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Synopsis

projectTangent [-caching boolean] [-constructionHistory boolean] [-curvature boolean] [-curvatureScale linear] [-ignoreEdges boolean] [-name string] [-nodeState int] [-object boolean] [-replaceOriginal boolean] [-reverseTangent boolean] [-rotate angle] [-tangentDirection int] [-tangentScale linear] [curve] [[curve] [curve] | [surface]]

projectTangent is undoable, queryable, and editable.

The project tangent command is used to align (for tangents) a curve to two other curves or a surface. A surface isoparm may be selected to define the direction (U or V) to align to. The end of the curve must intersect with these other objects. Curvature continuity may also be applied if required. Tangent continuity means the end of the curve is modified to be tangent at the point it meets the other objects. Curvature continuity means the end of the curve is modified to be curvature continuous as well as tangent. If the normal tangent direction is used, the curvature continuity and rotation do not apply. Also, curvature continuity is only available if align to a surface (not with 2 curves).

Return value

string[] Object name and node name

In query mode, return type is based on queried flag.

Flags

caching, constructionHistory, curvature, curvatureScale, ignoreEdges, name, nodeState, object, replaceOriginal, reverseTangent, rotate, tangentDirection, tangentScale
Long name (short name) Argument types Properties
-tangentScale(-ts) linear createqueryedit
Tangent scale applied to tangent of curve to align.
Default: 1.0
-curvatureScale(-cs) linear createqueryedit
Curvature scale applied to curvature of curve to align. Available if curvature option is true.
Default: 0.0
-rotate(-ro) angle createqueryedit
Amount by which the tangent of the curve to align will be rotated. Available only if the normal direction (3) is not used for tangentDirection.
Default: 0.0
-tangentDirection(-td) int createqueryedit
Tangent align direction type legal values: 1=u direction (of surface or use first curve), 2=v direction (of surface or use second curve), 3=normal direction (at point of intersection).
Default: 1
-curvature(-c) boolean createqueryedit
Curvature continuity is on if true and off otherwise.
Default: false
-reverseTangent(-rt) boolean createqueryedit
Reverse the tangent direction if true and leave it the way it is if false.
Default: false
-ignoreEdges(-ie) boolean createqueryedit
If false, use the tangents of the trim edge curves if the surface is trimmed. If true, use the tangents of the underlying surface in the U/V directions.
Default: false
Advanced flags
-caching(-cch) boolean createqueryedit
Modifies the node caching mode. See the node documentation for more information.
Note: For advanced users only.
-nodeState(-nds) int createqueryedit
Modifies the node state. See the node documentation for more information.
Note: For advanced users only.
Common flags
-name(-n) string create
Name the resulting object
-constructionHistory(-ch) boolean create
Turn the construction history on or off
-object(-o) boolean create
Create the result, or just the dependency node
-replaceOriginal(-rpo) boolean create
Create "in place" (i.e., replace)
Flag can appear in Create mode of command Flag can appear in Edit mode of command
Flag can appear in Query mode of command Flag can be used more than once in a command.

MEL examples

// Do project tangent with curvature continuity between a curve and a
// nurbs plane surface
projectTangent -c on curve1 nurbsPlane1;

// Do project tangent between the 3 curves and tangent align the curve
// with the reverse tangent of the second of the other 2 curves
// (i.e. with curve3)
projectTangent -td 2 -rt yes curve1 curve2 curve3;