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Structure from file suggestion So while working with a couple different means of data managing across multiple machines (30+ locally, on the same network.) We've decided to set up a single mac as a webserver and have that mac pull all the various data points from different locations and funnel them down into a single data point for the other mac to pull from via a plist on the webserver using the structure to/from file toolset. Upon doing this I discovered the limitation of only being able to read from a local path in the plugin. I was wondering what anyone thought of a url loader for the structure from file to allow plist loading from url, or how hard it would be to implement. I know the Xml file reader will pull the plist off the webserver but its not going to work for my particular practices due to the formating of the plist file. Thanks S-ninja
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You can't just create a network share using NFS and map all the machines to this? or convert the plist to xml and use the xml importer
Oddly enough we tried the nfs route and it appears our network blocked nfs traffic, SMB and AFP fell victim to connection limits (we dont have the ability to shell out for osx server). As far as plist to xml converter, I tried that route and upon the conversion the xml data is changed in terms to the way plist presents the data in quartz. all keys are removed from being keys and put in between dict, key, string...etc tags. My structure is a multidimensional array and Im at a lost as to how to compensate for this change in data. I wouldn't shy away from anyone offering assistance in that aspect as well :)
I'm not sure how you are creating the XML file but I've had no problems using XML as a way to bring 3D point data into QC. You just need to do a little structure/string parsing from memory to get down to your base data. I used a combination of a spreadsheet and InDesign of all things to add the necessary XML tags to the raw data. I just made columns between my data and filled the columns with symbols like %% then globally replaced %% with "<key tag>" etc in InDesign. TextWranggler could do same. Gez those tag angle brackets were near impossible to escape sequence.
But you may be trying to generate live data and read it in at same time.
Have you tried using the Kineme File patches to write and read? Using symbolic links or an alias to server or something similar you could 'trick' Kineme File Writer/Reader patches into writing to your server thinking it's a local path.
I've attached a send and receive combo writing to my dropbox where in theory you could access the plist — if we shared a folder and view the data in receiver comp via a local path. Don't count on frames per second though! Here's the dropbox public folder file with an http path could just as easily be a local path to a shared folder.
Even saving to local drive I can't push it very hard... not sure what kind of polling/synchronisation levels you are looking to achieve.
Whilst I'm not sure I think you will have much more success with the plist to xml conversion if you use dusts amorim_xml plugin which can be found here - http://kineme.net/forum/Discussion/DevelopingCompositions/ExportingMeshl...