Rivet Plugin/Script

Rivet Plugin - Creative Crash lets you parent an object to a point on a mesh rather than the CoG of the mesh.

Usage: Select 2 edges, run script. Locator forms at the center of those two edges (be wary of using it with meshes that deform a lot). Parent an object to the locator, like a button on a jacket.

Script:

// https://plus.google.com/108730905615837309068/posts/GdL56AbxQ32

// Copyright 2000-2001 Michael Bazhutkin - studio Klassika
//
// Rivet (button) 1.0
// Script File
//
// Creation Date: April 13, 2001
//
//
// Description:
// Use "Rivet" to constrain locator to polygon or NURBS surfaces
// Select two edges on polygon object
// or select one point on NURBS surface and call rivet
// Parent your rivets and buttons to this locator

global proc string rivet ( )
{

string $nameObject;
string $namePOSI;

string $parts[];
string $list[] = `filterExpand -sm 32`;
int $size = size($list);
if ($size > 0)
{
if ($size != 2)
{ error("No two edges selected");
return "";
}

tokenize($list[0],".",$parts);
$nameObject = $parts[0];
tokenize($list[0],"[]",$parts);
float $e1 = $parts[1];
tokenize($list[1],"[]",$parts);
float $e2 = $parts[1];

string $nameCFME1 = `createNode curveFromMeshEdge -n "rivetCurveFromMeshEdge1"`;
setAttr ".ihi" 1;
setAttr ".ei[0]" $e1;
string $nameCFME2 = `createNode curveFromMeshEdge -n "rivetCurveFromMeshEdge2"`;
setAttr ".ihi" 1;
setAttr ".ei[0]" $e2;
string $nameLoft = `createNode loft -n "rivetLoft1"`;
setAttr -s 2 ".ic";
setAttr ".u" yes;
setAttr ".rsn" yes;

$namePOSI = `createNode pointOnSurfaceInfo -n "rivetPointOnSurfaceInfo1"`;
setAttr ".turnOnPercentage" 1;
setAttr ".parameterU" 0.5;
setAttr ".parameterV" 0.5;

connectAttr -f ($nameLoft + ".os") ($namePOSI + ".is");
connectAttr ($nameCFME1 + ".oc") ($nameLoft + ".ic[0]");
connectAttr ($nameCFME2 + ".oc") ($nameLoft + ".ic[1]");
connectAttr ($nameObject + ".w") ($nameCFME1 + ".im");
connectAttr ($nameObject + ".w") ($nameCFME2 + ".im");
}
else
{ $list = `filterExpand -sm 41`;
$size = size($list);

if ($size > 0)
{
if ($size != 1)
{ error("No one point selected");
return "";
}
tokenize($list[0],".",$parts);
$nameObject = $parts[0];
tokenize($list[0],"[]",$parts);
float $u = $parts[1];
float $v = $parts[2];
$namePOSI = `createNode pointOnSurfaceInfo -n "rivetPointOnSurfaceInfo1"`;
setAttr ".turnOnPercentage" 0;
setAttr ".parameterU" $u;
setAttr ".parameterV" $v;
connectAttr -f ($nameObject + ".ws") ($namePOSI + ".is");
}
else
{ error("No edges or point selected");
return "";
}
}

string $nameLocator = `createNode transform -n "rivet1"`;
createNode locator -n ($nameLocator + "Shape") -p $nameLocator;

string $nameAC = `createNode aimConstraint -p $nameLocator -n ($nameLocator + "_rivetAimConstraint1")`;
setAttr ".tg[0].tw" 1;
setAttr ".a" -type "double3" 0 1 0;
setAttr ".u" -type "double3" 0 0 1;
setAttr -k off ".v";
setAttr -k off ".tx";
setAttr -k off ".ty";
setAttr -k off ".tz";
setAttr -k off ".rx";
setAttr -k off ".ry";
setAttr -k off ".rz";
setAttr -k off ".sx";
setAttr -k off ".sy";
setAttr -k off ".sz";

connectAttr ($namePOSI + ".position") ($nameLocator + ".translate");
connectAttr ($namePOSI + ".n") ($nameAC + ".tg[0].tt");
connectAttr ($namePOSI + ".tv") ($nameAC + ".wu");
connectAttr ($nameAC + ".crx") ($nameLocator + ".rx");
connectAttr ($nameAC + ".cry") ($nameLocator + ".ry");
connectAttr ($nameAC + ".crz") ($nameLocator + ".rz");

select -r $nameLocator;
return ($nameLocator);

}

rivet;