Nodes

[nobody]

Hey everyone
I am really interested in learning about Nodes in Flash MX. I don't know if node are more than I think they are, but I'm talking about like the node gardens and stuff.. with the points and lines and stuff. Well anyway, if anyone knows a good link to somewhere to learn about them I would greatly appreciate it.
I'm also looking for some good drawing API tutorials, I've got a few, but it couldn't hurt to have more.

[lostinbeta]

www.bit-101.com has a tutorial.


I created this from it :)

http://www.lostinbeta.com/experimental/nodeGarden.html

[nobody]

wow lost that was fast
Definately gonna do some work on this..
I'm like super interested in learning AS right now for some reason..
probably cuz i just broke up with my girlfriend, and im depressed, and it gets my mind off things

lost... are you any good at this node thing? Like do you think I could come to you if i need help?

[lostinbeta]

Sorry to hear about you and your girlfriend... definitely sucks.


And whats to be good at? The tutorial explains everything about how to get the nodes idea working, all you would need to do is create your own effects from the nodes, and thats all up to you :P

[nobody]

lol alright
I haven't looked at it yet, im printing it off right now... yup girlfriend thing sucks..
hopefully ill have something cool to post in the next couple days..

[nobody]

man.. im already stuck.. what the heck

numNodes = 50;
for(i=0;i<numNodes;i++) {
node = attatchMovie("Node", "n"+i, i);
node._x = Math.random()*500;
node._y = Math.random()*300;
node._xscale=node._yscale=Math.random()*100+50;
}
any idea why that doesnt do diddly squat?

[nobody]

man im a dork
i spelled attach wrong

[lostinbeta]

lol..... :sure:

[nobody]

ok real problem this time

numNodes = 50;
nodez = [];
for(i=0;i<numNodes;i++) {
node = attachMovie("Node", "n"+i, i);
nodez[i] = node;
node._x = Math.random()*500;
node._y = Math.random()*300;
node._xscale=node._yscale=Math.random()*100+50;
}
mindist = 80;
for(i=0;i<nodez.length-1;i++) {
nodeA = nodez[i];
for(j=i+1;j<nodez.length;j++) {
nodeB = nodez[j];
dx = nodeB._x - nodeA._x;
dy = nodeB._y - nodeA._y;
dist = Math.sqrt(dx*dx*dy*dy);
if (dist<minDist) {
alpha = 100-dist/minDist*100;
lineStyle(1, 0xffffff, alpha);
moveTo(nodeA._x, nodeA._y);
lineTo(nodeB._x, nodeB._y);
}
if someone could just pop that into flash real quick.. does it come out really ugly for them.. like just a few straightish lines.. i have no idea why its being so retarded

[nobody]

I'm seriously like the most retarded person ever.. one little typo screws the whole thing up

well anywho.. I used a * in the Math.sqrt thing, instead of a +
sorry for wastin your time again

[nobody]

:beam:
http://www.xxviii.net/node.htm

[ahmed]

wow.. what do you know.. its now my turn to learn nodes..
i actually was gonna read the tutorial a few days ago but was kind of intimidated for some reason.. but if xxviii can do it, i can too ;) :P

[ahmed]

oh.. it was very porcessor intensive though... :)

[nobody]

awww thanks for the backhanded compliment ahmed.. lol
you spelled my name wrong too.. grr
and i didnt actually do anything.. i just followed throug the tutorial
my big break was changing the color of the lines.. lol

I'm gonna screw with it soon tho
man.. these are awesome

[nobody]

yeah.. it was.. i wonder what I should do.. just make it have like 2 nodes lol..
It actually has 28 cuz im all symbolic or something

::shuts up and goes to change it::

[nobody]

It should be a lot better now

[lostinbeta]

I implemented my own random motion code into mine.... it was fun :)

Good work though man :)

[ahmed]

runs much smoother now :)

[nobody]

Yeah I'm already thinking about like integrating like the snow falling thing or something.

I know mine has no originality at all or anything, I just wanted to finish it. But this is definately gonna be something to play with for a long time

[nobody]

Lost I just saw yours
man, it's really cool.. I like how it all comes from one direction like that
That's what I'm gonna try to do.. well not that exactly, obviously, but my own motion thing

[upuaut]

just for the record.. they are called "vectors". Nodes are objects on an XML tree. Just in case you're asking someone and you say nodes and they have no clue what you're talking about. :)

[nobody]

oh.. so I should call this a vector garden?
That confuses me, because bit calls its nodes, and so does levitated, and they're uber smart. Where did they get mis informed? Hrmmmmm..

[upuaut]

It's just the term they use. Believe me.. they are no more or less smart than you or I.
besides.. most people do not take the care that I do in how I speak about Flash. My goal is to teach in the standard method used by people like Moock. That is to say.. since there is something called a node which is in the xml object, it is bad form to call something else a node, when another name would also suffice.
Don't get me wrong. I have the utmost respect for both Levitated and bit, but that doesn't mean that they are correct.

[lostinbeta]

Im sorry I have to "disagree" david. Well... I can't actually disagree, since you can call them whatever you want, call them little ball thingies for all I care...lol. But thats not the point, the term "node" was used for this tutorial for the simple fact that a "node" by actual definition is a point that connects two or more areas. As you see in this tutorial, as the nodes get closer, the line that connects the nodes get brighter, and the further they are, the lighter they get and break.

So technically the use of the term "node" is correct in this case.


Ive never heard the term vectors for this either.... may I ask where you heard that? I am intrigued :)

[nobody]

Oh, well this is confusing
I'm gonna go for vector node

[upuaut]

lol.. That's ok lost we can disagree about such things. It's all style of teaching.

a vector is a point which defines an angle between two vertices. It is the basis of vector art programs like Flash.

You're quite correct that node IS a proper term for what was constructed.. I don't deny that, but it doesn't detract from why I wouldn't call them nodes. They are both vectors and nodes, but the term vector is not used for any other objects in Flash, where as node is.. as in "myXML.cloneNode(deep)";

It's just a preference.

Let me ask it this way. If you were to ask Colin Moock if he could help you out with nodes. What do you think he would assume you were talking about? :)

[upuaut]

I do admit that I was being a bit pompus about correcting the terminology though. Me sorry. :)

[lostinbeta]

Originally posted by david
a vector is a point which defines an angle between two vertices. It is the basis of vector art programs like Flash.


Let me ask it this way. If you were to ask Colin Moock if he could help you out with nodes. What do you think he would assume you were talking about? :)


Thanks for the info on a what a vector is... I never knew that =)


And you are right, if someone asked for help with nodes itself it would imply XML in Flash. In this case 28 mentioned the node garden, which made me automatically know what he was talking about.

[nobody]

Wow, I had no idea all this name terminology stuff actually mattered. It's ok tho, I named it a Vector Node expiriment because I love both of you just so much and wouldn't want to offend either of you.:love:
or something..
yeah..
thanks for the info guys:beam:

[upuaut]

:)