Fiber 2.03 Guide - Installation

Installation Issues

Proper installation of the Fiber script requires that you have the correct version of Python installed, as well as the proper version of the dynoise module; Note: (The dynoise module is only neccessary for Blender versions prior to 2.33):

Blender/Python versions:

If you're using Blender version 2.33 or above, the dynoise functionality is now part of Blender, so you don't need to worry about this. The neccessary Python library files are included in the zip files, but you may still need to download Python from http://www.python.org

Note: For Blender versions 2.33 to the current (June, 2005) Blender version 2.37, the recommended Python version is 2.35 .

If you're using Blender 2.23 to 2.32, you must install Eeshlo's dynoise module (included in .zip) in the same directory as Blender's executable.

- for Blender versions 2.23 to 2.25, move the dynoise.dll (windows) or dynoise.so(Linux) from the root directory of the zip archive to your Blender directory.

- for Blender versions 2.26 to 2.32, use the dynoise.dll (windows only) from the "2.26 to 2.32" directory If you're using any version of Blender on OSX, or 2.26 or higher on Linux, you'll need to use the dynoise.py module (slower, sorry)

CREATE A REFERENCE TO PYTHON-

Read the thread "How to set your PYTHONPATH 101" at: http://www.elysiun.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7723

Please read all the instructions in the README text file contained in the zip before running the script.

Standard Fiber 2.03 Script Installation

As mentioned above, the necessary Python library files required to run Fiber 2.03 are included in the Fiber 2.03 zip file. However, I would recommend that you make the leap and install the full Python 2.35 version, since there are a large number of valuable Python scripts that require a full Python installation to work properly.

Once you have Python installed and properly configured, copy the three Fiber 2.03 script files: Fiber2.py, FiberAnim.py, and FiberGUI.py to the scripts directory. For a default Blender install in Windows XP this would be :
C:\Program Files\Blender Foundation\Blender\.blender\scripts

*Note: The location of your scripts directory will depend on your OS and the installation options you selected when you installed Blender. If you chose to install to a different directory for your scripts, you will need to adjust this accordingly.

The next step is to let Blender know where it should search for the Python scripts that we just installed.

First, save any work that you may have been working on in Blender. Ensure that you have a default Blender file loaded by pressing Ctrl_x, and confirming the prompt. Next lower the top divider bar to reveal the Information window, and press the 'File Paths' button. Click the little file icon to the right of the 'Python' text button and browse to the scripts directory. Press [Enter] to load the directory into the Text button. Drag the divider bar back up to hide the Information window, and then press Ctrl_u to save it as your default blend file.

Script Window Operation

It is possible to run Fiber 2.03 from the script window (as opposed to the standard method of running it from a text window) by adding some meta data/header text to the FiberGui.py file. Here's the steps to follow:

* 1. Open up FiberGui.py in your favorite text editor and add the following seven lines of text at the top of the script file:

#!BPY

"""
Name: 'Fiber Script v2.03'
Blender: 233
Group: 'Mesh'
Tip: 'Creates fibers.'
"""

* 2. If you were to run the FiberGUI.py script in its current state, you would get the following warnings in the DOS text console
(along with some beeps) :

Although the script still functions properly, people tend to get "unsettled" when they hear beeping sounds and see warning messages, so let's try to fix it.

As you can see from the text console the warnings are:
'Deprecation Warning: integer argument expected, got float' and appears to be caused by the lines
(in the modified FiberGui.py):

Line 320 sldControl.val = readfloat(f)
Line 321 sldCtrlSeg.val = readfloat(f)

The variables sldControl and sldCtrlSeg represent the slider controls for the 'Fiber Guides' and 'Fiber Guide Segments'. As you can see below in Figure 6, these variables are integers, not floats; so we simply need to modify the two lines in the FiberGUI script to read :

Line 320 sldControl.val = readint(f)
Line 321 sldCtrlSeg.val = readint(f)

Save the modified FiberGui.py to your scripts directory.

* 3. Open up Blender 2.37 and split the 3D Window into two side-by-side windows. Make the right window a script window. Left click the 'Scripts' menu item in the Scripts Window header and select the 'Update Menus' option at the top of the menu.