Batch Scripts

Scripts can handle different tasks and therefore it is necessary to distinguish a few types. Within RealFlow there are three fundamental types:

1. Batch scripts
2. Simulation Flow scripts (aka "events scripts")
3. Custom node scripts

Each of these types has its own editor window. Even if the windows appear different, they have some important similarities. The visual appearance of the scripting windows is controlled by RealFlow’s preferences, where you can adjust things like font type, syntax colours and folders for storing your programs:

Menu bar > File > Preferences > Script (Windows/Linux)

Menu bar > RealFlow > Preferences > Script (OS X)

Syntax highlighting is another important similarity. Whenever RealFlow detects an instruction or known function in your code, it will be coloured. For all scripting windows, RealFlow provides auto completion. This function helps you to complete a statement with the help of a drop-down menu. It appears when parts of a command are recognized and allows you to choose the desired function.

Batch scripts are perfect for all kinds of automated processes. Whether you want to run several scenes over night, automatically create scenes complete with emitters, daemons, and objects, randomly modify dynamics parameters of large amounts of objects, or run through all existing nodes and change names or export properties – in all these cases batch scripts are the adequate choice. For this purpose, RealFlow even provides a specific window reserved exclusively for batch type scripts:

Menu Bar > Layout > Batch Script (F10)

The new window can be attached to your own layout. Please note that batch scripts are not saved with the current project and you always have to store them separately on your hard disk. It is a good idea to either find a common place for all batch scripts or create special directories under the project’s file and folder structure.

RealFlow's "Batch Script" window with a loaded script.