HScript IF expression - double less than operator

[j00ey]

Hi

I'm just looking at one of the example files [specifically PointCloudIterateAverage] whilst investigating point clouds and I came across this syntax which I cannot fathom :

if($TX*$TX + $TZ*$TZ < 8 < 0.5, 0, 1)

It's in an attributecreate SOP, creating a point attribute on a grid. I don't understand the double 'less than', how can that evaluate properly. It seems to me to be saying if $TX squared + $TY squared is less than 8 is less than 0.5 but that makes no sense. Can anyone help me out?

Thanks very much

[tony]

I've never come across it before, but I just tested it out and it seems to evaluate exactly the same as if you put:

if($TX*$TX + $TZ*$TZ > 8, 0, 1)

I read it like this:

x=(($TX*$TX) + ($TZ*$TZ)) < 8

y=x<0.5

(this seems strange as x would either be 0 or 1, but still)

if(y,0,1)

or:

if( ( ( ($TX*$TX) + ($TZ*$TZ) ) < 8) < 0.5, 0, 1)

Definitely not the most friendly way of writing an expression.

Cheers,

Tony

[j00ey]

Hi Tony

Thanks for the reply.

It does evaluate like that, you're right but I still don't understand...

Looking at your reading of it can you explain something quickly? On the first line

x=(($TX*$TX) + ($TZ*$TZ)) < 8

Am I right in think this evaluates as 1 if (($TX*$TX) + ($TZ*$TZ)) < 8 and 0 otherwise? So hence in the second line

y=x<0.5

if x==0 y will be 1?

I've never come across this sort of notation, I wonder if you can string as many operators as you like together...

Thanks again

*EDIT - it would seem you can, this doesn't throw an error -

if($TX*$TX + $TZ*$TZ < 8 < 0.5 < 0.5 == 0 !=0, 0, 1)

Edited July 15, 2013 by j00ey

[anim]

it will not error out as there is an order of evaluating each operator and in case of operators with equal precedence it's left to right

ressions/_operators'>http://www.sidefx.com/docs/houdini12.5/expressions/_operators

so using as many operators in an expression as you want is ok, it just doesn't make sense to overcomplicate an expression if it's possible to use simpler form

[j00ey]

No, I see what you're saying Tomas. I had no idea that you could use more than 1 operator at all so interesting to learn that you can. I doubt if I will be making a habit of it myself as it seems a little illegible but good to be able to decode it when I come across it.

Thanks for replying.

[tony]

Looking at your reading of it can you explain something quickly? On the first line

x=(($TX*$TX) + ($TZ*$TZ)) < 8

Am I right in think this evaluates as 1 if (($TX*$TX) + ($TZ*$TZ)) < 8 and 0 otherwise? So hence in the second line

y=x<0.5

if x==0 y will be 1?

Yes that's right.

[j00ey]

Thanks. Useful information!

[Fenolis]

It would seem that the if() expression in Houdini is capable of nesting conditions, as in the case you stated.