CityEngine- being able to choose texture for facades

[Rosa_]

Hi,

I'm creating a real city in CE and I'm using a shape file for buildings. I must use different textures for each facade, so I should create a rule that allows me to choose the texture for each facade. Anyone can help me? Thanks.

[MicahTaylor]

Here is a link to tutorials that have a lot of building rules with the download; you can modify these to use your textures.

CityEngine Gallery | ArcGIS Resource Center

You can use the file path of the textures in those rules (usually in "assets/textureName.jpg") and just add your own textures into the assets folder....("assets/YOURtextureName.jpg").

A simple way to select your own texture in the inspector window (with a browse button) is to make an attribute for your texture in the rule file.

for example....

attr HEIGHT = 10

attr Mytextures = fileRandom("assets/Brick_Red_Wall.jpg") #THIS MAKES TEXTURE SELECTABLE!!

@StartRule

Lot -->

    extrude(HEIGHT)MakeBuilding

MakeBuilding --> comp(f){side : Facade | top : Roof }

Facade -->

     setupProjection(0, scope.xy,'1,'1)

     texture(Mytextures)

     projectUV(0)

Roof -->

    roofGable(45,0,0,false,0)

This will allow you to select a building in the scene...and choose its texture from the inspector window.

Good luck!

[Rosa_]

Thanks for your timely response. Does this rule allow to select a different texture for each facade of building?

If building has four facades, I should select four different texture.

[MicahTaylor · Accepted solution]

Ok...I think I understand. You want to select facades for different faces of a single model (such as walls).

You would need to separate the walls in the code into individual components...and then write a rule for each one....for example....

attr HEIGHT = 10

attr texturesFront = fileRandom("assets/Brick_Red_Wall.jpg")

attr texturesRight = fileRandom("assets/Brick_Red_Wall.jpg")

attr texturesLeft = fileRandom("assets/Brick_Red_Wall.jpg")

attr texturesBack = fileRandom("assets/Brick_Red_Wall.jpg")

@StartRule

Lot -->

    extrude(HEIGHT)Bldg

Bldg --> comp(f){front : FacadeFront | right : FacadeRight | left : FacadeLeft | back : FacadeBack | top : Roof }

FacadeFront -->

     setupProjection(0, scope.xy,'1,'1)

     texture(texturesFront)

     projectUV(0)

FacadeRight -->

     setupProjection(0, scope.xy,'1,'1)

     texture(texturesRight)

     projectUV(0)

FacadeLeft -->

     setupProjection(0, scope.xy,'1,'1)

     texture(texturesLeft)

     projectUV(0)

FacadeBack -->

     setupProjection(0, scope.xy,'1,'1)

     texture(texturesBack)

     projectUV(0)

Roof -->

    roofGable(45,0,0,false,0)

However, this may be a bad way to do it if you do not have exactly 4 walls. I would suggest clicking on your "Help" option and search for the "Comp Split Operation".  It will give you an idea of how the rule file identifies a single face.

But again, there are lots of rules online (mostly inside of tutorial downloads) that work great and can be modified to do what you need.

[MicahTaylor]

Also, be sure your facade pictures (jpg, png, etc..) are saved in your assets folder.

[Rosa_]

Thank you very much, you have solved my problem. This rule is perfect!!!

[BenjaminChmiel]

I had the same problem. Would you be willing to share this rule with me?