How to use the Automatic Curtains base

The following instructions assume you are already familiar with the basics of cloning objects, and that you can either remesh or recolour already.  There is no reason in capable hands why this base should not be turned into functioning blinds, shutters, or even an awning.

The way the object works is that it has two mesh subsets - Open and Closed.  Both meshes are actually there on screen all the time, but when the curtain is open, the Closed mesh has an invisible material applied, and when the curtain is closed, the Open mesh has an invisible material applied.   The mesh that is supposed to be showing at the time has the texture applied so you can see it.

There are two base object files, one holds the mesh that you have when you mount the curtains on a straight (grid-aligned) wall, and the other smaller file holds the mesh for the curtain you would have if you mounted it on a diagonal wall.   The reason the straight curtain file is larger is that it contains the textures that are shared by both.  These curtains can be recoloured in the normal way, and you only need to colour the straight curtain in order for the diagonal to pick up the new colour also.   You do not need to read any further in order to create a recolour.

For making a new mesh:

1.  Clone both straight and diagonal curtain objects if you want your own creation to have a diagonal version.  Allow SimPe to select the default tick boxes for cloning.   If  you are only going to bother making a straight-wall curtain or blind, then you can forget there was ever a diagonal object - apart from the one small step that is shown in the first illustration.  Give each new clone a new GUID, as usual, and change your catalogue description and price if you want.

2.  Open the Object Data file inside the straight curtain package

2a.  If you are not intending to provide a diagonal version, simply set the entries shown inside the red box below to "0".   Now go and create your new mesh.  Goodbye, have fun!

2b.  If you are doing a diagonal for your object, set the values indicated below to show the GUID of the diagonal object

3.  Then open the Object Data file inside the diagonal curtain package.  Enter the GUID for the straight curtain mesh where shown.

4.  Now you need to do something to tell the diagonal curtains where to find their material and texture, which they share with the straight curtains.  Load a second instance of SimPe and have the cloned diagonal curtains open in one, and the cloned straight curtains open in the other.

Each package contains a Shape file.   You need to copy some data in it from the straight curtain to the diagonal curtain.

Open the Shape file in the diagonal curtain, open the Content tab, and then the Parts tab. You should find three entries there.  They must all be made to match the corresponding entries on your straight curtains.  As you select each one, the data for editing appears in the Material Definition File box.   My test data appears below, yours will say something different, I hope!

After doing that, you are ready to make and import your new meshes.

Automatic curtain base created by JWoods, Numenor and Inge Jones.  Contact Inge Jones in the first instance if you need support.