9.5.2

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XPRESSO EDITOR • 1071
Color
This data type consists of the color components red, green and blue. The RGB values can also be
interpreted as a vector — so the color R:10, G:75, B:0 would equate to the vector (10;75;0). This
enables you, for example, to use a color to control an object’s position or rotation vector.
Date/Time
In contrast to the Time data type, Date/Time queries your computer’s current system time (in the
format hours:minutes:seconds) and system date. For example, you might create a Sun expression that
sets a light’s position and color to match the current real time.
Filename
This data type allows you to store a le path. For example, the Sound node uses the Filename data
type to store the path of the sound le that you want to load.
Font
The Font data type stores information for a chosen font, including whether it should be used as a
TrueType or PostScript font. For example, you can use the Font data type to vary the appearance of a
text spline. The Font data type cannot be converted to other types.
Gradient
The gradient data type consists of a large number of values that represent a gradient. It cannot be
converted to other data types. (Although individual colors can be converted to vectors, there is no
way to specify the color’s position in the gradient in order to access it).
Integer
The Integer data type supports whole numbers (not fractional numbers) that can be negative, zero or
positive. Numbers after a decimal point will be ignored; this can lead to inaccurate results if fractions
are involved. You can use the Integer data type with all numeric and vector formats.
When converting a vector to an integer or a real, the length of the vector is calculated automatically
from the calculation SQRT(V.x*V.x+V.y*V.y+V.z*V.z), where V.x, V.y and V.z are the X, Y and Z
components of the vector and SQRT is the square root function. On the other hand, when an integer
or a real is converted to a vector, the value is used for the vector’s X, Y and Z components. For example,
the real 12.5 is converted to the vector (12.5;12.5;12.5).