Linking Layers
Beside the Data Flow Layer this layer is the second main layer. It is divided into three sub layers, which are explained beneath. All sub layers allow linking of properties.
Linking properties means to synchronize their values. If a property changes its value, the changed value will be
propagated along the link in the indicated direction. For instance, a change of the left option property called
Slice Alignment will set the value of the right option property but not the other way round. If a link is bidirectional
the properties are completely synchronized. In general all camera properties are linked bidirectionally to guarantee the
same camera settings for all renderings in the network.
Normally only properties of the same type can be linked. Properties of different types, e.g. camera and boolean, cannot be linked. An exception are properties that can be converted. For example, an integer property can be linked to a bool property by simple casting.
This layer can be used to link properties and see which properties have already been linked. By double-clicking a processor or clicking the small button in the upper left corner of the processor item a list of all linked properties of this processor will appear with connections to their linked properties.
By pressing the left mouse button over a processor and dragging the appearing connection to another processor a new dialog will pop up.
In this dialog all properties of the two processors and their ports can be seen. By clicking a property and dragging the appearing arrow to a property of the other processor a new link can be created. The color of the arrow indicates if a link between these properties is possible (see Connection). If the dialog is not closed via the ok button all changes will be discarded.
To keep the layer from becoming cluttered, the most common property links (i.e., camera and render size links) are hidden. They can be shown by clicking on the first two buttons. The third button simply deletes all existing property links.
This layer has the same functionality as the general linking layer except for the limitation to camera properties. Here, only processors with cameras can be selected and linked.
The first button toggles the auto camera linking, which is enabled by default. If a new processor is added to the networkand auto camera linking is enabled all camera properties of this processor will be linked bidirectionally to all other camera properties of the network.
The second button links all camera properties. So, if the auto linking is disabled, the user can control when the linking should take place.
The last button simply removes all camera property links.
All these actions can also be used on a selection of processors using the context menu.
This layer was designed to get an easy management of render size links. All render ports with a size origin property or size receive property are highlighted in this layer. Origins are red and receiver are green. Like connecting ports in theData Flow Layer two properties can be linked. A render size link should always go from an origin to a receiver (red to green). It is also possible to connect origin with origin and receiver with receiver. Connections from receiver to origin are not possible.
Like in the Camera Linking the first button controls the auto linking. If it is enabled each render port of a new processor will be linked automatically. If the linking cannot be done automatically the user will be informed by a warning in the debug console.
The second button links all render size properties manually.
The third button removes all render size links from the network.
All actions can also be controled by the context menu.