Mesh: Remove face map list, convert to integer attribute #108025

Face maps were added as a prototype of a new rigging solution during
2.8 development. Their storage is redundant with the newer generic
attribute system (specifically with integer face attributes), and
they were never used much. This commit removes the face map list
and converts the storage to an attribute with the name face_maps.
There is nowhere to store the face map names anymore, so those
are not kept.

It probably still makes sense to have a feature like mesh face gizmo
selection for rigging. But the design and implementation woulds likely
have to change significantly, including possibly changing the storage
type, and making use of the generic attribute system instead of a
special type.

See #105317 for more discussion.

Face maps were added as a prototype of a new rigging solution during 2.8 development. Their storage is redundant with the newer generic attribute system (specifically with integer face attributes), and they were never used much. This commit removes the face map list and converts the storage to an attribute with the name `face_maps`. There is nowhere to store the face map names anymore, so those are not kept. It probably still makes sense to have a feature like mesh face gizmo selection for rigging. But the design and implementation woulds likely have to change significantly, including possibly changing the storage type, and making use of the generic attribute system instead of a special type. See #105317 for more discussion.

Hello, I use face maps very frequently for creating face sets from edit mode, it is much more convenient to create face maps and turn them into face sets with one click instead of one-by-one. Does this change means I'll no longer be able to create and store face maps? What does this change look like from user perspective

Hello, I use face maps very frequently for creating face sets from edit mode, it is much more convenient to create face maps and turn them into face sets with one click instead of one-by-one. Does this change means I'll no longer be able to create and store face maps? What does this change look like from user perspective

From a user perspective yes, although the data could be accessed via Python.

Replied to #105317.

> Hello, I use face maps very frequently for creating face sets from edit mode, it is much more convenient to create face maps and turn them into face sets with one click instead of one-by-one. Does this change means I'll no longer be able to create and store face maps? What does this change look like from user perspective From a user perspective yes, although the data could be accessed via Python. Replied to #105317.

Hello, I use face maps very frequently for creating face sets from edit mode, it is much more convenient to create face maps and turn them into face sets with one click instead of one-by-one. Does this change means I'll no longer be able to create and store face maps? What does this change look like from user perspective

From a user perspective yes, although the data could be accessed via Python.

Replied to #105317.

Oh well, but I guess I'm one of the very few who use that feature. This won't be missed if Vertex Group could have ability to store Edge and Face groups too as generic attributes, it would also help very much in Geometry Nodes. Thank you for replying.

> > Hello, I use face maps very frequently for creating face sets from edit mode, it is much more convenient to create face maps and turn them into face sets with one click instead of one-by-one. Does this change means I'll no longer be able to create and store face maps? What does this change look like from user perspective > > From a user perspective yes, although the data could be accessed via Python. > > Replied to #105317. Oh well, but I guess I'm one of the very few who use that feature. This won't be missed if Vertex Group could have ability to store Edge and Face groups too as generic attributes, it would also help very much in Geometry Nodes. Thank you for replying.

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Mesh: Remove face map list, convert to integer attribute #108025

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