* Massive reorganization of pointcache code, things are now cleaner than ever.
* For all but smoke the cache is first written to memory when using disk cache and after that written to disk in one operation. This allows less disk operations and the possibility to compress the data before writing it to disk.
* Previously only smoke cache could be compressed, now the same options exist for other physics types too (when using disk cache). For now the default compression option is still "no compression", but if there aren't any problems this can be set to "light compression" as it's actually faster than no compression in most cases since there's less data to write to the disk. Based on quick tests heavy compression can reduce the file size down to 1/3rd of the original size, but is really slow compared to other options, so it should be used only if file size is critical!
* The pointcache code wasn't really 64bit compatible (for disk cache) until now, so this update should fix some crashes on 64bit builds too. Now all integer data that's saved to disk uses 32 bit unsigned integers, so simulations done on 64bit should load fine on 32bit machines and vice versa. (Important disk cache simulations made on 64bit builds should be converted to memory cache in a revision before this commit).
* There are also the beginnings of extradata handling code in pointcache in anticipation of adding the dynamic springs for particle fluids (the springs need to be stored as extradata into point cache).
* Particles were being read from the cache with a slightly wrong framerate. In most cases this probably wasn't noticeable, but none the less the code is now correct in every way.
* Small other fixes here and there & some cosmetic changes to cache panel, but over all there should be no functional changes other than the new disk cache compression options.
* This whole re-organization also seems to fix bug #25436 and hopefully shouldn't introduce any new ones!
- the invert flag was only being used for multi-modifier, but there is no reason not to use this in normal cases as well.
- Armature modifier RNA name 'vertex_group' was incorrectly named 'vertex_group_multi_modifier' (own fault), confusion was caused by 'invert_vertex_group_multi_modifier' which was correct.
"Numpad 1" shortcut to set preview view zoom to 1:1 (i.e. 100%) did
not exist in View menu. While investigating this, I found that the
operator was missing a description/tooltip, so added one too.
- rather then use unlink="None", just don't pass unlink as a keyword. This is more pythonic.
- added an RNA flag for properties which cant be unlinked by setting to None.
Reshuffling order of "sync" and "Auto-Keying" buttons so that they are
grouped more appropriately. Hopefully this isn't too much of a muscle-
memory breaker...
Normal Map bool and the normal_space menu are only used for material based textures, not for textures used by lamp/world etc. Accidentally ported this over from 2.49, where these buttons are drawn even they don't work in that context.
Property buttons: the "ID template" allowed to unlink data from object,
like Mesh or Curve etc, which is not supported. Button now is hidden.
Thanks Dan Eicher for patch.
Also: improved tooltip for 'data browse'. It was generic, now it gives
specific per-type information.
* Pointcache code was quite ugly looking and complicated, so here are mostly just cosmetic adjustments, but some improved logic also.
* Slight cleanup of pointcache ui too.
* Shouldn't have any functional changes what so ever, so poke me right away if something seems off.
* New option to "Regrow hair" for each frame.
* This was perhaps more a feature request, but there was a similar useful feature called "animated hair" in particles at some point.
* The previous behavior for hair growing was inconsistent to say the least, so this is a nice option to have.
graph editor:
- option "extend mode" requires channel-selection. Moved pulldown menu
from Key to Channel instead
- hotkey SHIFT+E for same operation now works both in channel list as in
main view.
* Textures applied to halo materials showed influence option for normal particles. This was really confusing, and with the cleanup I revealed a couple of hidden features too!
** Particles actually allow for textures to change halo size and hardness, but my guess is that nobody knew since the names were wrong in the ui!
** I also added the option to change the "add" value with a texture, since it was just silly not to have it.
* Halo material properties are also a bit cleaner now.
- This is working correctly but confusing, made more confusing by UI problems, corrected these and updated tooltop for 'tex.use_rgb_to_intensity'
- bad RNA arguments used for lamps (left over from RNA renaming).
- use isinstance(...), rather then comparing type() directly, this failed with lamp type checks.
- removed redundant argument to internal texture UI function factor_but().
- the texture color was drawn inactive when it was used in some cases.
Note. AFAIK its not possible to do a general check to see if a texture is colored or not, eg: its possible a plugin texture returns color in some cases and greyscale in others.
so for now always have color button active.
- Part of this report is a misunderstanding, but there was no access to bold/italic fonts.
- Added rna access and changed the operators to use only rna properties.
Texture face options like "two side" were invisible, unless the
top bar "render engine" was set to Game Engine.
This is confusing, since 3d window does draw these options well.
Added back panel to show default, but with a label warning that
the options are not supported for render.
- a linear float buffer was being created and saved into a non-linear DPX/Cineon file.
- removed the UI since the settings are not used at the moment.
added a utility function IMB_float_profile_ensure(), which returns a float buffer in the requested profile, using the existing if needed or returning an allocated buffer if the profile is different to that of the ImBuf. - Useful this case where the save function has its own linear setting.
* Separate caches were causing quite a lot of problems both in principle and practice.
* For example it doesn't really make sense to have different frame ranges for normal and high resolution smoke, but this was fully possible before.
* Also to fully bake the smoke you had to do a "Bake All Dynamics", which completely defeats the whole point of the feature!
* As a result of this change the smoke cache usage is much much simpler and less error prone.
* This is quite a big change, but hopefully there should be less rather than more problems as a result :)
Some other related changes:
* Changing the cache name now works for disk caches properly too, it now just renames the cache files so should be faster too!
* Smoke is now always forced to disk cache with step 1 on file load as there were some strange cases where smoke was trying to use memory cache.
* Disabled smoke debug prints from console.
* Disabled changing smoke parameters when smoke is baked.
Note to users: The unfortunate side effect of this is that old high resolution simulations have to be baked again, but in return you get much better and more logical functionality. Sorry none the less!
