Multiple Results Script

Here is a test I did to try out an idea on how to get multiple results fr om one script component.

I use a curve script as "provider", where t is an index to which value you wish to retrieve. Downside is that this is not very intuitive compared to how things usually work in FF, and the preview is no good.

The need for something like this arise because we can only return r,g,b,a or t result types and because script components can't share variables. Now you could just code one big script component, but then you're bound to do it all in that script which might limit possibilities and in fact end up being slow considering the faster alternatives via native FF components.

The actual need for this is related to the 3D fractal stuff I'm working on. The component is larger than the bomber now :-S I want to break it up in parts and allow creative experimentation with intermediate steps. The idea is that the main component will output surface normals, cast shadows and fake ambient occlusion (and other bi products of the main recursion). If I do not output multiple results like this, I have to duplicate the script and modify each to output different results. Now when a small rendering takes like 30 mins for just one comp. this is definitely a no go.

Multiple Results Script.ffxml

I know, thats why I tried to come up with some sort of work around. So far it seems to work, but I have my worries about the sample cache.. I'll keep you updated here if I run into problems with this approach. Any suggestions or ideas in this regard are most welcome