How to set the index of individual vertices?

Support Modeling
1

Is there a way to set the index of each vertex on a model? I’m trying to make the build modifier move in the order I want it to.

Thanks!

2

Using the Blender Preferences → Interface → Developer: Extras there will be an Overlay setting: Developer: Indices and te possibility in Edit mode: Mesh → sort elements… see also https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/modeling/meshes/editing/mesh/sort_elements.html

3

Thanks! I’ll check it out and see if it works.

4

Unfortunately that didn’t work.

5

sequence for build has to do with same sequence you entered the objects - nothing to do with verts sequence
check the object index

i think there is a way to edit these ob index
but have not use this a long time

happy bl

6

I don’t think it has anything to do with the object index. Object index is the index of the whole object, it doesn’t specify the index of each vertex.
Although after testing, it doesn’t appear that it builds in the order you created the vertices either, which I thought it did.

7

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Try a geonodes, setup, you can delete faces, verts, edges, all with control over direction, proximity to another object etc.

Hope that helps.

8

Thanks for the idea, although that won’t really work either.

9

You can use a painted attribute (vertex group) to specify the order in which things appear/disappear. By using a greater than math node with your attribute in the first input and an animated value in the second input. Vertex weights can also be edited by hand on a per-vertex basis. Of course you would have to work within range 0…1 because vertex groups are clamped

10

Yeah, except there’s no way to input a vertex group into a build modifier.
I can do different work-arounds (and already have), but I just wanted to know if there was a way to manually set the index of vertices.

11

Why use a build modifier when you can use geonodes ?

12

'Cause my computer’s too old to run 2.8+. :laughing:

13

The way to go in 2.79 is to use Sort Elements operator.

You have to go into edit mode, activate face select mode, select faces to reorder, press spacebar and search for Sort Elements.

That should work.
Only goal of Sort Elements operator was Build Modifier.
https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/2.79/modeling/modifiers/generate/build.html#build-modifier

14

Already tried Sort Elements. It didn’t do anything.

15

That is supposed to modify animation of build modifier, according to item you click on.

If item chosen corresponds to previous animation, that is normal to see no difference.
But if you choose View Z or View X or place cursor far from mesh and press Cursor distance, you should see the change.

You should see no difference on first frame. Change is only visible when you play animation in object mode.
Build modifier animation is based on Faces indexes. You have to change Faces indexes.

16

Yeah, it didn’t work. I tried to make it move from the cursor but it never changed anything, it was the same as before.

17

Ah, shit. There’s no way around that…