Vex Snippets & Tools

/*
Script:     connectAdjacent
Version:    2.1
Author:     Ceyhan Kapusuz
ver_1_0     01.06.2018
ver_2.0     27.11.2025 +codeCleanup
ver_2.1     01.2025 +refactoring and improvements
The script connectAdjacent connects points in a point cloud with polylines (primitives) based on the following rules:

Points are connected if they are within a defined search radius (minSearchRadius-maxSearchRadius) 
Points are only connected if they belong to different classes 
Points are not connected if they are already neighbors 
If the targetPt attribute exists, connections are only made externally 

UseCase: 
Generating procedural geometry between points in a point cloud.
Creating connections between points while respecting grouping (via the class attribute)
*/

float minSearchRadius = ch("minSearchrad");
float maxSearchRadius = ch("maxSearchrad");
int maxConnections = chi("maxconnection");

int usePoints = chi("usePoints");
int createClassAttr = chi("createClassAttr");
int connectionCount = 0;

// Check if class attribute exists, create if missing
if (!haspointattrib(0, "class")) {
    warning("Non-existent attribute: class. Creating class attribute from point number.");
    i@class = @ptnum;
}

// Remove primitives if usePoints is enabled
if (usePoints) {
    removeprim(0, @primnum, 0);
}

// Find nearby points within the search radius
int nearPts[] = nearpoints(0, @P, maxSearchRadius);
int neighborPts[] = neighbours(0, @ptnum);
int connectedPts[];

foreach (int npt; nearPts) {
    // Skip if the point is itself, a neighbor, or in the same class
    if (npt == @ptnum || npt == neighborPts[0] || npt == neighborPts[1]) {
        continue;
    }

    int nearPointClass = point(0, "class", npt);
    if (nearPointClass == @class) {
        continue;
    }

    // Check if the point is already connected
    int isAlreadyConnected = 0;
    foreach (int connectedPt; connectedPts) {
        if (npt == connectedPt) {
            isAlreadyConnected = 1;
            break;
        }
    }

    if (!isAlreadyConnected) {
        push(connectedPts, npt);

        // Calculate distance between points
        vector nptPos = point(0, "P", npt);
        float dist = distance(@P, nptPos);

        // Check minimum distance constraint and target point condition
        if (dist > minSearchRadius && @targetPt == 0) {
            int line = addprim(0, "polyline");
            addvertex(0, line, @ptnum);
            addvertex(0, line, npt);

            // Store connection info
            i@startPt = @ptnum;
            i@endPt = npt;

            connectionCount++;

            // Stop if max connections reached
            if (connectionCount >= maxConnections) {
                break;
            }
        }
    }
}

/*
Script:     scatterOrientCtrl
Version:    3.6
ver_3_5     28.09.2021 rotate along with curve u attrib, pt remove func
ver 3.6     added normal lerp  & fix on data type check on tangent attrib.
//function   
scattered objects, rotation scale and instance control.
reads normal and tangent vectors, to create orient attribute .
*/


@id = @ptnum;

if (ch("removePt") >0)
{
    if(@Cd.r<ch("removePt") )
        removepoint(0,@ptnum);
}


//check to use up or tangentU
int upAttrExist =  haspointattrib(0, "up");
int tangentUAttrExist =  haspointattrib(0, "tangentu");
int NAttrExist =  haspointattrib(0, "N");

if (upAttrExist ==0 && tangentUAttrExist ==1)
    @up = v@tangentu;    
if (tangentUAttrExist ==0 && upAttrExist ==0 )
{
    warning("none existent attrb: tangentu or up ");
    @up={1,0,0};
    
    }

if (NAttrExist ==0)
{
    warning("none existent attrb: N ");
    @N={0,1,0};
    
    }

    
    
//setInstancePath
string instancepath  =("op:"+chs("instancepath"));
s@instancepath = instancepath;

//addForce
float gravity = (chf("gravity"));
vector gravityForce= {0, -1,0}*gravity;
float pushForce  =(length(@force)*1); 

@up += gravityForce;
@up= normalize(@up);

//reAlign directions
v@dir = cross(@N,@up);

//use scatter density dependent scale
float densityDependentScale= fit( @density, detail(0,"minDensity"), detail(0,"maxDensity"),(1-`chs("densityEffectScale")`),1  );

//randomScale
float scaleRand= fit01( rand(@ptnum+112), `chs("scaleRangex")`,`chs("scaleRangey")` );

//Cd effect Scale
float CdEffectScale = (ch('CdEffectScale'));

//calculate scale
float pScaleAlong = (chramp("pScaleAlong", @curveu));

@pscale = densityDependentScale * scaleRand * ((1-CdEffectScale)+(CdEffectScale*@Cd.r))* pScaleAlong ;

//use side  effect on rotation
float sideEffectAngle = (ch('sideEffectAngle'));
@side += (1-sideEffectAngle);

//use surface alighment
//***************

v@N = normalize(lerp ({0,1,0},@N, sideEffectAngle));
v@dir = normalize(@dir);
v@up = normalize(@up);

float rotX_rand= (0.5-rand(@ptnum))*ch('rotX_rand')*12.6;
float rotY_rand= (0.5-rand(@ptnum))*ch('rotY_rand')*12.6;
float rotZ_rand= (0.5-rand(@ptnum))*ch('rotZ_rand')*6.3;

float rotX_mag= ch('rotX_mag')*6.3;
float rotY_mag= ch('rotY_mag')*6.3;
float rotZ_mag= ch('rotZ_mag')*6.3;

matrix3 m = maketransform( @up, @N);

float rotX = (chramp("rotX", @curveu)-0.5)*3.15;
float rotY = (chramp("rotY", @curveu)-0.5)*3.15;
float rotZ = (chramp("rotZ", @curveu)-0.5)*3.15;


float symX = ch('symX');
float symY = ch('symY');
float symZ = ch('symZ');



if (symX==0)
    rotate(m, ( (rotX + rotX_mag + rotX_rand) *1 ), @N   );
else
    rotate(m, ( (rotX + rotX_mag + rotX_rand) *@side ), @N   );

if (symY==0)
    rotate(m, ( (rotY + rotY_mag + rotY_rand + pushForce) *1 ), @dir );
else
    rotate(m, ( (rotY + rotY_mag + rotY_rand + pushForce) *@side ), @dir );

if (symY==0)
    rotate(m, ( (rotZ + rotZ_mag + rotZ_rand) *1 ), @up   );
else  
    rotate(m, ( (rotZ + rotZ_mag + rotZ_rand) *@side ), @up   );

    
    
@orient = quaternion(m);

/*
Script:     vectorOrtogonal
Version:    1.0
ver_1_0     27.11.2024
Function: Isolates the largest component of a vector, zeroes the other components,
and normalizes the result.
*/

vector inputVec = @N; 
// Find the largest component
float maxComp = max(inputVec.x, max(inputVec.y, inputVec.z)); 

// Isolate the largest component and zero the others
if (inputVec.x == maxComp)
    inputVec.y = inputVec.z = 0;
else if (inputVec.y == maxComp)
    inputVec.x = inputVec.z = 0;
else
    inputVec.x = inputVec.y = 0;

inputVec = normalize(inputVec); // Normalize 
@N= inputVec; 

/*
Script:     Ray Projection
Version:    1.1
ver_1_0     27.11.2024 - Initial version
// Function: Projects points onto a target geometry using ray intersection.
//           Updates point positions and colors based on the closest hit.
*/

// Get the target geometry (assume it's in the second input by default)
int target_geo = 1;


// Get the current point's position and normal
vector orig = @P;
vector dir = normalize(@N) * 1e6; // Scale the direction to a large distance

// Arrays to store intersection results
vector hit_positions[]; // Positions of the hits
int hit_prims[]; // Primitives hit
vector hit_uvs[]; // UV coordinates of the hits
float tol = 0.01; // Intersection tolerance
float ttol = 0.01; // Triangle tolerance

// Perform the ray intersection
int num_hits = intersect_all(target_geo, "", orig, dir, hit_positions, hit_prims, hit_uvs, tol, ttol);

// If there are hits, update the point position and color
if (num_hits > 0) {
    // Initialize variables for the closest hit
    float min_dist = distance(orig, hit_positions[0]);
    vector closest_hit = hit_positions[0];

    // Iterate over all hits to find the closest one
    for (int i = 1; i < num_hits; i++) {
        float dist = distance(orig, hit_positions[i]);
        if (dist < min_dist) {
            min_dist = dist;
            closest_hit = hit_positions[i];
        }
    }

    if(`ch("project")`==true){
    // Update the point position to the closest hit position
    @P = closest_hit;
    }

    // Color the point to indicate it was hit
    @Cd = set(1, 0, 0); // Set the color to red
} else {
    // Color the point to indicate no hit
    @Cd = set(0, 0, 1); // Set the color to blue
}

/*
Script:     curveForce
Version:    1.3
Author:     Ceyhan Kapusuz
ver_1_2     27.11.2024 - Initial version
ver_1_3     01.2025 - Refactored for clarity and robustness

// Function: Applies directional, suction, orbital, and input forces along a curve.
//           Uses ramps to control force influence based on curveu.
//           Visualizes force influence using Cd.
*/

// Ensure required attributes exist
if (!haspointattrib(0, "tangentu") || !haspointattrib(0, "N") || !haspointattrib(0, "curveu")) {
    error("Missing required attributes: tangentu, N, or curveu.");
    return;
}

// Define force directions
vector directionVelo = normalize(v@tangentu); // Direction along the curve
vector suctionVelo = normalize(v@N);         // Suction direction (normal to the curve)
vector inputVelo = v@v * chf("inputV");      // Input velocity (scaled by parameter)
vector orbitalVelo = normalize(cross(@N, @tangentu)); // Orbital velocity (perpendicular to tangent and normal)

// Evaluate ramps based on curveu
float emissionAlong = chramp("emissionRamp", @curveu);       // Emission influence
float directionAlong = chramp("directionalForceRamp", @curveu); // Directional force influence
float suctionAlong = chramp("suctionRamp", @curveu);         // Suction force influence
float orbitalAlong = chramp("orbitalRamp", @curveu);         // Orbital force influence

// Calculate force vectors
vector directionalVelocity = directionVelo * chf("directionalMag") * directionAlong;
vector suctionVelocity = suctionVelo * chf("suctionMag") * suctionAlong;
vector orbitalVelocity = orbitalVelo * chf("orbitalMag") * orbitalAlong;

// Combine forces and apply magnitude
v@v = (directionalVelocity + suctionVelocity + inputVelo + orbitalVelocity) * chf("magnitude");

// Calculate force (optional, if needed)
v@force = v@v * chf("forceMag");

// Visualize influence using Cd
@Cd.r = orbitalAlong; // Red channel: Emission influence
@Cd.g = directionAlong; // Green channel: Directional force influence
@Cd.b = suctionAlong;   // Blue channel: Suction force influence

/*
Script:     blendCtrl
Version:    1.0
Author:     Ceyhan Kapusuz
ver_1_0     04.11.2019

//function
blend in given time range
0=linear, 1=smooth step, 2=spline, 3=exponential, 4=logarithmic, and 5=sinusoidal transitions.
*/



int blendStart = chi("blendStart");
int blendEnd = chi("blendEnd");

float startVal = ch("startVal");
float endVal = ch("endVal");

int transitionType = chi("transitionType");
float smoothRollOff = ch("smoothRollOff");
float transition = fit(@Frame, blendStart, blendEnd, 0, 1);

// Get the attribute name from the parameter
string attrName = chs("attributeName");

// Variable to hold the calculated value
float attrValue;

if (transitionType == 0) {
    attrValue = lerp(startVal, endVal, transition); // Linear
} else if (transitionType == 1) {
    attrValue = smooth(startVal, endVal, transition, smoothRollOff); // Smooth Step
} else if (transitionType == 2) {
    attrValue = spline("catmull-rom", transition, startVal, endVal); // Spline
} else if (transitionType == 3) {
    attrValue = startVal + (endVal - startVal) * pow(transition, 2.0); // Exponential
} else if (transitionType == 4) {
    attrValue = startVal + (endVal - startVal) * log(1 + 9 * transition) / log(10); // Logarithmic
} else if (transitionType == 5) {
    attrValue = startVal + (endVal - startVal) * (1 - cos(transition * M_PI)) / 2; // Sinusoidal
}

setattrib(0, "point",attrName, @ptnum,1,attrValue);

/*
Script:     forceGen
Version:    1.1
ver_1_0     27.11.2024 - Initial version
ver_1_1     01.2025- cleanup & additional comments 

// Function: Generates angular, central, and directional forces based on distance from a center point.
//           Provides visualization modes for debugging or artistic purposes.
*/



// Get visualization mode
int visMode = chi("visMode");

// Get center point position
vector centerP = point(1, "P", 0);

// Define up vector and central vector
vector up = set(0, 1, 0);
vector centralVector = @P - centerP;

// Calculate distance from center and map it to a normalized range
float dist = length(centralVector);
float maxDist = chf("maxDist");
float distMapped = fit(dist, 0, maxDist, 1, 0);

// Calculate angular force
float distMappedAngular = chramp("dist_Angular", distMapped);
vector angularForce = cross(up, centralVector);
angularForce *= distMappedAngular * chf("angular_Mag");

// Calculate central force
float distMappedCentral = chramp("dist_Central", distMapped);
vector centralForce = centralVector * distMappedCentral * chf("central_Mag");

// Calculate directional force
float distMappedDirectional = chramp("dist_Directional", distMapped);
vector directionalForce = chv("directional") * distMappedDirectional * chf("directional_Mag");

// Apply global magnitude and Cd.r scaling
float globalMag = chf("globalMag") * @Cd.r;

// Accumulate forces
v@wForce += angularForce * globalMag;
v@vForce += (centralForce + directionalForce) * globalMag;

// Visualization modes
if (visMode == 0) {
    @N = v@vForce * 1; // Visualize vForce
} else if (visMode == 1) {
    @N = v@wForce * 0.2; // Visualize wForce
}

// Optional: Remove points with zero force (uncomment if needed)
// if (length(v@wForce) + length(v@vForce) == 0) {
//     removepoint(0, @ptnum);
// }