magneto Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I checked from the help file and tried myself but it didn't make much sense. What's the use of this expression? If I put in a value of 4.5 to tx, then it's as static as lock(4.5). I thought it freezes the value at the time it's locked. For example if I use lock($F) at frame 20, then the parameter value would be locked at 20, regardless of frame change later on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopbin9 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I've never seen this before. "This function simply returns the value of its argument. However, it is special in that if an expression is enclosed in a lock function, then its values cannot be changed, until the lock expression is removed." I'm having a hard time interpreting this description from the manual. The word "enclosed" seems to imply abstraction or bracing but not argument passing (to me at least), and then the word "its". To which is it referring? The lock functions return value or the expression that was enclosed? This dates back to H9 by the way. The parameter field turns grey when you use it, but that's about all it does for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopbin9 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 I thought it freezes the value at the time it's locked. For example if I use lock($F) at frame 20, then the parameter value would be locked at 20, regardless of frame change later on. I interrupted the manual differently. So that the value returned by lock(..) can not be modified. So that lock($F)+1 on frame 20 would result in 20 and not 21. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magneto Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 Interrupted? You mean interpreted? I actually tried lock($F)+/-number, and it did change the value in the field. It would be really cool if it actually froze the value. The gray background is all I noticed too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopbin9 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Why would anyone use something like this anyway, even if it did what we thought it did? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edward Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 They mean so that you can't edit the parameter in value mode. If you want an expression that simply matches the segment's input value, use $IV. If you want to freeze a channel (or channel range) at some particular value (at a specific frame), then you want to use the "disable" feature in the Dopesheet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopbin9 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 That seems useless to me, because if you have an expression like $F. You can edit the displayed value, but it won't be kept if you change frames. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magneto Posted March 5, 2012 Author Share Posted March 5, 2012 Thanks for clearing that Edward. Sometimes it's hard to get certain things from the help file. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopbin9 Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Thanks for clearing that Edward. Sometimes it's hard to get certain things from the help file. Like help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edward Posted March 6, 2012 Share Posted March 6, 2012 That seems useless to me, because if you have an expression like $F. You can edit the displayed value, but it won't be kept if you change frames. Sure, but not so useless if your expression was like cubic(). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gui Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 I think it would be useful if I have a huge expression and by some reason I must stop it to recalculate at each frame. Perhaps that's a use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edward Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 No, the lock() expression is merely a method of signaling to the parameter view pane that it shouldn't let the user modify the parameter in value mode. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gui Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 so Edward, it's the same as locking with right click? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edward Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Locking with right-click I think locks the entire parameter, not just the specific channel segment. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gui Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 I think you're right. Thanks Edward! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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