Node_attach? Newb without a clue

[Red Shirt]

My first time trying to fix nodes. I have downloaded some public domain parts from zzz - (hubs and crosswalk). Apparently sometime during version updates the node syntax must have changed because the parts did not work well. Attachment was usually in the wrong direction. I finally sorted out the hub top and bottom nodes. I even added 6 node points around the edges of the hubs and rescaled the parts. Kind of pleased with myself. I think I have the crosswalk bridge parts mostly working.

My question concerns some (not all) of the parts have a line in the cfg for node_attach. First, I can't see that these lines do anything. Second, if they do, maybe I don't understand the syntax. It seems to follow the same angX, angY... pattern as node_stack. Can some one help me understand? Here is an example of the pertinent info from one of the crosswalk bridge cfg's:

scale = 1

rescaleFactor = 1.5

node_stack_top = 0.0, 1.122, 0.068, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 1

node_stack_bottom = 0.0, -1.122, 0.068, 0.0, -1.0, 0.0, 1

node_attach = 1.25, 0.0, 0.068, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1

attachRules = 1,1,1,1,0

If I add // to the beginning of the node_attach line it makes no difference that I can tell. This appears true even without rescale changes. Is the line not necessary?

Possibly related but probably not, I notice I sometimes have problems getting the parts oriented correctly or moved to the proper side to attach. I eventually get them with effort. Do the attachRules somehow affect this?

Edited August 31, 2015 by Red Shirt

[Randazzo]

My first time trying to fix nodes. I have downloaded some public domain parts from zzz - (hubs and crosswalk). Apparently sometime during version updates the node syntax must have changed because the parts did not work well. Attachment was usually in the wrong direction. I finally sorted out the hub top and bottom nodes. I even added 6 node points around the edges of the hubs and rescaled the parts. Kind of pleased with myself. I think I have the crosswalk bridge parts mostly working.

My question concerns some (not all) of the parts have a line in the cfg for node_attach. First, I can't see that these lines do anything. Second, if they do, maybe I don't understand the syntax. It seems to follow the same angX, angY... pattern as node_stack. Can some one help me understand? Here is an example of the pertinent info from one of the crosswalk bridge cfg's:

scale = 1

rescaleFactor = 1.5

node_stack_top = 0.0, 1.122, 0.068, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 1

node_stack_bottom = 0.0, -1.122, 0.068, 0.0, -1.0, 0.0, 1

node_attach = 1.25, 0.0, 0.068, 1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1

attachRules = 1,1,1,1,0

If I add // to the beginning of the node_attach line it makes no difference that I can tell. This appears true even without rescale changes. Is the line not necessary?

Possibly related but probably not, I notice I sometimes have problems getting the parts oriented correctly or moved to the proper side to attach. I eventually get them with effort. Do the attachRules somehow affect this?

node_attach allows you to attach things, at the location specified, to other things without a node on the receiving object.

The stack node requires itself to be attached to another stack node. Having an attach node and a stack node in the same location can be troublesome to attach correctly to another stack node.

[Red Shirt]

node_attach allows you to attach things, at the location specified, to other things without a node on the receiving object.

The stack node requires itself to be attached to another stack node. Having an attach node and a stack node in the same location can be troublesome to attach correctly to another stack node.

Thanks. Can you offer a stock part example of node_attach? I'm slow to get it as I just don't see any difference between having and not having a node_attach line in the cfg.

[Randazzo]

Thanks. Can you offer a stock part example of node_attach? I'm slow to get it as I just don't see any difference between having and not having a node_attach line in the cfg.

The small antenna and the large dish.

[Red Shirt]

The small antenna and the large dish.

Thanks. I'll take a look at these and see if my thick head gets it.

[Gaalidas]

I suffer from thick-headedness as well. Eventually things will fall into place and you'll experience that euphoric "enlightenment" phenomenon which, unfortunately, will pass quickly and probably never return.

[blackhuey]

node_attach allows you to attach things, at the location specified, to other things without a node on the receiving object.

The stack node requires itself to be attached to another stack node. Having an attach node and a stack node in the same location can be troublesome to attach correctly to another stack node.

Finally I understand the difference. Thank you