Production Switchers

Hi guys,

I want to set up a material to be bound to a datalinq source.

Text fields are updated,so the server connection is running.

What does Xpression expect to use a datalinq for a logo.

I used a complete datapath like: d:/Media/xy.tga

but it never dates uo.

What am I doing wrong?

Tom, did you try back-slashes instead?

#Vision

I tried. no change ;-(

#Vision

Tom,

If you copy and paste the file path that you are specifying in the data source to the Windows Explorer (the file explorer) address bar, does the image appear?

The file path must be exactly correct.

#Vision

Tom, I've had some experience with this in building WREX's election graphics. We use a base template with empty quads for headshots, then have "placeholder" materials set to those. The data coming through the datalinq is determined by us per candidate (i.e., Cheri Bustos will have the data CB-01). We then have a file called CB-01.png in a folder within the XPression project folder.

Using a fairly basic script, it grabs the data, searched up the file path to find that image, and assigns it as a shader to the "placeholder" material.

The trick was, we needed an empty material (we used 100% transparent .png's) assigned to each quad in order to get it to work.

Feel free and contact me if you have any questions. djensen@wrex.com

#Vision

There's is also another solution, by using the "Name" of the candidate as a base for the materials Image. I usually use a folder with all candidates headshots located on the XPression system. What you do is create 2 variables, one for the name text object and one for the material. The script will then use the name field set in the sequencer or MOS environment then add the .png file extension to it and then retrieve that image from a specified folder. As long as the images are named exactly as the name will apear then you'll have your material shown properly.

Neil Hopley

Wireframe Group

www.groupewireframe.com

514-261-4380

#Vision

Update with the script version we use:

dim PicTag as xpTextObject

dim Pic as xpBaseObject

dim PicMat as xpMaterial

dim PicShad as xpBaseShader

dim FilePath as String

dim i as Integer

For i = 1 to 4

Self.GetObjectByName("Pic Tag " & i, PicTag)

FilePath = Engine.ProjectPath & "Election Headshots" & PicTag.Text & ".png"

Self.GetObjectByName("Pic " & i, Pic)

Pic.GetMaterial(0, PicMat)

PicMat.GetShader(0, PicShad)

PicShad.SetFileName(FilePath)

Next i

#Vision

I usually work with datalinq textures. The datapath applied to an excel cell or a .txt

But take care that you will never see a refresh in layout mode or with Preview when you change the datapath in your excel or txt.

You will see when you send the take item to air, not before.

#Vision