Rhino script

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Rhino Script is a plug-in for Rhino that implements VBScript. Scripting allows the user to access and control the program from its most robust, seemingly abstract level. Rhino Script is based on the Visual Basic programming language, by using methods that are Rhino specific, a script that is generated and runs inside Rhino is an RVB file, or Rhino Visual Basic. The possiblities of Rhino Script is potentially infinate, where the user is able to string together a series of actions and calculations in very little time, harnessing the power of the computer to perform large levels of computation to generate, analyse, rationalize, or simplify geometry. There is much debate in the current architectural discourse regarding the ligitamacy of these methods; at Penn we are also indulging in this conversation and hopefully you can judge for yourself the value of scripting in design.

For some script examples, go to our Rhino Script Library

1 Command Scripting
2 VBScripting
3 Getting help
4 References & Resources

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Command Scripting

Command scripts are the easiest way to customize Rhino. All Rhino commands can be used in command scripts. Command scripts can be run by typing the command at the command prompt, from toolbar buttons, shortcut keys, command aliases, from a text file, or by pasting a script from the Clipboard into Rhino's command stream.

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VBScripting

The Visual Basic Scripting Edition, also known as VBScript®, lets authors create scripts using a subset of the Microsoft Visual Basic language. If you are already a Visual Basic programmer, or if you are not a programmer but are looking for a scripting language that is easy to learn, VBScript might be right for you.

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Getting help

For the very basics of Rhino Script, a list of all Rhino specific methods, and some sample code snipets, from the Rhino Help menu, click Help Topics, and then click Scripting, or from the Rhino Script window, click Help, Contents. For additional help, visit the Rhino developer Support page or the Plug-ins Newsgroup page, where you can post questions and get answers by the exports in relatively little time. My personal favorite is the Rhino Script Wiki which is the absolute best place for info and questions for beginners to advanced.

Other resources include David Rutten's website, especially his Rhino Script tutorial booklet free to download from his site, as well as Stylianos Dritsas' website that also includes valuable Rhino scripting info.

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