TRUESPACE - CONSTRAINTS
Constraints

March 2 2008
Update v1.11
remove constraint was incomplete after v1.1 update
added active flag to constraints

February 28 2008
Update v1.1
Fix crash when scene saved with new name
Point constraint now works with IK handles
New calculations for Rotation and general Constraints to work better with group objects

new alternate way to select constrainor and constrainee(easier for subobject selection)
1. check preStore to use the new selection method
2. select the constrainee object and then click the constrainee button
3. select the constrainor object and then click the constrainor button
4. push the add constraint button


Tank Girl with feet point constrained to pedals
pedals parented to crank and crank parented to wheel
click picture for video(303Kb, wmv 320x240)
Constraints are used to control the motion of one object with another object's motion.  You can have one object follow the rotation or translation of another object and the "follow me" effect can be restricted to specific axes.  Several objects can be used to control one object.  Each control object has a weight assigned in the controlled object so that they can share control and transfer control amongst them.  The translation also has the option to maintain the current object's location while applying the constraint.  One object can control several others, but a controlled object can have only one each of the 3 constraint scripts discussed below.  Each script has a remove constraint function that will remove all the constraints from an object.

If key frame animation is applied to the controlled(constrained) object then specific key values will need to be deleted.  If you constrain an object in Z and then add key frames to the object, the Z portion of the matrix key frames will have to be deleted, otherwise the constraint is ignored during the animation.

It is difficult concept to explain so video demonstrations are available for download below.  Click the pictures for the videos and the script objects.
Rotation Constraints
Green cube constrained by the rotations of the blue and red cubes.
Click the picture for a video demonstration(6MB, WMV, 3:01).

The Rotation Constraint will cause the constrained object to follow another objects rotation values. Select the object to be controlled then select the controlling object and run the script.  One object can have several objects controlling it.  To remove the constraint select the constrained object and choose remove constraint.

Download the script here.click the picture
Point Constraints
Green cube constrained by the translations of the blue and red cubes.
Click the picture for a video demonstration(3.5MB, WMV, 3:29).

The Point Constraint will cause the constrained object to follow another objects translation values. Select the object to be controlled then select the controlling object and run the script.  One object can have several objects controlling it.  To remove the constraint select the constrained object and choose remove constraint.  This constraint is compatible with IK handles.

Download the script here.click the picture
Constraints
Several colored shapes constrained by the white torus.
Click the picture for a video demonstration.(2 MB, WMV, 2:25)

The Constraint will cause the constrained object to follow another objects rotation and translation values. It is like a combination of point and rotation constraints.  Select the object to be controlled then select the controlling object and run the script.  One object can have several objects controlling it.  To remove the constraint select the constrained object and choose remove constraint.

Download the script here.click the picture