New module

[ncls]

Hi,
I tried to write a module and here is the result.
The principle of this tool is to repeat a small shape along a geometry.
I hope this will be helpful, I let you try it.

The latest version (1.0.3) is available here


-

[Karl DD]

Wow!
That is really great! Thanks so much for contributing this. I can see a lot of work has gone into it.
A lot of people are going to have great fun with your module!

Some ideas:
- It might be nice to use the Shapes in the shapes folder as the base shape. Although the UI is a bit more difficult to manage selection etc... You can use the AlcUtil.getShapes() function
- We could try and integrate the UI a bit more, for example using AlcSubSpinner and perhaps adding your ProgressDialog class to the main application (this could be very useful). In general the UI is a bit problematic, it isn't very expandable at the moment.

Would be great to get your feedback on the API as well. You are more than welcome to collaborate on making changes/adding functionality there.

For those of you who are curious, these are the screen shots of what the Necklace module does:

Capture-Alchemy-1.png (78.19 KB) Viewed 2019 times

Capture-Alchemy-2.png (54.95 KB) Viewed 2017 times

Capture-Alchemy-3.png (34.77 KB) Viewed 2023 times

Capture-Alchemy-4.png (25.48 KB) Viewed 2017 times

Capture-Alchemy-5.png (51.99 KB) Viewed 2022 times

Capture-Alchemy-6.png (42.56 KB) Viewed 2019 times

Capture-Alchemy-7.png (78.06 KB) Viewed 2016 times

[ncls]

- It might be nice to use the Shapes in the shapes folder as the base shape. Although the UI is a bit more difficult to manage selection etc... You can use the AlcUtil.getShapes() function

I just watched and obviously there is a little bit of work but I keep you informed.

- We could try and integrate the UI a bit more, for example using AlcSubSpinner and perhaps adding your ProgressDialog class to the main application (this could be very useful). In general the UI is a bit problematic, it isn't very expandable at the moment.

Ok but AlcSubSpinner not use float values and several components are hidden in a JPanel like AlcSubComboBox which I wanted to add a renderer.

(Sorry for my bad english, I am not sure than Google fills totally my gaps )

[Karl DD]

You are welcome to make changes to AlcSubSpinner & AlcSubComboBox etc...
Email me: alchemy@ (this domain) and I can set you up an svn account.

Karl

[simulcast]

Hi,
When I install the necklace module none of its parameters are available (shape, fill, agglomerate etc)
Am I doing something wrong?
I've tried it on 008 and 007 and still the same problem.
Great idea...good work,
-A-

[ncls]

You are welcome to make changes to AlcSubSpinner & AlcSubComboBox etc...

No problem with the idea (even if I must see the actual work to do).
For now, I look at how to build a dictionary of shapes associated with a GUI. I failed to use the PDF (I was tired at this time), so for the moment, I pass by SVG but the version of Batik is not complete (it needs to reinstall it for works), is it a voluntary choice ?

When I install the necklace module none of its parameters are available (shape, fill, agglomerate etc)
Am I doing something wrong?

No, this happens when the width of the Alchemy's window is too short.
The GUI components are already very low, it is difficult to make shorter...
One solution is to make a pallet but this is not in the spirit of the software,
So the choise is "one tool customizable by the user (with pallet)" or "several pre-configured tools (with few parameters)", the debate is open...

I already do a test with a pallet, I have attached it below (please note this is a prototype, just for testing).
For add more shapes, you must update Batik and then place SVG files at the root of the shapes directory.

[Karl DD]

No problem with the idea (even if I must see the actual work to do).
For now, I look at how to build a dictionary of shapes associated with a GUI. I failed to use the PDF (I was tired at this time), so for the moment, I pass by SVG but the version of Batik is not complete (it needs to reinstall it for works), is it a voluntary choice ?

I think it should be quite easy to import the PDF shapes using the AlcUtil.getPDFShapes().
I recently created another module using a genetic algorithm to create shape forms:


http://golancourses.net/2010spring/02/1 ... ng-shapes/

It also can load the shapes from the PDF. If you are interested in checking it out, I have added it to the svn repository. There are some changes to the core Alchemy code, so it won't run with the current Alchemy 008 version.

I also made a popup window UI for this.
I think the whole UI system in Alchemy needs to be redesigned from the ground up.
We have really outgrown it...

As for Batik, the whole library was a bigger download than Alchemy itself, so we only took the parts we needed.

[Daniel-S-P]

Evolve is a nice one, too. But with svn rev 528 Necklace doesnt run anymore, Al.chemy doesnt start, when its in the modules dir.
Necklace is really great, spent hours playing with it

[ncls]

with svn rev 528 Necklace doesnt run anymore, Al.chemy doesnt start, when its in the modules dir.

I just test Alchemy svn rev 528 + necklace 1.a.1 and 1.0.test-01, and I have not had any problems (on Unbuntu 9.04). Be careful not to get both versions at the same time...
If you used version 1.0.test-01, a log file is created at each start of the application, a line is present in the console "NCLS : log file : /tmp/alchemy-ncls.log" to indicate its location.

it should be quite easy to import the PDF shapes using the AlcUtil.getPDFShapes().

Yes, I was tired when I watched this point and I was confused by the AlcShape that does not seem relevant at this level of access to data.
I am trying to change the code but it is complex (Creating a Graphics2D just for the reading...), it seems me easiest to use SVG for not stuck on this item.

Remark about SVG : later, for testing, when I went looking for other shapefiles in the discution http://al.chemy.org/forum/talk/topic92.html, I was surprised to find that many users were posting SVG converted to PDF.

I recently created another module using a genetic algorithm to create shape forms

This sounds very interesting. Perhaps is it complementary to my tool as a generator of shapes ?

[Daniel-S-P]

oops.. havnt seen you updatet the zip.. current modules works..