StickyChain - pose tool [Released]

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Comments

  • surrealsurreal Posts: 169

    barbult said:

    So I used a StickyChain to bring it under control.

    Nice tail :-)

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 24,407

    Thanks. StickyChain is becoming indispensable.

  • SimonJMSimonJM Posts: 5,989

    surreal said:

    Ok, checked file sizes of the .dsx and .zip file and they match what you have (440 bytes and 1.67MB) , gotthe .dll, but there is .dsx file in the manifest directory.

    If the .dll file is in your DAZStudio4\plugins" folder you must have allowed the change.
    I don't know why you would then see the "...QProcess: Destroyed ..." message in your log file.

    With the "StickyChain.dll" file in your "..\Program Files\DAZ 3D\DAZStudio4\plugins" folder,
    when you open DAZStudio, you should be able to see the "New StickyChain" menu item in the Create menu.

    The manual should be "...Program Files\DAZ 3D\DAZStudio4\docs\Plugins\StickyChain\StickyChain Manual.pdf"

     

    If the .dsx file is in you maniest directory, then you should be able to see the StickyChain plugin item in the "Installed" tab of DAZ Install Manager.

    Seemingly all present and correct (it is now, actually, in the list of installed items in DIM - it used to drop out whenever I re-started DIM, so that's a bonus), EXCEPT it does not appear in the Create menu! 

  • surrealsurreal Posts: 169
    edited March 2023

    SimonJM said:

    surreal said:

    Ok, checked file sizes of the .dsx and .zip file and they match what you have (440 bytes and 1.67MB) , gotthe .dll, but there is .dsx file in the manifest directory.

    If the .dll file is in your DAZStudio4\plugins" folder you must have allowed the change.
    I don't know why you would then see the "...QProcess: Destroyed ..." message in your log file.

    With the "StickyChain.dll" file in your "..\Program Files\DAZ 3D\DAZStudio4\plugins" folder,
    when you open DAZStudio, you should be able to see the "New StickyChain" menu item in the Create menu.

    The manual should be "...Program Files\DAZ 3D\DAZStudio4\docs\Plugins\StickyChain\StickyChain Manual.pdf"

     

    If the .dsx file is in you maniest directory, then you should be able to see the StickyChain plugin item in the "Installed" tab of DAZ Install Manager.

    Seemingly all present and correct (it is now, actually, in the list of installed items in DIM - it used to drop out whenever I re-started DIM, so that's a bonus), EXCEPT it does not appear in the Create menu! 

    When you are in DAZStudio does it appear in the list of Installed Plugins?

    Have you input your registration number? 
    It will stop working after 7 14 days if you have not registration it by inputting your registration number. (Serial number from your DAZ > Account > Serial Numbers)

    If it does appear in the list of Installed Plugins in DAZStudio, and you have input your registration number then:
    In DAZStudio when you go into Customize DAZ Studio (e.g. menu Window > Workspace > Customize, or F3 key)
    Is there a "StickyChain" Actions group ?
     

    Post edited by surreal on
  • SimonJMSimonJM Posts: 5,989

    surreal said:

    SimonJM said:

    surreal said:

    Ok, checked file sizes of the .dsx and .zip file and they match what you have (440 bytes and 1.67MB) , gotthe .dll, but there is .dsx file in the manifest directory.

    If the .dll file is in your DAZStudio4\plugins" folder you must have allowed the change.
    I don't know why you would then see the "...QProcess: Destroyed ..." message in your log file.

    With the "StickyChain.dll" file in your "..\Program Files\DAZ 3D\DAZStudio4\plugins" folder,
    when you open DAZStudio, you should be able to see the "New StickyChain" menu item in the Create menu.

    The manual should be "...Program Files\DAZ 3D\DAZStudio4\docs\Plugins\StickyChain\StickyChain Manual.pdf"

     

    If the .dsx file is in you maniest directory, then you should be able to see the StickyChain plugin item in the "Installed" tab of DAZ Install Manager.

    Seemingly all present and correct (it is now, actually, in the list of installed items in DIM - it used to drop out whenever I re-started DIM, so that's a bonus), EXCEPT it does not appear in the Create menu! 

    When you are in DAZStudio does it appear in the list of Installed Plugins?

    Have you input your registration number? 
    It will stop working after 7 days if you have not registration it by inputting your registration number. (Serial number from your DAZ > Account > Serial Numbers)

    If it does appear in the list of Installed Plugins in DAZStudio, and you have input your registration number then:
    In DAZStudio when you go into Customize DAZ Studio (e.g. menu Window > Workspace > Customize, or F3 key)
    Is there a "StickyChain" Actions group ?
     

     Happily, after entering the key, restarting Daz Studio it ow shows up as an option on the Create menu - thank you for assistance!

  • Frown-emojiFrown-emoji Posts: 119

    How to use it? Clicking these icons does nothing:

     

    sticky icons.JPG
    519 x 647 - 51K
  • barbultbarbult Posts: 24,407
    edited May 2023
    Watch the videos linked in the first message in this thread.
    Post edited by barbult on
  • Frown-emojiFrown-emoji Posts: 119

    barbult said:

    Watch the videos linked in the first message in this thread.

    Thanks - restarting daz helped

  • surrealsurreal Posts: 169

    dziemian.pawel said:

    barbult said:

    Watch the videos linked in the first message in this thread.

    Thanks - restarting daz helped

    I will add that information to the manual, in any future update.
    If you still have any questions or problems let me know.

    My thanks as well to barbult for helping.

  • surrealsurreal Posts: 169
    edited November 2023

    <EDITED>

    Sorry my mistake, I miss represented the impact of DAZ Studio 4.22 on plugin.

    It works fine when I have it installed blush

     

    Regards

    Surreal

    Post edited by surreal on
  • ladywolf1ladywolf1 Posts: 123

    Hi guys, I purhcased this plugin and works amazingly... however I have a problem.
    The end of my chain, no matter the object (rigged) an issue occurs at the end of the chain (the "yellow" sphere of the tutorial) the item gets deformed, squished on itself. This doens't happen with unrigged items. I tried on a tail (cat and a geograft tail on a human), on a pony tail (hair), and an actual chain prop - it happens in all of them. ANy idea how to solve it and what's causing it?

  • surrealsurreal Posts: 169
    edited September 8

    ladywolf1 said:

    Hi guys, I purhcased this plugin and works amazingly... however I have a problem.
    The end of my chain, no matter the object (rigged) an issue occurs at the end of the chain (the "yellow" sphere of the tutorial) the item gets deformed, squished on itself. This doens't happen with unrigged items. I tried on a tail (cat and a geograft tail on a human), on a pony tail (hair), and an actual chain prop - it happens in all of them. ANy idea how to solve it and what's causing it?

    Hi ladywolf1, I am away from my computer for two weeks so will try answering this from memory.

    Is the "2. Chain End" of your sticky chain a Skeleton type of node?

     

    Root cause: When a 'Skeleton' type node is selected as the "2. Chain End" the plugin can get confused about the node's beginning and end and how and what it should rotate. Thus, the plugin may fold all the skeleton's child nodes in on themselves.
    Workaround: When you want to use multiple rigged objects in a single chain, the "2. Chain End" should be a child node within the second rigged object (e.g. hip). Not the 'Skeleton' of the second figure.
    . Not applicable to latest version 2.9

     

    Post edited by surreal on
  • surrealsurreal Posts: 169
    edited September 8

    My memory is not as good as it used to be blush

    The distance between a figure's root node point (skeleton's point of origin) and the Hip node point can make it problematic to use figures within a stickychain.

    The StickyChain plugin works best with evenly spaced links (distance between the nodes within the chain of nodes). When the distances between the nodes vary significantly, the plugin may not position the end node on the StickyChain node and the chain curve may be twisted or kinked.

    For best results, when using figures as sub componts within a StickyChain;
    1. Before parenting the figure, poition it so that figure's root node is about the same distance from the node it will be parented to as that node is from its parent node (i.e. evenly spaced nodes).
    2. If the hip is included in the StickyChain chain of nodes, position the figure's hip node about the same distance from the figure's root node as the distance between the other nodes within the chain (i.e. evenly spaced nodes). This is not required if the figure's root node is the "2. Chain End" of the stickychain.

    Root cause: StickyChain works best with evenly spaced nodes.
    Workaround: When using a figure as links within a StickyChain of nodes, make sure the distance between the figures root node and its parent and the distance between hip node and the figures root node are roughly the same as the distances between the other nodes within the chain.    

    Post edited by surreal on
  • AndrewJJPAndrewJJP Posts: 720

    i bought this plugin. I was fully aware that it doesn't have any chain assets. Apart from making my own, can someone suggest something that looks like a chain and works with it?

    I'd hoped the chain that comes with this might work...

    https://www.daz3d.com/ball-and-chain

    But it produces an error. I'm going to be unhelpful and say I'm not currently at the PC, so it it was supposed to work, I can't recall what the error was (something about the end node not being suitable I think). If that was expected to work, I'll report back. But if not, then what else could I use?

     

    Thanks!

  • surrealsurreal Posts: 169

    AndrewJJP said:

    i bought this plugin. I was fully aware that it doesn't have any chain assets. Apart from making my own, can someone suggest something that looks like a chain and works with it?

    I'd hoped the chain that comes with this might work...

    https://www.daz3d.com/ball-and-chain

    But it produces an error. I'm going to be unhelpful and say I'm not currently at the PC, so it it was supposed to work, I can't recall what the error was (something about the end node not being suitable I think). If that was expected to work, I'll report back. But if not, then what else could I use?

     

    Thanks!

     Hi AndrewJJP,

    StickyChain should work with the 'Chain.cr2' and 'Ball And Chain.cr2' assets in https://www.daz3d.com/ball-and-chain

    TIP: If the chain disappears when you enable the StickyChain, press Ctrl+Z(Undo) then move either the StickyChain node or the Root node. The problem is if the StickyChain node and the node assigned as the Root of the StickyChain are both at the same location the plugin can get confused about how to arrange the links across a zero distance.

    When you do get some time let me know what the error you are getting is, and I will investigate.

    The promo images and videos were created using some of the assets from

    SY dForce Ropes, Vines and Tubes
    Collars and Leashes for Daz Dog(s) 8

    I will try to find some time today or tomorrow to compile a list of other products that will work.

  • barbultbarbult Posts: 24,407

    STRINGS has a nice chain that works well with Sticky Chain. https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/8004501/#Comment_8004501

    Afew posts down from that is a small video of those chains animated.

  • AndrewJJPAndrewJJP Posts: 720

    barbult said:

    STRINGS has a nice chain that works well with Sticky Chain. https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/comment/8004501/#Comment_8004501

    Afew posts down from that is a small video of those chains animated.

    Thanks very much!

  • AndrewJJPAndrewJJP Posts: 720

    surreal said:

    AndrewJJP said:

    i bought this plugin. I was fully aware that it doesn't have any chain assets. Apart from making my own, can someone suggest something that looks like a chain and works with it?

    I'd hoped the chain that comes with this might work...

    https://www.daz3d.com/ball-and-chain

    But it produces an error. I'm going to be unhelpful and say I'm not currently at the PC, so it it was supposed to work, I can't recall what the error was (something about the end node not being suitable I think). If that was expected to work, I'll report back. But if not, then what else could I use?

     

    Thanks!

     Hi AndrewJJP,

    StickyChain should work with the 'Chain.cr2' and 'Ball And Chain.cr2' assets in https://www.daz3d.com/ball-and-chain

    TIP: If the chain disappears when you enable the StickyChain, press Ctrl+Z(Undo) then move either the StickyChain node or the Root node. The problem is if the StickyChain node and the node assigned as the Root of the StickyChain are both at the same location the plugin can get confused about how to arrange the links across a zero distance.

    When you do get some time let me know what the error you are getting is, and I will investigate.

    The promo images and videos were created using some of the assets from

    SY dForce Ropes, Vines and Tubes
    Collars and Leashes for Daz Dog(s) 8

    I will try to find some time today or tomorrow to compile a list of other products that will work.

    Thanks, I'll get back to you. I'll also double-check I have the latest, but I'll still let you know if an upgrade fixed it.

  • surrealsurreal Posts: 169

    Thank you barbult

    This is by no means an exhaustive list of all, it is just the few I have looked at

    Asset             Product           Author             Link
    Chain.duf        Strings            Mechasar        https://www.daz3d.com/strings
    Bramble.duf    Strings            Mechasar       
    Flex.duf          Strings            Mechasar       
    Liana.duf        Strings            Mechasar       
    Lights.duf       Strings            Mechasar       
    Neon.duf        Strings            Mechasar       
    Rope.duf        Strings            Mechasar       
    Tube.duf        Strings            Mechasar       
    Tape.duf        Strings            Mechasar         
    NOTES: There are limits on some 'base' nodes, rotate the base node manually to remove unusual kinks in shape when using StickyChain.

    MVCK 10-Link Iron Chain.duf        Medieval Village Construction Kit    The Alchemist    https://www.daz3d.com/medieval-village-construction-kit
    MVCK 8-Link Iron Chain.duf          Medieval Village Construction Kit    The Alchemist   
    MVCK Chain Shackle Large.duf    Medieval Village Construction Kit    The Alchemist   
    MVCK Chain Shackle Small.duf    Medieval Village Construction Kit    The Alchemist   

    SYSG3 01 Chain Small.duf          Shackled! Genesis 3    SickleYield2016    https://www.daz3d.com/shackled-genesis-3
    SYSG3 Ball And Chain Left.duf    Shackled! Genesis 3    SickleYield2016   
    SYSG3 Ball And Chain Right.duf  Shackled! Genesis 3    SickleYield2016   

    SYSG3 08 Ball And Chain.duf      Shackled! Genesis 8    SickleYield2018    https://www.daz3d.com/shackled-for-genesis-8

    VGED Pocketwatch Chain ZERO.duf           Victorian Gentleman's Evening Dress for Genesis 8 and 8.1 Males    The Alchemist    https://www.daz3d.com/victorian-gentlemans-evening-dress-for-genesis-8-and-81-males
    VGED Watch & Chain - Jacket Pocket.duf   Victorian Gentleman's Evening Dress for Genesis 8 and 8.1 Males    The Alchemist   
    VGED Watch & Chain - Vest Pocket.duf      Victorian Gentleman's Evening Dress for Genesis 8 and 8.1 Males    The Alchemist   
    VGED Watch in Hand.duf                           Victorian Gentleman's Evening Dress for Genesis 8 and 8.1 Males    The Alchemist   

    Rustic Rope Reins.duf                Rustic Cart and Yoke for Daz Horse 3    Sixus1    https://www.daz3d.com/rustic-cart-and-yoke-for-daz-horse-3

    SYRTDF Rope 01 Small.duf           SY dForce Ropes, Vines and Tubes    SickleYield    https://www.daz3d.com/sy-dforce-ropes-vines-and-tubes
    SYRTDF Rope 02 Small Med.duf    SY dForce Ropes, Vines and Tubes    SickleYield   
    SYRTDF Rope 03 Med.duf             SY dForce Ropes, Vines and Tubes    SickleYield   
    SYRTDF Rope 04 Med Long.duf     SY dForce Ropes, Vines and Tubes    SickleYield   
    SYRTDF Rope 05 Long.duf            SY dForce Ropes, Vines and Tubes    SickleYield   
    SYRTDF Rope 06 Extra Long.duf   SY dForce Ropes, Vines and Tubes    SickleYield   
    SYRTDF Rope 07 Coil.duf             SY dForce Ropes, Vines and Tubes    SickleYield   
    SYRTDF Rope 08 Room Set 01 Pipes 01.duf        SY dForce Ropes, Vines and Tubes    SickleYield   

    Dog Leash.duf        Collars and Leashes for Daz Dog(s) 8    Daz 3D    https://www.daz3d.com/collars-and-leashes-for-daz-dogs-8

    10ft Chain.cr2      10ft Easy Pose Chain    BionicRooster

    Cable Segment.cr2     Cable And Chains    Pappy

  • surrealsurreal Posts: 169
    edited October 6

    The issue regarding the StickyChain and the node set as the '1. Chain Root' at the same scene location
    is a more significant issue than I initially thought. For a few assets node combinations pressing Ctrl+Z(Undo) will not restore the assets visiblity. I will need to investigate a solution.

    ISSUE: If the StickyChain and the node set as its '1. Chain Root' are both at the same scene location when the StickyChain is set to Enabled. The plugin incorrectly sets the parameters on the node between '2. Chain End' and 1. Chain Root' to NAN, which causes the nodes to disappear from the scene.

    ROOT CAUSE: If  the StickyChain and the node set as its '1. Chain Root' are both at the same scene location the distance between them is zero. The zero distance will cause the plugin to fail to calculate the positions for the nodes between '2. Chain End' and 1. Chain Root'. It will set their X,Y,Z Rotate to NAN. On some it may also set their X,Y,Z Translate to NAN.

    WORKAROUND: Before setting the StickyChain to Enabled ("0. Enabled" to 'On') move the StickyChain or the '1. Chain Root' node (or any of its parent nodes) slightly so that the StickyChain and the node set as its '1. Chain Root' are not both at the same scene location.

    StickyChain bug zero distance 20241006.jpg
    404 x 271 - 36K
    Post edited by surreal on
  • AndrewJJPAndrewJJP Posts: 720
    edited October 6

    I got it to work. I think the issue may have been I was clicking on the root first rather than the end of the chain. It's fantastic!

    Post edited by AndrewJJP on
  • surrealsurreal Posts: 169

    AndrewJJP said:

    I got it to work. I think the issue may have been I was clicking on the root first rather than the end of the chain. It's fantastic!

    Great, thanks for letting me know Andrew.

    Now I just need to fix the zero distance problem.

  • AndrewJJPAndrewJJP Posts: 720

    surreal said:

    AndrewJJP said:

    I got it to work. I think the issue may have been I was clicking on the root first rather than the end of the chain. It's fantastic!

    Great, thanks for letting me know Andrew.

    Now I just need to fix the zero distance problem.

    No problem :)

  • surrealsurreal Posts: 169

    Hi, Any MacOS users with the StickyChain Plugin?

    Are you having any problems with the StickyChain Plugin with the latest version of Daz Studio (version 4.23) on MacOS?

    It tests ok for me on MacOS High Sierra, however that may not be representative of the full MACOS ecosystem.

    Regards
    surreal

  • ElorElor Posts: 1,665

    surreal said:

    Hi, Any MacOS users with the StickyChain Plugin?

    Are you having any problems with the StickyChain Plugin with the latest version of Daz Studio (version 4.23) on MacOS?

    I just tested it with Daz Studio PB 4.23.0.4 on MacOS Ventura (10.13) and it worked as intended.

  • surrealsurreal Posts: 169

    Elor said:

    surreal said:

    Hi, Any MacOS users with the StickyChain Plugin?

    Are you having any problems with the StickyChain Plugin with the latest version of Daz Studio (version 4.23) on MacOS?

    I just tested it with Daz Studio PB 4.23.0.4 on MacOS Ventura (10.13) and it worked as intended.

    Thank you Elor

  • surrealsurreal Posts: 169

    For whom it may be relevant.

    I find that a "Plugin failed to load" error message in the About Installed Plugins window usually indicates a corrupt .DYLIB (for Mac or .DLL for Windows) file.

    The first thing to try is to delete and reinstall the plugin.

        In DAZ Install Manager in the 'Installed' tab, select the plugin and select uninstall. - This will remove the plugin file from the DAZ Studio plugin folder however, the corruption may have originated from the downloaded package.
        After it has been uninstalled, then select it in the 'Ready to Install' tab, and click on the three dots on the right and select the Delete package option. - This will delete the downloaded plugin package from the DAZ Package Archive folder on your computer.
        After the package has been delete, then click on the Refresh button at the top of the Install Manager window. - When Install Manager refreshes it will compare your current downloaded packages with the list of packages available to you on the DAZ server.
        The plugin package should reappear in the 'Ready to Download' tab. - Deleting the previously downloaded package means that it will then appear in the list of packages available for you to download.
        Select it and reinstall.

    If the problem persists contact the developer via forum pages like this one or direct (i.e via the messaging system associated with the DAZ Forums, cog icon in upper right of this forum page > Inbox > New Message)
    External email can be a very unreliable means of communication.

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