- added "hide" flag for MetaElem. Hidden MetaElem doesn't influence polygonisation.

It is useful for large scenes, when you work with lot of MetaElems. Example:

  http://e-learning.vslib.cz/~hnidek/pics/deer.jpg

  (PildaNovak's model)

- shortcuts for hiding of MetaElems:
   H ......... hide all selected MetaElems
   Shift-H ... hide all unselected MetaElems
   Alt-H ..... unhide all hidden MetaElems

- items in header menu of 3dview

source/blender/blenkernel/intern/mball.c

@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ Object *find_basis_mball(Object *basis)
 			}
 			
 			while(ml){
-				totelem++;
+				if(!(ml->flag & MB_HIDE)) totelem++;
 				ml= ml->next;
 			}
 		}
@@ -1484,7 +1484,7 @@ float init_meta(Object *ob)	/* return totsize */
 				}
 			}
 			while(ml) {
-
+				if(!(ml->flag & MB_HIDE)) {
 					Mat4One(temp2);
 					temp2[3][0]= ml->x;
 					temp2[3][1]= ml->y;
@@ -1521,7 +1521,9 @@ float init_meta(Object *ob)	/* return totsize */
 						max= MAX2(bob->size[0]*ml->expx, bob->size[1]*ml->expy);
 					}
 					else if((ml->type==MB_CUBE)||(ml->type==MB_ELIPSOID)){
-					max= MAX3(bob->size[0]*ml->expx, bob->size[1]*ml->expy, bob->size[2]*ml->expz);
+						max= MAX3(bob->size[0]*ml->expx,
+							bob->size[1]*ml->expy,
+							bob->size[2]*ml->expz);
 					}
 					
 					mainb[a]->bb->vec[0][0]= mat[3][0] - bob->size[0]*(max+ml->rad)/ob->size[0];
@@ -1532,9 +1534,9 @@ float init_meta(Object *ob)	/* return totsize */
 					mainb[a]->bb->vec[6][1]= mat[3][1] + bob->size[1]*(max+ml->rad)/ob->size[1];
 					mainb[a]->bb->vec[6][2]= mat[3][2] + bob->size[2]*(max+ml->rad)/ob->size[2];
 					
-				ml= ml->next;
 					a++;
-				
+				}
+				ml= ml->next;
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -1925,6 +1927,7 @@ void metaball_polygonize(Object *ob)
 	
 	mb= ob->data;
 
+	if(totelem==0) return;
 	if(!(R.flag & R_RENDERING) && (mb->flag==MB_UPDATE_NEVER)) return;
 	if(G.moving && mb->flag==MB_UPDATE_FAST) return;
 
@@ -1939,11 +1942,6 @@ void metaball_polygonize(Object *ob)
 	/* initialize all mainb (MetaElems) */
 	totsize= init_meta(ob);
 
-	if(totelem==0) {
-		MEM_freeN(mainb);
-		return;
-	}
-	
 	if(metaball_tree){
 		free_metaball_octal_node(metaball_tree->first);
 		MEM_freeN(metaball_tree);

source/blender/include/BDR_editmball.h

@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ void adduplicate_mball(void);
 void delete_mball(void); 
 void freeMetaElemlist(struct ListBase *lb);
 void undo_push_mball(char *name);
+void hide_mball(char hide);
+void reveal_mball(void);
 
 #endif /*  BDR_EDITMBALL_H */
 

source/blender/makesdna/DNA_meta_types.h

@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ typedef struct MetaBall {
 
 /* ml->flag */
 #define MB_NEGATIVE	2
+#define MB_HIDE		4
 
 #endif
 

source/blender/src/buttons_editing.c

@@ -1428,7 +1428,10 @@ static void editing_panel_mball_tools(Object *ob, MetaBall *mb)
 		uiDefButS(block, ROW, B_RECALCMBALL, "Cube",			938,62,60,19, &lastelem->type, 1.0, 7.0, 0, 0, "Draw active meta as Cube");
 		uiBlockEndAlign(block);
 
-		uiDefButS(block, TOG|BIT|1, B_RECALCMBALL, "Negative",753,16,250,19, &lastelem->flag, 0, 0, 0, 0, "Make active meta creating holes");
+		uiBlockBeginAlign(block);
+		uiDefButS(block, TOG|BIT|1, B_RECALCMBALL, "Negative",753,16,125,19, &lastelem->flag, 0, 0, 0, 0, "Make active meta creating holes");
+		uiDefButS(block, TOG|BIT|2, B_RECALCMBALL, "Hide",878,16,125,19, &lastelem->flag, 0, 0, 0, 0, "Make active meta invisible");
+		uiBlockEndAlign(block);
 
 	}
 

source/blender/src/editmball.c

@@ -414,3 +414,48 @@ void undo_push_mball(char *name)
 {
 	undo_editmode_push(name, free_undoMball, undoMball_to_editMball, editMball_to_undoMball);
 }
+
+/* Hide selected/unselected MetaElems */
+void hide_mball(char hide)
+{
+	MetaElem *ml;
+
+	ml= editelems.first;
+
+	while(ml){
+		if(hide){
+			if(!(ml->flag & SELECT))
+				ml->flag |= MB_HIDE;
+		}
+		else{
+			if(ml->flag & SELECT)
+				ml->flag |= MB_HIDE;
+		}
+		ml= ml->next;
+	}
+
+	makeDispList(G.obedit);
+	allqueue(REDRAWVIEW3D, 0);
+	allqueue(REDRAWBUTSEDIT, 0);
+
+	BIF_undo_push("Hide MetaElems");
+}
+
+/* Unhide all edited MetaElems */
+void reveal_mball(void)
+{
+	MetaElem *ml;
+
+	ml= editelems.first;
+
+	while(ml){
+		ml->flag &= ~MB_HIDE;
+		ml= ml->next;
+	}
+
+	makeDispList(G.obedit);
+	allqueue(REDRAWVIEW3D, 0);
+	allqueue(REDRAWBUTSEDIT, 0);
+
+	BIF_undo_push("Unhide MetaElems");
+}

source/blender/src/header_view3d.c

@@ -2528,6 +2528,38 @@ static uiBlock *view3d_edit_curvemenu(void *arg_unused)
 	return block;
 }
 
+void do_view3d_edit_mball_showhidemenu(void *arg, int event)
+{
+	switch(event) {
+	case 10: /* show hidden control points */
+		reveal_mball();
+		break;
+	case 11: /* hide selected control points */
+		hide_mball(0);
+		break;
+	case 12: /* hide deselected control points */
+		hide_mball(1);
+		break;
+		}
+	allqueue(REDRAWVIEW3D, 0);
+}
+
+static uiBlock *view3d_edit_mball_showhidemenu(void *arg_unused)
+{
+	uiBlock *block;
+	short yco = 20, menuwidth = 120;
+
+	block= uiNewBlock(&curarea->uiblocks, "view3d_edit_mball_showhidemenu", UI_EMBOSSP, UI_HELV, G.curscreen->mainwin);
+	uiBlockSetButmFunc(block, do_view3d_edit_mball_showhidemenu, NULL);
+	
+	uiDefIconTextBut(block, BUTM, 1, ICON_BLANK1, "Show Hidden|Alt H", 0, yco-=20, menuwidth, 19, NULL, 0.0, 0.0, 1, 10, "");
+	uiDefIconTextBut(block, BUTM, 1, ICON_BLANK1, "Hide Selected|H", 0, yco-=20, menuwidth, 19, NULL, 0.0, 0.0, 1, 11, "");
+	uiDefIconTextBut(block, BUTM, 1, ICON_BLANK1, "Hide Deselected|Shift H", 0, yco-=20, menuwidth, 19, NULL, 0.0, 0.0, 1, 12, "");
+
+	uiBlockSetDirection(block, UI_RIGHT);
+	uiTextBoundsBlock(block, 60);
+	return block;
+}
 static void do_view3d_edit_metaballmenu(void *arg, int event)
 {
 	switch(event) {
@@ -2582,6 +2614,8 @@ static uiBlock *view3d_edit_metaballmenu(void *arg_unused)
 	uiDefIconTextBlockBut(block, view3d_edit_mirrormenu, NULL, ICON_RIGHTARROW_THIN, "Mirror", 0, yco-=20, menuwidth, 19, "");
 	uiDefIconTextBut(block, BUTM, 1, ICON_BLANK1, "Shear|Ctrl S", 0, yco-=20, menuwidth, 19, NULL, 0.0, 0.0, 1, 5, "");
 	uiDefIconTextBut(block, BUTM, 1, ICON_BLANK1, "Warp|Shift W", 0, yco-=20, menuwidth, 19, NULL, 0.0, 0.0, 1, 6, "");
+	uiDefBut(block, SEPR, 0, "", 0, yco-=6, menuwidth, 6, NULL, 0.0, 0.0, 0, 0, "");
+	uiDefIconTextBlockBut(block, view3d_edit_mball_showhidemenu, NULL, ICON_RIGHTARROW_THIN, "Hide MetaElems", 0, yco-=20, 120, 19, "");
 
 	if(curarea->headertype==HEADERTOP) {
 		uiBlockSetDirection(block, UI_DOWN);

source/blender/src/space.c

@@ -1262,6 +1262,14 @@ static void winqreadview3dspace(ScrArea *sa, void *spacedata, BWinEvent *evt)
 					else if(G.obedit->type==OB_LATTICE) {
 						if(G.qual==LR_CTRLKEY) add_hook();
 					}
+					else if(G.obedit->type==OB_MBALL) {
+						if(G.qual==LR_ALTKEY)
+							reveal_mball();
+						else if((G.qual==LR_SHIFTKEY))
+							hide_mball(1);
+						else if((G.qual==0)) 
+							hide_mball(0);
+					}
 				}
 				else if(G.f & G_FACESELECT)
 					hide_tface();