Ok, there is some grade A confusion here. Let's start with some facts: 1) Rhino is written in C++ and it exposes a C++ SDK which allows others (i.e. non-mcneel) people and companies to write plugins for Rhino. 2) Using this C++ SDK, someone at mcneel wrote a RhinoScript plugin, which in turn allows people to write scripts for Rhino. 3) Using this C++ SDK, someone else at mcneel wrote a DotNET Wrapper plugin, which in turn allows people to write Plugins for Rhino using any DotNET language. 4) Using this DotNET wrapper SDK, someone else altogether at mcneel (me) wrote a plugin called Grasshopper.
2b) A script is a single textfile, which can be written using programs like Notepad or ConTEXT, but we also have a simple script editor build into Rhino (_EditScript) and a plugin (Monkey) which exposes additional features. 3b) A DotNET plugin is a dll (usually renamed to rhp, but it's still a dll under the hood) and it is typically made using a Programming Environment such as Microsoft Visual Studio. Rhino itself does not at this point in time expose any editor which would allow you to write and compile DotNET code. 4b) Grasshopper does expose a DotNET programming interface, albeit a very primitive one. If you type VB.NET code into this Grasshopper script editor, Grasshopper will compile it and (assuming there were no errors during compilation) run it. A script written in Grasshopper does not behave at all like a custom plugin would. Apart from the fact that it can draw from the same library of functions, there's very little overlap. So, if you wish to write a Rhino DotNET Plugin, you need to get a DotNET IDE (Integrated Development Environment) such as Microsoft Visual Studio and also our plugin wizards which will help you set up a proper plugin with just a few clicks. If, on the other hand, you wish to use the DotNET functionality inside Grasshopper, all you have to do (assuming you already have grasshopper installed and running) is make a new VB component, double click it and start typing. -- David Rutten [email protected] Robert McNeel & Associates On Mar 11, 11:04 pm, CMRHM <[email protected]> wrote: > Guys, Sorry I still can't use the compiler for VB.NET inside rhino. > Could anyone tell me step by step? > > PJ: I typied in "Rma.opennurbs" in rhino but it is an unknown command. > > On Mar 6, 5:13 am, PJ <[email protected]> wrote: > > > The Rhino.NET classes are automatically included in the script > > components so you on't need to do anything extra. They're in the > > namespaces 'RMA.OpenNURBS' and 'RMA.Rhino' (type one of these in and a > > list of all the classes in it should pop up). > > > On Mar 5, 10:13 pm, CMRHM <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > David: > > > > Thanks. my last Q is how to bring up this Rhino.NET SDK inside GH. > > > When I double click the VB compoent, I will bring up a scripteditor. > > > But This is not the dotNET framework or IDE I am looking for. > > > > Sorry for this simple and rokie question. > > > > On Mar 5, 3:51 pm, David Rutten <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Hi CMRHM, > > > > > "Based on my understanding and your comments, Visual Studio Express > > > > for > > > > VB is much better than Rhino.NET SDK. Am I right? " > > > > > No, you cannot compare them like that because they are not the same > > > > thing. The DotNET framework is a large collection of classes and > > > > functions that allow you to do.. well almost anything. You can use it > > > > to create windows, edit the registry, connect to an online server, > > > > read and write text and binary files etc. etc. etc. > > > > > One of the few things it lacks is a 3D geometry kernel. This is where > > > > the Rhino SDK steps in. It exposes many of the functions and classes > > > > we wrote for Rhino as DotNET compliant objects. So, just like > > > > RhinoScript adds a bunch of functions to VBScript, so does the Rhino > > > > SDK add a bunch of functions to the DotNET environment. And, just like > > > > RhinoScript, once you use a Rhino specific function/class, then your > > > > program MUST run within the Rhino application. > > > > > The DotNET SDK is installed with Rhino, you do not need to download it > > > > separately. However, I recommend you get the Helpfile and plugin > > > > wizard from our Wiki. > > > > > Visual Studio is a code editor (development platform) which allows you > > > > to write software using a host of different languages. If you get VB > > > > Express, then you'll get a simplified version of Visual Studio which > > > > only supports the VB language. > > > > > -- > > > > David Rutten > > > > [email protected] > > > > Robert McNeel & Associates > > > > > On Mar 5, 10:33 pm, CMRHM <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > Hi, David: > > > > > > Do you mean I can just use Rhino.Net > > > > > SDK?http://en.wiki.mcneel.com/default.aspx/McNeel/Rhino4DotNetPlugIns.html > > > > > > Do I need to download this Rhino.net SDK? But why the link also says > > > > > sth like the following: > > > > > > Where is the Rhino.NET SDK? > > > > > The Rhino.NET SDK is composed of a rhino plug-in named > > > > > RhinoDotNetManager.rhp and an assembly named Rhino_DotNET.dll located > > > > > in the Rhino system directory. The Rhino_DotNET.dll assembly is what > > > > > all Rhino.NET plug-ins reference to get exported classes and functions > > > > > from Rhino. These files are installed with Rhino and are not a > > > > > separate download. > > > > > > Is this SDK a real source code editor with functions like > > > > > autocomplete? > > > > > > Based on my understanding and your comments, Visual Studio Express for > > > > > VB is much better than Rhino.NET SDK. Am I right? > > > > > > > The DotNET framework already comes with a compiler for VB and C# (I > > > > > > use it behind the scenes to compile GH scripts to DLLs). > > > > > > > I definitely recommend getting Visual Studio Express though because > > > > > > you can use it to create standalone applications as well as Rhino > > > > > > plugins. It's a much better learning environment than the > > > > > > Grasshopper > > > > > > Script editor. > > > > > > > Grasshopper is compiled using VB 2008 Professional and the DotNET > > > > > > 2.0 > > > > > > Framework. If you're developing plugins for Rhino we recommend 2.0, > > > > > > but I've tried 3.5 a while back and that plugin ran just fine. > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > David Rutten > > > > > > [email protected] > > > > > > Robert McNeel & Associates > > > > > > > On Mar 5, 8:33 pm, CMRHM <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > David: > > > > > > > > Thanks. I am gonna switch to VB.net since I need help on > > > > > > > debugging. > > > > > > > > Is VB.net called VB now? Is the following link for VB.net > > > > > > > compiler?http://www.microsoft.com/express/vb/ > > > > > > > > So I can use Microsoft .NET framework 3.5 and Microsoft visual > > > > > > > basic > > > > > > > 2008 express with Rhino SR4, do I? > > > > > > > > cmrhm > > > > > > > > On Mar 3, 12:09 pm, David Rutten <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > *. Is C# same as visual C#? > > > > > > > > > Yes. > > > > > > > > > > *. Most people is learning VB.net instead of C#, is this > > > > > > > > > still the > > > > > > > > > case by today? > > > > > > > > > Yes. Visual basic contains the word "basic" whereas C# contains > > > > > > > > the > > > > > > > > word "sharp". It's no wonder people feel more fuzzy about VB. > > > > > > > > Also, VB syntax is more forgiving (not case sensitive for > > > > > > > > example) so > > > > > > > > easier to learn. > > > > > > > > > > I am more familiar with Java, so I think I better do > > > > > > > > > C#. But my goal is to learn A language quick( 3-7 days), so > > > > > > > > > I could > > > > > > > > > be able to read or write some codes when I can't find the > > > > > > > > > functionality I need in GH. > > > > > > > > > If that's your dead-line, I suggest you start with C#. But note > > > > > > > > that > > > > > > > > C# scripting in less well tested in GH than VB and tends to > > > > > > > > have more > > > > > > > > bugs. > > > > > > > > A new version of GH is forthcoming and this version will have a > > > > > > > > bunch > > > > > > > > of Script component improvements. > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > > > > David Rutten > > > > > > > > [email protected] > > > > > > > > Robert McNeel & Associates- Hide quoted text - > > > > - Show quoted text -
