TYPE: SOP
TITLE: PolySplit SOP

PolySplit can be used to cut polygons. Cuts are made by specifying locations on
polygons.  Locations can be edges or vertices and do not necessarily have to be
within the same polygon, nor do they have to be between two adjacent polygons.
If a cut is made from one polygon to another non-adjacent polygon, the operation
will try to cut across all the polygons in between.  If no connected path exists
along the cut, the operation will cut as far as it can from either end.

The new polygons that are created preserve vertex and primitive attributes of
the polygon from which they were cut.  Group memberships are also preserved.

A cut made from one end vertex to another end vertex of an open polygon will
close the polygon.

There are two algorithms that PolySplit can use to find the path from the
source to the destination.  The 'Shortest Distance' algorithm tries to find
the shortest path through connecting polygons.  The 'Quad Strips' 
algorithm finds a path through quads, and moves from one quad to the next by
crossing opposite edges.  The latter algorithm cannot be used to cut through
vertices, and self-intersecting cuts may give undesired results.  Unlike
'Shortest Distance', 'Quad Strips' will not attempt a cut unless a complete 
path can be found.

If only one split location is specified and both 'Quad Strips' and 'Close Path'
are used, PolySplit will try to find a closed loop around the quad strip.

Parameters:
    Split Locations      - Specifies the chain of locations along which to 
                           make cuts.  The list of locations is separated by a
                           space and can be specified in the following ways:
	avb              - Cut at vertex b of primitive a where a and
			   b are integers.  (e.g. 0v3)
	aeb              - Cut at the midpoint of edge b of primitive
			   a where a and b are integers. (e.g. 0e3)
	aeb:t            - Cut at t percent along the edge b of
			   primitive a where a and b are integers and
			   t is a real number between 0.0 and 1.0.
			   (e.g. 0e3:0.7 will cut at 70% along the
			   edge 3 of primitive 0)
	pa-b             - Cut at the midpoint of the edge between
			   points a and b, where a and b are integers.
			   (e.g. p1-3)
	pa-b:t           - Cut at t percent along the edge between
			   points a and b, where a and b are integers.
			   (e.g. p1-3:0.7)
    Path Type            - Specifies the algorithm used to find the desired 
                           path.  Please see above for a description of the 
                           algorithms.
    Override Bias        - Specifies an overriding value for cut locations made
                           along edges, even for those where the midpoint is 
                           used by default.
    Update Point Normals - Update point normals if they exist.
    Close Path           - Causes an extra cut to be made from the last split
                           location to the first.

See also: Subdivide
