_3dsmax_Maya.wmv" to watch the video.

[rasamaya]

I on the other hand would not like this.
I am a Maya user, and find 3dsmax UI/Navigation to be annoying.

I do like the feature, but think if you make changes, then thats how it should stay, a feature, not hard coded.

Currently I just use the frame selected commands as I normally would work in Maya. I am happy because I can use the objects pivot. This is the default/Current setup. But at anytime, I can use the fit button(programmable) to frame your selection. Easy Easy... seems fluid for me still.

Besides, if you really wanted it, a simple mel/python code could easily frame anything you select, you would just need to make it frame the cameras Point of interest VS moving the whole camera, which it currently would do. Then you would have that exact functionality.

I guess it would be great to try both for a bit, then decide; again making it a users option.

My two cents.
Rasa

[rasamaya]

I must admit, is is funny that they have not replied to this message.

I personally sent an email concerned about Maya 2011 drivers and my new purchase of there product.

They simple did not reply.

Although tech support was handy(on the phone) a few weeks before that.

Whats funny is that my girlfriend tweeted about me loving my controller, and they were all over it.

Its not like they have a high volume to manage on these forums.

[ngomes]

They simple did not reply.

We cannot reply to all messages about our beta software. It's unsupported software.

Having said that, we of course do not ignore your feedback. Quite the contrary, we are very appreciative of any suggestions and bug reports found on beta software. It gives us a chance of correcting issues before shipping the final build.

[Valen Wagner]

rasamaya,
Thanks for your reply. I am puzzled as to why you would not want this new functionality. I can't think of any instance in which I'd want my center of rotation to be anything other than my current area if interest, ie. my current selection. If you are zoomed in on a large model, and are editing vertices, if you don't frame your selection then your model will go flying off the screen if you try to rotate. You have to frame your selection first. You said that you do frame your selection, but that takes extra work. If it happened automatically then it would save the time.

Also, there are problems with using the frame selection command and these 3D mice. As soon as you zoom away slightly from your model, the center of rotation is lost and you have to reframe. Very annoying. But this has been discussed in other threads here.

When would you ever want to rotate about anything other than your current selection? Even if there was some instance in which that would be beneficiary, it would be in the minority, and all the other times the best thing would be to rotate about the current selection.

I’m all for making this simply another option, so that the ‘old way’ of doing things doesn’t change.

[Valen Wagner]

ngomes,
I understand it can take a while to implement new stuff into the drivers. But as this has been an active topic on this forum for a long time, can you confirm if this is something that your team is aware of and are planning on addressing in the future?

Thanks!

[ngomes]

Hi Valen Wagner,

an you confirm if this is something that your team is aware of and are planning on addressing in the future?

We cannot. In the forum and other support channels, we are can only discuss public information.

Product development is company confidential until official disclosure.

[rasamaya]

I see how it is a bug, considering the help file says it works with sub objects.
I can also see how I would activate and de activate this feature with the control panel. So I totally support it happening.


viewFit -f 0.5;

is way better than the frame all selected command.

I have a file menu item I created for this(to replace the fit button)...
but my custom file menu does not show up in the button editor.

Any tips for getting mel commands or custom(non standard filemenu)scripts to run?? Or at least be visible in the button editor.

This could help thanks.

I am currently working on a hot key which will place the active cameras center of interest at the pivot of the new object selected, without moving the camera. I would then place that before any sub objects commands to achieve the same effect.

[rasamaya]

hey again.
Well, i made a few scripts that do it(it as in the subobject smooth pivot) with my camera(using the keyboard alt) for navigation... but it does not work with 3dconnexion.

Any ideas on where to start... is this being addressed in the non beta release, or should I keep working.

Would still like to know how to customize the connexion shortcut buttons with custom scripts.

thanks

[rasamaya]

Craft director is not seeing the new beta driver.

Vista 64
SpacePilot(brand new)
Maya 2011 no detection
Maya 2010 no detection
Max 2011 no detection

I saw another thread and confirmed I have the dll's required by Craft.
Craft picks up my gamepad,wacom and keyboard.... no c3dx

Also... I am getting some strange bumping and changing of keyframes.
I think that was my use of Move Camera vs Move scene. just testing now.

Conclusions: I purchased this tool to record navigation etc.
I cannot currently record keyframes live without stutters or keys jumping.
also it cannot be detected by craft director tools.
I am being very disapointed at my glorified alt button.
Also the lag on switching the hot key banks is insane is this normal? Because its quicker for me to use my keyboard. Approx 1-2 sec.

Any advice would be great.

Also how to attach custom scipts to buttons, as it wont detect my custom file menu items sigh.

Thanks.
D.Russell

[rasamaya]

Craft director is not seeing the new beta driver.

Vista 64
SpacePilot(brand new)
Maya 2011 no detection
Maya 2010 no detection
Max 2011 no detection

I saw another thread and confirmed I have the dll's required by Craft.
Craft picks up my gamepad,wacom and keyboard.... no c3dx

Also... I am getting some strange bumping and changing of keyframes.
I think that was my use of Move Camera vs Move scene. just testing now.

Conclusions: I purchased this tool to record navigation etc.
I cannot currently record keyframes live without stutters or keys jumping.
also it cannot be detected by craft director tools.
I am being very disapointed at my glorified alt button.
Also the lag on switching the hot key banks is insane is this normal? Because its quicker for me to use my keyboard. Approx 1-2 sec.

Any advice would be great.

Also how to attach custom scipts to buttons, as it wont detect my custom file menu items sigh.

Thanks.
D.Russell

[rasamaya]

I have not fully tested but you can now select subobjects like in Max.

I dont know if it makes a difference but I am on Vista 64, Maya2011x64,with the beta drivers.

*use at your own risk*

http://3dsolutions.ca/Downloads/MagellanStartup.mel

*not for everyone*


Im also working on fixing the jumping pivot problem... wish I had some help, maybe a pm if its private info??

Tired must sleep

[rasamaya]

Made the fit button, turn off animated transitions and view selected at %50.

Back up your file and replace it with this one

Use at your own risk:
Vista64,maya2011x64,latest beta drivers required:

http://3dsolutions.ca/Downloads/C3DxMapping.mel


So I can fix the 2 year old pivot problem if I can figure out the best way to record pivot data...

[Valen Wagner]

rasamaya,
Thank you for your help. I have been trying to get some time to try out your scripts. I'm not exactly sure how to implement these files, but I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out. I assume I'll just have to locate where they are on my computer, and then replace them with these new ones...

Thanks again,
Valen

[rasamaya]

**** yes but be sure to *** make sure Maya is not running.
Then after locating the scripts in the Maya install location, rename them as back ups, so you can revert back to them, if you dont like what I did

Really, I'm simply using the last resort option of selecting(bounding box).
I basically just blocked some of there code.

I fixed the recording issues too! But its not in that file.

You can now, record at 30fps, smooth, and in any mode.
I am getting a package together which basically uses my special cam and special recorder scripts. Its really cool, I'm having a lot of fun!!