[Bf-python] Contrib Addon Review: Mesh Select Tools

[Campbell Barton]

Committed mesh option to select-similar so you can select greater or
less-then when selecting similar area/length/polygon-sides, etc.

AFAICS this removes need for addons mesh_select_by_edge_length.py and
mesh_select_by_edge_length.py.

On Tue, Oct 30, 2012 at 1:16 AM, Campbell Barton <ideasman42 at gmail.com> wrote:
> #################
> Mesh Select Tools
> #################
>
> As with previous addons, these are in fact many addons grouped into one,
>
> In general I found these are very close to blenders internal tools, so
> close infact I wonder if the authors
> were aware of some of blender selection tools when writing.
>
> Also, as far as I can tell all these addons go out of editmode to
> operate on the selection, then go back in.
>
> with the bmesh module this is no longer needed --- adapting simple
> selection scripts for use with bmesh isnt hard.
>
> Doing this is preferable before including in trunk.
>
>
> mesh_index_select.py & mesh_select_by_pi.py
> -------------------------------------------
>
> Select index and select psudo random (based on pi),
>
> I'd prefer not to include these addons and add these as options to the
> select random operator.
>
> Having random modes [None / Index / Psudo-Random / Random<-- DEFAULT]
> is really trivial.
>
>
> mesh_info_select.py
> -------------------
>
> Counting geometry on every redraw (from python), is just too slow and
> will interfere with workflow on higher poly models.
>
> Would suggest to have a tool that is more comprehensive and runs from
> a menu/button rather then on every redraw.
>
> This tool could show a popup reporting on the current mesh with
> surface area, sorted by material - number of ngons, number of concave
> ngons... number of manifold edges, free-standing verts, zero area
> faces ... whatever.
>
> Alternately - we could add tri/quad/ngons functionality into blender,
> though the header is already quite crammed - just saying it could be
> done in a way which isnt't performing slow.
>
>
>
> mesh_select_by_direction.py
> ---------------------------
>
> This functionality is too similar to "Select Grouped" (Shift+G)
> - Vertex Normal
> - Edge Direction
> - Face Normal
>
> I can't see any point in having this addon.
>
>
>
> mesh_select_by_edge_length.py
> -----------------------------
>
> Shift+G, Edge Length
>
> BUT - this tool only has option for selecting similar lengths, to
> match this addon we would need to add options
> Greate/Less/Equal - I think these options would be handy & worth adding.
>
>
>
> mesh_select_by_type.py
> ----------------------
>
> Selects 3/4/5+ sided faces...
>
> We already have Mesh "Select -> By Number of verts"
> Would prefer to add greater/less/equal option to this operator, then
> there is no need for this addon.
>
>
> mesh_select_checkered.py
> ------------------------
>
> What does this offer that "Select -> Ever N Number of Verts" does not?
> though perhaps "Checkered" is a better name.
>
>
>
> mesh_select_connected_faces.py
> ------------------------------
>
> How's this more useful then Ctrl-Pluskey?
>
>
> mesh_select_innermost.py
> ------------------------
>
> How's this more useful then Ctrl-Minus?
>
> This needs updating for bmesh too, it uses '.faces'
>
>
>
> mesh_selection_topokit.py
> -------------------------
>
> This is the only tool IMHO that is different/useful enough to be included,
> the author obviously put a lot of thaught into how the tool works.
>
> Id like to see it ported to bmesh py api (it probably has a lot to
> gain with connectivity info).
>
> So, would accept but would also do some code review here if the author
> 'dustractor' is available.
> with bmesh it could probably avoid to cache data between calling.
>
>
> --
> - Campbell



-- 
- Campbell