BaseTake Manual

Table of Contents

• About
• Access
• Allocation/Deallocation
• Navigation
• Marked
• Utility
• Overrides
  • BaseOverride
  • BaseOverrideGroup
  • Camera
  • Render Settings
• Userdata
• Utility
• Further Reading

About

A BaseTake object represents a take of the Take System. It stores BaseOverride objects that define how a specific entity is changed in the given take.

Access

BaseTake objects are returned from the BaseDocument via the TakeData object.

• TakeData::GetMainTake(): Returns the main take.
• TakeData::GetCurrentTake(): Returns the currently selected take.
• TakeData::SetCurrentTake(): Sets the given take as the current take.
• TakeData::GetTakeSelection(): Gets the selection of takes.

  // This example accesses the main take of the
  // given BaseDocument.
 
  // get take data
  TakeData* const takeData = doc->GetTakeData();
  if (takeData == nullptr)
    return maxon::UnexpectedError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
  // get the main take
  BaseTake* const mainTake = takeData->GetMainTake();
  if (mainTake == nullptr)
    return maxon::UnexpectedError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);

Allocation/Deallocation

A BaseTake is created and deleted using the TakeData object:

• TakeData::AddTake(): Adds a new take.
• TakeData::InsertTake(): Moves a take in the hierarchy.
• TakeData::DeleteTake(): Deletes the given take.

  // This example creates a new take and makes it the first child of the main take
 
  // get the main take
  BaseTake* const mainTake = takeData->GetMainTake();
  if (mainTake == nullptr)
    return maxon::UnexpectedError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
  // create new take
  BaseTake* const newTake = takeData->AddTake("this is a new take", nullptr, nullptr);
  if (newTake == nullptr)
    return maxon::OutOfMemoryError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
  takeData->InsertTake(newTake, mainTake, INSERT_UNDER);

Note

Always use TakeData::AddTake() to clone a take.

Navigation

Like many other entities takes are organized in a BaseList2D tree. One can use the typical functions to navigate that tree.

• BaseTake::GetNext(): Returns the next take in the row.
• BaseTake::GetPred(): Returns the previous take in the row.
• BaseTake::GetUp(): Returns the parent take if it exists.
• BaseTake::GetDown(): Returns the first child take if it exists.
• BaseTake::GetDownLast(): Returns the last child take.

  // This example loops through all takes that are direct child takes of the main take.
 
  // get main take
  const BaseTake* const mainTake = takeData->GetMainTake();
  // get first child
  const BaseTake* take = mainTake->GetDown();
  // loop through
  while (take != nullptr)
  {
    ApplicationOutput("Take Name: " + take->GetName());
    // get next take in the row
    take = take->GetNext();
  }

Marked

Takes can be marked in the Take Manager. This allows to render just a subset of all takes. The API allows to manage this marked state:

• BaseTake::SetChecked(): Sets the mark status.
• BaseTake::IsChecked(): Returns the mark status.

  // This example loops through the takes and inverts the checked state.
 
  BaseTake* take = mainTake->GetDown();
  while (take != nullptr)
  {
    // get checked
    const Bool marked = take->IsChecked();
    // set inverted
    take->SetChecked(!marked);
    take = take->GetNext();
  }

Utility

• BaseTake::IsMain(): Returns true if the take is the main take.
• BaseTake::SearchHierarchy(): Returns true if the take is a child of the given take.

Overrides

BaseOverride

A BaseOverride defines the parameter changes for a specific object in a BaseTake. BaseOverrides are managed using methods of BaseTake:

• BaseTake::GetOverrides(): Returns the BaseOverrides of the take.
• BaseTake::FindOrAddOverrideParam(): Finds and if necessary creates an override for the given object and parameter.
• BaseTake::DeleteOverride(): Deletes a specific parameter override.
• BaseTake::FindOverride(): Returns the override if the given node is overridden.
• BaseTake::FindOverrideInHierarchy(): Returns the override for the given node and given parameter ID by searching the entire hierarchy.

  // This example searches for an existing override for the active object in the given take.
 
  BaseObject* const object = doc->GetActiveObject();
  if (object == nullptr)
    return maxon::IllegalArgumentError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
  BaseOverride* const baseOverride = take->FindOverride(takeData, object);
 
  if (baseOverride != nullptr)
  {
    ApplicationOutput("Found BaseOverride");
  }

Overrides can also be created automatically:

• BaseTake::OverrideNode(): Overrides all parameters of the passed node.
• BaseTake::AutoTake(): Compares the two given nodes and creates needed overrides.

  // This example creates a new take and overrides for the currently selected object.
 
  BaseObject* const activeObject = doc->GetActiveObject();
  if (activeObject == nullptr)
    return maxon::IllegalArgumentError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
  BaseTake* const newTake = takeData->AddTake("this is a new take", nullptr, nullptr);
  if (newTake == nullptr)
    return maxon::OutOfMemoryError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
  BaseOverride* const activeObjectOverride = newTake->OverrideNode(takeData, activeObject, false);
  if (activeObjectOverride == nullptr)
    return maxon::OutOfMemoryError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);

BaseTake::AutoTake() is especially useful to create the proper overrides when "Auto Take" is enabled. Just an unaltered clone of the changed object or the reference object from the undo stack is required:

  // This example edits the given sphere object.
  // If auto take is enabled, the current take is used.
 
  // undo object as reference
  // alternatively, on could access the undo cache with BaseDocument::GetUndoPtr() if applicable
  BaseObject* undoObject = static_cast<BaseObject*>(sphereObject->GetClone(COPYFLAGS::NONE, nullptr));
  if (undoObject == nullptr)
    return maxon::OutOfMemoryError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
  // edit the object
  sphereObject->SetParameter(ConstDescID(DescLevel(PRIM_SPHERE_RAD)), GeData(100.0), DESCFLAGS_SET::NONE);
 
  // check for autotake
  TakeData* const takeData = doc->GetTakeData();
 
  // check if auto take mode is enabled
  if (takeData && takeData->GetTakeMode() == TAKE_MODE::AUTO)
  {
    BaseTake* const currentTake = takeData->GetCurrentTake();
 
    // check if the given take is not the main take
    if (currentTake && !currentTake->IsMain())
    {
      currentTake->AutoTake(takeData, sphereObject, undoObject);
    }
  }
 
  // free the clone
  BaseObject::Free(undoObject);

BaseOverrideGroup

Override groups act like virtual null objects. They allow to add certain tags to a selection of objects.

• BaseTake::GetFirstOverrideGroup(): Returns the first override group of the take.
• BaseTake::AddOverrideGroup(): Adds an override group to the take.
• BaseTake::GetOverrideGroups(): Returns an array with all override groups of the take.
• BaseTake::DeleteOverrideGroup(): Deletes the given override group.

  // This example adds a new take and creates a new override group for all selected objects.
  // If a material with the name "Green" exists a texture tag referencing that material
  // is added to the override group.
 
  AutoAlloc<AtomArray> selectedObjects;
  if (selectedObjects == nullptr)
    return maxon::OutOfMemoryError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
  doc->GetActiveObjects(selectedObjects, GETACTIVEOBJECTFLAGS::NONE);
  if (selectedObjects->GetCount() == 0)
    return maxon::OK;
 
  // new take
  BaseTake* const take = takeData->AddTake("Green Objects", nullptr, nullptr);
  if (take == nullptr)
    return maxon::OutOfMemoryError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
  // create override group
  BaseOverrideGroup* const group = take->AddOverrideGroup();
  if (group == nullptr)
    return maxon::UnexpectedError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
  group->SetName("Green Material"_s);
 
  // if the material was found a texture tag should be added
  BaseMaterial* const mat = doc->SearchMaterial("Green"_s);
  if (mat != nullptr)
    group->AddTag(takeData, Ttexture, mat);
 
  // loop through all selected objects
  for (Int32 i = 0; i < selectedObjects->GetCount(); ++i)
  {
    BaseList2D* const element = static_cast<BaseList2D*>(selectedObjects->GetIndex(i));
    group->AddToGroup(takeData, element);
  }

Camera

Takes also manage the camera currently in use. These functions allow to set and get the camera used for a certain take:

• BaseTake::GetCamera(): Returns the camera used by this take which could also be the default camera or nullptr if the parent take's camera should be used.
• BaseTake::GetEffectiveCamera(): Returns the camera that is effectively used by the given take.
• BaseTake::SetCamera(): Sets the camera used for this take. nullptr means the parent take's settings should apply.

  // This example creates a new take for each currently selected camera object.
  // get the currently selected objects
 
  AutoAlloc<AtomArray> selectedObjects;
  if (selectedObjects == nullptr)
    return maxon::OutOfMemoryError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
  doc->GetActiveObjects(selectedObjects, GETACTIVEOBJECTFLAGS::NONE);
 
  // loop through all selected objects
  for (Int32 i = 0; i < selectedObjects->GetCount(); ++i)
  {
    C4DAtom* const element = selectedObjects->GetIndex(i);
    if (element == nullptr)
      return maxon::UnexpectedError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
    // check if the object is a camera object
    if (element->GetType() == Ocamera)
    {
      CameraObject* const camera = static_cast<CameraObject*>(element);
 
      // create a take for this camera object
 
      const String    takeName { "Take for camera " + camera->GetName() };
      BaseTake* const cameraTake = takeData->AddTake(takeName, nullptr, nullptr);
      if (cameraTake == nullptr)
        return maxon::OutOfMemoryError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
      // set this camera object as this take's camera
      cameraTake->SetCamera(takeData, camera);
    }
  }

Render Settings

Takes also manage render settings. As with the camera, it is possible to assign specific render settings to each take.

• BaseTake::GetRenderData(): Returns the assigned RenderData. Might be nullptr, if the parent take's render settings should be used.
• BaseTake::GetEffectiveRenderData(): Returns the effective RenderData.
• BaseTake::SetRenderData(): Sets the RenderData used with this Take. nullptr is used to reset.

  // This example gets the first RenderData and loops through all RenderData objects in that list.
  // This won't loop through all RenderData elements since it ignores
  // the child objects of these elements.
 
  RenderData* renderData = doc->GetFirstRenderData();
 
  while (renderData != nullptr)
  {
    // create new take
    const String    renderDataName = renderData->GetName();
    const String    takeName = "Take for RenderData " + renderDataName;
    BaseTake* const renderDataTake = takeData->AddTake(takeName, nullptr, nullptr);
    if (renderDataTake == nullptr)
      return maxon::OutOfMemoryError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
    // set this RenderData as this take's RenderData
    renderDataTake->SetRenderData(takeData, renderData);
 
    // get next element in the list
    renderData = renderData->GetNext();
  }

Userdata

A BaseTake can host userdata that can help to identify the take along the production pipeline. This userdata is managed using the default BaseList2D methods:

  // This example adds a new Boolean userdata parameter to the given BaseTake.
 
  // accesses the userdata of the given take
  DynamicDescription* const desc = take->GetDynamicDescriptionWritable();
  if (desc == nullptr)
    return maxon::UnexpectedError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
  // defines a new Boolean parameter
  BaseContainer bc = GetCustomDataTypeDefault(DTYPE_BOOL);
 
  bc.SetString(DESC_NAME, "Enable"_s);
  // creates the new userdata parameter
  const DescID userData = desc->Alloc(bc);
 
  // sets the value
  const GeData data { true };
  take->SetParameter(userData, data, DESCFLAGS_SET::NONE);

See also DynamicDescription Manual.

Utility

• BaseTake::Reset(): Resets all structures and overrides of the take.

  // This example resets the current take if it is not the main take
 
  BaseTake* const take = takeData->GetCurrentTake();
  if (take == nullptr)
    return maxon::UnexpectedError(MAXON_SOURCE_LOCATION);
 
  if (!take->IsMain())
    take->Reset();

Further Reading

• Scene Data Overview
• BaseDocument Manual
• Take System Overview
• TakeData Manual
• BaseOverride Manual
• BaseOverrideGroup Manual