what does a negative element [-1] mean in mplugs?

[Rudi Hammad]

hi,

I noticed that if you create a cube for instance, and you try to find its shape's plug called "vertexAlpha" (which is an element of a mplug array),  with mplug = mFnDependencyNode(~).findPlug(" vertexAlpha") the name mplug.name() is pCubeShape1.vertexColor[-1].vertexAlpha.

what is interesting is that, if you go plug by plug starting from the top one until you get to "vertexAlpha" (so findPlug().child(~).elementByLogicalIndex(~).etc... ), the name is pCubeShape1.vertexColor[0].vertexAlpha.

Any idea what that  means?

Thanks,

R

[Rudi Hammad]

hmmmm...another confusing thing is that if you connect the vertexAlpha plug to something, and do again  mplug = mFnDependencyNode(~).findPlug(" vertexAlpha")   then you don't get anymore pCubeShape1.vertexColor[-1].vertexAlpha, you get pCubeShape1.vertexColor[0].vertexAlpha....even if you break later te conections, the result remains  pCubeShape1.vertexColor[0].vertexAlpha.

I have absolutly no idea what is going on with the [-1]