I upgraded to Rhino 3 from Rhino 2. My Flamingo 1.0 CD doesn't work. How do I get Flamingo running in Rhino V3?
You need Flamingo 1.1 for Rhino 3.0 If you browse your Rhino 3.0 installation CD you will find the Flamingo 1.1 installer in the Flamingo folder. You will use your original Flamingo 1.0 CD-key to install it. Flamingo 1.1 is exactly the same as Flamingo 1.0 and it's free for Flamingo 1.0 owners. Don't forget to check for service releases for your Flamingo from www.flamingo3d.com/download.htm
I upgraded to Rhino 4. My Flamingo 1.1 CD doesn't work. How do I get Flamingo running in Rhino 4?
Install Flamingo from the red Rhino 4.0 CD2 in the Rhino 4.0 DVD case, or from the a Flamingo 1.1 SR6 or newer CD.
Does the Flamingo 2.0 installer support automated installations?
Three methods for automating the Flamingo 2.0 install process
Does the Flamingo 1.1 installer support scripted installations?
Where are Flamingo 2.0 WIP/Beta libraries installed?
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\McNeel\Flamingo\2.0\English\Libraries
How can I use my Flamingo 1.1 custom materials in Flamingo 2?
From Gordon Adams (gordon@mcneel.com) Use the tool in the Flamingo 2 program group to switch to using Flamingo 1. Then figure out the names of the libraries that have your custom materials in them. Look for those libraries by searching for the material libraries (you can search your whole hard disk for *.mlib), then copy those files into the Flamingo 2.0 Resources folder (pointed to by the Base Folder button in FlamingoOptions). Switch back to Flamingo 2.0 and those libraries should be on your list.
Flamingo users frequently ask how to keep their libraries on a removable disk. Often students are looking for a way to avoid losing the library in a machine reset or “Deep Freeze’ restoration. Sometimes leaving the library on the hard drive may mean another user could alter it. Here is a way to keep user libraries on a removable and writable Flash or network drive. This will not work for Flamingo 2.
How does Flamingo 2 search for and find material and plant libraries?
Flamingo 2.0 installs material and plant libraries in a specific location that is accessible by all users, and changeable by all users. The default libraries that are listed in the Materials tab of Flamingo's browser come from are stored in
Windows Vista - C:\ProgramData\McNeel\Flamingo\2.0\<language>\<libraryfolder>
Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\McNeel\Flamingo\2.0\<language>\<libraryfolder>
When Flamingo 2.0 starts, it reads the libraries to list here:
System registry - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\McNeel\Flamingo\2.0\<localeID> valuename=Libraries
If you move your libraries to a different location, you need to add that new location to the "Library locations (show in browsers)" list found in Tools > Options > Flamingo (Rhino options not Document properties) dialog.
The BaseFolder setting at the top of that dialog is used to search for bitmaps, etc. In the default install, Base Folder is pointing to:
Windows Vista - C:\ProgramData\McNeel\Flamingo\2.0\Resources
Windows XP - C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\McNeel\Flamingo\2.0\Resources
System registry - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\McNeel\Flamingo\2.0\Paths valuename=Support
Three more clues: Library search goes one level deep, Support search is recursive, and hidden libraries may be used.
MLIB files in Library search folders are listed on the Materials tab of Flamingo's browser
MLIB files in folders in and below Support search folders are not listed in Materials tab of Flamingo's browser, but are searched for missing material definitions. This is how a German .3DM will render using standard German materials even when only English material libraries are showing in the Materials tab of Flamingo's browser.
How are Flamingo material assignments handled in Block instances?
Flamingo materials can be assigned by layer or directly to objects.
If the block's materials are assigned by object, and block materials are defined in the computer where the block is inserted, then they render properly.
If the block's materials are assigned by layer, and the layer name is different than any other layer in the target file, then they will render properly.
If the block's materials are assigned by layer, and the layer name conflicts with another layer in the target file, then the block will render using the current file's material assignments, usually default white. The layer definition in the target file is not overwritten or changed by the block insertion.