[Idea] Storing parameters to model for easy changes

Pixero

Hi!

This idea has been in my head and I just felt I had to ventilate it to see if it would be possible to implement some way.

A lot of the current tools are destructive, meaning that once used they have altered the model so that it can't be undone at a later stage. I would like to see a solution that for example would let us use "Round Corner" script and later be able to go back and change the radius.
Maybe like storing settings in the model and retrieve them when the tool is being used.
Am I making sense?

TIG

Yes.
BUT it means writing the tool as a 'parametric' initially.
This is easy enough for self-contained objects like a parametric-box group that you can change with a context-menu etc because redoing it is separated.
BUT for a tool like RoundCorners it is destructive and therefore it becomes much more involved to save the prior state of all of th geometry you are going to 'round', then when you change the radius it needs to restore all of the original geometry and redo a new rounding...
Now the rub... what if you have done a intervening edit operation that has changed the object's form somewhat? Does the redo-rounding undo that too ?
You are effectively asking for a 'selective undo'... I think it'd be simply too complex...

TIG

I'll be happy to be proved wrong

Pixero

I didn't say it should be easy...
I'm thinking something like the modifier list in 3dsMax where you can "go back" in history to some extent.
I thought I'd cast it out and see if some Ruby genius got inspired enough to try and find a solution for SU.

I think Fredos Bezier curves has something like what I'm after. That you can go back at a later stage and the entity still knows that it is a Bezier curve and is editable.

thomthom

For bezier curves, or surfaces it's easier - as the mesh is generated from a set of few control points.

Round corners base itself on existing geometry - problem arise when you start manipulating the mesh after rounding it.

For Bezier Surface I plan to implement a modifier stack.