Introduction
In this document we expect to give quick answers and to be an effective guide for the Henshin system and the SL Tools to achieve professional developments with, when possible, the less amount of effort.
- What is Henshin?
- Why another building tool?
- I already have Henshin II. Why could I want this new version?
- And if I've got Henshin II. Must I buy the new one?
- Why Autocad?
- And why not 3DMax?
- Can I use Henshin with Wings 3D?
- Can I use Henshin with Maya?
- Can I use Henshin with Blender?
- And why is it only for Autocad?
About Henshin
What is Henshin?
It's a system that allows to import designs made with Autocad and take them to SL in a (relatively) easy way.
It has two well defined parts:
- SLTools: program to use locally; they analyzes the design and generates the information that will be built in SL.
- Generators/HUD: they are used "in-world" and they allow the execution and modification of the designs.
Why another building tool?
In strict meaning Henshin is not a building tool but it works like an “interface” or a way to connect two completely different systems.
It isn't another SL building tool because of the fact that it's worthless if it isn't used with Autocad.
I already have Henshin II. Why could I want this new version?
Because it only has advantages and improves (a lot) the previous version:
- You won't need to install plugins into Autocad, them have been replaced by
a complete program compatible with all Autocad versions... the SLTools- Because you won't need to edit manually text files anymore (i.e. PrimDef) thanks to SLTools.
- Because now the primitives can be generated with modifiers and cuts.
- Because it offers an easy way to texturize while building.
- Because now its memory comsuption is lower and you won't find “stack heap collision” anymore.
- Because we can include “objects” (i.e. Furnitures) into the generator and will be positioned while building.
- Because, as well as the standard generator (with notecards), an Online generator
is available. You won't need to copy files to SL.- And we have improved is appearance and we won't have to use that “high” colored primitives.
And if I've got Henshin II. Must I buy the new one?
No, if you've bought Henshin II (not Demo version) the new “standard” version will be delivered to you and the only task you'll have to do is downloading the new SLTools.
Why Autocad?
Because it's the most used CAD program by architecture professionals and, over all, because we (AI Design Studio) use Autocad to design our projects.
We were fed up of having to build the designs in SL “by hand” when we had them yet availables in Autocad; we detested to have to measure using tools (or game interface) not as reliable as we wanted when, with 2 clicks in Autocad we had the correct values; we detested lag and the aligning errors (most times due to lag) when we had a perfect and well aligned design; and, over all, we detested to repeat so many times the work and losing hours putting “bricks” instead of using our time in a more creative way (guessing shapes in the clouds, for example).
We can resume saying that laziness took us to develop Henshin and it is too close to truth.
And why not 3DMax?
For the same reason that, for example, Linden has created the Sculpted prims the way they did: because it is the thing we know and master.
This doesn't mean we'll forget the designers that use 3DMax. It's only we didn't have time to dedicate it to every program that exists in the world.
One secret: we want SLTools can analyze and encode 3DMax designs, but there is still a long way for this to be effective.
Can I use Henshin with Wings 3D?
No. Henshin is used with Autocad.
Can I use Henshin with Maya?
No. Henshin is used only with Autocad.
Can I use Henshin with Blender?
No. Henshin is used only and exclusively with AUTOCAD.
And why is it only for Autocad?
Hell no!!! I think I'm having a dejá vú.
Design with Henshin
Is it suitable for any version of Autocad?
We have tested it with 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 versions and we think we cover most common used versions.
Is it suitable for any design of Autocad?
No, it is neccesary to adjust it like Design Guide says.
Henshin will only try to analyze “block references” and normally the design with Autcad are based on lines and line extrusions.
Have I to adjust my designs then?
Yes, you have to “fill” the gaps with blocks, always without exceeding the maximun and minimun sizes established by SL.
For example: you can't use a block of 35 meters long and expect it to get generated in SL. The maximun size is 10 meters.
What knowledge must I have to use Henshin?
First of all you must know Autocad. With minimun knowledge it can be used (in fact me, Impalah, have achieved to insert some blocks and them worked, and I am really a dummie with CAD and 3D programs). But you will achieve the best results if you master the tool and if you think that you can do all the procedures of the Henshin documentation by yourself.
It wouldl be better to have knowledge about the way to build in SL, knowing its limitations and the way prims behave in-world.
And, if possible, some good taste is always welcome...
This is rubbish. It doesn't export directly
The Miracles and Impossibles Department is on second floor.
That's a swindle, you have promised that we can export the designs directly.
No, someone has a misunderstood or someone lies you.
You can check the videos, documentation or news and we have never said that Henshin is a Divine Intervention over SL.
Henshin is a tool, it requires a working method (not too difficult) and knowledge about Autocad and SL.
For the rest... RTFM
Working with Henshin
What do I need to work with Henshin?
- Autocad.
- SLTools (it can be downloaded from the AI Design Studio web page for free).
- The Henshin documentation (available on the web too).
- The generator, both the “standard” (that uses notecards) or the Online generator (that upload designs directly using internet).
Which is the “usual” work sequence with Henshin?
I will try to minimize it to a sequence of easy points
- 1.Read the Design Guide
- 2.Insert the appropiate blocks and set the values needed in their properties.
- 3.With the design open launch the SLTools program.
- 4.Use the “connect” button so the design is analyzed.
- 5.Launch the “Primitive Editor” plugin and set ALL the required values to associate Autocad blocks with SL primitives.
- 6.Lauch the “Autocad Encoder” plugin to generate the building files.
- 7.Optionally set the textures for the primitives of every layer (Textures plugin).
- 8.Use the “standard” generator or the Net Generator to operate with the design by the way indicated by their respective guides.
- 9.Enjoy the moment of building.
Hey!!! My buildings have Impalah Shenzhou as creator!!!
Of course you haven't read the manual.
It's neccesary to “rebuild” the “prim_base” object inside the generator because it is delivered by default with a prim_base whose creator it's me.
Although it is the first point of the Operation Manual I'll resume here the steps to do in SL.
- Rezz the object “prim_base” from the generator's contents and drag the script “pieces” inside it to the inventory.
- Rezz an empty prim form the Build menu.
- Set the prim name as “prim_base” (w/o quotes).
- Drag the “pieces” script to the Contents tab of the prim. The faces of the prim will be texturized.
- Give all the permisions to the primitive (MOD, COPY, TRANS).
- Save this prim in the inventory.
- Check the permissions on the saved prim and, if any lost, set it ( SL bug).
- Open the Henshin generator and go to the contents tab.
- Delete the object “prim_base”
- Drag the new prim_base object to the contents tab of the generator.
- Check permission again. Even if it says it is “no mod”, don't worry, it only must be checked. (SL Bug again)
- Once the prims are rezzed the permissions will be right.
I hate copying Notecards...
We too, and we have created the Henshin Net Generator to avoid it.
With the SLTools you get a program called Online Builder. We have only to select the folder where the building files are and set the “address” of the Henshin Net Generator and we'll have a complete HUD with the same characteristics as the SL Henshin Hud.
Net Generator is slow
We know, it is still in development phase but it is the future of Henshin.
You must consider that data is sent through internet in 256 characters blocks. A single design can exceed 2000 characters (and we don't include texture data) and adding to this that we have to wait response from SL... here is the slowness.
We can't (still) control correctly the layers state (visible, phantom, etc.) and we have decided (by now) not to overload communications and increase waiting times getting these kind of data.
But we think the advantage of not having to copy notes every time a design changes is worthwhile.
About the future
Is there any easiest way to design with Autocad?
Yes, there is, we could use the new 3D solid management of Autocad 2007 and higher; we could use the new 3D file format, Collada, even, which is implemented in many design tools.
We didn't do it becaus we prefer to have a tool here and now, functional and covering the needs of the maximun number of Autocad users because we know it is the CAD program most used by professionals.
We are working on the way to maintain backward compatibility and include the new methods and design programs (CAD and 3D) so you only have to wait.
Some of us use Linux and Mac...
We sorry but in this moment we can't do everything compatible with anything; we've choose the lesser of two evils: to attend to Windows users (we are really sorry but they are majority).
We'll try to make the next versions compatible with the highest number of systems.
Open Source or not Open Source
Yes open source, but not yet.
We need to pay off some of the time we spend for the Henshin development and we believe that we offer the tools to a very reasonable price (less than 3 beers cost).
Just a little patience, everything will arrive.
About AI Design Studio
Who are you?
We are two: pretty, smart and without any kind of modesty.
- Asha Eerie, is Architect and Designer (both rl and sl) and she was who get sick aligning prims an measuring distances “by hand”. She discovered the way to link Autocad with the SL primitives and she was in charge of giving a good look to Henshin. Also, she will be the one you'll find more time attending queries in SL and through the forums.
- Impalah Shenzhou is Programmer and Systems Analyst in rl. His responsability in Henshin was to made it work and “usable”. He is the responsible of all of those windows with cryptic messages that can appear in the application and, in his free time, makes demo videos with tacky music to help people to lose time in Youtube.
Translations are awful
And we aren't english-speaking...
Sometimes is annoying to haven't time to make correct translations; our “mother language” is spanish (castilian) and most of times we find that there are concepts that we don't know how to express them in english.
If you find any serious mistake or any “too dark” concept, please tell us so we can correct it.
