Houdini/Dexen question

[Zengyuan]

Hi guys,

I have a question. For my model in dev.hipnc file, the genes in the
Genotype node control the parameters of the sunshades (see Image 1).
For the Gene 4 (a string parameter), I want to change the material for
the sunshades. The Radiance material node is in the eval_lux.hipnc
file which has a drop-down inventory of available materials (see Image
2) . I would like to know how do I make the materials (eg. maybe 3 to
4 materials in the list) I wanted to be linked to the Gene 4.

And also this change is in the houdini model, would I
need to do any other thing to dexen beside the xml file? I have seen
on ( http://code.google.com/p/dexen/wiki/houdini_ea_generator ) how to
write the xml file for dexen to deal with string commands, as follows:


* In order to specify this genotype structure, the xml would look
something like this:

<genotype>
<geneSet from_pos="1" to_pos="4" type="int_range" min="1"
max="5" />

<geneSet from_pos="5" to_pos="8" type="float_range" min="1.0"
max="10.0" />

<geneSet from_pos="9" to_pos="12"
type="int_choice">1,3,5,8,15</geneSet>

<geneSet from_pos="13" to_pos="16"
type="string_choice">material1,material2,material3</geneSet>

</genotype>



I have attached my file in this link also:
https://www.yousendit.com/download/UnlENnFFdGplaFJjR0E9PQ

Regards,
Zengyuan

[Patrick]

>I would like to know how do I make the materials (eg. maybe 3 to
>4 materials in the list) I wanted to be linked to the Gene 4.

Don't use the radiance_material_attrib node. Instead, use an normal
attrib_create node to create an attribute with the right name and type
(a prim attribute of type string with name "material"). You can then
link the "value" of this attribute to your gene.

I have not tested it yet, but your xml looks fine.