JOURNAL

2018/05/15 - New Module HDAs, Modular Buildings Presentation Hip File

• Added mbSoftStreetSweeper HDA with mbSoftStreetSweeper.hip example file (2018/05/16)
• Added mbDrawCurves Tool (Stroke SOP tool with caching and edit state where edit tweaks can be made and cached with one SOP Node)
  • By Default this HDA will use mbProjectEnds which will snap endpoints of the current stroke to already drawn strokes. (Used to draw Street Graphs)
  • Additional HDA: mbExpandCurves does a quick 2DPolyexpand with overlapping curves.
• Added new Modular HDA from mbStreetGen mbRayProjectEnds which project end points of curves to other curves.
• Added Modules for Heightfields
  • hfProjectToHeightfield: Projects a Curve down onto a Terrain/Heightfield
  • Projection with @Alpha Attribute: mb Heightfield: Soft Project. Projects a plane geo with respect of the alpha attribute.
  • hfSweepProject: Projects a Curve onto a Terrain and Sweeps it. Second output is the terrain
  • CurveToTerrain_2.01: Projects a curve to a terrain and tries to find tunnels and bridges. (The bias for Tunnels and Bridges must be set correctly manually.) Should also work with Polygons as second input.
• Added Math Modules
  • mbAlignToWorldAxis: Aligns a Quad to World Axis based on point0 - point1 normal direction.
  • mbAlignFromWorldAxis: Aligns back from the world Axis. (Needs AlignToWorldAxis in second input to get the rest position back)
  • mbCalculateQuadScale: Calculates bounding box of a quad that is rotated and stores it in v@scale
  • mbPointCloudFromPrims: Sets a centroid and calculates v@scale based on bounding box.
  • mbInscribeCircle: Different Algorithms to add inscribed Circle to a Primitive. (free)
• roof Module B:
  • Low Poly Roof Module with correct mirrored UVs
• Added small additonal utilities
  • mbDeleteByVertexCount which deletes polygons based on Vertex Count. Useful to isolate Quads only.
  • mbPrimitive Flatten: Flattens a primitive to average, min or max. Additionally an option to blur the @P.y position is available too. (useful when placing buildings so the ground floor is leveled)
  • mb2DExpand (random): Randomized 2DPolyexpand for insetting or extending primitives
• Added missing icons for tools.
• Added Modular_Buildings.zip which includes Presentation File I used to demonstrate the Modular Tools and some Networks for generating Window geometry quickly and procedural.
• 
  

2018/04/05 -

• Shelf Toolbar Scripts:
  • Fixed minor bugs in Divide C-Plane and Undivide C-Plane. Added C-Plane Grow and C-Plane Shrink
  • Added Optional opColorPalette.def with 12 Colors from the Solarized Colors to colorID Nodes.
  • Added some more optional setting files such as jump.pref. Optional mb_build Desktop.
• mbRoadGen / road modules
  • Started to Remove Depracted Options. Removing Sidewalks and Detail Generation out to own Modular HDAs.
  • Added new output for raw parcel, Started adding options for each output separatly.
  • Added option to post remove groups from Module: SidewalksGenerator
  • Terrain deforms now with heightfields instead of polygons..
  • Removed Bridge Generation inside HDA
  • Added new Bridge Module with high detailed Suspension Bridge as Default. (No Parameters exposed yet.)
  • Started fixing and adding Examples for new tools.
• mbDrawTools
  • Added Button *2 and /2 for Subdividing Construction Plane Grid. (Same as in the Shelf Tools) - The snap parameter will be linked to cplane grids.
• mbBuildingGenerator_0_55:
  • is now available as unlocked version in a single HDA for all users.
  • Fixed mbBalustrade Generator. Uses Straight Skeleton Algorithm for Sweeping now.
• mbOBBSubdiv
  • Added new Threaded Subdiv for N-Gons.
• mbDecorator / mbPlaceOnQuads:
  • Reorganized UI. Added Fix Winding Direction to Instancing Option too.
  • Changed Defaults for Normalize Option to be On instead of off. Changed Default Scale Calculation Algorithm to on.
  • fixed incorrect v@up for Instance Calculation which had @up.y at a constant of 1
  • Updated mbDecorator Example hip file. Including Example for using Multiple Sets now.
  • Added Example for PlaceonQuads Hda, which does the same thing as mbDecorator but with a different Technique.
• Other Fixes:
• Fix: Update Downloader urllib bugfix which prevented it from starting.
• Fix: Cornice Trim Module bugfix for UVs when profile option is closed.
• Update: Main Menu Entry for Editing houdini.env to edit version 16.5 instead of 16.0
• mbBuildingGenerator_0_55:
• mbStraightSkeleton: Added Option to add Dot Product Value to @pscale making it useful in combination with Sweep SOP and unclosed backbone profiles that share the same start and end point but need UVs on Points for the Sweep SOP to work.
• Added New Module in mb_Module_Tools.hda including mbCutter and mbCorniceTrim Module which where not yet uploaded.
• Added 3rd Party Presets from Users for mbDecorator in hda: mbDecorator-presets.hda

2018/02/08 - Minor Fixes + Textures and new Example Files.

• Minor Fixes in otls (mbBuildingModules)
• mbBuildingModules: fixed corner detection when input is a Quad/4 Point Curve. (added sort Points by vertex order before corner check)
• Added some default Textures
• Started adding Examples for Modular Building workflow
• Added new test decal textures for roof, garages, walls, transparent rails
• Added roof Module for testing (unfinished alpha)
• Added Cornice Trims generation into own HDA with Sweep option for creating Railings with Cutout Decal Textures (Rail Textures)
• Added some default Textures for creating Props such as rails, walls, trims,
• Unified and added new more logical group outputs in modular workflow. All window types will have a prifix window and walls will have prefix wall. Building block puts out windowS and windowS2, windowFF, windowFT, wallFF, so your props should generally not use these groups themself. (todo: unify in other assets still used.)
• todo: documentations etc...... Notes about group outputs for modular workflow, (windowS, windowS2 (new), windowFF, windowFT (new), wall, wallFF, wall_FF_bottom, )

2018/02/01 - RC2 - Coming Soon - February 2018 - 10+ New Modules for Building Generation.

• Release Candidates for Building Modules
• Fixed Instancing Option in mbPlaceOnQuads. Now calculates first props bbox for scale and counts amount of props correctly.
• mbCityPattern Algorithms included. Including alphas for mbSplineNetworkGenerators A and B which generate Street Networks on the Fly that should also work with 2DPolyexpand.
• mbStackBoxes - aligns and Stacks random boxes to each other
• mbAlignToCurve - aligns Stacks of Boxes or finished Buildings along a curve or closed curve. With different options.
• mbBuildingFromRectangle - Creates a Base Block from a simple Grid with differnt roof types.
• mbBuildingFromRectangles - Creates a Base Block from multiple Quads with different Heights. Used in combination with the Quad Subdiv Object Bounding Box Algorithm. (mbQuadSubdiv)
• mbBuildingFromCurve - Creates a Base Block from a Curve Input.
• mbPartition facades - Partitions a group of quads. Useful to generate facades and separate Etages and populate with different Assets/Props with mbDecorator or mbPlaceOnQuads.
• mbCreateFaceID (beta) - Creates faceIDs for window Polygons depending on their vertex count and other groups. (Includes some specific personalized versions for Clients.)
• Modul: Decorate Line - Populates a Curve or Line with multiple Assets/Props such as Trees or cars.
• Modul: StreetDecals - Adds Street Decals from a Curve
• Modul: Find Touching Walls: Finds polygons that are not seen from the outside such as Buildings that have walls facing each other. Used to cleanup inside polygons of a building block.
• Modul: SidewalksFromParcel (beta) - Tries to generate sidewalks from Parcels generated by mbStreetGenerators Parcel Output.
• Modul: Add Cars - Can place cars on Street Decals Car Curves Output
• Modul: mbCityPattern - SOP version of a Noise based pattern from the old mbCityPattern COP with option for a fake manhatten noise. (Used for Whiteboxing, not compatible with street generators atm.)
• Modul: mbCurveNetworkGenA - Generator to create Street Networks(Used for Whiteboxing, not compatible with street generators atm.)
• Added several hip example files for Modular Workflow.
• Included Help Cards for several Assets in the Houdini Help Documentation (Thanks to www.cgtoolbox.com)

2017/11/02 - New Update/Distribution Manager and Environment Installation

• Updated mbDecorator, added modular Street OTLs. Fixed Radial Menu, Added new Tools to the Shelf.
• Fixed Group Reselection for mbDecorator, mbPlaceOnQuads and mbOBBSubdiv/mbQuadSubdiv
• Added Shelf Scripts for mbDecorator, mbPlaceOnQuads and mbOBBSubdiv/mbQuadSubdiv.

2017/11/02 - New Update/Distribution Manager and Environment Installation

• Added Update/Install Manager Shelf Tool. Updates otls/hda and other Packages. New Packages and Plugins will also be distributed with this tool.
• Updated mbSetupAttributes.hda to a more clean HDA similar to the heightfield SOP when masking based on a property the Tool now has clean options for a noise pattern, zscale by Area scale and also accepts inputs in input2 like a sphere to control the zscale value by moving around objects.
• Folder which was formerly called /hda is now renamed to otls since houdini does not load the folder /hda at startup
• All HDA and otls have been reloceted to the same folder: /otls , When installing plugin packages they will install into /otls too
• Fixed Grid Templates in Toolbar to match Houdini16 new Ruler in Ortho View.
• Added Screenshot Shelf Tool.
• mbOBBQuadSubdiv updated to Release Candidate 3
• Added Missing Radial Entry
• Added /config with Customized Flat UI Theme and customized grey Viewport Background Theme.
• The houdini.env Setup is now much more simpler including $MCITY as its main Environment so all toolbar, radialmenus should now be loaded correctly without having to place them in your houdini16.5 folders

2017/10/30 - Announcement

• Within the next week we will migrate to a new Structure and Installation Process and release finalized version of OBB Subdiv and mbDecorator. A Full Reinstall will be necassary

2017/08/29- Updated HDAs

• Ported mbSkyscrapers Window placer into mbDecorator.hda. Sets of WIndows and other facade props can now be used. It will look for a subnet or geocontainer called set_ or by the name the user defines. In there should be windowS_0, windowS_1 etc. In another Set another windowS_0 can be used. This way each building can have its own windows and use different models for each window with slight variation, f.e. adding a balcony option to one prop. and one without . @pID can be used as a randomize base to control and art direct which props will be used. Examples coming soon.
• Started rewrite House-B Generator for new @faceID workflow that will come soon.
• Updated mbExtensionPack.hda general tools. Simplified certain tools. Started removing old SOPs from prior to H16 liek the point SOP fe.

2017/08/23- Uploaded missing .bgeo files in $MCITY/geo/

• Added mb__paintprops.hda from mLib to scatter vegetation and possibly other things.
• Updated mbDecorater Example showing a Facade making Workflow with Instances.
• Added/Updated missing missing Example files: http://www.microbot.ch/microcity/?dir=current/examples
• Added missing HDA mb_SOP-MathExtensions.hda to calculate Straight Skeletons Normals. Needed for the mbStreetGen__2_61.hda to work
• Updated all /geo files
• Added /tex/wall_f brick textures
• Updated mbBuildingsFromParcels.hda / Added Material Subnet Workflow for texturing. Added Greeble Set: /geo/greeble/micros_general_set
• Added example for mbBuildingFromParcels. 170822_OBB-Subdiv_CityBlock_Layouter.hip

2017/08/21 - Added new examples and updated mbBuildingsFromParcelsNurbs.hda

2017/08/21 - Updates in HDA

• Updated mbStreetGen_2.61.hda. Started rewriting generation for Sidewalks. Started implementing Bridges from mbRoadGen.
• Added Basic Example in the mbStreetGen Documentation: http://www.microbot.ch/microcity/current/examples/01_Road_and_Street_Tutorials/170821_mbStreetGen_Basic_PolyGrid.hip
• Started fixing bugs in mbRoadGen.
• Note: Still a lot things in the road tools that can break up. Be careful with them.

2017/08/20 - Updated for most .hda

• Started to move all Tools into one subcategory called MicroCity.

2017/08/17 - NEW HDA Added: mb_SOP-MathExtensions.hda

• Implemented SOP with algorithm to Calculate Straight Skeleton Normals. Works on Curves or Polygons.

2017/08/17 - mbExtensionPack.hda Update:

• mbDecorator: New Algorithm for Instancing with H16 new compiled for each loop for calculating correct v@scale per primitive for each Face. All instancing with this option will now match the Speed of the mbBuildingBlocks-A1 Generator allowing for a huge Speed boost.
• mbDecorator: Fixed pID option. Optimized calculation for scale and made it a bit faster to calculate. Cleaned up the Interface. Disabled unavailable Parameters for Instancing Options. Declared old Instancing method as obsolete. (The option can still be used )
• mbDecorator: New Examples for @pID and @udim. And the new Multithreaded Algorithm to calculate @scale ($MCITY/examples/170817_mbDecorator_Examples.hip)

2017/08/16 - General Updates

• Fixed Shelf Tool: Grid 1km - Now correctly scales the ortho grid in 2d viewports to the same as the C-Plane in the 3D View.
• mbStreetGen: Fixed Quick Flat Straight Corner OUTPUT METHOD for Quick Layouting.
• mbBuildingsFromParcelNurbs: Fixed UVs. (atm they only work when using zscale as the height input.)
• Started Shifting All HDAs into Tab Menu MicroCity -> <Category>
• mbBuildingsFromParcels: Fixed minor Bugs.
• mbSkyscraper: Fixed Bug for Interior Generation without Box Input. (Can cause overlapping interior atm)
• mbWindowGenerator: Fixed minor UVs.
• mbRandomizeWindowsTexture: fixed to work with mbBuildingsFromParcel
• mbBuildingGenerators_0_001.hda: Updated BuildingFromBox UV bug for Roof. Fixed Default Greeble UVs. Added Default Texture Atlas Sheet that can be found in $MCITY/tex/roof_concrete/roof_texture_atlas_1.png . Also included is the PSD template.
• Updated and added a date prefix to the Example hip Files.

2017/08/15 - mbStreetGen.hda:

• Updated to Version 2.61
• New Testing of Ray Projection Algorithm which Projects the Ray Perpendicular to the curve it hits. (TODOs: Implement new algorithm in mbRoadGen.hda and expose option to disable it. RnD for smooth generated splines with VEX )
• Cleaned up SOP Network and Optimized Network for H16.
• Replaced multicurvesect HDA with the new internal H16 Intersection SOPs.
• Fixed Basic Ray To Terrain Projection
• Removed Post Ray Projection Option due to too many dependency checks.

DEV TODOs: Fix Disable All Intersection Option. (Fixed in next Build) Remove or rename Dep Tab to Beta Info Tab, add note for sidewalks and deco alpha, Expose rayprojection algorithm options. Expose Ray to Terrain Distance Options (Currently at 1-2m ?), Generate better Default Textures... UPLOAD EXAMPLE HIP FILE WITH DIFFERENT OPTIONS. Test Decoration options, Street lights, intersection signs, streetwalk decals face the wrong direction now?

2017/05/24 - mbSkyscraper.hda:

• Fixed wrong linking with depth paramater for Standard Windows. (windowS)
• Exposed missing Parameter for Side Billboards Percentage in the HDA Interface
• Started adding more options for Roof Greebles.
• Started to add new set for Greeble on Roofs. They are now called widgetA_ widget_B and widgetC_ with 3 different passes as described below:
• Added Option for 3 separate passes with following Rules: pass1: Main Central Tiles, pass2: Roof tiles that are connected to a wall. pass3: outside tiles of central main tiles (these are divided 1 step more so they are 0.5 times the size of the pass1 main central tiles.) Interaface is subject to change and pass1, pass2, pass3 will be renamed to more convenient Namings such as roof_central, roof_outside and roof_atWall. A few things still in the todo list here.

2017/05/24 - mbRandomizeWindowTexture.hda:

• Fixed UV rotation issue for perPrimitive UV generation.
• Added Option to control Primitive Alpha

2017/05/22 - New Version of mbSkyscraper.hda.

List of major updates:

• Turned windowS_ Props into Sets due to requests. This allows to have multiple different windows for the Standard Window. Allowing to Add Shadings or Balconies to certain Windows.
• Added New Algorithm to place Side Billboards on Corner of the Building. Added a new Decal Atlas Set with Side Billboards Textures. Scales can be controlled randomly and by Length. Changed toggles old Billboards to be off by default.
• Added First Alpha Version of Interior Generation. Adds Walls and fills rooms with 3 Props that can be customized in the ./ASSETS Subnet. (NOTE: Only tested with Box Inputs at the moment. Might fail on more complex geo.) To show the interior check the new second output.
• Added First Alpha Version of Outside Building Minature Detail Props such as Trashcans, Signs, Hydrants or additional trees.
• Changed several Interfaces and added new Default Props.
• Changed and refined Props from Set 3. windowS is now a full sized Window with a few frames borders and Window Shadings. There is a preset so each new duplication of the prop will generate a custom seed for the shadings height.
• NOTE: When updating the HDA into an existing Scene make sure to copy and paste the missing new Assets from ./ASSETS and make sure that windowS_ is setup to use Sets such as the windowFF and door.

2017/05/18 - Added new HDA mbRandomizeWindowTexture which can randomize textures on windows based on udim or material override and unlimited texture inputs.

2017/05/18 - Updated mbBuildingsFromParcels.hda to output correct uvs which was broken for some reason. Updated example file. Also updated its copy of floors to +1 so all generations will be 1 floor higher and match the zscale better.

2017/05/18 - Updated and finalized first Version of mb DrawTools (mbBuildingLayouter.hda), New H16 Radial Menu for Draw Tools to switch Tools and toggle add remove boolean option, New Shelf scripts for Draw Tools. Added New Options to Autochange Seed per stroke, and Always point normals Upwards (Always reverse Backfacing)

2017/05/16 - mbDecorator: Calc Approx Scale can now calculate instances @scale correct and multi threaded. (only works for placing windows atm.)

2017/05/16 - mbStreetGen: Fixed StreetGen close intersection bugs. (Only works with Disabled corner detection!)

2017/05/15 - mbBuildingsFromParcelsNurbs: Fixed broken code, removed transform sop and replaced with a vex wrangle (Reason is Houdini 16's transform sop failing to cook when a group is not available. Needs to be reported to sidefx.) The custom floor size parameter now works again. Fixed minor bugs.

2017/05/15 - mbBuildingsFromParcels: Fixed Detection of touching sides when the facing polygon hitprim was = 0. Added Example to /examples. Added backwards compatibility

2017/05/15 - Started rewriting Building Generators to make them compatible with Houdini 15.5.

2017/05/15 - Fixed New Instancer in mbDecorator. New @up and @N vector calculations now take 2 perimeters and calculate the average instead of transfering the up Vector like in prior version. The Toggle Invert Dir (Flip XZ rot) is obsolete. Use Vertex Alignment = 1 and Flip N to align your props if needed.

2017/05/03 - added normalize option to Instancer which normalizes the props. Bases its scale attribute on the prop/asset with the prefix 0. So all following props need to have the same scale dimensions.

2017/05/03 - added missing AllBuildingGenerators.hip File to /examples Including example for each building generator.

2017/05/01 - Updated mbDecorator Fixed certain problems. added backwards comp checkbox. Added option for random rotation. Direction and position can now be flipped in all ways XYZ as wished.

2017/04/28 - Added Prop / Geometry Asset Manager as a Python Panel. Allowing to Normalize 1000+ props to 1x1 Houdini Units with one click. Also includes renaming, saving as .bgeo, fitlering, alignment of Props in a grid. Making it very easy to Manage Props.

2017/04/25 - Added New Examples to show how to use the new @prob Attribute.

2017/04/25 - Added New SOP to mbOBBSubdiv.hda which is named mbQUADSubdiv. It is the VEX Based OBB Subdiv Algorithm separated from the others. This way it loads much faster. It also uses @prob incoming attribute to determine the subdivision probability.

2017/04/24 - Updated mbOBBSubdiv.hda to use @prob attribute for Subdivision Probability for the VEX Based Algorithm.

2017/04/22 - Due to Feedback updated mbStreetGen.hda for creating Flat Streets on Y = 0