> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://nobraintools.gitbook.io/maya-groomers-tool/maya-tools/hair-strand-builders/important.md).

# Important

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/oQRD4-_7Jss>" %}

The Hair Strand Builders depends heavily on the hiearchy and naming structure of the nodes and groups. Please keep the following in mind while using them:

## Strand Guard

To avoid causing errors from unrecommanded behaviours, a guarding/warning system is implemented. If you see the red warning below, please stop what you are doing immediately, and clean up/undo if possible, whatever you just did.&#x20;

<figure><img src="/files/K8vaqnGxcXHNMewIBWEf" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

## Hiearchy

* The Hair Tube/Card Builder stores its nodes in the master xgt\_tube2\_grp or xgt\_card2\_grp group.
* There should only be one master group per scene.
* Do not rename this group.
* Do not move nodes into or out of the master group.
* Some subgroups may be hidden, as shown below.
* Control their visibility only through the Hair Tube/Card Builder UI.
* Do not manually hide or show them in the Outliner.

## Renaming

Do not rename any nodes (**including the shader nodes**). Only use the renaming button on a layer to do so when needed.. This is because each tube geometry, on creation, goes through multiple node connection. At the moment, many functions uses the naming as references to run properly. Any renaming done manually can easily break the tool.

Texture file nodes are okay to rename.

## Duplicating

If you need to duplicate a strand, only use the 'Duplicate' button on the main UI.&#x20;

Selecting a Hair Strand's curve, or geometry, and CTRL + D will most likely to break the future editing.&#x20;

If you need to re-use a **curve** you can either:&#x20;

* Use the duplicate button on the main UI (or from the marking menu if you have it installed), or
* In curve mode, CTRL + D on the curve and then "Menu -> Clean Selected Curves"

Doing either of this will give you a cleaned up curve named as "xgtCard2\_cleaned\_crv#" in outliner.

If you need to duplicate a **strand geometry**:

* Use the **Duplicate** button on the Main UI only.

## Modifying Geometry

It's highly discouraged to modify your strand geometries. The strand builders are procedurally generated, and if the strand geometry is manually modified, this can break the functionality of the sliders in the Strand Editor, and UV operation.&#x20;

You should only change the shape of your geometry (tube or card) by using the UIs provided.\
\
Manual editing should be done at the very end of your workflow. If you need to modify the geometry, please 'Extract' the strands first, and do so on the cleaned up copy.