thinkingParticles introduces a new category of helper nodes; Geometry access helpers. In many situations, when creating advanced special effects, there is a need to query about object states and such queries can go even down to the face or vertex level of an object. The Geometry helper is specifically designed to do that.
ON - (Bool) This input data
stream determines whether the operator is considered 'on' or 'off.' You
can connect other operators to this input channel such as a Bool
Helper to activate/deactivate the whole operator.
Time - (Time) This input data stream is used to define the local
time for the operator when the user wants to override the default system
time.
Objects - this port is used to feed one or many Objects into this operator to generate a object connection one must use the Object helper which offers an object output type
Object ID - sets the object ID for the object to be used from the list of objects, connected at the Objects input. Note: If this is not connected, the first object will be taken, only.
Number of Faces - outputs the number of faces from the selected (Object ID) object from the list of objects fed into the Objects input port.
Number Vertices - outputs the number of faces from the selected (Object ID) object from the list of objects fed into the Objects input port.
Size - outputs the size of the object. This vector represents the bounding box of the object in X,Y,Z space.
Surface Area - outputs the total surface area amount of the object.
Node - outputs the 3ds Max Node, if this is 0 then this is a particle
Particle - outputs the particle ID if this object is a Particle
There is no menu or UI options available.