how to use .vfl files

[vbk!!!]

Hi,

I forward here my post from sideFx.

I am making some attempt to compile .vfl file taken from this website :

http://opengl.jp/houdini/vex/

I didn't try all these files but I failed to compile them except one : the "dented.vfl" in the "VEX Sample Codes III" section.

For the others files I tried using "vcc -l my.otl my.vfl" command, I obtain thir error message:

C:/HOUDIN~1.343/houdini/vex/include/prman.h:96:1-5: Error 1091: Invalid context name 'float'

What does it mean ?

I looked inside the prman.h and try to check inside the vfl but I haven't enough knowledge to see anything different from the dented.vfl.

The other thing is that the dented.vfl is a shader ( surface context).

But then, how to compile to get procedural patterns like "stripes", "brickers", "foamy" etc... ?

Or maybe not compil but use the .vfl in vop context ?

I have read someething about "vcc -m" option but apparently is not supported anymore ... and I can't find any clue on the online documentation.

Thanks for your help.

[Green-Man]

Nice old shaders under the link.

The main problem with these shaders is their age. Everything else is fine

First I've tried to compile disp_rope.vfl

The first error I've got was:

disp_rope.vfl:17:1: Error 1057: Unable to include "STREE_math.h"[/CODE]

STREE_math.h needed.

Google helps to find this header at this topic. But we don't relly need it for disp_rope.vfl.

The note on the http://opengl.jp/houdini/vex/ says:

Some of the below shaders can be compiled if you delete #include "STREE_math.h" statement.

But I think you already get it because you can't just ignore that include when compiling [b]dented.vfl.[/b]

The next errors I get is something like:

[CODE]disp_rope.vfl:81:21-28: Error 1104: Ambiguous expression type in explicit cast: could be one of float or vector
disp_rope.vfl:81:30-34: Error 1093: Ambiguous call to function noise(). Candidates are: float noise(float), vector noise(float)[/CODE]

Now we don't need the type cast [i](float)[/i] at line 81 before [i]noise()[/i]. Maybe some years ago it wasn't a problem with other vcc version. I don't know.

When I have tried to compile [b]dented.vfl[/b] with STREE_math.h I have no errors at all.

Just for curiosity I've comment #include "prman.h"

It was needed to change [b]color[/b] type to [b]vector[/b] in the declaration of some variables. And rename to [b]faceforward()[/b] functions to [b]frontface()[/b]

Then it compiles too.

H12.5, Ubuntu 12.04

[vbk!!!]

thanks Pavel,

I have already got the "STREE_math.h".

I didn't try to compile the dsip_rope.vfl but I guess it becomes a shader at the SHOP level.

I wonder if it's possible to compile .vfl to make vop node instead of "big" shader node ...

[Green-Man]

I don't think you can do it that way now with default vcc.

But there is a vcc11 binary where -m option still works.

Edited April 11, 2013 by Green-Man

[vbk!!!]

ok !

I though you need Houdini11 version to get that !

thx

edit :

I just tried to compile the aurora.vfl and have this error message

error cpp error: "aurora.vfl":18 Unable to include <prman.h>
error cpp error: "aurora.vfl":19 Unable to include <vexnotes.h>
"aurora.vfl" line 49 VCC: unknown error: 1041
	 surface_color = blend(surface_color, layer_color, layer_opac);
																  ^
"aurora.vfl" line 51 VCC: unknown error: 2005
	 Oi = surface_opac * turb;
							 ^
"aurora.vfl" line 52 VCC: unknown error: 2005
	 Ci = surface_color * turb * surface_opac;
											 ^
"aurora.vfl" line 38 VCC: unknown error: 1010
	 PP = transform("shader", P) * turbfreq;
										   ^
"aurora.vfl" line 43 VCC: unknown error: 1008
	 turb += abs(snoise(PP + freq * PI));
									    ^
"aurora.vfl" line 51 VCC: unknown error: 1008
	 Oi = surface_opac * turb;
							 ^
VCC: unknown error: 2007
VCC: unknown error: 2007
VCC: unknown error: 3002
VCC: unknown error: 3003
VCC: unknown error: 3007
[/CODE]

the same with dented.vfl but I the header files ares still at the right place ...

Edited April 11, 2013 by vbk!!!

[Green-Man]

With default vcc it compiles.

Just replace transform() to ptransform()

And vcc11 compiles it when I add -I option as a command line argument. It seems like vcc11 don't know where to find default headers in $HH/vex/include.

vcc11 -l aurora.otl -I$HH/vex/include/ aurora.vfl[/CODE]

[vbk!!!]

it works for me too

i had a problem with space in my houdini path. Usually I am careful about it but i installed the last build to fast !

It still doesn't work with -m option with vcc11

unknown error 2007 and 3002 ...

do you think this vfl code can be used inside a inline vop ?

[Green-Man]

You can include any headers with your functions to the Inline VOP.

For example write your custom function in the myFunctions.h file in your $HOME/houdiniX.Y/vex/include/ directory. Then add myFunctions.h in the Include Files parameter of the Inline VOP. Then you could call functions from that file.

Edited April 13, 2013 by Green-Man

[vbk!!!]

I am far from creating my own function but what you just said sounds really good to me.

I think the inline vop is good way for me to discover vex code

Thanks again for your help Pavel.