CompuServe Thread

Thanks a lot. Yeah, I;ve also been asked to put together some math training videos that are animation intensive. It would be a lot easier if you could have the meshes made using functions rather than having to do it manually. Thanks again. PS. Perhaps you could make this into an IPAS program. It sounds really useful to me, and I suppose a few other people might benefit also. I don't think it would be hard to do, since your source code is basically written, just add an interface which allows the user to enter parameters of the equation, and voila, all inside 3DS. This is of course asuming you get the developers kit, and have the time/need/want to do this. Aaron

About a possible IPAS version to create meshes from math functions: I should clarify one point. The program I wrote relies on some external means to generate the data. I use MathCad to input the functions and generate an ASCII data file, although there are many other ways to generate the data. My little program simply processes the data into a DXF file to create the surface. As I mentioned, there may be other ways to do this, but I sure couldn't find any late Friday night! <g> You seem to be referring to a user-interface to input either arbitrary functions or supply coefficients to preset functions. In the first case, the coding required to build in an equation parser would be significantly more complex than what I had time for (late Friday night!) In addition, the mathematical flexibility would be limited unless the input were programmable (i.e., you almost have to build a language interpreter, similar to the POCO in Animator Pro). I'm not saying it would be unreasonable to write, in fact it might be fun! As far as including a list of user-selectible function types, I'm afraid it would be unbearably limited for serious work. By using an external program (such as MathCad, EXCEL, Lotus 123, BASIC code, a statistics package, etc.), you have the full power of that program at your disposal, and can easily program complex simulations as well as simple functions. Don't let me scare you off: the two step process I'm currently using is relatively painless, the worst part being switching from to DOS for 3DS from Windows where I do almost everything else. (Hope that will change with R3!) If I can help in any way, just yell. I'm interested in what sort of math training videos you are doing. JKJ (if it ain't fun, why bother) P.S. I am wildly interested in the IPAS developers kit. I too (like Mike Morrison) have High-C and PharLap waiting on my shelf. Ah.. you don't suppose the SDK has been accidentally delayed so some, uh, no names mentioned, can do all the funnest stuff??? <g> (if you, like me, consider mental self-abuse fun!)