Flash: Inverse kinematics in external AS class

realised the following in IKManager reference: http://help.adobe.com/en_US/FlashPlatform/reference/actionscript/3/fl/ik/IKManager.html?filter_flash=cs5&filter_flashplayer=10.1&filter_air=2#eventSummary

Note: When referencing IKArmature objects within a document class, be sure to first check the frameConstructed event to ensure that all objects have been populated.

else IKManager.numArmatures = 0 and IKManager.trackAllArmatures(false) will not work.

the bad thing is frameConstructed runs every frame. so one way is to use a boolean variable to track and run the code once.

can also use ENTER_FRAME

eg.:

public function IK_MC() // constructor
  {
   trace("start ik");   
   
   IKManager.trackAllArmatures(false); // will not work
   this.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, constructed);
  }
  function constructed(e:Event):void
  {
   //trace(IKManager.numArmatures);
   if(IKManager.numArmatures > 0 && !init)
   {
    IKManager.trackAllArmatures(false);
    
    var arm:IKArmature = IKManager.getArmatureByName("Armature_2");
    trace(arm);
    var arm2:IKArmature = IKManager.getArmatureAt(0);
    trace(arm2);
    init = true;
   }
  }

OpenGL: intro program

first program from red book chapter 1

create a new empty project in VS C++
download the GLUT headers + binaries. http://www.xmission.com/~nate/glut.html

#include <Windows.h>
#include <GL/gl.h>
#include <GL/glu.h>
#include "glut.h"
#include <stdlib.h>

static GLfloat spin = 0.0;

void init(void) 
{
   glClearColor (0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0);
   glShadeModel (GL_FLAT);
}

void display(void)
{
   glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT);
   glPushMatrix();
   glRotatef(spin, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0);
   glColor3f(1.0, 1.0, 1.0);
   glRectf(-25.0, -25.0, 25.0, 25.0);
   glPopMatrix();
   glutSwapBuffers();
}

void spinDisplay(void)
{
   spin = spin + 2.0;
   if (spin > 360.0)
      spin = spin - 360.0;
   glutPostRedisplay();
}

void reshape(int w, int h)
{
   glViewport (0, 0, (GLsizei) w, (GLsizei) h);
   glMatrixMode(GL_PROJECTION);
   glLoadIdentity();
   glOrtho(-50.0, 50.0, -50.0, 50.0, -1.0, 1.0);
   glMatrixMode(GL_MODELVIEW);
   glLoadIdentity();
}

void mouse(int button, int state, int x, int y) 
{
   switch (button) {
      case GLUT_LEFT_BUTTON:
         if (state == GLUT_DOWN)
            glutIdleFunc(spinDisplay);
         break;
      case GLUT_MIDDLE_BUTTON:
         if (state == GLUT_DOWN)
            glutIdleFunc(NULL);
         break;
      default:
         break;
   }
}

/* 
 *  Request double buffer display mode.
 *  Register mouse input callback functions
 */
int main(int argc, char** argv)
{
   glutInit(&argc, argv);
   glutInitDisplayMode (GLUT_DOUBLE | GLUT_RGB);
   glutInitWindowSize (400, 400); 
   glutInitWindowPosition (100, 100);
   glutCreateWindow (argv[0]);
   init ();
   glutDisplayFunc(display); 
   glutReshapeFunc(reshape); 
   glutMouseFunc(mouse);
   glutMainLoop();
   return 0;
}

python: lists

to use data structures
list
http://docs.python.org/tutorial/introduction.html#lists
a = [1, 3,4,2]
names = ['BY', 'jon']
#access individual items
eg.: a[2]
cannot use index beyond list range
so gotta use
methods: append, insert
(http://docs.python.org/tutorial/datastructures.html)
eg.: a.append(1000)
to find size of list: len(a)

iphone + flash cs4 + AIR 2.5 SDK

1) downloaded AIR 2.5 SDK
2) followed instructions on forum: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/745398
/******************************
Quit Flash CS4 Professional if it is open.
Navigate to the Flash CS4 installation folder. The default location on Windows is "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Flash CS4\" and on Mac OS "/Applications/Adobe Flash CS4/"
Within the "Adobe Flash CS4" folder you should see a folder called "AIK1.5". If this folder is not present repeat step #1.
Rename the folder "AIK1.5" to "AIK1.5 OLD" or delete it if you do not need to save a copy of it.
Make a new folder called "AIK1.5"
Download the Adobe AIR 2 SDK from the labs website and uncompress the contents of the folder to the new "AIK1.5" folder you just created.
Copy the "airglobal.swc" file located within the "Adobe Flash CS4/AIK1.5/frameworks/libs/air/" folder into the "Adobe Flash CS4/Common/Configuration/ActionScript 3.0/AIR1.5/" folder.
**************************************/
3) File > New > Actionscript 3 (AIR)
4) Save and Ctrl + Enter
5) Properties > AIR settings > Use custom application descriptor file. point to generated app.xml in folder where FLA is saved
6) modify app.xml:
namespace 1.5 to 2
<application xmlns="http://ns.adobe.com/air/application/2.0">
add "autoOrients", "icons" tags, etc
7) Ctrl + Enter again to run the application
8) use PFI to create IPA.
9) Install on iphone and test.

tested working.

iphone + air 2.5 sdk + Flash Builder

File > New > Flex Project
Next > Next > last dialog
Main application file > replace .mxml with .as
Finish
.as created. class extends Sprite
open app.xml
set visible to true:
<application><initialWindow><visible>true</visible></initialWindow></application>
F11 to debug
empty window should appear
Project > Properties > Flex Compiler > options/arguments: -default-size 320 480

3dsmax: COM classes

create .NET classes
register assembly (DLL) to COM

Python:
reference:
http://techarttiki.blogspot.com/2008/03/calling-python-from-maxscript.html
http://oreilly.com/catalog/pythonwin32/chapter/ch12.html

python COM server

class PythonUtilities:
    _public_methods_ = [ 'AreaOfCircle' ]
    _reg_progid_ = "PythonDemos.Utilities"
    # NEVER copy the following ID 
    # Use "print pythoncom.CreateGuid()" to make a new one.
    _reg_clsid_ = "{968B74C1-5B12-47CE-93DF-EE2C1418A542}"


    def AreaOfCircle(self, radius):
        return 3.14159 * radius * radius

 
# Add code so that when this script is run by
# Python.exe, it self-registers.
if __name__=='__main__':
    print "Registering COM server..."
    import win32com.server.register
    win32com.server.register.UseCommandLine(PythonUtilities)

then compile and run this class...

in 3DS max > MAXScript Listener:

comObj = createOLEObject "PythonDemos.Utilities"  
a = comObj.AreaOfCircle(10)

but have to reload 3DS max whenever the COM class is changed

3dsmax: UI

-- UI
rollout addition "Addition of two numbers"
(
 -- UI elements
 edittext text1 "First number"
 edittext text2 "Second number"
 button b "Add"
 label lbl "Result"
 -- event handlers
 on b pressed do
 (
  a1 = text1.text as float
  a2 = text2.text as float
  c = a1 + a2
  lbl.text = c as string
 )
)

in MAXScript listener:

-- create a dialog 320 x 240
createDialog addition 320 240 

math operator: +, -, *, /
% = mod number1 to number 2
+=, -=, *=, /=

3dsmax: loops, array, struct, as

-- do-while loop
i = 0
do
 (
  b = box()
  b.pos.x = i * 10
  --print i
  i = i +1
 )while (i <a)

-- while loop
i = 0
while(i < a) do
 (
  print i
  i = i+1
 )

-- array
arr = #(1, 2, 3, 4)
 -- one-based index
 print arr[3]

-- struct
struct Fan
(
 -- member variables
 speed,
 radius,
 isOn,
 -- member function
 function setSpeed spd=
 (
  speed = spd
 ),
 function getSpeed=
 (
  return speed
 ),
 -- special: calling function when object is constructed
 -- can only call function AFTER it is created. eg.: setSpeed()
 speed = setSpeed(1)
)
-- initiating structure
f = Fan()
f.radius = 10
f.setSpeed(3)

-- using "as" command
str = "The fan speed is " + fan.getSpeed() as string

3ds max: MAXScript basics

comments:
-- single line comment
/* multi-line comment */

variables. simple. no need to declare. eg.: a = 3

F11 - Script listener. something like Output panel in flash. but it allows u to key in scripts directly

(.) dot operator = object properties
($) superscript = can use it to reference an object using pathname. eg.: $Sphere01.

point3 data type
eg.:

newpos = point3 10 0 0
b.pos = newpos

function parameter in any order
FunctionName keyword1:value1 keyword2:value2

5 /9 = 0. so if need decimal place, must use 5.0/9 or 5 / 9.0 or 5.0 / 9.0

custom function:

function celsiusToFahrenheit celsius =
(
 fah = 5.0/9 * (celsius - 32)
 return fah
)

returns fah automatically if without 'return fah'

pass by value default
pass by reference using (&) symbol

if-then-else
eg.:

if(zz > 100) then messagebox "hot"

example 2

function testIF a=
(
 if(a > 0) then
 (
  messagebox "more than zero"
 )
 else if(a == 0) then
 (
  messagebox "equal to zero"
 )
 else
 (
  messagebox "less than zero"
 )
)

and, or operator. literally use "and" and "or"

for loop
eg.:

function testFor a=
(
 for i=1 to a do
 (
  b = box()
  b.pos.x = i * 10
 )
)

do-while loop
do
(
statements(s)
)
while(conditions)

while-do loop
while(conditions) do
(
statement(s)
)

CSS: clear:both

assume using a container,

inside it a header,

then a left content, right side bar

then a footer

"

Clearing Method

Because all the columns are floated, this layout uses a clear:both declaration in the .footer rule. This clearing technique forces the .container to understand where the columns end in order to show any borders or background colors you place on the .container. If your design requires you to remove the .footer from the .container, you'll need to use a different clearing method. The most reliable will be to add a <br class="clearfloat" /> or <div class="clearfloat"></div> after your final floated column (but before the .container closes). This will have the same clearing effect.

"

Sample:
with CLEAR:BOTH

container

header

left content

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum

right sidebar

footer

without CLEAR:BOTH (Different browsers, eg.: IE, safari, chrome, firefox, will have different rendering)

container

header

left content

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum

right sidebar

footer

Flash Builder 4 + iphone packager

1) create actionscript project
2) code AS
3) compile > test > SWF
3a) Create application.xml (refer to below)
4) PFI + .mobileprovision + .p12 + all necessary files > IPA
eg.:
pfi.bat -package -target ipa-test -provisioning-profile "MyApp.mobileprovision" -storetype pkcs12 -keystore "iphone_dev.p12" HelloWorld.ipa application.xml MyApp.swf
Default.png icons [and other files or folders]
5) install .mobileprovision in itunes if not done so. File > Add to library. sync iphone
6) add IPA to itunes. sync.

application.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<application xmlns="http://ns.adobe.com/air/application/2.0">
<id>com.myDomain.MyApp</id>
<filename>HelloWorld</filename>
<name>HelloWorld</name>
<version>1.0</version>
<initialWindow>
<content>MyApp.swf</content>
<fullScreen>true</fullScreen>
<autoOrients>false</autoOrients>
<aspectRatio>portrait</aspectRatio>
<renderMode>cpu</renderMode>
</initialWindow>
<icon>
<image512x512>icons/icon512.png</image512x512>
<image57x57>icons/icon57.png</image57x57>
<image29x29>icons/icon29.png</image29x29>
</icon>
</application>

iPhone development: Objective C

hmm.. property has to be defined after interface

eg.:

@interface MyViewController : UIViewController {
UITextField *textField;
UILabel *label;
NSString *string;
}
@property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UITextField *textField;
@property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UILabel *label;
@property (nonatomic, copy) NSString *string;

- (IBAction) changeGreeting: (id) sender;


NOT

@property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UITextField *textField;
@property (nonatomic, retain) IBOutlet UILabel *label;
@property (nonatomic, copy) NSString *string;

- (IBAction) changeGreeting: (id) sender;
@interface MyViewController : UIViewController {
UITextField *textField;
UILabel *label;
NSString *string;
}


to use these in the .m files
must use @synthesize
eg.:
@synthesize textField;
@synthesize label;
@synthesize string;

Flash: RSS + spring model

RSS:
http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIFILES/rss/break_lifestyle.xml
http://feeds.feedburner.com/StraitsTimesInteractive-Lifestyle

Demo: http://psalmhundred.net/experiment/rss_elastic.html

PHP: yahoo finance to xml

wrote a simple PHP script to get quotes data from yahoo finance and format it into XML format.

sample: http://psalmhundred.net/experiment/stocks.php?s=adbe,goog,aapl,msft

OR



references:
http://www.gummy-stuff.org/Yahoo-data.htm

Flash: Weather RSS feed

Flash & XML: namespace

sample RSS feed: http://weather.yahooapis.com/forecastrss?w=1062605&u=c

to access elements that are using namespace.
eg.:

 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes" ?>
 <rss version="2.0" xmlns:yweather="http://xml.weather.yahoo.com/ns/rss/1.0" xmlns:geo="http://www.w3.org/2003/01/geo/wgs84_pos#">
 <channel>
 ...
 <item>
 ...
  <yweather:condition text="Partly Cloudy" code="30" temp="31" date="Sun, 25 Jul 2010 7:00 pm SGT" />
 ...
  </item>
 ...
  </channel>
  </rss>

gotta use the Namespace class and the :: operator

eg.:

var xml:XML = new XML(loader.data);
var ns:Namespace = xml.namespace("yweather");
trace(xml.channel.item.ns::condition.@text);

Flash Particles effect

Novint Falcon used in Flash

Getting x, y, z coordinates and buttons status:


Using Flash to output force feedback to haptic device:

winsock 2: recv with select

needed to use recv in synchronous mode. but it is a blocking call.
so google a bit and found select.

code segment:

fd_set sockets;
TIMEVAL waitTime;

void Receive()
{
 // gotta call select() to check if there is incoming packet
  sockets.fd_count = 1;
 sockets.fd_array[0] = ClientSocket;

// time to expire for select call. since it is blocking too.
  waitTime.tv_sec = 0; // seconds
 waitTime.tv_usec = 100; // micro seconds

 // check if any of the listening sockets has incoming data
// returns number of sockets in fd_set that has incoming data
 int result = select(NULL, &sockets, NULL, NULL, &waitTime);

 int iResult = result;
 if(result > 0)
 {
  // blocking call
  iResult = recv(ClientSocket, recvbuf, recvbuflen, 0);
  if(iResult > 0)
  {
   printf("Bytes received: %d\n", iResult);
   printf("Recv: %s\n", recvbuf);
  }
  else if(iResult == 0)
  {
   //printf("Nothing received\n");
  }
  else 
  {
   printf("recv failed: %d\n", WSAGetLastError());
  }
 }
 return iResult;
}

libxml2: XML parsing using C/C++

http://www.xmlsoft.org/

require some modification:
xmlversion.h

/**
 * LIBXML_ICONV_ENABLED:
 *
 * Whether iconv support is available
 */
#if 0 // instead of 1
#define LIBXML_ICONV_ENABLED
#endif

iconv.dll required. got it at: http://www.gnupg.org/download/iconv.en.html

xmlTextReaderPtr reader;
 char xml[200] = "<root><child1><child2 attr=\"123\" attr2=\"test\">hello world</child2></child1></root>";
 printf("%s\n", xml);
 cout << "Read XML from memory...\n";
 reader = xmlReaderForMemory(xml, strlen(xml), "", NULL, 0);
 if (reader != NULL) {
  // loop to read nodes
  int ret;
  const xmlChar *name, *value;
  ret = xmlTextReaderRead(reader);
  while(ret == 1)
  {
   name = xmlTextReaderConstName(reader);
   value = xmlTextReaderConstValue(reader);
   printf("%s=%s\n", name, value);

// attributes
   ret = xmlTextReaderHasAttributes(reader);
   if(ret == 1)
   {
    // has attributes
    attrName = xmlCharStrdup("attr");
    attrValue = xmlTextReaderGetAttribute(reader, attrName);
    int attr = atoi((const char *) attrValue);

    printf("attr=%d\n", attr);

   }

   ret = xmlTextReaderRead(reader);
  }
  
  cout << "Freeing XML reader...\n";
        xmlFreeTextReader(reader);

    }

Wiimote with 3D interaction

OpenGL: Stereoscopic rendering

Source: http://www.orthostereo.com/geometryopengl.html

Example:

GLvoid display(GLvoid)
{
  glDrawBuffer(GL_BACK);                                   //draw into both back buffers
  glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT | GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BIT);      //clear color and depth buffers

  glDrawBuffer(GL_BACK_LEFT);                              //draw into back left buffer
  glMatrixMode(GL_MODELVIEW);
  glLoadIdentity();                                        //reset modelview matrix
  gluLookAt(-IOD/2,                                        //set camera position  x=-IOD/2
            0.0,                                           //                     y=0.0
            0.0,                                           //                     z=0.0
            0.0,                                           //set camera "look at" x=0.0
            0.0,                                           //                     y=0.0
            screenZ,                                       //                     z=screenplane
            0.0,                                           //set camera up vector x=0.0
            1.0,                                           //                     y=1.0
            0.0);                                          //                     z=0.0
  
  glPushMatrix();
  {
    glTranslatef(0.0, 0.0, depthZ);                        //translate to screenplane
    drawscene();
  }
  glPopMatrix();

  glDrawBuffer(GL_BACK_RIGHT);                             //draw into back right buffer
  glMatrixMode(GL_MODELVIEW);
  glLoadIdentity();                                        //reset modelview matrix
  gluLookAt(IOD/2, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, screenZ,            //as for left buffer with camera position at:
            0.0, 1.0, 0.0);                                //                     (IOD/2, 0.0, 0.0)

  glPushMatrix();
  {
    glTranslatef(0.0, 0.0, depthZ);                        //translate to screenplane
    drawscene();
  }
  glPopMatrix();
  
  glutSwapBuffers();
}

XNA: higher refresh rate

public Game1()
{
graphics = new GraphicsDeviceManager(this);
Content.RootDirectory = "Content";
this.TargetElapsedTime = TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(8);
this.IsFixedTimeStep = false;
graphics.SynchronizeWithVerticalRetrace = false;
this.IsMouseVisible = true;

}

XNA: 3D and 2D

Gotta reset settings when mixing 3D and 2D content

http://forums.xna.com/forums/t/48583.aspx

eg.:

// to reset settings for 3D drawing
            graphics.GraphicsDevice.RenderState.DepthBufferEnable = true;
            graphics.GraphicsDevice.RenderState.AlphaBlendEnable = false;
            graphics.GraphicsDevice.RenderState.AlphaTestEnable = false; 

            DrawModel(gameShip);
            
            spriteBatch.Begin();

            // Draw Hello World
            string output = "FPS: " + fps;

            // Find the center of the string
            //Vector2 FontOrigin = Font1.MeasureString(output) / 2;
            Vector2 FontOrigin = FontPos;
            // Draw the string
            //spriteBatch.DrawString(Font1, output, FontPos, Color.LightGreen,
              //  0, FontOrigin, 1.0f, SpriteEffects.None, 0.5f);
            spriteBatch.DrawString(Font1, output, FontPos, Color.LightGreen);
            spriteBatch.End();

C++: cin & gets

hmmm.. couldn't get cin and gets to work together.
if cin is used before gets, gets will not wait for user input get the string, due to the "\n" character.
if it's the other way round, it will work. but this is not useful in the general sense if your program needs both string and number input.

so in general, use gets and then use "stdlib.h" data conversion functions, eg.: atoi, string -> int

Example:

/*
simple C++ program
*/

#include <iostream>
#include <cstdio>
#include <cstring>
#include <stdlib.h>
using namespace std;

// a c++ program starts with main

int main()
{
 int score;
 int i;
 char str[200];
 char c;
 c = 'c';
 
 cout << "Enter a number from 1 to 10: " ;
 gets_s(str);
 score = atoi(str);

 cout << "Enter your name: ";
 gets_s( str);
 for(i = 0; i<score; i++){
  cout << c <<"++ is cool and so is " << str << "; score: " << score << "\n";
 }
 return 0;
}

panoramic pic - 1st attempt

sigh.. took the shots in a rush with a baby in the babybjorn tugging at the camera.
exposure inconsistent, horizon tilted, people moving and thus at different locations in different shots, etc.

3ds max plugin wizard with visual studio 2008 express

1a. Copy the 3ds "maxsdk" to D:\ drive or other location where there are no user permission issues.

1. Open the 3dsmaxPluginWizard.vsz file (in the 3dsmaxPluginWizard directory root) in a text editor and edit the ABSOLUTE PATH parameter to reflect the new location of the 3dsmaxPluginWizard root directory. Do not add a backslash after the directory name.

Param="ABSOLUTE_PATH = [Absolute Path Location of 3dsmaxPluginWizard Root Directory]"

1b. Edit 3dsmaxPluginWizard.vsz with a text editor, eg.: Notepad.
change line 2: Wizard=VsWizard.VsWizardEngine.9.0

2. Copy the following files from the 3dsmaxPluginWizard root to the 'VC\VCProjects' directory under your Visual Studio installation (e.g. C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\VCProjects):

3dsmaxPluginWizard.ico
3dsmaxPluginWizard.vsdir
3dsmaxPluginWizard.vsz

If you are using Visual Studio Express Edition, you need to copy the files listed above to the 'VC\Express\VCProjects' folder.


3. At this point the 3ds Max Plugin Wizard project should appear under File menu:New:Projects:Visual C++ Projects in Visual Studio.

CSS: rounded edge / corner box

CSS:

.mainbody {
 border-right-width: 1px;
 border-left-width: 1px;
 border-right-style: solid;
 border-left-style: solid;
 border-right-color: #CCC;
 border-left-color: #CCC;
 padding-right: 10px;
 padding-left: 10px;
}
.topcenter {
 border-top-width: 1px;
 border-top-style: solid;
 border-top-color: #CCC;
}
.bottomcenter {
 border-bottom-width: 1px;
 border-bottom-style: solid;
 border-bottom-color: #CCC;
 height: 4px;
}
.topleft {
 background-image: url(images/corners_topleft.gif);
 background-repeat: no-repeat;
 background-position: left top;
 height: 5px;
 width: 5px;
 float: left;
}
.topright {
 background-image: url(images/corners_topright.gif);
 background-position: right top;
 float: right;
 background-repeat: no-repeat;
 height: 5px;
 width: 5px;
}
.bottomright {
 background-image: url(images/corners_bottomright.gif);
 background-repeat: no-repeat;
 background-position: right top;
 float: right;
 height: 5px;
 width: 5px;
}
.bottomleft {
 background-image: url(images/corners_bottomleft.gif);
 background-repeat: no-repeat;
 background-position: left top;
 height: 5px;
 width: 5px;
 float: left;
}
.topbottom {
 height: 5px;
}

HTML:

<div>
<div class="topbottom">
<div class="topleft"></div>
<div class="topright"></div>
<div class="topcenter"></div>
</div>
<div class="mainbody">content</div>
<div class="topbottom">
<div class="bottomleft"></div>
<div class="bottomright"></div>
<div class="bottomcenter"></div>
</div>
</div>

Maya Plugin wizard for Visual C++ express edition 2008 setup

1. Unzip the MayaPluginWizard2.0.zip file in the maya installation folder, eg.: C:\Program Files\Autodesk\Maya2008\devkit\pluginwizard

2. Copy the following files to the "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\Express\VCProjects" directory:
MayaPluginWizard.vsdir
MayaPluginWizard.vsz
MayaPluginWizard.ico

2b. Edit MayaPluginWizard.vsz with a text editor, eg.: Notepad.
change line 2: Wizard=VsWizard.VsWizardEngine.9.0

2c. create a folder "MayaPlugInWizard" in "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\Express\VCProjects"

2d. move "MayaPluginWizard.vsdir" into this new folder.

3. Copy the "MayaPluginWizard" directory to "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\VCWizards".

4. Start Microsoft Visual Studio 8 and invoke File -> New -> Project -> Visual C++ Projects and select MayaPluginWizard.

5. Enter a name and solution name and select the OK button.

6. Fill in the information for the "Plug-in setup" screen and then select the "Plug-in type" and "Included libraries" links to also enter the required information.

7. The project will be created and then the solution can updated and built.

Simple Stereo 3d Anaglpyh example

Download FLA

import flash.display.*;
import flash.events.*;
import flash.geom.*;
import flash.utils.*;

// Picture is a movie clip symbol in the Library
var loader:Picture = new Picture();
var loader2:Picture = new Picture();
var scene:Sprite = new Sprite();  

// for drawing scene from left eye view
var left:Bitmap = new Bitmap();
// for drawing scene from right eye view
var right:Bitmap = new Bitmap();
// background for correct blending
var bg:Sprite = new Sprite();

var leftData:BitmapData = new BitmapData(stage.stageWidth, stage.stageHeight);
var rightData:BitmapData = new BitmapData(stage.stageWidth, stage.stageHeight);

var distance:Number = 4; // left-right eye distance


init();
prepareStereo();

function prepareStereo():void
{
 left.blendMode = BlendMode.SCREEN;
 // right eye = green and blue channel
 right.transform.colorTransform = new ColorTransform(0, 1, 1, 1);
 // left eye = red channel
 left.transform.colorTransform = new ColorTransform(1, 0, 0, 1);
 left.bitmapData = leftData;
 right.bitmapData = rightData;
 setBackground();
 this.addChild(right);
 this.addChild(left);
 // set the UI textbox and label to the top
 this.setChildIndex(ui_mc, this.numChildren-1);
}
function setBackground(color:int = 0):void{
 bg.graphics.beginFill(color);
 bg.graphics.drawRect(-2000, -2000, 4000, 4000);
}
function init():void{
 loader.x = 200;
 loader.y = 200;
 loader2.y = 200;
 loader2.z = 300;
 stage.addEventListener(MouseEvent.MOUSE_MOVE, move);
 this.addEventListener(Event.ENTER_FRAME, update);
 scene.addChild(bg);
 
 scene.addChild(loader2);
 scene.addChild(loader);
 ui_mc.distance_txt.text = String(distance);
}
function update(e:Event):void{
 // clear screen
 rightData.fillRect(rightData.rect, 0xFFFFFF);
 leftData.fillRect(rightData.rect, 0xFFFFFF);
 distance = Number(ui_mc.distance_txt.text);
 loader.x -= distance / 2; // move scene to the left for right eye
 loader2.x -= distance / 2;
 rightData.draw(scene);
 loader.x += distance; // move scene to the right for left eye
 loader2.x += distance;
 leftData.draw(scene);
 loader.x -= distance / 2; // move scene back to original position
 loader2.x -= distance / 2;
}
function move(e:MouseEvent):void
{
 loader.rotationY = (mouseY*2/stage.stageHeight - 1) * 60;
 loader2.rotationY = (1-mouseY*2/stage.stageHeight) * 60;
 loader.x = stage.stageWidth - mouseX;
 loader2.x = mouseX;
}
 

EasyPHP issues with Windows 7

Thanks to Ryan for the following post:
http://ryan.rawswift.com/2009/09/20/easyphp-on-64-bit-windows-7-how-to-fix-apache-and-mysql-problem/

summary of the above post:
issue 1 for Apache:
Apache cannot be runned: another Web server use the Web port
or port is blocked by firewall.
solution:
- Click the EasyPHP icon beside “Apache” button.
- Click “Configure” then click “EasyPHP“.
- Uncheck “Check server’s TCP port before starting” then click “Apply” button and then “Close” button.
- Click “Apache” button and then click “Start“.

issue 2 for MySQL:
Unexpected end of MySql... See log file?
solution:
- Go to “Computer“, open/view Drive C, then double click “Program Files (x86)“.
- Right click on “EasyPHP5.3.0” folder then click “Properties“.
- On “Security” tab click “Edit…” button.
- Select the user that you are currently using.
- Under “Permissions for Users” box, tick “Full control” on “Allow” column.
- And then click “OK” button to apply the changes.

Thanks, Ryan. it works for me.

Flash: Matrix calculation

FlashVars: sending variables into Flash from HTML/PHP

in HTML containing SWF:
...
AC_FL_RunContent(
...,
'flashVars','myVariable=<?php echo((isset($_GET['myVariable'])) ? $_GET['myVariable'] : ""); ?>'
); //end AC code

...
<param name="movie" value="live_stream.swf?myVariable=<?php echo((isset($_GET['myVariable'])) ? $_GET['myVariable'] : ""); ?>" />
<embed src="live_stream.swf?src=<?php echo((isset($_GET['myVariable'])) ? $_GET['myVariable'] : ""); ?>" ... >

in FLA/AS:
access variable thru:
this.loaderInfo.parameters["myVariable"]